Finding Your Voice

My instagram account has grown from 3.5k to 35k followers in less than 12 months! I am delighted that my work is reaching more people and it has also made me reflect on what has prompted the growth. There are obvious reasons like posting more regularly and sharing reels rather than individual images which will have made my content more algorithm friendly. But, in truth, I think that the real key to the growth has been finding my style or 'voice'. It has made creating the content much easier and, as a result, it connects with people.

What do I mean by finding my 'voice'? It is as simple as noticing the shapes, colours, textures that I like and creating a visual language that feels 'like me'. The exploration of mixed media circles in my recent 100 day project was really helpful in crystallising some of those features.

For a long time, I would see makes from other creatives and wish that I could do something like them - I would adopt their palette or marks - but I was never satisfied with the results. I loved it when they did it but just couldn't get a result that looked right to me. There is nothing wrong with that, of course. It is a key part of the learning process and it has been essential for me discovering techniques or marks that I have incorporated in to my own practice. I guess that it is like trying on lots of outfits that look great on others but you know when you find the style, cut and colours that look good on you :)

As I look back on my recent makes, the following elements recur: circles (obviously!), asemic writing, a combination of organic and geometric, loose and balanced, collage, white space and more muted colours. I find myself repeating the same kinds of marks and add splatter more often than not! Knowing what some of these recurring elements are makes it easier to start on an abstract piece - I have some shapes and marks that I can use and build from.

When I say that I am defining my visual vocabulary, that doesn't mean that my style is static. I don't have a step by step recipe that I follow every time. I am still experimenting with different mediums and techniques, following the 'what if' line of thought and making really bad art! I think that it is important to stay playful and curious - our voice evolves as we expand our vocabulary, discover new marks or find a particular combination that appeals to us. But, I am definitely more conscious of those core elements that make my art feel like mine.

I am working on these ideas for a new mini course - using play and abstract art as the tools to help you find your voice. I will share more over the next week or two as the ideas take shape but I want it to be a fun and exercise based toolkit that will spark some discoveries for you. The purpose of the course will not be about giving you a step by step instruction to produce a finished piece that looks like mine....I want you to end up with a sketchbook/journal full of marks, colour combinations and abstracts that look like YOURS. Let me know in the comments if this is something that you would be interested in!

But, you don't need to wait for the course to start identifying your visual vocabulary - here are 3 things that you can do today:

1. Look back at your recent makes and notice any recurring elements that you return to - it could be a particular colour combination, shape, theme. For example, do you tend towards bright colours, cool colours, neutrals? Do you find yourself working in a linear way - straight lines, even placement etc or more organic and loose? Is there one thing that you always add before you can feel that the page/card is finished?

2. Play with mark making - even when you are just doodling. What are the marks that you typically make without even thinking about it?

3. Work small - give yourself 5 minutes and work on 3 small (eg 10cm) surfaces at the same time. This is a great way to reduce over thinking! Keep moving between them and don't spend more time on any one of them. When your time is up, step back and look at which elements most appeal. Are there any surprises? Did mediums combine in unexpected ways? What would you do again?

I hope that you give these fun little starting points a try and would love to know how you get on! I am really looking forward to going on an adventure together to find your unique voice :)