Developing a Style
The idea of having a drawing style loomed over me as I started this project. It was something I wanted to ignore as I churned out the bad drawings and awkward body language and awful hands. The idea of style seems really stagnant and not conducive to being human and ever-changing, growing and learning. So I tend to stay away from officially adhering to any one style; instead, I like following my interests and I realize that my style follows.
As a high school art teacher, it’s hard to dissuade students from latching on to one particular style. They scroll and scour the internet looking at everyone else’s work and they feel pressure to settle on something, but I think this is somewhat detrimental to their own development as artists. Although the internet is an amazing resource, sometimes just putting pen to paper is the true test of what your style will ultimately be. I find that everything else is theoretical and sometimes even wishful thinking. How your hands manipulate materials is truly distinctive to you.
I thought I’d share with you some early artwork to show my own development of style. Here are some examples of character turnaround sheets I did: the first one completed November 2018 and the second completed May 2019. I found it useful to consider the details of a character – wardrobe, expressions, body language, and other accessories – that would best express their own personal histories. I know that these characters will evolve as the story does.
