Comments on: Are You in Style?

By: algenonQ

algenonQ — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:25:48 +0000

It seems there has to be a bell whether artist in every artistic discipline. I have always found it curious that “schools” of art have popped up throughout history. The impressionists, expressionists, cubists, the Dada-ists to name a few in the visual arts. There have always been generic styles, and always been leaders of style.

There must have been some catalysts for these groups to come into existence; one particular artist who leads the way and sets the style despite the current “fashion”. And there must be some reason for the other artists to follow trends. Is it purely for economic reasons I wonder? Or is it that in each generation there are only a few who are driven enough to dare rise above the mediocrity? Those few who are brave enough to test the waters for those who follow.

Perhaps we notice this trend more with the camera because in the digital age it is a much more accessible medium for would-be artists. And therefore much more competitive and much more difficult to be truly original.

It is difficult for artists, as business people, to dare to stray outside their market place –
away from the dollars – as you yourself recognised when you changed your exhibition. Maybe we see artists on flickr and elsewhere choose a particular style because favourable comments indicate appreciation and perhaps a potential market.

There are a lot of technically competent photographers on flickr, some of whom take stunning and technically improbable photos. But out of the hordes there are few who really stand out as original. Style is a rare commodity, and Brooke, you have it in spades.

By: Rachael

Rachael — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:51:37 +0000

This is an excellent essay about style. I have a few thoughts…

I think it is very important for each artist to develop their own unique style and voice. It takes a fair amount of experimentation and hard work to do this, and I don’t think every artist is willing to put in the time. But if one does it is possible to develop unique sensibilities in one’s work.

Because of Flickr and blogs I’ve been exposed to an endless amount of artists work and only a small number seem to have a “personal style”. Sometimes I think this couldn’t be harder in the age of the internet because we are all constantly bombarded by images of other artists work and it seems easier to copy what someone else is doing than developing your own vision.

By: Guille

Guille — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:27:47 +0000

I’m afraid I’m going to turn the subject a little bit around but what I think is that if we can show ourselves just the way we are, it will be a logical consequence that we’ll do unique things, because we are all different, the thing is that not all the people has the courage to be themselves whether we talk about art or our own very lives, we rather do what is “acceptable” for the rest, but we rarely do what we really want to do, what we are willing to, we don’t say what we really think, etc. Deep and interesting subject!

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:28:26 +0000

Great article Brooke, well thought out and elegantly written. I think a lot about style and thing it really should be found organically.

By: Sclafani

Sclafani — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:06:28 +0000

Thank you so much for taking this on. This is exactly the sort of insight I was looking to hear. I’m particularly interested in this idea that style requires the courage of one’s convictions. I think that a lot can be taken from that. I also agree with you very much about the difference between style and repetition.

Now to get to work on finding my own style…