Every artist—whether painter, writer, or musician—has asked the same question:
“What’s my style? What’s my voice?”
Your artistic voice isn’t something you “invent.” It’s something you uncover. It’s the combination of your experiences, emotions, and quirks—the way you naturally see and translate the world when you let yourself create without fear of judgment.
But how do you find that voice? Here’s how to start the journey.
1. Make a Mess—Create Without Expectation
Finding your artistic voice begins with giving yourself permission to experiment.
Forget perfection. Forget “will people like this?” Create for the joy of making.
It can be easier said than done, especially when you are trying to launch a career as an artist and feel like every piece of work should be something sellable. This is an easy rut to fall in, and a difficult one to get out of, trust me! Still, it's important that you do.
Try different mediums, colours, and tools. Paint with your fingers. Sketch upside down. Fill a page with lines and shapes. The more you play, the more you’ll notice patterns—colours you gravitate towards, marks that feel yours.
Psychologists call this “divergent thinking”—exploring many possibilities without judgment. It’s the birthplace of originality (Guilford, 1967).
2. Look Inwards Before You Look Outwards
Your voice comes from what matters to you—not what’s trending on social media.
Ask yourself:
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What stories or emotions keep bubbling up when I create?
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What colours, shapes, or images feel like “home”?
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What do I want people to feel when they see my art?
Your art doesn’t have to be loud or profound. It just has to be honest.
3. Copy—Then Transform
Here’s a secret: most great artists started by copying.
Not to steal, but to study.
By imitating the work of artists you admire, you learn techniques and structures. Over time, you’ll naturally add your own twists—and that’s when your voice starts to emerge.
A 2010 study on creative development found that “copying-to-learn” is a critical step in forming unique style, as it builds skill and confidence before divergence (Rogers et al., 2010).
4. Notice What Feels Easy and Joyful
Sometimes your artistic voice is hiding in plain sight—in the work that flows effortlessly from you.
Do you love bold, sweeping lines? Tiny, intricate details? Do you always reach for soft pastels instead of dark hues? Pay attention to the moments when you feel “in the zone.” That state of flow, described by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990), is a sign you’re aligned with your natural style.
5. Keep Showing Up
Your voice won’t appear overnight. It’s shaped by repetition, reflection, and time.
Make art regularly, even if it’s just 10 minutes a day. Over time, you’ll look back at your work and see threads connecting each piece—your personal fingerprint in colour, shape, and energy.
The more you see, the more you'll lean into developing that into something bigger, more formed. Your own, unique style.
Final Thought
Your artistic voice isn’t something you chase—it’s something you uncover by creating, again and again, without fear.
It’s already there, waiting.
How to Find Your Artistic Voice. All you have to do is pick up the brush—and listen.
This post is a collaborative effort between AI and myself in order to work a little bit faster
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