Why “Having a Style” Is a Myth: Advice for Artists Struggling to Find Their Voice

Are You Struggling to Find Your Art Style?

If you've ever felt stuck trying to “find your style” as an artist, you're in good company. For years, I believed that every piece of art I made had to look unmistakably “mine.” Consistent. Recognizable. Branded.

Turns out, that belief was suffocating my creativity.

Why Chasing a Consistent Art Style Can Be a Trap

Like many artists, I fell into the trap of thinking I needed a clear, polished “style” before my work could be taken seriously. I thought every painting or project had to align with some unspoken aesthetic I hadn’t fully defined.

But when I look back over the last 15 years—painting, illustrating, photographing, screen printing, designing, animating, collaging, even making origami—I realize I’ve always been searching, never settling. And I thought that meant I was doing something wrong.

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What Changed: A Trip to the Library (And Picasso)

Recently, I picked up a book on Picasso from the local library. (Side note: If you don’t have a library card, get one. Seriously. Spend an hour in the art section—you’ll come out changed.)

The book gave me a bird’s-eye view of Picasso’s life, not just as an artist, but as a public figure, innovator, and restless creator. And it hit me:

Picasso didn’t have a style. He had eras.

Did you know he was painting like an Old Master at 15? Not Cubist. Not abstract. We’re talking El Greco–level realism. Later, he developed Cubism with Georges Braque. Then came the Blue Period, the Rose Period, Surrealism, sculpture, ceramics—even theater set design.

So much for sticking to one look.

The Truth About Artistic Style (That No One Tells You)

Here’s the epiphany I want to pass on to you:

You are not your style.
You are your curiosity. Your momentum. Your voice.

Your consistency is not your brushstroke—it’s your story. It’s the fact that everything you make came through your hands, your eyes, your spirit.

When we stop trying to curate a style, we start actually making art that feels alive.

Final Thought: What You’re Known For Isn’t the Whole Picture

You might become known for a certain look or theme. That’s fine. But don’t let that become your prison. Even Picasso didn’t let public expectation define his output.

The world doesn’t need more consistent artists—it needs more honest ones.