Developing your Style as an Artist in a Trend Based World

The most common observation that I’ve heard be made about my work since fairly early on is how powerful my use of color and feminine energy are. I’ve found that people’s more prominent descriptor of my work is “deeply vibrant and saturated.” I think one of the most fun parts about being in a creative field is reading how others see your work. You can read some interviews and articles about me in the Work section of my website and on the Press section of my IG. I also really appreciate when I’m told that my work stands out as uniquely my own. People have been able to pick my work out of the wild many times, sending me pictures and asking if that was me.

So, How does one develop a unique and identifiable style?

You want your art to stand out from the crowd and be noticed, but you’re afraid of chasing trends until the world ends. You’re also afraid of blending into the rest of the artists in your field. I luckily found my voice pretty early on in my life, I’ve been working with colors and rainbows since I can remember. I believe that your style is already in you, and a lot of the times we find ourselves denying ourselves it. You might feel like the way you naturally do things doesn’t represent a larger and more expansive version of how you see yourself, but i think it’s important to point out that that’s the purpose of having a body of work. You cannot say everything you want to say in one piece of art, it will likely take you your entire lifetime and career.

By continuing to create throughout your life you’ll notice shifts and tendencies you return to. You’ll hopefully be evolving through every project and through that journey you’ll start to fill in the greater picture of who you are under the surface. Being authentic about it is also huge. People can smell it from a mile away if it looks like you’re trying to be somebody else or someone you’re not.

How do I know if I’m being seen the way I want to be seen?

You don’t, and you won’t. The way we see ourselves is rarely the way we are seen by others. This applies to art. A huge part of being an artist is being able to get comfortable with the notion that we create from a place that no one else sees, and they will likely try to find themselves in your work, and not you the artist. Learn to feel that as a win. The point of art should just be to make others feel, and we don’t really have control over what that feeling is to the individual viewer.

That being said, I do believe it’s important for someone to be able to tell a story through their work. That’s huge in the commercial world, where a lot of us are looking for work. If you’re able to represent a brand’s identity and visually tell a story that invites a person to want to be part of that brand’s world then you’re succeeding as a visual storyteller.

What if I don’t like my style?

Don’t give up! We all start somewhere. Everything is a seed, you just have to be willing to water it and let it grow. You can talk to a hundred artists and I can guarantee at least half will tell you they rarely like their own work. It’s not a character flaw, I think it’s just part of who we are as people. We are highly empathetic and connected, usually battling the unwinable war against perfectionism and self doubt, maybe riddled with imposter syndrome or fear of failure. Easier said than done, but you have to be able to let go of that. Let go of the idea of ever achieving it all, or getting it all done. With art we are never finished, so your job is to keep it moving along and learning from the process. As I mentioned, this is a journey. Your message will reach the right people, and your art will be seen and felt.

I think another big one we struggle with is accepting our wins, or quickly forgetting about them once they’ve passed. Sometimes when my calendar looks a bit sparce I tend to forget about all the incredible achievements I have under my belt. Just have to keep moving forward.

What if other don’t like my style?

Then you haven’t found your right audience. Either that or you haven’t identified who they are yet. Work on that! The foundation of any business is finding and establishing a target audience. Once you have that figured out you can start to find ways to engage with people who are likeminded and would appreciate what you have to offer.

A lot of times you can find community in the art world by attending shows and galleries showing work with similar artists or subject matter. Online forums are also everywhere on social media and other sites for building networks. Engaging with other artists is also a great way to meet people who can help you on your journey.

If you’d like to talk about your style and how it’s being perceived I’m always happy to email with you. Feel free to contact me! Vico Velez is a Los Angeles beauty, fashion, and music photographer known for vivid, hyper-stylized color, shooting from her studio in Hollywood, CA. See her work and book a session at vicovelez.com