Explorations of Style – 5 Illustration Voices Speak

5 Illustration Voices Examine the Concept of Style

In the short time that I’ve been involved with Escape From Illustration Island, I’ve noticed that certain topics seem to come and go in waves, at least in the online Illustration community.  For example, it seems that within a short span of time, different bloggers, podcasters, and other content creators will all be talking about similar subjects around the same time.  My favorite part about this is that each of us offers our own voice, our own angle, on a given topic.

Today I thought I’d highlight the latest subject that I’ve been noticing being discussed, which is STYLE.

Here’s a look at the ways that 5 different online content creators in the Illustration community have been exploring the concept of style in the recent past:

Nate Williams – In a recent blog post, Illustrator Nate Williams asked the question: “Does a professional Illustrator need a style?“ Rather than stop there, he goes on to paint an incredibly thorough picture of what style is, how different illustrators approach it, and what it means for the working artist.  What makes Nate’s post so rewarding to read is how clearly he presents the concept of style with case studies, an outline of the basic creative process, and a look at some of the related opinion polls he has conducted at Illustration Mundo in the past.

Big Illustration Party Time - Friends of EFII and fellow Podcasters Kevin Cross and Joshua Kemble of the Big Illustration Party Time Podcast recently tackled the elusive topic of style on Episode 40 of their show, which focuses on freelance Illustration and cartooning.  Their discussion was in reaction to a listener question regarding the benefits and risks of working in a distinct style, as well as tips for Illustrators who wish to work in a variety of styles.

Jonathan Woodward – In another rich and rewarding exploration of style, Jonathan Woodward treated readers of his blog, Zero 2 Illo, with an investigation into the question, “Does an Illustrator Choose Their Style, or Does it Choose Them?” As proof of the fact that every artist has a unique perception of style, he adds the words of 6 great Illustrators to his own by asking them to talk about the ways that they came to find or refine their styles.  The inclusion of multiple voices helps to make this article a compelling read from start to finish.

Escapee – After an interview with artist Andrew Hem for an upcoming EFII Podcast, I was inspired to post an Escapee Speaks article with a brief and somewhat abstract approach to the topic of style called How to Find Your Own Style.  What started as an inspirational post about taking chances quickly evolved into a look at the struggles some artists face when searching for their own unique styles.  I recommend taking a glance at this article if you’ve ever experienced fear when approaching your work.

Holli Conger – In the latest episode of the EFII Podcast (Episode 14), Illustrator Holli Conger provided tons of great content.  So much content, in fact, that I decided to wait until after the distractions of Thanksgiving week to release it.  One of the great features of our conversation is her story of how she developed, and continues to fine tune, her own style.  It’s always great to hear a fellow artist talk about as personal topic as their own style, and it’s even more encouraging to hear that they are still on a creative journey to this day.

I hope you take a look at these 5 different approaches to the concept of style and find some things that relate to your own work.  I’ll be sure to put together more collections like this as I witness new waves of great topics working their way through the online Illustration Community.

What’s your approach to style?

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.