uncertainty principles

ruckerous:

ecoliers:

This is something kind of random that really interests me, which I discussed with a friend a while back but would definitely be interested in getting more feedback on (from a larger sample pool)! Or at the very least, getting it off my chest.

Basically I’m wondering how an individual’s personal aesthetic comes into being. Why do different people have different drawing/painting/art “styles”? Part of it obviously is what influenced us creatively when we were learning how to draw (establishing which elements we want to keep and which elements to discard), but when we make those choices of “I want to draw like this” there’s obviously some element of individual psychology at work. Something about whatever you were influenced by “felt right” to you, or else it wouldn’t make such an impression, right? What I’m getting at I guess is whether there’s any (in)direct correlation between your aesthetic choices and your innate character, your personality and your background and your values. Can we even put a finger on what that nebulous “something” is? Why do I draw the way I do? Where did it come from? If I try to look at myself objectively, personality-wise, I can see where the CONTENT of my drawings come from (I like nostalgic, sentimental things, despite being a cynical pragmatist), but I’m not sure entirely how the formal/technical aspects of my art manifested themselves in these ways (realistic vs idealized figures, color choices, etc). I mean, maybe because I’m so sentimental I like very organic, loose art (like Impressionism) but I also adore rigid, intricate, mathematical art as well (but maybe that’s because I like science?).

So I wonder: How do you think your drawing style parallels your personality? Has your style changed a lot over time, and did that correlate in any way with changes in your personality, your values, etc? Mine’s changed a lot through the years. I’ve certainly changed as a person but I wonder if there are any defining marks that I’ve carried with me even as my drawing “style” changed drastically.

Also! I’d be interested if anyone out there can boast that they actually LOOK like the characters they draw in their style. It’s a hypothesis I’ve heard that hasn’t thus far been shown to hold any water whatsoever, but it’s certainly a fascinating idea. Sort of like the whole “people look like their pets” thing.

I feel like I’m talking in circles. Maybe this is a really silly question that doesn’t make any sense?? Ah well, that’s okay. Just being curious.

This is actually a really good question. I never think about it, but now I’m pretty curious. My drawing style…well, to be honest, I don’t think I have a definitive one yet. I guess I like messier, looser, softer things? I’ve never thought about how my style parallels my personality, though, ever, so this is a bit of a new question for me…mostly, my style changes with my influences, or what I’m interested in at the time. Because my interests and influences can vary pretty widely in a short period of time, I guess my style fluctuates a lot. For example, back in seventh through eighth grade I went through my “omgyaoi!111!!” phase, and had friends who were pretty much obsessed with Tokyo Mew Mew and I ended up reading it a lot. I’m ashamed to say that my drawings looked like something ripped off a Tokyo Mew Mew book, and my subjects/themes were all androgynous gay men. Now, my influences would be less books/shows and more artists themselves, if that makes sense? But then there’s the emotional and social and cultural influences, as well dafjlsdjk I’m not making sense. But I think my style reflects my personality a bit. Not quite, but a bit. Loose, messy, soft lines and rounder shapes, I guess you could say correlates to aspects of my personality? Though I notice that when I’m really depressed or angry my lines are really harsh and rigid and things tend to look a lot sharper. 

But none of the people I draw look like me, haha. I do see artists whose art resembles them, though, but they’re far and few between.

Sorry I can’t answer your question properly;;;;

I think even if you force yourself to draw like someone else, there’s still SOMETHING that makes it your own, don’t you think? But! I wonder in cases where people do master copies, like, exact brush-for-brush replicas…hmm. There were definitely times where I forced myself to draw like certain people I admired but I feel like after a point that that style, originally derived from someone else’s, turns into something that’s your own, even if there are still obvious signs of that influence. Because you’re the one who drew it, not whoever influenced you to draw it. If that makes sense.

Dude, brain wave, what about people who have REALLY similiar drawing styles (developed independently of each other)? Could there possibly exist something psychological in those two people that creates those similarities? Aghlskdf actually the more I think about this the less I’m quite sure what I’m trying to say. :’D Thank you for sharing your thoughts though!! Loved reading them.