For an illustrator, is it more beneficial to have just one style you're known for, or to have lots of styles?

Question

Thanks very much for the advice everyone!

Answer 1

It depends on whether you want to be sucessful commercially or artistically. If commercially, you need to have lots of styles so that you can deliver the style that is needed by the client for the campaign you're hired to work on. If artistically, you should have YOUR style that you can become known for.

Answer 2

If illustration will be the single focus of your career, then developing a unique, reconizable style can be very important. You'd want a buyer to see your work and be able to imagine his or her project done in your style.

In your portfolio, you would show a great variation in subject matter, done in a, somewhat consistant style.

If you have, already developed more than one, strong style, consider building more than one portfolio. Whether with single style, or more than one, a serious artist needs to do research, and target the client. Only send or show the appropriate artwork to a potential buyer or employer. Bold and violent action Anime style would not be appropriate to show to a children's book publisher. Cutesy, fuzzy, baby bunnies will not impress a car designer.

In my situation, I try to reach a broader clientelle, including some that do not pay for original illustrations. I maintain a modular portfolio, where I can swap out different styles and, also include impressive page layouts and tear sheets. This is hard work, and is not something I put together in a few weeks. My portfolio represents many years worth of artwork, including some of my best student work.

Answer 3

I'm gona tell you the truth here, despite what your buddies might be telling you about mastering several styles, the only style that will ever matter to you is the one you come up with yourself .and you will........over time. buy a book called "the pencil" by Paul Calle and read it entirely and you'll come to find that illustration isnt about drawing well, it's about telling a story well through your drawing ability. in one illustratiuon in his book he illustrates an event thast took place before your time most likely, "the Kent state masacre" where armed troops opend fire on protesting students,.....this one illustration is what inspired me to become an artist, I figured "if soemone could say so much with just a pencil" ....then they could rule the media........trust me on this one,.....develope your own style and stick with it.

Answer 4

i would go for MASTERING two or three styles, and know a couple more just in case, if people really love your styling now one day they will get used and bored of it and they will move to the first NEW thing, beside when you know more styles you will have ENDLESS styles to COMBINE and CREAT, or am i worng ???

just remember you really should MASTER two or three styles, so when ever sth new comes up, choose what you like and do for it

Answer 5

Master one and dabble in the rest.

Answer 6

Its the difference between being everlasting, and versatile.