week 2- Unique You
This week is all about you! We’ll be figuring out your (artistic) personality and voice or in other words: our inner unicorn!
At the beginning our taste (the result of our previous exercise) is what mainly guides our style, this is because we still need to learn how to add our own spice to the mix. This can be hard when we are not aware of our (artistic) personality and voice.
So how do I build my personality and voice? You ask; well, by reflecting on who you are!
Love note: You might feel pretty ordinary, but remember: the combination of your life experiences, your background and where you are now, makes you unique.
ZOOM Session - 29th Sept
Assignment 2
Your assignment for this week is split into 3 tasks or main questions.
Imagine you walked into a field full of unicorns, we are trying to find the one meant for you. I don’t know if you know this, but unicorns are made from a mix of special spices. So we will first need to name your spices and then we get to mix them into a special blend.
You can find here the full handout as well as the pages with the exercise templates loose (no instructions) , for those who prefer to have them separate :)
task 1: - Personality - what makes you you?
Adding 'personality' to your work is like adding an extra spice that makes the standard subject matter (a landscape, an object, a character etc) an interesting and relatable artwork.
Reflecting on who you are can help you find new ideas or methods to convey more of your personality into your work.
Going from inside out:
(These questions are not only about your artwork, they are about you)
What are small quirky things that you feel make you different?
What are your qualities?
How would you describe yourself to others?
And how would others describe you? Ask a good friend or your partner.
Task 2 - Your Voice
"One of the greatest things about making art – and about finding your voice as an artist – is that it gives you a channel to release what’s inside of you." - Lisa Congdon
Your voice can only be heard if you have a story to tell. And in order to connect with an audience our work needs a 'meaning' so people can relate to it.
For this next part I'd like you to focus on what stories would you like to tell? What moves you, makes you passionate?
Examples: loves, regrets, culture, teaching, the environment, heritage, female empowerment, mindfulness to name a few.
Another way to phrase this questions from a business perspective is: what problem are you solving?
If you are feeling lost, look back at your mood-board, maybe you can see how others have found their voice in their body of work and that can inspire you.
You do not have to be saving the world to make your voice matter. Remember that in art, even the smallest thing can bring joy to someone’s life.
task 3- Your special blend
Time to mix that personality and voice! Why a blend? Not only does this help to make your work more relatable but it will also make it more enjoyable for you to create. It is also a good way to pave a road that you can follow.
So, are you letting some of these qualities express through your art?
How to do this?
Take a look again at what you wrote down in the two tasks above. Try to see if you can combine your personality traits with your voice, and think about how this can be part of your work.
The aim of this exercise is to have a list of ‘blends’ or passions that you can come back to when you are feeling lost or overwhelmed.
“The activity of art is based on the capacity of people to infect others with their own emotions and to be infected by the emotions of others. Strong emotions, weak emotions, important emotions or irrelevant emotions, good emotions or bad emotions – if they contaminate the reader, the spectator, or the listener – it attains the function of art.”
Leo Tolstoy
Let’s look at some artists that can serve as inspiration:
Emily Powell
Emily Powell is a British artist based in Devon UK. Her work is bold and bright; in a podcast interview she talks about how she channels her synesthesia to create powerful worlds in her canvas.
She describes her work as “ a hug of everything we need, from abstract colours and textures to art that energises or comforts us”. For me, when I see her work I feel instant joy.
Lisa Congdon
(If you don’t know who Lisa Congdon is, please go first to read about her amazing journey and then come back.)
Illustrator, fine artist and author Lisa Congdon is best known for her colorful, graphic drawings and hand lettering. She does not keep quiet about her political views and beliefs.
Her work is inspiring and powerful. I respect how unapologetic she can be with her voice, and would totally recommend her books for extra reading on the same subject we are tackling now.
Helen Dardik
Helen Dardik is a painter and surface pattern designer. “Vibrant, folksy, playful toomuchery is a perfect way to describe my style”
She uses folkart and scandinavian themes as inspiration and although busy, her work revolves around mindfulness, friendships and family.
Examples of previous participants
Download the presentation of week 2 - Day After
Well done! That’s week 2 for you!
Fill in the form so we can have a chat about your findings next week. I’d love to know what your discoveries are so that they can help me guide you further.
Please send before the call on Wednesday the 29th of September to get feedback.