Should I fix my illustration pattern?

"Should I fix my illustration pattern?"

I always tell my students they can choose any drawing style (pattern).

You can draw cartoony, realistic, or even abstract... Should you stick to one pattern?

I once in a while received a message asking that and I also have the same question to myself over and over again in the past years.

Apparently, this question has been a common issue for a lot of artists for a long time, and the answers you can get from Googling are vary.

• Don't worry about the pattern, because it doesn't change much from other people's point of view.

• You should stick to one pattern so that the viewers can easily recognize your art.

But these answers are conflicting and they always confuse me.

I AM worried because I CARE even if others don't care...

I'm asking because I'm not motivated if I'm not satisfied.

And for me, I am not good at sticking to one thing in a long term in general. I like conflicting stuff and I get bored if I stick to one thing for a while.

I wish I was a person who like the same thing forever, but I'm not. For the illustration, the only thing I stick to is the technique - STIPPLING - so far.

In this post, I, have been drawing for like 10 years and an illustrator as one of my profession (source of income) for over 3 years - I can say I'm currently at a level of <a beginner professional illustrator> think about it and compiled answers to the question of whether a Pattern should be fixed. The road to success in illustration is not easy, but I want to enjoy at least.

Should I stick to one illustration style?

To answer this question, it really depends on the stage of your progress.

In this post

• For beginners who enjoy learning illustration (☜ WE ARE HERE in this class)

• For intermediate students who may want to make illustration their career in the future (☜ SOME OF YOU ARE HERE in this class)

• For advanced students who want to do well in illustration (☜ I'm with you! I'm still trying to get here!)

I will think about how you can continue to draw with satisfaction at each stage based on these criteria.

<Beginners> don't need to worry about the pattern!

If you are just starting to illustrate, you should NOT fix your illustration pattern.

Don't even worry about the pattern at all.

For now, just enjoy drawing pictures!

Feel like you can draw something that looks like it by copying it (as practices), trying to use different pen sizes or colors, or doodling on your favorite characters... Just TRY TO ENJOY.

Rika Sato, <Freestyle Drawing assignment>

In fact, even professional illustrators(or any type of artists) often change their styles from their old drawing style. Look at Picasso!

If you fix your drawing from the beginning, it will be boring and unchanging, so don't be obsessed with fixing your drawing pattern.

At that time, please draw in the style that you are most comfortable with.

<Intermediate> illustrators should decide the direction of the pattern

If you are accustomed to draw illustrations to some extent, you should gradually aim to fix the direction of your illustrations.

For example, "I want to be an illustrator who mainly draws soft and beautiful images..."

"I want to be an illustrator who mainly draws cool and flashy comic book style pictures".

Intermediate level illustrators will struggle with the difference between "the patterns I like" and "the patterns I can draw".

You also try to get closer to the pattern you like, but the resulting your illustration has a completely different atmosphere. That happens a lot.

The solution is just to continue drawing with the pattern you can draw while aiming for the pattern you like!

It is OK if your drawing pattern is still shaky.

As you continue to draw, the patterns you like and the patterns you can draw will average out to create some new, unique pattern of your own.

Over the years, my illustration pattern was changed a lot - and the things I like have been changed as I'm getting older. I think that's natural.

I liked bold image when I was younger, but I like more subtle and delicate stuff as getting older. I still like bold stuff but I draw them in more delicate way now.

Find your own individuality while also deciding on the direction of your illustration.

I always think about the balance of what people want especially when I get commissioned and what I want to draw. You have to find what people like in what you can draw - but you can't see that unless you know what you like and what is your style. That can only built by drawing what you want to draw.

This balance is very difficult but it's only improved by experiencing the multiple projects.

<Advanced> illustrators should brand their patterns.

If you are at a level where you can make your painting work, enter the final stage of fixing and branding your illustration. This is the goal for us at this point.

If you brand your illustration without changing your patterns, it will be easier for people to identify them as "this illustration is by that person!".

This is the time when you will suffer from the gap between your own pattern, which was created at the intermediate level, and the pattern that is well received by the public. You also need to aim/understand your target.

If your design is not well received by the public, it is difficult to make money when it comes to work. It's also reflecting your motivation and your mental.

It would be the best if your own design is well received, but that doesn't happen all the time.

If not, create some patterns for your work by incorporating elements of a generally accepted patterns and brand it!

I joined an illustration agency last year, and this was the advise that I got from them. I am currently making my portfolio by doing that.

If you're going to professionally work on your illustration you might want to compromise and make them a little more generalized as necessary.

I think you'll get a better general reception if you keep making minor changes to your patterns to match the trends. Get advises from people who like your illustration and analyze what they like in your pattern.

Final conclusion

The style of art can be the face of the artist, and it is so much a part of the general impression.

However, the direction of the pattern can be changed better if you are conscious of it.

In this class, most of you are still trying to find your own pattern.

Let's just try to enjoy and draw a lot of illustrations and eventually get your own pattern!