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NewsletterThe Definition of Your Unique Style
These days I’ve been busy trying to organize my space, getting Spring cleaning done one step at a time. I’ve also managed to be quite productive on a few projects along the way. I admit that many are actually old projects I’ve found through the cleaning process! I can be a bit kiddy-hyperactive at times, jumping from one thing to another in a flash. Sometimes it’s just testing an idea, not really a full fledged project – like this watercolor test I did.
It started with a notion on variations of watercolor, pencil sketching and outlining. There are other combinations I might try as well to see what I like. However, many times I can’t really decide one way over another. Probably because I’m not very consistent anyway…doing something more than once doesn’t necessarily mean consistent results in the end. I started looking at my projects in progress and wondering if I have any consistency at all. What are the signature “Linda” elements that make my work, my work? From mixed media acrylic paintings to all digital illustrations to traditional drawing and even designing and carving stamps…
I suppose I’m still experimenting and I do understand not everything you do has to be the same style. However, I’ve always been like this, dabbling in many mediums and styles. Is there a cohesive thread in it all – besides me? I was thinking perhaps someone else’s point of view might shed some light. In design we often do branding exercises and ask others to describe in a few adjectives what they feel about a company or a person. How would you describe my work? Any keywords or adjectives come to mind? I’ve been blogging here since July 2009, but I also have my Flickr photos and my RedBubble.
The reason I’ve been thinking more about this style definition is because I want to be able to say what I do in a sentence – that is specific as well. It’s the infamous description of what you do in a few words. I hope you can help out with whatever it is you think, pretty please? Grazie in advance and have a lovely day! 
Posted on March 16, 2010 at 8:23 pm | thoughts + discussion, work in progress
Hello fellow explorers and creative minds! My name is Linda, aka tortagialla - a nickname my adorable husband dubbed me meaning "yellow cake" in Italian. I'm your not-so-typical Californian girl who took the plunge and moved to the Tuscan hills of Italy. Now I'm living my dream designing, illustrating and crafting full-time. You can contact me via email linda [!at] tortagialla [!dot] com
I love this question…
>> What are the signature “Linda” elements that make my work, my work?
I think I will ask it of myself… although I have an idea.
I wrote a poem purposefully trying NOT to make it spiritual and all the comments were “so spiritual so spiritual so spiritual…”
Is it helpful to note that everything you posted here to show off yourself is in some shade of pink?
Ooo, interesting observation! It’s funny because as a kid I hated pink and reds, didn’t want to be girly AT ALL. As an adult I seem to gravitate towards those colors…something about feminine cute…hmm. Thanks for your input, it’s helping me already…
Reading from this post, I can tell you have a very good understanding of your art direction. You’re willing to try and in the process of developing your style.
These are my impression of your “style”: Simple graphic but very expressive.
Does it make sense?
P.S. Really appreciate your comment to my latest drawing. I treasure as I work quite hard to improve my skill with each artwork.
Thanks for stopping by and keep at your artwork because it’s fantastic! I’m so honored you say I know where I’m going, because sometimes it doesn’t feel that way…haha! I appreciate your comment, because coming from a more straight edge graphic design background my work does have that clean and simple feel at times…
Cheerful, fun, whimsical, happy. I ask myself this same question often. I have a way that I draw birds that I think people who know my art would recognize. But awhile back I started doing more whimsical owls, in a flat, graphic style, and I kept feeling like I wasn’t supposed to be doing that because it wasn’t “my” style. Maybe that’s why I haven’t really finished any of them.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you get that happy vibe, because it’s something I want to share with my work…however I do have a serious side that sometimes people find sort of scary goth – if that makes sense…hmm. Thanks for leaving me the comments, it makes me happy
And I have to say that experimentation sometimes leads to finding something you don’t like doing, which is totally cool. I think you take what you want from your learnings and that’s why everyone is a unique mix!
I think you’ve got good direction and input from the comments above! Sometimes, I’m still trying to figure out mine; it’s evolving! Excellent question. And, thanks for stopping by my blog!
Love that you mentioned it’s evolving…you are right that we are constantly changing in style no matter what…interesting interesting!
Dearest linda, this is such an inspiring post for i find myself asking that question so very often. I think you are off to a good start and direction! It’s always fun and very nice to experiment on different things and allow our creations to evolve. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Thanks Jacqueline – you are always so supportive, I really appreciate that because it does help me so much. Hope you have a great day and inspired to explore a bit about your own style
Linda, your work is joyful, playful and whimsicle, full of movement, spontonaity and movement! At least that is what I think:)
(just don’t trust my spelling LOL!)
Thanks Lindsay! Oo, full of movement, that is interesting indeed! I’ve always had trouble drawing characters in motion, but maybe it’s not the literal depiction of movement that matters. ooo… now I’m getting all deep and spiritual…ahha!
When I see your work, I think happy. And that is a very good thing to be!
Hi Pam – thank you for saying that…I sooo want to share happy things…I think we have to enjoy, laugh, love and all that good stuff in life!
I think it’s always wonderful when we take a change with our artistic style to better it. This is great and you are off to a good start. At least you got to do some spring cleaning and getting your space together. It’s all willy nilly over here in Jersey. Thanks so much for coming over to my house, but yours is the place to be!!! Lot’s of creative juice flowing over there.
Have a good one!
Hi Vanessa – Thanks for your advice and encouragement, I really do appreciate it! Hopefully I can mold all this juice together…heeh!
Hi Linda, thanks for your comments. I too find it hard to find my definite style there are just so many ways of doing something. I think comming from a Graphic Design background you tend to be a bit of a chameleon trying to please clients with different styles. I am tying to at least have sets of work that are similar just so I can fully explore a particular style. Who says you cant have more than one?
Ooo, good point…I’m so used to doing what someone else wants! But I agree perhaps it’s nice to have multiple styles…hmm…