Charting Your Artistic Preferences: A Guided Reflection Tool for Artists
This chart is inspired by Alex Powers’ book Painting People in Watercolor (page 95), where he encourages artists to examine their preferences across a variety of visual categories. Powers originally designed the chart for artists to analyze how they work—whether they gravitate toward light or dark values, shape or line, spontaneous or controlled paint handling, and so on.
While I love the idea, I’ve adapted it in a more intuitive way. Instead of treating it as a formal analysis, I like using it as a gut-check: what am I leaning into these days? I know the process isn’t black-and-white—sometimes I fall somewhere in between—but checking in with where I currently stand helps me stay grounded while giving myself permission to grow.
How To Use This Chart
This chart is a way to pinpoint your preferences in different areas of your creative practice. It’s a tool to revisit every few months to see if your approach evolves or to help you decide what resonates most with you in any given moment.
For now, to simplify things, I’m selecting one preference from each category that best resonates with where I am right now. This approach will help me stay focused on my current creative flow while still allowing space for growth and change.
Creative Preferences Reflection Chart
This chart is inspired by Alex Powers’ book Painting People in Watercolor (page 95), where he encourages artists to analyze their stylistic preferences across many visual categories. While Powers presents the chart as a formal analytical tool, I’ve adapted it into something more intuitive: a way to check in with what I currently lean toward in my creative process. Sometimes it’s not black and white—I often fall somewhere in between. That’s why I’ve reimagined this chart as a reflection scale rather than a set of checkboxes.
You can revisit this tool every few months and see how your inclinations evolve. Simply circle or mark your place on each line to represent your current leaning.
Art Preferences Reflection Scales
Transparent ⟷ Opaque Medium
Transparent: Allows light in, creating luminosity.
Opaque: Blocks light, creating solid, vivid surfaces.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Small ⟷ Large Brushes
Small: Precision and detail.
Large: Bold, expressive marks.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Technique ⟷ Design
Technique: Skill-driven, focused on how paint is handled.
Design: Composition-driven, focused on how elements are arranged.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Dry ⟷ Wet Paper
Dry: Crisp edges, controlled application.
Wet: Soft blends, unpredictable flow.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Controlled ⟷ Free Paint Handling
Controlled: Intentional, precise strokes.
Free: Spontaneous, loose, organic motion.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Line ⟷ Shape Dominance
Line: Edges and outlines lead the form.
Shape: Mass and form take priority.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Value ⟷ Color Priority
Value: Light/dark contrast drives emotion.
Color: Hue choices carry the emotional weight.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Paper-Doll ⟷ Silhouette Figures
Paper-Doll: Stylized, decorative figures.
Silhouette: Emotional shapes emphasized through outline.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤High Key ⟷ Low Key
High Key: Light tones, airy atmosphere.
Low Key: Dark values, dramatic mood.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Large Light Planes ⟷ Large Shadow Planes
Light: Broad light areas dominate.
Shadow: Dark shadow areas dominate.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Panoramic ⟷ Close-Up
Panoramic: Wide views, expansive scenes.
Close-Up: Intimate focus, personal details.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Sharp ⟷ Blurred Edges
Sharp: Defined edges, clarity.
Blurred: Soft edges, dreamy transitions.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Textured ⟷ Smooth Surface
Textured: Rough paper, visible grain.
Smooth: Fluid blending, clean transitions.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Abrupt ⟷ Subtle Transitions
Abrupt: Quick, bold shifts.
Subtle: Gradual, seamless flow.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Contour ⟷ Gesture Lines
Contour: Careful, defined outlines.
Gesture: Expressive, dynamic movement.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Local ⟷ Arbitrary Color
Local: Realistic, naturalistic hues.
Arbitrary: Emotional, unexpected choices.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Cool ⟷ Warm Colors
Cool: Calming blues, greens, purples.
Warm: Energetic reds, oranges, yellows.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Bright ⟷ Earth Colors
Bright: Vibrant, popping hues.
Earth: Grounded, muted tones.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Abstraction ⟷ Realism
Abstraction: Stylized, expressive distortions.
Realism: Faithful, detailed representation.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Semi-Abstraction ⟷ Fully Abstract or Realistic
Semi-Abstraction: A blend of abstraction and realism.
Fully Abstract or Realistic: Committed to one direction.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Abbreviated ⟷ Detailed
Abbreviated: Minimal, suggestive marks.
Detailed: Careful, intricate description.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Vignette ⟷ Painted Corner to Corner (Full)
Vignette: Fades or leaves edges open.
Full: Fills the entire surface.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Horizontal ⟷ Vertical Orientation
Horizontal: Landscape, calm balance.
Vertical: Portrait, emotional gravity.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Right Angles ⟷ Oblique Angles
Right Angles: Balanced, structured.
Oblique: Diagonals, dynamic tension.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Static ⟷ Rhythmical Imagery
Static: Still, composed.
Rhythmical: Flowing, interacting movement.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Geometric ⟷ Organic Shapes
Geometric: Constructed, angular.
Organic: Natural, flowing.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Predictable ⟷ Unpredictable Imagery
Predictable: Pre-planned, structured.
Unpredictable: Intuitive, evolving.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Subject Matter ⟷ Design Priority
Subject: Story or emotion is primary.
Design: Visual arrangement is primary.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Informal ⟷ Formal Imagery
Informal: Relaxed, casual.
Formal: Polished, refined.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Impulsive ⟷ Analytical
Impulsive: Instinctive, spontaneous.
Analytical: Logical, methodical.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Visual ⟷ Intellectual Inspiration
Visual: Driven by imagery and sensation.
Intellectual: Driven by ideas and concepts.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Nature-Based ⟷ Art History Aesthetic
Nature-Based: Inspired by organic forms.
Art History: Influenced by artistic traditions.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Beautiful ⟷ Character Models
Beautiful: Idealized, polished figures.
Character: Expressive, distinctive individuality.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Chaos ⟷ Repetition
Chaos: Wild, unpredictable energy.
Repetition: Patterned, orderly structure.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Serene ⟷ Busy
Serene: Calm, minimal, quiet.
Busy: Detailed, active, energetic.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Paint for Show ⟷ Paint for Sale
Show: Expressive, personal vision.
Sale: Client-focused, market-oriented.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤Process ⟷ Product Focus
Process: The act of creating matters most.
Product: The final result matters most.
⬤ — — — — — — ⬤
🌿 My Current Leanings (Spring 2025)
Here’s where I find myself leaning these days in my creative process. These choices aren’t fixed — they ebb and flow with the seasons of my life and artistic growth. But right now, this is what feels true:
Transparent — Watercolor is my primary language; I love how light breathes through it.
Small Brushes — I reach for precision and nuance, especially in toddler portraits.
Technique — I focus on how the paint is handled more than the overall design (though I want to strengthen my composition).
Wet Paper — I love soft blends and the unpredictable magic water brings.
Controlled Paint Handling — I’m intuitive but guide the flow once I sense the emotion.
Shape Dominance — I build forms through mass and value rather than outlines.
Color Priority — Color choices carry the emotional weight of my work.
Silhouette — I’m drawn to evocative shapes that suggest rather than explain.
Low Key — I often lean into quiet, contemplative moods with darker harmonies.
Large Light Planes — I carve out forms using light; even my shadows stay delicate.
Close-Up — My portraits feel intimate, focused, and personal.
Blurred Edges — I soften transitions to create tenderness or ambiguity.
Textured Surface — I embrace granulation and the tooth of the paper.
Subtle Transitions — I favor gradual, seamless shifts even in intense moments.
Gesture Lines — Movement and emotion matter more to me than precision.
Arbitrary Color — I choose hues that feel right, not just what I see.
Cool Colors — I gravitate toward calm, melancholic palettes.
Bright Colors — I love using unrealistic, surprising tones in skin and portraits.
Semi-Abstraction — I balance recognizable forms with emotional looseness.
Vignette — I let figures breathe with unfinished or softened edges.
Vertical Orientation — There’s psychological depth I love in vertical formats.
Oblique Angles — Tilted lines and compositions keep the energy alive.
Rhythmical Imagery — I enjoy implied movement and poetic flow.
Organic Shapes — My work reflects life: curved, asymmetrical, alive.
Unpredictable Imagery — I may start with a plan, but intuition often takes over.
Subject Matter Priority — Stories and emotion come before visual arrangement.
Informal Imagery — I like keeping things personal and open to interpretation.
Impulsive — My best work emerges when I stop overthinking and just act.
Visual Inspiration — A glance, a gesture, a color drives me more than concepts.
Art History Aesthetic — I’m shaped by masters like Klimt, Van Gogh, and Turner.
Character Models — I value expressive individuality over idealized beauty.
Repetition — I revisit themes like motherhood, identity, and unspoken emotion.
Serene Energy — Even when intense, there’s usually a quiet center in my work.
Chaos — I let wild, intuitive elements surface rather than following strict patterns.
Serene — My compositions often feel minimal, calm, and spacious.
Show — I paint for personal expression, not primarily for sales.
Process Focus — The act of painting itself brings me home to who I am.
By periodically checking in with this chart, you can track how your preferences evolve over time. For now, I’m selecting one preference in each category that feels most true to where I am in my creative journey. This simple approach helps me stay focused and grounded while also allowing me the flexibility to change and grow as an artist.
If you're doing this too, I encourage you to select just one preference from each section for now and see how it aligns with your current creative flow. As we evolve as artists, our choices will change, but it's important to understand what drives us in the moment.
