Finding your artistic style isn’t just about creating more art—it’s about learning to notice what calls to you visually and emotionally. In this guide, I share a framework for using visual analysis to uncover your creative instincts and build a cohesive body of work. By studying five core elements—form, space, rhythm, contrast, and symbolism—you’ll gain deeper clarity on what defines your voice as an artist. Whether you’re starting a new project or refining your portfolio, these tools can help you connect the dots between inspiration and expression.

Every painting is a reflection of where I am in that moment—not just technically, but emotionally. This chart isn’t about choosing sides; it’s about pausing to notice where I’m leaning and why. By naming my current artistic preferences, I’m creating space to grow while honoring the season I’m in.

After my interview with Kelogsloops, something he said stayed with me—how in high school studio art, he was encouraged to reflect on exactly why he loved certain artworks. That one habit helped him stay grounded in his journey as an artist. Later, I stumbled on a forgotten sketchbook from 2021, tucked away during my time in Singapore, where I had unknowingly done the same thing. This blog shares that exercise—a map I didn’t realize I had drawn for myself, and one I now return to when I feel unsure of my artistic voice.

I didn’t expect a conversation with Kelogsloops to take me back twenty years—to the quiet pages of my high school visual arts journal. But when he mentioned how his “Studio Art” class had him constantly reflecting on what he loved in others’ work and his own, something clicked. It reminded me of the IB Visual Arts criteria I’d once lived by—and forgotten. This blog is my way back to that compass. If you’ve ever felt lost in your style, this might help you find your way too.