Recently I was watching a series of specials on jazz legends. What was interesting to me was how I was able to listen and distinguish between the sound of different musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gilespie and Miles Davis even though they all played the same instrument (trumpet). Each one had their own way of holding the instrument and their own style of playing. As a result, each produced their own unique sound.
It’s very much the same with artists. Just like musicians play different instruments, artists use different media, such as paint, clay, etc. to make their “music”. As artists use specific media, they also develop a style that is distinct because of the way they hold and manipulate the media and their specific way of seeing things.
In His awesome wonder and glory, God created no two people exactly the same, and no two people see the world exactly the same way. As an artist, my method of observing the world around me and then interpreting what I see greatly contributes to my style of painting. Although someone can imitate another artist, they can never truly duplicate that artist’s work. I no longer compare my work to other artists’ as a determining factor for whether it’s good or not, because I think, “What would have happened if Picasso had compared himself to Michaelangelo? He might never have painted again!”
I have my own unique artistic voice that evolves along with me. My only limitations are the ones I place on myself — so the sky IS my limit!