how do you study an art style how do you learn a specific art style how do you analyze art styles how do you find your art style in this style study session we will use these six qualities of style to not only better understand the artist we study but also to apply these ideas to better develop your own unique style in your art for this study session I chose an artist whose work challenges our perceptions of space time and history Julie maretu if you want to ch choose an artist for me to study living or
dead be sure to comment the name of that artist in the comments below so I can use your feedback for a future study session hi I'm Carrie here on artist strong I help self-taught artists with home Studios who feel stuck with their art move from wondering what's next to confidently expressing themselves through unique original art to date thousands have joined the community if you feel like gaps in your learning hold you back from making your best art sign up and watch my workshop called how to create art from your imagination it's completely free and the
link is in the description below now let's jump into today's style study session I mentioned at the beginning that we will use the six qualities of style to discuss the work but how do you define Style and what are these six qualities I have a full video on that that I've linked for you here and Below but let's have a short primer style is the unique way in which anart artist shares their voice in their art people often see someone's work and recognize it as theirs because of their style it has six qualities which include
the elements and principles of art medium and materials genre theme influence personal experience elements and principles of art Julie maru's work is often described as a fusion of abstraction and Architectural forms she uses lines shapes and layers to create Dynamic compositions that convey movement Chaos and Order all at once moretsu Line work is delicate yes yet assertive with marks that range from fine and precise to Broad and gestural her use of transparency and layering adds depth to her work inviting viewers to explore the complexity of her compositions the principles of Rhythm balance and contrast are
Central to her style as she navigates the tension between order and disorder in her large scale canvases medium and materials moru Works in a variety of media including ink acrylic graphite and Screen Printing her large scale paintings often start with digital renderings or architectural plans which she then overlays with layers of paint and ink she builds her compositions through a process of addition and subtraction erasing and reworking sections of her canvases to create a sense of history and transformation her choice of materials allows her to explore both precision and spontaneity blending the technical with the
intuitive in her creative process genre maru's work is often categorized as abstract but it incorporates elements of mapping architecture and cartography her paintings blur the boundaries between abstraction and representation as she deconstructs and reinterprets the visual language of cities Landscapes and history while her work does not fit neatly into one genre it's often seen as a broader tradition of contemporary abstract art that engages with social and political issues two things stand out to me personally first I love how she talks about Landscapes and in one interview talks about all Landscapes being political I have never
thought about that genre and tradition of landscape art quite in this way despite knowing several landscape movements were tied to religion for example secondly I'm drawn to her decision to communicate story through abstraction and having a commitment to abstraction as a means to digest her own experiences as well as how we are all process accessing social cultural moments in time for someone who works more concretely and with a level of realism in most of my work it's completely inspiring to see how she uses abstraction as a tool and a means to convey meaning theme a
central theme in maru's work is the exploration of space both physical and conceptual her paintings often reference Urban Landscapes historical events and the movement of people across borders she uses abstraction as a way to address complex themes such as migration displacement and the intersection of different cultures moro's work invites viewers to consider the ways in which space time and identity are interconnected and how they shape our understanding of the world her process at times has included using images from broadcast and media about social unrest conflict and Injustice but then they are ultimately hidden by her
marks while simultaneously helping guide her Mark making in some ways her paintings are a cycle ological documentation of events influence ru's influences are wide ranging reflecting her interest in both art history and contemporary culture she draws inspiration from artists such as Jackson Pollock with his emphasis on gesture and action and kmir malovich with his exploration of pure abstraction her work is also informed by her background in architecture and her interest in the built environment additionally she's influenced by global events and political movements which she incor inates into her work through references to Maps news imagery
and historical documents personal experience maru's personal experience as a global citizen is deeply embedded in her art born in Ethiopia and raised in the United States she has lived and worked in various parts of the world and her work reflects this transnational perspective her experiences of migration and displacement are Central to her exploration of space and identity moro's art is also Al a reflection of her ongoing engagement with social and political issues as well as using her work to question and challenge dominant narratives about history and power how to apply this to your art studying
Julie maru's style can offer valuable insights for your own artistic practice start by exploring her use of line and layering try creating a composition that builds up in layers erasing and reworking as you go or consider how you can use abstraction to address themes that are important to you whether they are personal political or conceptual think about how you can incorporate a sense of space and movement into your work whether through the use of architectural forms mapping or other visual references when you study an artist in their style it's important to consider not just the
technical aspects of their work but also the ideas and influences that drive their creative process look at the six qualities of style to help you understand how maru's work is shaped by her materials her influences and her experiences and think about how these elements can inform your own art this is the kind of thing I do inside self-taught to self-confident where I guide people through filling in any gaps in their skill so they confidently Express themselves through unique original art we have an entire section dedicated to developing an understanding of our own influences and how
to make choices moving forward that reflect our unique vision and voice for our art if that sounds exciting to you you can learn more when you sign up for my workshop called how to create art from your imagination for free you'll enjoy a taste of my teaching learn more about the program and get a special 7-Day enrollment offer when you sign up use the link here or in the comments below Julie maredu is a powerful example of an artist who uses abstraction to engage with complex social and political issues her work demonstrates the ways in
which style can be both a personal expression and a reflection of the world around us as you continue to develop your own artistic style remember that the connections between your work will grow deeper as you consciously use the qualities of style in your art so tell me what's one thing you've learned about style today that can help your art share it in the comments below and if you enjoyed today's video please like And subscribe to artist strong videos like today happen because people take the time to to subscribe and comment don't miss your chance to
direct artist strong content as always thank you so much for watching Remember proudly call yourself an artist together we are artist strong