Developing a Personal Painting Style

Matisse – Chrysanthemums in a Chinese Vase (1902) – private collection

“It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else.” Henri Matisse  

A lot has been written about the development of artistic style. Aren’t we all familiar with the many old saws quoted and over-quoted about it?

There’s: The green is always grassier on someone else’s palette.

And: Which comes first – the artist or the style?

Then there’s the one about inspiration versus perspiration. (I never was great at math so I forget the percentages here, but I do know it comes down heavily on the side of exercise!).

In the final analysis, developing a personal painting style can be summed up quite simply: All good things come to those who paint.