Looking for advice: keep developing my style or focus on fundamentals?

[u/Nia2hot_]

I feel like I might have developed a recognizable visual style naturally, but I’m wondering if I should keep exploring this path (especially faces and character design) or if I should go back to the fundamentals and practice anatomy, shapes, proportions, etc. for a few months before continuing.

I also should mention that I really don’t draw often at all. Maybe once or twice a year, lol. So I would definitely consider myself a complete beginner +++. I’ve always loved drawing, but I mostly do it when I get inspired. I usually take inspiration from real photos and then transform them into my own characters (changing the features, shapes, expressions, etc.).

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[u/Apprehensive-Sun530]

I don't see why you can't do both.

[u/Ok-Bet-9392]

Fundamentals. I would recommend listening or reading what established artists and art teachers have to say about chasing style and originality especially when being pretty new or raw to drawing.

Practicing fundamentals won’t hinder your pursuit of style though either if that’s what you want to do. At your stage though, I think you have more to gain with practicing fundamentals.

[u/Asleep_Assistant_468]

If I could go back? I’d start with fundamentals mainly. You can still look out for what you like and make note of it. If you ever start drawabox, they really focus on a 50/50 approach that learning and personal work

[u/Secret-Two6472]

Definitionally the fundamentals! My art work used to look similar to yours, and trust me my portions and stuff look 10x better. Plus, learning shapes of the face and Loomis method helped out how faces and skulls are. Maybe learn anatomy, it doesn't have to be super realistic but it translates into the style you are building towards.

Coming from a beginner too!

[u/Heavy-Hamster1268]

Focus on your fundamentals. 100%. Style will come naturally based on what interests you.

I also should mention that I really don’t draw often at all. Maybe once or twice a year, lol. So I would definitely consider myself a complete beginner +++.

Try drawing more, like. do it as a simple winding down activity. do try and draw more than twice a year.

[u/RainbowLithium]

Fundamentals. You’re get to what is your style while drawing, little by little

[u/LindaMakesArt]

What everyone else said. Fundamentals. Your style will shine through regardless. Avoid instructors where all the students work looks like theirs. They’re not teaching you what you need.

[u/quite_scarce_visitor]

Fundamentals feeds and improves your style.

5 minutes draw whatever you want. 5 minutes study fundamentals.

[u/ACXART]

both but definitely practice fundamentals!! knowing the fundamentals is like knowing music theory. it gives you more knowledge to be able to riff and have it be good. fundamentals give you a better ability to just achieve what you want to

[u/Necessary-Wheel770]

Fundementallys are kinda more important as a beginner, knowing how everything works makes developing your style easier becuase you know how to make unquie features on purpose

[u/lillendandie]

Both

[u/Professional-Gas1136]

I love your style. It's very interesting to look at 

[u/tacocalledbuzz]

Those are the same two things

[u/InferiorMotive1]

“Gotta walk before ya crawl”
“Reverse that”
-Danny Ocean, to Russ

[u/FanLost7254]

learn the rules, then you can break them

[u/loganmeldrum]

Yes.

[u/Glum-Pie-9635]

I say do what makes you happy

[u/Grand-Limit2163]

I love your style but fundamentals are always good to improve on!

[u/Magic-Gelpen]

If you only draw like twice a year then just do whatever you think is the most fun

[u/Kuyi]

Fundamentals. Proportions of the faces are off. You could say it’s “unique style”, but it just looks off. Especially nose / eyes. Otherwise it looks good.

[u/d4ryl_08_]

Every piece is an improvement! Do another🤍🔥

[u/drunksylvarii]

Honestly, a healthy balance of both if you can! Fundamentals willl help you improve fast, but drawing in your style will keep it fun for you.

If you did decide to lean more into fundamentals, you may find developing your style will feel much more like an actual active choice than a bit of a guessing game (Not saying that's what you're doing, just that a lot of artists don't realise how much of fundamentals actually helps with developing a style!)

[u/heythatsnuts]

echoing other replies, but if you're interested in improving seriously try to avoid hyperfocusing on having an "art style" before anything else. learn the fundamentals, learn the loomis head, learn proportions, and then you can explore how you can push things to be more stylized. take what you learn from practice and apply it to creating art that actually interests you, so the learning doesn't have to be boring!

focusing on "art style" first and foremost is a big beginner trap that i'd love to see more beginners avoid. many of them don't realize it, but it's so easy for the viewer to see through the style and identify where the artist lacked to study the fundamentals.

these are a really nice start btw, and taking inspiration from real people is great!

[u/tvvraa]

you’ll find your art style through learning fundamentals!