I used to think trying a new art style meant abandoning everything I’d built. That I’d confuse my audience. That I’d look like I didn’t know who I was.
But I’ve learned something honest and a little freeing: Your style doesn’t arrive all at once. It arrives in pieces, collected through curiosity.
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If you’ve ever felt fear around trying a new technique, subject, or approach—this is for you.
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1. I stopped waiting to feel “ready.”
You’ll never feel 100% ready to try something new. It’s uncomfortable by design. But the only way to find your unique expression is to move before you're confident. I started sketching new styles on weekends or when no one was watching. No pressure, no expectations.
If I had stopped at my awkward first attempt at florals, then I would have never learned the techniques I know today. The truth is: confidence follows action, not the other way around. Every artist you admire started somewhere awkward.
Try This: Give yourself permission to make “bad” art in a new style. It’s not failure—it’s field research.
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2. I embraced visual inconsistency.
My sketchbook used to feel like a mismatch of random ideas. Now, I see it as a map of my growth. Artists like Picasso, Klimt, and Kusama went through multiple phases. Visual inconsistency isn’t a flaw—it’s evolution. Your creative journey isn't meant to be a straight line. Think of it more like a garden where different plants bloom in different seasons.
Try This: Flip through your old work and highlight what still excites you. That’s your taste peeking through.
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3. I let myself copy—for a little while.
Not to steal, but to study. I let myself recreate works by artists I admired (in private) just to see how it felt in my hand. Eventually, I blended those elements with my own voice. Think of it like learning a language. You start by repeating phrases, then eventually you're having your own conversations.
Try This: Pick a style you admire and recreate it your way. Ask yourself what you liked—and what you’d change.
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4. I limited my tools, not my ideas.
One of the most liberating things I did was to limit my brushes, colors, or canvas sizes. This gave me freedom to explore style without overwhelm. Constraints became creativity. This is why my mini-courses focus on just a few tools—mastery comes from depth, not endless options.
Try This: Create 3 pieces using only 1 brush, 3 colors, and 1 subject. See what changes when your tools stay the same.
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5. I let it be weird.
Some of my favorite style breakthroughs happened when I made something that felt awkward, too bold, or “not me.” But those pieces held clues to my next chapter. Weird is memorable. Safe is forgettable. Your unique edge often lives in the space that makes you a little nervous.
Try This: Draw something strange on purpose. Let it be unpolished. Let it be fun.
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Every style we admire was once new to its creator. Trying new styles doesn’t mean starting over—it means continuing forward.
And the more you explore, the more your true style will emerge. So go ahead—experiment with that technique that intimidates you. Play with that color palette you've been eyeing. Draw that subject that seems "not your thing."
The worst that can happen is you make something that doesn't work. The best that can happen? You discover another piece of your artistic voice.
I'd love to see what you're experimenting with! Remember—the only wrong move is not moving at all. ✨
With curiosity and courage,
Freya đź’–
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P.S.
✨ Want to explore this with me? Stay tuned for the launch of my upcoming course: Procreate Masterclass Vol. 2. Lesson 1 will be all about Finding Your Art Style.
Courses and brushes by Freya Kotchakorn helped mored than 10.000 students excel in Procreate drawings.
