Develop Your Style

Today, I’m sharing a few thoughts on how to develop your style in terms of artistry and memory keeping.

Develop Your Style

Origins

Experience comes through showing up and walking the talk.

I have been an ‘official’ memory keeper since 2002 when Ella, my first child arrived in this world, but the introduction to this ‘sport’ was sparked early in childhood.

• I remember my Mum drawing outlines just so I could fill them with pieces of cut fabric and paper well before the age of 5.
• I gathered photos and brochures on our travels just so I could cut them up and stick them in books with words.
• I created my first scrapbook before the age of 10 as part of a school trip.

Note. I began making art at my parents coffee table scribbling with crayons before I could even walk.

Maybe I was born to make art but I have firm beliefs that everyone can do this too.

The secret lies in showing up to your art on a regular basis and establishing a practice that works for you.

Finding your Style is just a by product of the process and reveals itself in time.

Step 1. Mimicry

Year 2004 | Daddy’s Boots

We learn new skills from imitating or copying others.

• Young children learn from their older siblings.
• Teens are very much influenced by their peers.
• Adults have goals and aspire to be like leaders in those skill sets.

It’s a smart, human and a proven way to learn and grow in any discipline.

• Find a layout or person’s style you like and then you emulate it.

Note. This is exactly how I started my journey in digital artistry and memory keeping – I discovered the art of celebrating photos with artistry and words, saw a blended digital page and here I am still learning almost 18 years later.

Year 2004 | Layouts using my first collections of DigitalART (The Miracle CD Collection)

Step 2. Practice

Layouts | Years 2006, 2008, 2010

Show up regularly to make the magic happen.

• Some people maybe more gifted in areas than others but talent can only take you so far.
• It’s unusual to try something for the first time and the result meet expectations.
• To get really GOOD at something takes commitment and discipline.
• You have to show up with frequency to see improvement.
• It’s not the amount of time but how OFTEN.
• Consistency and REPETITION are key.

And it’s all a matter of priority.

• Everyone has the SAME amount of TIME and so this argument is therefore irrelevant.
• When you say you don’t have time, you mean it’s not a PRIORITY right now.
• This can change as our lives evolve or you decide to make a change.
• Find SPACE, mentally and physically, to fit a creative practice into your life.
• Give up one thing in order to make room for another.

Layouts | Years 2012, 2014 and 2016 |

Aim for each and every day.

• Frequency builds HABIT which then becomes a integrated part of your life.
• This process happens over time and requires patience.
• Try a Layout a Day project for a period of at least 21 days to establish a habit.

Note. Photoshop, photo artistry and memory keeping have been an almost DAILY practice in the past 17 1/2 years.

• I began with creating layouts, then progressed to creating photo projects such as [aalogo] Project and FotoInspired
• This has cumulatively provided me with experience to share what I have learned.

Tip. See [aalogo] Project 15 Year Evolution

FotoInspired | Years 2011, 2012 and 2013

Step 3. Observe

Year 2007 | Addicted to Type

Notice how you FEEL.

• Be present in the process of emulation and and practice.
• Take note of which techniques, approaches and finished layouts you LOVE.
• What was it about the process or the finished piece that you really like?
• Consider also what you do NOT like.
• Paying attention to these small details will give important information and lead you an a journey of your own personal STYLE personal.

Do what you love.

• Cliche but true.
• Like attracts like.
• Enjoying the process will lead to layouts you also ENJOY.
• The journey is just as important, and often as big an influence, to the mood at the destination.
• How often has a terrible journey tainted one of your holidays/vacations?

Note. Blending, Brushes and Blending Modes have always been the key component to driving what I do around here and keeping me interested in this sport.

Layouts | Years 2017, 2018 and 2019

Step 4. Evolution

Year 2005 | Possibilities

Transformation is a natural progression.

In other words, if you pay attention and practice steps 1-3, you will automatically  get to step 4.

• MIMIC so you can learn.
• PRACTICE so you can hone your skills
• OBSERVE so you can establish what works (and doesn’t work) for you.
• EVOLVE based on what inspires and excites YOU the most.
• STYLE just magically happens in the process.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

But flaws appear when you try adopt this approach long term.

• You will never be able to fully create another person’s style.
• Like a finger print, artistic or creative styles is personal to you.
• Frustration often follows which takes away from the joy.
• You might just give up on something really GOOD.

This is the most important part of the process and where many memory keepers and artists fail.

Note. I have tried LOTS of different approaches over the years in terms of my layouts, photo projects, products and classes.

• Digital, tactile, graphic, minimalist, traditional, modern, mixed media, and art journaling approaches have ALL been part of the journey.
• I have identified what I LOVE most about each one, as well as what works, and blended ONLY these parts into my artistry.
• This has provided the inspiration and opportunity to experiment more deeply with those areas of interest
• And with practice and patience the ‘artsy’ STYLE that I share with you today has come into play.

DigitalART | Years 2004, 2008 and 2019

Step #5 Non-Conformity (Optional)

Year 20017 | Shop

Learn the rules so you can break them.

• The beauty of art is that there are few boundaries.
• This can lead to an endless journey of exploration and discovery.
• You control the process but can ALWAYS be surprised by the outcome.

Step outside your comfort zone.

• Be curious instead of fearful.
• Have faith and perseverance.
• Do the work.

Year 2019 | My Most Recent Layout

Note. I purposefully look for ways to be different and authentic in my artistry and memory keeping. I will often try projects and approaches and then modify them to make them suit me better.

This has certainly been the case with the upcoming [aalogo] Project:

• Started as a desire to document Ella’s first Christmas,
• Evolved into trying Ali Edwards December Daily
• Now it is so much MORE than a Holiday project.

This annual project has become a way to reflect and reminisce on the months, years and decades of my life.

• Enables me to create at least one photo book per year.
• Humors my sentimentality at the end of that year (with festive feels if I feel so inclined.)
• Celebrates what’s most MEANINGFUL to me at that moment in time.
• Makes me feel really GOOD about my life and the people I share it with.

Note. This year I will be doing a ‘Then and Now’ album, comparing life in 2009 with 2019, comparing what’s changed and what has remained the same.

Want to join me and start developing your own style?

 [aalogo] Project 2019 begins SOON.

• You are invited to MIMIC the ideas and inspiration to be shared by myself, the [aalogo] Creative Team, as well as other students in the class.
• This template based workshop provides the ability to PRACTICE and focus on developing your artistry skills (because the basic layout design is provided) and build a layout creating habit in the month of December to take you into the new year and decade.
• You have the opportunity to OBSERVE what works and doesn’t under my guidance via our exclusive Facebook group or direct email support.
• Follow these 3 steps and your artistry will begin to EVOLVE.
• Go for the NON-CONFORMITY, break your own rules, step outside your comfort zone and come with me on this journey.

You also get this BONUS DigitalART Bundle:

Ask yourself is it a matter of can’t or won’t?

Special Pricing ENDS 30 November 2019 at Midnight

Learn MORE and REGISTER HERE.