Hey everyone, how are you doing?
I bet that at least once, you have come across discussions online about drawing styles.
Most of them are just a waste of time, and it’s much better to learn from each other.
With that in mind, even though our main focus is realism, we want to share a little about each of the most famous drawing styles so you can get inspired or even discover a new passion.
Now let’s get started. In this article, we’ll talk about drawing styles:
What are drawing styles?
Drawing styles are basically different ways of representing something on paper or any other medium we use to create art.
For example, if you want to communicate with children, one style may work better than another.
If you want to create humor, another style might fit better. If you want to tell a more serious story, a different style would probably work better, and so on.
How many drawing styles are there and what are they?
There are many drawing styles, and new ones can appear over time depending on many different factors.
Culture, the way artists want to express themselves, what is popular at the moment, and much more.
Besides that, some styles mix with others, creating completely new ways of drawing.
Because of this, we’ll focus on the most basic, famous, and established styles that have great importance in art.
Let’s take a look at the 9 most famous ones. Check them out below:
1 – Realism or Realistic Drawing
This is the style that tries to reproduce reality as faithfully as possible.
With it, it can feel like we are drawing something that actually exists.
Sometimes it can even be confused with a real person, making people wonder if a realistic drawing is actually a photograph because it looks so similar.
It is very different from the other styles we’ll see next.
2 – Manga / Anime
This style is extremely popular in Japan and has very specific characteristics.
Things like stylized eyes and expressions are what we see when reading manga or watching anime, just like the name suggests.
For example: Naruto, Dragon Ball, One Piece, or Black Clover.
This is the manga style, and probably everyone here has drawn something like this at some point in their lives.
3 – Cartoon
This style is more simplified and based on basic geometric shapes compared to many other drawing styles.
It is often created for children because it is easier for them to understand and enjoy.
Like those cartoons on TV that kids love because they are fun and easy to follow.
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4 – Caricature
In caricature, what stands out the most is exaggeration.
A mouth that is made even bigger if the person already has a big mouth, eyes that become even more noticeable if the person has a unique eye shape, and so on.
Any feature that represents the person’s personality can be exaggerated to make the drawing funny and humorous.
Simple lines, simple shapes, and a type of drawing that allows artists to finish faster and bring joy to people.
5 – Abstract Drawing
Abstract drawing is a style that, as the name suggests, does not represent something concrete.
It uses shapes and colors that explore imagination, and it is often mistaken for random scribbles or just a canvas covered in paint.
However, with study and technique, we can understand that these artworks are not random. Everything is created with a purpose and to express something, not just to make random marks.
Lack of information is one of the reasons this type of art is sometimes not valued.
6 – Graffiti
This is the style we see on city walls and buildings, usually created with spray paint, brushes, and other painting techniques.
It is a form of urban art that uses letters and images to communicate messages and often express social criticism.
Many people confuse it with vandalism because they do not know enough about this type of art and its role in culture.
7 – Comics or Comic Book Art
This is the style used in comic books, with panels, speech bubbles, dialogue, and everything else that makes up a comic story.
For example, if you like Marvel, you can see this style in Spider-Man stories.
It focuses more on dynamic poses and ways of expressing the personality and characteristics of characters.
Each artist has their own way of expressing this style, so it is not limited to just one type of line or drawing method.
However, these are some of the most common characteristics we talked about.
8 – Chibi
This style combines a cute childish feeling with cartoon characteristics.
It is like an even more childlike version of characters, commonly used in anime for younger audiences.
Babies and young children are attracted to simple shapes, bright colors, and designs without too many details.
The mouth and nose are usually less defined, while the heads and eyes are much bigger.
The colors are also very eye-catching, making the characters even more colorful and appealing.
Of course, just because a style is known for attracting children does not mean it can only be used for that.
It is not an absolute rule. It can also be used for artwork with more mature themes.
9 – Doodle
Doodle is like a balanced mix between abstract and concrete elements.
You create patterns using geometric shapes, lines inside them, curves, stars, dots, circles, and many other elements.
The word “doodle” means a simple drawing or scribble, which is why this style is made from many small drawings combined in a creative way.
At the end, it creates a very unique and stylish piece of art.
What is the best drawing style?
One style is not better than another. They are simply different ways of representing something, and it depends a lot on the message or feeling we want to communicate.
Our goal is very important when choosing a style. We need to understand what fits best with what we want to achieve.
The goal with realistic drawing is to surprise people, but if it were something for children, realism would not be the best choice.
However, if the goal is to restore an old photo to preserve the memory of someone who has passed away, it fits perfectly.
How to choose or find my drawing style?
Choosing a drawing style is a really fun journey!
It’s kind of like discovering what type of music you enjoy listening to, you know?
The tip is: don’t limit yourself to just one style right away.
Start by testing different drawing styles.
Create some chibis, try drawing realistic faces, make manga drawings, and so on.
Keep experimenting until you find one that makes you think: “This is my style!”
Do I need to have my own drawing style?
I recommend not worrying about this, especially when you are just starting your drawing journey.
The reason is that if you are still learning, your main focus should be understanding everything about the style you choose.
The techniques, fundamentals, and concepts behind it.
As time goes by, you will build a strong foundation to develop your own ideas and draw in your own way.
There is no point in drawing however you want if you still don’t know how to draw properly.
There is a big difference between using your creativity after learning the fundamentals of drawing and trying to create your own style before mastering them.
Your drawings may end up looking incorrect instead of having a true personal style.
Besides that, some people may use the excuse “this is my style” to avoid fixing basic mistakes, which results in drawings full of errors.
How to create my own drawing style?
If you want to know how to develop your own drawing style, pay attention to this:
Assuming you are already experienced with drawing, your style will naturally appear when you start drawing things in the way you personally prefer.
That happens because as we learn to draw, we discover things we like and things we don’t like.
For example, you can create a realistic drawing but not like making it darker or adding as much texture, or you may prefer creating stronger shadows, and so on.
That way, you will make these choices not because you don’t know how to draw, but because they represent your personal taste.
Because of that, your style will naturally develop after you truly understand how to draw.
Which drawing style should I start with?
Well, even though it is the main focus of our work, we truly recommend that you start with realistic drawing.
It will give you a very strong foundation in the fundamentals of art, especially understanding light and shadow, controlling your hand, shading, and much more.
These skills can be applied to many other styles, making your drawings more complete.
Besides that, realistic drawing can also help you start making money with your art more easily.
Many people like to order realistic drawings, while with other styles you may need different types of opportunities.
There is usually a bigger barrier when it comes to working for companies or creating something like a comic book.
With realistic drawing commissions, you can make money by drawing your neighbors, family members, and friends.
That is why it can be a much easier way to start earning from your art.
Why do some artists fight because of drawing styles?
We think any online argument is a waste of time. Nothing good comes from it.
If someone criticizes the drawing style you like, don’t worry about it.
But then, why do these arguments even happen?
Obviously, people have different tastes. The problem is that, for some reason, some people want their own preferences to be seen as better than others.
And when they notice that other styles are getting more attention than theirs, they start arguing.
Maybe it comes from ego, which is actually one of the biggest problems many artists face.
But that doesn’t make sense. Every type of work has its own audience and customers.
It’s normal for people to like one style more than another.
It is up to each artist to find people who enjoy their work and also be happy about the success of others.
Instead of fighting, artists can promote each other. That way, the people who are looking for art can find the type of artist they like the most.
Bonus Tip
Learn the step-by-step method to create realistic drawings once and for all, allowing you to possibly make a living from your art!
Keep in mind that if you want to work with realism, you need to be prepared because every commission can bring a new challenge…
👉 With that in mind, if you want to learn the right techniques and improve your skills faster, check out The Complete Guide to Realistic Drawing to achieve great results in a short time!
🎯 Conclusion
We hope you have understood a little more about drawing styles.
Pick one and start today. If you want to begin with realistic drawing as we talked about, join our drawing group where we’ll help you with everything you need.
Finally, we truly hope that if you used to argue about drawing styles, you stop doing that.
And if you want to see more content like this, visit the topic or click on Articles to pick what you want to learn next!
💬 So, guys, let me know in the comments: how many drawing styles can you draw in? 👊
