Genres Are a Funny Thing, Aren’t They?
In my attempts to grow my artistic audience and to find my way in this age of marketing myself and showcasing my art through social media, I’ve heard the same thing from many different sources. FIND YOUR NICHE.
When I first heard that advice, I took it to mean that I should find create art involving a specific subject or using only one particular medium. This way, a community can be grown that centers around that kind of shared interest. I think that’s a fair and valid approach to building an audience.
Do I want to do it for myself? Not really.
Part of what I enjoy about creating is the opportunity to explore my art practice in different ways. It could be by using different mediums like gouache, acrylic paint, watercolor pencils. Or it could be by one day painting a beautiful flower-filled landscape and the next painting a donut with rainbow sprinkles. I like being able to pick and choose what I create based on what kind of mood I’m in or if I’m inspired by something random I see in my daily life. When I think about limiting myself to designate an audience, it makes me feel anxious and also gives me the feeling that anything I create outside of that niche is less than because it doesn’t fit.
When I think about some master artists, I think about how they explored their art practice as well. Some certainly did narrow their work down by what they created or what they used to create, but a huge majority of the famous artists we know today switched their work up frequently. At the end of the day, what makes their work recognizable is their art style. A person can recognize a Van Gogh painting whether its “Starry Night” or his sunflowers. There will always be a bit of subject matter that draws an audience together, but the main draw is the style.
For my work, I would like to be recognized for my style instead of content of my art. I may never be as famous or as recognizable as Van Gogh or Frida Kahlo, but I know I can take pride in my art and be happy that I can explore anything I want to and have it foster my continuing creativity.
xx - DC
