A strong sense of style

Look at these two pieces of art. Do you know who created them? If you're familiar with the artists, you will know them without peeking at the answer below. Even if you don't know the artists, you can see the differences between the two and easily believe that each has a style that is instantaneously recognizable as their own.

I am fascinated by artists who have developed such a strong sense of style. I wonder if they revel in it or feel boxed in by it. I am sure it helps "brand" them and make their art more salable. It also seems to make them more of an Artist with a capital "A" because you can recognize a Van Gogh or a Monet when you see it. In many ways, they have created their own signature "look." I know I'm not quite there yet. I have some sense of my own style. My collage, "Wings," which I feature on my blog, includes many of the elements which make up my style. But I haven't settled on or created a unique signature style - one that people look at and say, "That's a Maria Ontiveros." I have one in mind, but it's still in the incubation stage. I'll be sure to share it when and if it works out.

In the meantime, here's a list of artists who I think have a strong signature style:

Tim Holtz

Claudine Hellmuth

Ali Edwards

Dina Wakley

Tara Whitney

January Hooker (a local artist, without a website, but you can get an idea from this picture)

And, oh, here's where you can peek at the answers:

Harmony

Creepy Baby