cant get past my past

[mark]

ok the problem i face is i am a reproduction artist that paints old masters work for people that want real paintings and not a print.i feel i cant find my own nitch in the art world.iv never been formally trained exept my father giving me the basic techn to get started it just kinda clicked with me.then when i found out about ET it blew my mind its so challanging and raw i fell in love with itbut i feel like i need my own style and cant find it,its kinda like a bad game of hide and go seek and im not winning.so if any one can help me or give me a push in the right direction it would be a light in the dark place iv found myself in ps im use to texting my girlfriend so my puntuation and spelling is prob off a bit haha

[RobM]

I, like many other painters here have received no formal art training. I, like yourself copied the old masters and this certainly helped in my developement. I guess the next progression would be to take your own photographs or go out sketching then work from them. You will just have to keep working, do your own subjects but try out styles of artists you admire and slowly you should evolve.
Developing your own style just doesn't happen overnight, it has taken me 50 years so far and I'm still evolving :!:
Rob

[mark]

thank you your advise will go a long way and yes i need to keep in mind that nothing happens overnight ex something as delicate as art.i guess it is diferent than music(im in a band)i feel more instant gratification and with my painting it should be for myself first.i wish i had time to hide away for a few months with just my brushes boards and a egg laying chicken and paint till i cant see staight thanks again

[Bert Congdon]

Those are good words Rob. I had an art teacher tell me that in his fourth year of art at a major university, he told his instructor he would like to develope his own style. He said the ibstructor laughd at him. "How could you possibly develope your own style after only three years of painting?" Another of my teachers told the class that Picasso was still copying the masters at 93. I guess that means until he died. I just thought I would throw that out.

[Salamander]

Your own style will always prevail. I feel your own style will always show itself in every original thing you do. If your really good at copying others then don't and just work from life or imagination. You can't avoid your style. It's sort of like your shadow.
-eric

[Dimitris C. Milionis]

I too have received no formal art training, its all in the heart.

you either got it or not. just do what you like, most of all enjoy it and keep walking.

check out this guy!

http://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/