Scrapbooking: Thinking aloud about 'signature' style

Hi, hi, hi.

It's funny isn't it:

• when other people can tell what your artistic / crafting / personal style is ... while you're sat there thinking 'What? Me? I have a recognisable style? Are you sure you've got the right person?'
• that they can identify a layout/journal page/card etc by you at 20 paces ... while you just think that the finished result was more by luck than judgement!
• and you can wax lyrical on everyone else's 'signature style' ["You know, she's the one who draws all those faces / uses all those layers / uses bright colours / has great handwritten journaling' ... and so on] ... but still believe that you don't have one of your own!

I've been surprised to be told "Oh that's a very 'Julie' page [etc]" ... and, while I've no reason to believe that person is lying to me ... I had no idea that anyone would even think that about my work.

The thing is - we're just too close to our own work to be objective aren't we?

It's like when you recognise how much someone else's child has grown, or that someone you haven't see in a while has lost weight since the last time you met ... and you tend to notice more than they do ... because of the distance. The fact that you don't see at them at the breakfast table, or stare at them in the mirror, every day gives you that objectivity and things appear more obvious to you.

[BTW: if you were staring at someone else in mirror or sitting at their breakfast table ... I'm not surprised they don't want to see you more often! ;-)]

However, when I was editing these images of a page I made with photos taken a year ago, I kept noticing little traits that I know for sure are things I keep returning to in my crafting ... things which, I dare say, might just be part of my 'signature style'.

Things like ... 

• A snippet of text from an old book: there's no escaping the fact that when it comes to cutting into old books - I'm a repeat offender! The 'Two together' title here came from a children's book.
• Black and white stripes: you know about the whole zebra thing ... right? Plus - I'm a big fan of black and white in general, I think a little bit of it, here and there, can add a nice crispness to a layout / journal page etc. And it works really well with text papers [which I love. But you knew that].   
• And, while I don't tend to scrap many - I do tend to take quite a few similar photos to this one, where I point the lens down on mine + James's feet: it is, after all, one of the easiest 'portraits' a couple can take without having to bother someone to take a snap of them together.

And also ...

• A patterned backdrop: I struggle to put anything on a plain background. Even when I'm not using one as patterned as this, I do like to use a subtle stripe, check, or spot ... and the infrequent occasions times when I do use a plain colour card stock... is simply has to be textured or kraft. I just cannot do a plain flat cardstock base.
• Small scraps: I love to use small scraps of colour to balance out a design and the ones in this cluster were really small ... but still had the desired effect:

Not forgetting ...

• More zebra stripes! this time it's a washi tape

And ... at the same time as representing the kind of style decisions I make across my crafting ... this is yet another example of a creative project which, on reflection, bears a distinct similarity to many of the style choices I've made in my house! Including ...

• several grey walls,
• plenty of patterns [including one grey patterned wall!]
• lots of wood grain [or 'wood' as it's called in real life!] 
• And the hints of turquoise-y blue match those of the rug and accessories in the living room

And so ... maybe it shouldn't be such a stretch of the imagination to believe that other people can identify a 'Julie Kirk' from across the room.

 

Maybe all our preferences [for colour, layout, style, background, attitude, shape etc] just can't help but run out of our fingertips and down into our creative work whether we're aware of it or not.

 

 And while we ourselves may be a little too close to recognise it every time ... other people can. And, if we start looking for it in our own finished pieces, noticing those things we've turned to again and again when we sit down to get crafty, we can begin to spot it too!

 

So ... what about you ...? 

• Do you think you have a signature style?
• Do other people think you do?
• What is it?
• What do you notice keeps recurring in your crafting?

You can share your responses and thoughts on this in the comments and/or ...

 

... if you're looking for a fun topic to blog about this week ...

• why not create your own post sharing your thoughts on your own style
• maybe share some illustrative examples with your readers
• or, if you just can't see it, why not ask them what they consider your style to be? They might have a clearer idea about that than you do!

It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts on this ... over to you ... 

 

Julie :-)