Art comes in a variety of different styles. Physical art forms are what most people think of when they hear the word art, but art is all around us. Nature, music, dance, and even buildings are art in their own ways.
Finding inspiration in the world around us is natural. When you feel that pull of creativity, though, it can be difficult to find an outlet. Finding the perfect medium for your needs takes time, energy, and effort that a lot of people don’t have. It can be frustrating.
Luckily, we have taken some of that time and energy for you. If you are looking for simplistic art styles to test out as your new artistic medium, keep reading. These art styles are a great starting point for any new artist and there are many examples to get your creative juices flowing.
Check out this list of the Top Drawing Apps For Beginners.
Key Takeaways:
- Art is for everyone, being an artist just takes practice.
- There are thousands of art styles to choose from and each will help you grow in different ways.
- These art styles are good starting points and each offers different challenges
1. Comic Art Style
Comic art styles are designed to tell a story. Different arrangements of pictures and words are organized to tell whatever story the artist and/or writer is trying to tell.
Comic art spans centuries. Each century, each decade, and even each year has different styles or trends that you can see throughout the comic art of the time. The variety that comes with comic art due to this is huge.
Comic art styles can be complex, following the arc of different superheroes and holding immense storylines. The dynamic within the comic strip can be more geared towards adults with big action sequences, fights, and bold stories.
On the flip side, comic-style art can be simple. It can be silly and fun like the comics you would see in the morning paper. Draw your morning routine within a few sections of panels and joke about how tiring mornings are.
You can take comic art in any direction with any level of depth you would like, which is what makes it so great for beginners.
Here are some examples and inspiration for comic art style:
- Marvel Comics
- Garfield
- DC Comics
- Peanuts
2. Pixel Art Style
Pixel art is specifically a style of digital art. It uses big pixels as the only building block for texture in the artwork to mimic the styles seen in the 1970s.
Pixel art was originally created in the 1970s, not as a stylized choice, but rather out of necessity. Computers and video games were being popularized and they had to figure out a way to translate picture to screen.
Computer hard drives did not at all compare to what they are today and with pixel art, pictures took up less space, were easier to render, and still translated to the audience.
Today, pixel art is not a necessity, but a stylized choice that has come back into popularity thanks to primarily nostalgia. As an art style, pixel art is restricting, limiting the textures, shapes, and even colors you can use during creation.
While these big limitations may seem scary for a beginner, having limited options can actually be a good starting point. You can get comfortable with smaller numbers of options and slowly expand to more open-ended art styles.
There are dozens of modern and retro examples out there for inspiration for pixel art, but here are a few examples:
- Old Super Mario Bros
- Undertale
- Stardew Valley
- Terraria
3. Chibi Art Style
Chibi art originates in Japan. The word “chibi” colloquially translates to someone very short or, more commonly, a child. The word transformed to become a style of caricature with very specific and defining details.
Chibi art is defined by its exaggerated heads and simplistic bodies. The head and eyes are usually the focus of the character. The bodies, limbs, and other features are rounded and simplified, usually hidden in baggy clothing or holding no figure.
This art style is perfect for beginners because of its focus on big shapes rather than details. The first step in good chibi art is mastering eye and head shape. Big eyes take up most of the face of the character and the head takes up most of the character’s body.
The more you lean into the chibi tropes, the cuter the character becomes. Focus on those big shapes then narrow in on the other details of your character as you improve.
For some inspiration, here are some of the cutest chibi art-style anime characters:
- Chibiusa Tsukino from “Sailor Moon”
- Umaru Doma from “Himouto! Umaru-chan”
- Hamtaro from “Hamtaro”
- Kotaro from “Kotaro Lives Alone”
4. Modern Cartoon Art Style
Cartoon art is another extremely diverse art style because of how long cartoons have existed. Cartoon art is so diverse that it can be broken up into different categories, one of which is modern cartoon art.
Modern cartoon art is what you will see in most cartoons nowadays. It is defined by vibrant and bright colors as well as taking advantage of modern techniques. It will often play with other mediums besides just hand-drawn textures.
It combines digital and hand-drawn animation while pushing the boundaries of what is possible in animation. When we take modern cartoon art style away from animation, it still rings true in the vibrancy of the colors and the mixing of mediums.
The designs, while still being cartoonish, can be more intricate. Modern cartoon art is much more open-ended and free than other cartoon art styles, so play around with different colors and textures.
Here are some great examples of modern cartoon art in some popular shows you’ve probably seen:
- Spongebob Squarepants
- Rick and Morty
- Steven Universe
- The Amazing World of Gumball
5. Doodle Art Style
We all have doodled in our spare time. Our minds drift and the pen hits the paper while a teacher drones on in class, we sit on a phone call, or just relax our minds. Most people don’t realize that doodling is actually an entire art form, not just something to pass the time.
Doodle art is another very broad category of art. It can have meaning or be meaningless. It can have concrete shapes or be completely abstract. The only thing that really defines doodles is that they are usually simplistic. Doodles are also most commonly made using pen and paper with no extra textures or colors added.
Different characters and shapes can emerge as you doodle, so don’t be afraid to experiment. The important thing to remember as you experiment with doodling is not to overcomplicate it or worry about the details.
It originated as an art style to do while your mind is occupied so shut off your brain and let your creativity come out.
If you need some ideas, here are some popular doodle artists:
- Sam Cox
- Joe Whale
- Jon Burgerman
- Vexx
Check out this list of Cute Art Styles You Can Try!
6. Architectural Art Style
Architecture is a form of art all on its own. Designing buildings that people see and use every single day is a form of art creation. Especially when you look back at older buildings in ancient civilizations, you cannot deny the artistry at hand.
Drawing architecture is a fun style of art to play with even if you aren’t an architect. It is an easy thing to find references for. Even if the buildings near you aren’t the most picturesque, they still make for great practice as you develop this art form.
When creating this art, don’t just focus on the surface level. Really break down each piece of the building, the windows, the support structure, and the layout. Every part is pivotal in the creation of the building and looking at your model at a structural rather than surface level is a good skill to develop as an artist.
If you are looking for some architectural inspiration besides what you can see in your area, here are some inspirations to research:
- Gothic architecture
- Art deco architecture
- Greek architecture
- Tudor architecture
7. Minimalist Art Style
Minimalist art started in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a rebellion against the grand, intricate art of the previous generation of art. It turned away from the immense amount of details to take it back to basics. It wanted to challenge the views of what art could and should be.
Minimalist art is a style of abstract art that focuses on geometric shapes like squares and rectangles. It uses these shapes as an inspiration and also as the basis for creation.
Minimalist art styles have hard edges and precise lines to represent those geometric shapes. As for color, the same rule applies. Colors are limited and come in blocks of color rather than any blending.
Take your own artwork back to basics and play with simplistic geometric shapes. Take a square or rectangle and see what can be done with it and only a few simplistic colors. Having limited options will stretch your creativity and help develop new skills as an artist.
For some minimalist art inspiration, here are some popular minimalist artists:
- Brent Hallard
- Carmen Herrera
- Anne Truitt
- Agnes Martin
8. Abstract Art Style
Abstract art, just like minimalist art, is a rebellion against ideals of what art is supposed to be in the eyes of society. It removes itself from reality and attempts to create art without representing anything within our reality. It instead defines itself with colors, textures, and shapes.
It is designed to stretch the idea of what art can be and attempt to find inspiration from within rather than from external factors. True abstract art has no recognizable objects and has large variations in color, shapes, and textures.
However, abstract art is also what you make it. It is a rebellion and you can continue to rebel by making abstract art your own. Play with different colors and shapes.
Try to find inspiration from within rather than what you can see with your eyes. It is okay if it doesn’t look good at first because this art form is all about experimentation.
Here are some abstract artists you can check out to get some ideas about where to start your abstract art journey:
- Joan Mitchell
- Jackson Pollock
- Hilma af Klint
- Sam Gilliam
9. Pointillism Art Style
Pointillism is a style of art defined by the dots of color used to create the artwork. Rather than big, broad strokes or blended colors, pointillism is exactly the opposite. It primarily focuses on unblended, dots of color.
Pointillism is a difficult technique to master. Making an entire work of art look defined and as intricate as a blended painting is a skill that you have to work to develop.
The best place to start is by doing a portion of your art in pointillism, such as the main part of the picture while still blending the background. You can also start by doing small pictures with simplistic dimensions. To keep things distinct, use different colors and brush pressure to add depth to your work.
Pointillism is a complex art style with impressive artists you can look at for help. Here are some of the artists:
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Camille Pissarro
- Chuck Close
- George Seurat
10. Cubism Art Style
Cubism is another style of abstract art that revolutionized what people viewed art as. It takes advantage of different planes and dimensions by overlapping shapes to create the effect. The goal of the art is to show different viewpoints of the art at the same time.
This creates an interesting effect where the painting feels like it is popping out in every direction, giving the illusion of depth all while saying on the canvas.
To create your own cubism, start by working with different shapes. Layer different shapes in different orientations, adding shading to different sides to create the multi-dimensional effect you want. Play with block colors to enhance the effects of the different planes.
The origins of this complex art style and some people to gain some inspiration from are:
- Salvador Dali
- Georges Braque
- Pablo Picasso
- Paul Cezanne
11. Classic Manga Style
Want something more reminiscent of old-school art styles? This classic manga style combines the classic Western 1930s animations with a Japanese-based manga style. The best part about this method is that you can take any character and redraw them in this style.
Take your favorite characters, animated or not, or your characters, and redraw them in a new style. Taking a character you already sketch a lot or are very familiar with and drawing it in a new style is the perfect way to stretch your skills.
This style is pretty simple, with easy lines and round features. There’s not a lot of detail, so it’s a good practice style that still looks good. Since a lot of the focus is on exaggerated facial features, it lets you test out different mouth, eye, and facial shapes.
Here are some examples you can use to reference classic manga style:
- Betty Boop
- Ferdinand the Bull
- Popeye
- My Big Emergency
- Virgulino
12. Geometric Art Style
Geometric art plays with different shapes to create art. Unlike the other styles involving shapes on this list, geometric art is not limited to just squares or rectangles and it is not trying to leap off the page. Instead, it takes advantage of simplicity.
It takes advantage of any number of defined shapes, overlapping and adding color to create new meanings and pictures. It can represent things in reality or be meaningless shapes.
It is less limiting than other abstract art styles, so you can experiment more. While limitations can be nice so that you can hone in on your skills, some styles of abstract can be too much depending on how you learn as a beginner.
Geometric art is a perfect happy medium if you learn best with some restrictions, but still want freedom as to what you are allowed to create. To start your geometric art journey, play around with the orientation of different shapes and the blending of different colors.
Here are some geometric artists you can look to for some ideas:
- Brent Hallard
- Ronald Davis
- Frank Stella
- Josef Albers
13. Line Art Style
Line art is exactly what it sounds like, art defined by the line work. There are no extra colors or shading when it comes to line work. Simple lines with the occasional block color. Line art is taking it back to basics.
While all of the other art forms on this list are fun to experiment with, line art is where most beginner artists start. You can sketch whatever you want without limitations beyond your own brain.
Experiment with different shapes, sizes, characters, and symbols. It is a good place to start not only because you can create whatever you want, but also because you can challenge yourself. As you work, you can push yourself to add more depth and detail as you feel ready.
If you aren’t sure what you want to draw, here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Flowers
- Favorite characters
- Clouds
- Animals
Simple Art Styles FAQS
Can I Teach Myself How To Be An Artist?
Yes, anyone can be an artist and most being self-taught is extremely common in today’s world. There are thousands of online tutorials and guides to help you find your way. You can take all the time you need to experiment. Ask people online for their scriptures if you want an outside eye.
The most important part of becoming an artist is practicing. Sure, some people have some natural skills, but practicing and pushing your abilities every day is the best way to become a good artist.
Is It Too Late For Me To Start Learning To Be An Artist?
No, it is never too late to start learning art. While it is easier to start early, there is no age limit for artistry. Start whenever you are ready and with commitment, it will not matter how late you started. People will only see what you show them.
There are plenty of famous artists that started late in life, such as the very famous Monet. So don’t compare yourself to those starting early on in life, and don’t feel that it’s too late to try something new.
What Tools Should I Have As A Beginner Artist?
As a beginner artist, focus on having good paper and pencils to start. Take time to figure out a style you prefer before you go out and buy more expensive materials. If you want to experiment with color, start with cheap tools. For digital art, find a free application first.
Later, you can always upgrade to nicer products that suit your needs best. However, even cheap products can make good art. Figure out what you like working with and what you want to use, and then you can upgrade as needed.
Conclusion
Art is for anyone and everyone. Entering the art world can be scary, but all it takes to be an artist is to have a passion that you use to create. While it may seem overwhelming at first, take your time and you will grow to be a confident, amazing artist in no time.
And don’t forget to practice. If you already know your preferred style, practice that every day, focusing on your weak points. Otherwise, take the time to try out a bunch of different styles, subjects, and themes until you find something that resonates with you.