by Liz Constable

This is the third article in a series on “Finding Your Style” on the Willa Wanders Blog. All artwork and images by Liz Constable @bookartstudios.

I fell in love with bookmaking when I was introduced to a beautiful handmade book over twenty years ago. I loved the elegant style of it, so I tried (and failed) to produce one just like it. I tried and failed again, again and again.

Try as I might, I just couldn’t emulate the style and determined it was because I was a messy creator. I didn’t know it at the time, but my version of messy i.e rustic/grunge was my individual style. Instead I judged it, was disappointed in it, and it’s fair to say, was a little ashamed of it too. All because it didn’t look like the book I was trying to copy. Rather than celebrate my individuality, I condemned myself for not being able to copy someone else’s who I admired and loved.

A few years later, I began my tentative journey into teaching people how to create their own books. There was a well known older book artist in my area who was also a teacher of the book arts. We’ll call her Mary Smith. In the first class I ever taught, there was a woman who’d attended a few classes with Mary. Every time I showed the group how to do something, this woman would say,

“That’s not how Mary does it.”

To say it grated on my nerves is an understatement. But when I examined what this woman was helping me to understand about myself as a teacher it was a major turning point. I realised, I didn’t actually want to emulate anyone else’s style either as a teacher or an artist. Not only was it too exhausting, I was doomed to fail, every, single, time.

This was both liberating and terrifying at the same time as it meant I now had to let my own style free but what did this even mean? After years of referring to my approach to creating books as messy, I’d inadvertently put myself down. Not only was I required to make peace with own artistic flair, but to finally accept it as an extension of who I was. Once I did this, I felt a massive change in the work I produced.

Wendy raised some interesting questions in her blog on whether or not there’s such a thing as original art work these days. I chatted about this with a group of artists and when I asked them if they would be able to spot a book of mine if it were amongst a group of others, the overwhelming response was absolutely!

I’m not a particular fan of the word brand, but I’m often told I have one. And not only do I have one, but it makes my work recognisable. Personally, I prefer the word style or flair.

Years ago, I had someone copy my work which, as a teacher you expect to a certain degree as you learn by copying the person who is teaching you. This particular student went a step further where it was so precise it was what one might refer to as forgery.

It got to the point where I hid my work when I knew this student would be in my studio. Initially it allowed me the time I needed to create in private and develop but it also meant as soon as my work was released and subsequently copied, I had to keep moving forward.

I do believe now it was one of the best things that could have ever happened to me as an artist as it encouraged me to continue to evolve, grow and most Importantly, experiment. Without that experience I could well have settled for staying within the safe boundaries of creating the same style of books over and over. I have no problem with people who do this, but it wasn’t for me. Being nudged out of my creative comfort zone involved trying out new materials, putting items together I didn’t think would work, creating with a different colour palate and so on. If I hadn’t had someone copying my work so intensely I may not have been as motivated to develop my style.

If you want to develop your own individual style, I recommend less time looking at other people’s work and more time spent in the creative flow, as this is where the magic happens. The more you enter this state the more you’ll want to be in this state of mind. It’s a delicious feeling that envelopes you so much that, time passes by without you even noticing. Ideas flow and creative discoveries delight and surprise you. This is where you learn to trust yourself as a creator and let your own light shine.

Creative work that’s been produced by someone who has clearly being in the creative flow stands out. It’s playful, daring, interesting, fun, unique and sometimes controversial as art needs to be in order to evolve. There are always new ideas if you’re prepared to be open to them coming in via the creative flow. 

My final word on finding your own style would be this, when I go into the flow I create for myself first. I’m not caught up in what people want, or like and I never create simply to please others. I’m now confident enough in my work as a book artist to know not everyone’s going to be drawn to my creations and that’s ok. It’s utterly pleasing to create with no expectations or obligations and one of the best paths to lead you to a unique style of creating. 

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”

Judy Garland

Liz can be found on Instagram @bookartstudios and on her website bookartstudios.co.nz.

Do you have thoughts on what Liz wrote? Please share in the comments below!