How to Find Your Art Style Using Repetition
Tara Roskell
Why painting the same subject 50 times can help you find your art style more quickly.
The 50 Repeats Strategy: Creating Your Artist’s Voice
The 50 Repeats Strategy is a purposeful method of finding your art style that addresses the old belief of waiting for it to appear over time. It works by removing the indecision of deciding "what" to paint, forcing you to focus entirely on the "how" of the mark-making, colours, and the overall style.
The High Cost of Waiting
Most artists are told that their style will eventually "emerge" naturally if they just keep making work. This makes it sound like it’s elusive, something we have no control over. It’s a trap that leads to years of directionless dabbling. You end up with a portfolio of art that looks like it was made by ten different people, making it impossible to stand out and be instantly recognisable.
I wasn’t prepared to just sit and wait. I knew there must be a better way to speed up the process with a strategic and methodical approach. The professional cost of waiting is being just another artist in a sea of forgettable work.
What I do instead
Instead of waiting and hoping for a breakthrough, I use forced repetition to focus my attention purely on the look and feel of my work:
I painted the same reference 50 times in different ways. This removes decision fatigue and stops me from hiding behind a "new" subject every time I get stuck.
I deliberately experimented with tools and mediums. By forcing myself to use different tools, I learned what really feels like me and what feels like a struggle.
I welcome the "Boredom Wall." At around piece 30, you will have tried out all the obvious ideas. This forces you out of your comfort zone and into the experimental "scary" stuff where the real style lives.
I chose to paint one reference face 50 times, but you could choose anything: a dog, a landscape, or a flower. I picked a photo of a cute man’s face; if I was going to be looking at him 50 times, he might as well be nice to look at (lol). The image is just your starting point, not something to “copy.”
The Method in Practice
I built a Pinterest mood board of "grungy" art inspiration. I wasn't looking for finished styles to copy, but for specific marks, wobbly lines, and textures that I was drawn to.
I painted the same reference daily, taking two or three elements from my mood board, like a specific smudge or a weird line, and applying them to the piece. By about day 30, I was so bored and wanted it to be over. But, that’s when the good things happen. I started noticing techniques from online demos I’d never have attempted before. When you are striving to do something different every day, you are prepared to experiment a lot more.
Why this matters
If you use the repeat technique, you start developing your own visual language much more quickly due to the focused effort. You effectively “borrow” different techniques and put them all in a melting pot until your own style and preferences start to emerge. If you don't do this, you are dependent on luck and years of waiting rather than a strategic process.
The Breakthrough: The White Paint Accident
Around day 30, I had the "White Paint Accident." I was trying out a new technique using charcoal and matt medium. I’d always hated charcoal because it was so messy, but this new technique meant I was sealing it.
By mistake, I accidentally picked up white acrylic paint instead of the clear medium and poured it on my painting. I tried to wipe it off quickly, but it turned out I really liked the way that wiped-off paint looked.
Those sweeps of white acrylic are now a signature element of my work. You can see how this "accident" evolved into the art style I use today by looking at my latest collection, "Not My Collector."
FAQ
Q: What is the 50 Repeats Strategy?
A: A method of developing a unique art style by repeating one subject 50 times while making each one look distinctly different.Q: Why does this matter for a professional artist?
A: It quickly builds a recognisable art style that can be immediately identified by collectors and galleries.Q: Do I have to paint every day?
A: No, but I recommend it to build momentum. If not, I suggest at least three times a week so you don't stall out before the real breakthroughs happen.
Want to see where this journey is heading? Check out my latest art here
My current style is a mixture of these two pieces from the 50 faces I created. Left, acrylic ink applied with the dropper top, right, the happy accident with white paint on charcoal.