When you first start a creative endeavor, you’re just trying to do the thing, and you aren’t too worried about what bucket or genre you might fit in. As you grow and start to find your style and voice, you do start to wonder where you fit.
When people have asked me to define my art style over the years, I haven’t really been sure how to answer. I like the impressionists, but my work clearly doesn’t look like a Monet or Degas. My paintings are more “impressionistic”, though, in that I avoid getting too far in the weeds with detail. I try to say as much as I can with what I need and no more. I also usually paint what I see and want my art to look like a painting of a real subject or place. Even with all the studying and reading I’ve done about art over the years, I haven’t felt confident enough to label my own style.
Last week, though, I was contemplating joining the American Impressionist Society. I joined the Oil Painters of America last year because I clearly qualified, but I was hesitant to call myself an impressionist.
How does one put a label on their style? I had that same struggle when it came to defining my decorating aesthetic. I don’t know…I just like what I like, and when it’s all put together, it’s my style.
I had an impulsive thought a few days ago… I’ll ask AI. It’ll be impartial and should be able to assess the art style with its extensive database of art and art history. I submitted the following paintings and asked, “What is the art style of these paintings?”
AI (specifically Gemini) defined my art style as a contemporary example of Impressionistic Realism.
Here was the assessment…
The artist uses a “painterly” approach, where the focus is on capturing the essence of the subject through visible, confident brushwork and the play of light, rather than minute, photographic detail.
Here are the key characteristics of this style seen in your images:
1. Visible Brushwork
Instead of blending the paint until it’s perfectly smooth, the artist leaves the marks of the brush visible. You can see this clearly in the “scumbled” background of the Longhorn painting and the thick, textured strokes on the tablecloth of the floral piece.
2. Focus on Light and Temperature
The paintings emphasize how light hits an object. For instance, the German Shorthaired Pointer reflects beautifully in the water, and the Asian pears show a clear distinction between warm highlights and cool, blue-toned shadows.
3. Muted, Earthy Palette
The artist uses a sophisticated, naturalistic color palette. There is a heavy reliance on “broken color”—placing different hues side-by-side to let the eye blend them—which gives the animals and objects a sense of life and vibration.
4. Subject Matter
The combination of animal portraiture (dogs and cattle) and classic still life (fruit and flowers) is very common in Classical Realism and American Impressionism, styles often taught in modern ateliers.
I then asked which master artists had a similar painting style, and AI answered with two of my favorites – John Singer Sargent and Joaquin Sorolla, and another incredible artist – Richard Schmid. I read Schmid’s book, Alla Prima II, early in my oil painting journey, but I need to revisit it again now that I have a better understanding of the medium. It’s an excellent book, but it was a little overwhelming for a beginner.
Here are the comparisons Gemini made between my art and those of these masters…
The paintings you shared are rooted in a style that emphasizes light, texture, and direct observation.
1. John Singer Sargent (1856–1925)
Sargent is perhaps the most famous master of the “painterly” style. Like the artist of your paintings, he used bold, economical brushstrokes that look like a blur up close but resolve into perfect form from a distance. While famous for portraits, his landscapes and sketches of animals show a similar mastery of light and shadow.
2. Joaquín Sorolla (1863–1923)
A Spanish contemporary of Sargent, Sorolla is known as the “Master of Light.” If you are drawn to the way the water reflects the dog in the hunting scene you shared, you would likely appreciate Sorolla’s ability to capture sunlight on water and skin.
3. Richard Schmid (1934–2021)
For a more modern comparison, Richard Schmid was a giant of contemporary American realism. He specialized in “Alla Prima” painting (completing a work in one sitting). His still lifes of flowers and fruits, as well as his rural landscapes, have the same soft edges and sophisticated color palettes found in your images.
These artists are masters for good reason, and there will likely never be a true comparison between their work and mine, but it does give me something to strive for!
In the end, I’m not painting for code and hardware. I’m painting for humans, so their opinions and emotional connection to my work are the most important thing, but it was a fun exercise that was surprisingly clarifying and more helpful than I anticipated.
So, I joined the American Impressionist Society.
8 Responses
Good for you to know and join. The thing you don’t use is the colours of the Impressionists. Especially Sargent comes to mind. Schmid is indeed like you, working in one session. Sorolla is only light reflection. ( he was totally depressed, unbelievable, eh?)You are absolutely on your way to that, the noses, the eyes, the trees in the background. Filled with light. Next will be a change in your colour use. Less black, more mixes of blues and red. So much growth. Japanese Ukiyo-e painter Hokusai (best known for the Great Wave) said at the end of his life that he had just had started to become better. Always learning.
It’s really fun to ask AI these questions. My favorite are your animal paintings.
I love your paintings and your style. I also struggle to fit my art into a particular style, maybe I am just too much of a rebel and don’t want to feel like I am fully committed to a particular look for my paintings forever.
Marian, I have read your blog for years. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy all your content. You are a true original. I look forward to seeing your beautiful creations, whether you are gardening, painting a room or sharing your gorgeous artwork. You always are working on something interesting and creating in your own unique style. Thank you!
Well said.
Thank you!
Fascinating post. I can see how your work is reminiscent of the masters that you referenced. Your painting of the German Short- haired Pointer is one of my all time favorites. Love the light reflection. Always a treat to read your posts, I learn so many wonderful things. Thank you.
This was fascinating!