Introduction: The Fear of Inconsistency

Many artists worry that their work isn’t “consistent enough.” Maybe you’ve been told your style is all over the place, or that having too many different artistic interests makes you look unprofessional. This can be discouraging and make you feel like you’re doing something wrong.

But here’s the truth: variety in your work is not a flaw. It’s not about forcing yourself into a single, unchanging style, it’s about learning how to curate and present your work intentionally. By doing this, you can embrace your artistic range and create a cohesive, professional presence.

Hey there! 👋 I’m Carrie. Here on Artist Strong, I help self-taught artists draw or paint anything they want. To date, thousands have joined the community.

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Today let’s talk about our beliefs and expectations around consistency, and how they’re wrong!

The Myth of the One-Track Artist

My first major body of work focused on a series of paintings inspired by archival photographs of anonymous women working traditionally male jobs during WWII. But I’ve also created embroidered mandalas, paintings of historical women, and a series celebrating female tattoo artists. And now? I’m embroidering on cloth diapers.

When you put it like that, it sounds like I’m all over the place.

But here’s the thing, you are allowed to have multiple interests. You’re an artist! Variety is part of your creative nature. The only time appearing “all over the place” becomes a challenge is when you’re trying to present, promote, or sell your work.

In these scenarios, the key isn’t to limit yourself…

it’s to curate how your work is shared.

The Power of Curation and Working in Series

I don’t release all my work at once. I don’t sell or exhibit single, disconnected pieces randomly. Instead, I organize my work into series, collections with a clear theme, idea, or design principle tying them together. When I promote or exhibit, I focus on one series at a time.

This approach has multiple benefits:

• It allows you to develop ideas deeply, pushing yourself to refine and improve as you explore a concept further.
• It provides a sense of completion, giving you a tangible way to see your growth rather than feeling like you’re running on an endless hamster wheel of art-making.
• It demonstrates professionalism to galleries, collectors, and grant committees. When I submit exhibition or grant proposals, I present a specific group of works, making my portfolio look cohesive and intentional.

Have you ever worked in a series before? If not, what ideas do you have to explore in a series? And for those of you who do, how has it helped your art? Tell me more in the comments below.

Consistency Is About Presentation, Not Restriction

Many artists worry about inconsistency because they jump between ideas, have a backlog of unfinished works, or explore multiple media. None of these things are inherently bad. The only issue is how you perceive them and how you structure your work for an audience.

Here are a few strategies to help present your art in a professional, consistent way without sacrificing your creative freedom:

1. Work in Series: Pick a theme or concept and create a body of work around it before moving on to the next idea.
2. Curate Your Portfolio: Organize your website, Instagram, or gallery submissions by series rather than presenting everything at once.
3. Time Your Releases: Instead of showing random works whenever they’re done, launch a collection together.
4. Write Cohesively About Your Work: Whether for a grant, show, or social media, frame your work in a way that emphasizes connections rather than differences.
5. Accept That Evolution is Natural: Your style will change over time, that’s part of being an artist. The key is to embrace this while making thoughtful choices about what you share and when.

You don’t have to figure this out all alone either. This is what we cover inside my program Self-Taught to Self-Confident, where you learn how to draw or paint anything you want.

If you are an artist with a home studio who has taken paint like me classes, and think of yourself as a hobbyist, but have this question of, “what if,” and you feel like there’s something more for you…

I have an A-to-Z method that walks you through filling in gaps in your foundations and how to show up regularly to make art that comes from your mind. You walk away with a series of artworks that showcase your unique voice.

Get a taste of my teaching and learn more when you sign up for my workshop “How to Create Art from Your Imagination,” which you can watch for free. 

It’s time to embrace the calling in your heart to do something more with your art. Link is here and in the comments below.

Addressing Common Concerns

Some artists hesitate to work in series or curate their portfolios because they fear it will limit their spontaneity or creative freedom. But curation is not about restriction, it’s about organization. You’re not forcing yourself into a rigid, unchanging style. 

Instead, you’re presenting your work in a way that makes sense to others while still allowing yourself to explore new ideas. You can always experiment freely in your sketchbooks or personal projects. You can have multiple series on the go, as I often do. The key is to be intentional about what you choose to showcase professionally so that your work feels cohesive rather than scattered.

Your Creativity Is an Asset, Not a Flaw

Many artists ask me, How do I be more consistent in my style? But I think the real question is, How do I present my work in a way that feels cohesive and professional while still exploring my many creative interests?

The answer isn’t to force yourself into a single, unchanging style. It’s to embrace your creative range while learning how to structure and curate your work. With a bit of reflection and strategy, you can celebrate your artistic diversity and present yourself professionally, all without sacrificing what makes your art uniquely yours.

Conclusion: Take Action

If you’ve been struggling with consistency, try this: choose one of your artistic interests and build a small series around it. Focus on creating at least 5-10 works that feel connected, then present them as a collection: on your website, social media, or even as a mini-exhibition.

This simple shift can help you see how curation transforms your work from feeling scattered to looking intentional. The more you practice this, the more confident you’ll become in balancing variety with cohesion. So, go ahead, embrace your creative range, start organizing your work, and present it with purpose. Your art deserves to be seen in its best light.

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