Van Gogh: The Power of Changing Your Style

It is finally spring! We welcome the warmer weather and vibrant colors of nature with open arms. This month, we thought it would be fun to do a quick dive into a legendary artist to help you draw some inspiration. Today, let’s talk about Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh, known for his use of bold colors and expert brushwork to create vibrant art such as The Starry Night and Sunflowers.

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Art can take years of practice, even for famous artists. Van Gogh was lucky to have Anton Mauve as his cousin-in-law, who was already a celebrated artist from whom he took painting lessons in The Hague. Mauve taught him the basics in watercolor and oil painting. Just as we like to recommend — try different mediums!

In 1882, Van Gogh fell in love with Sien Hoornik, who became his muse and model. Although after his split, he moved to the countryside, where he found new inspiration in nature, painting landscapes and grassy hills. Soon after leaving the countryside, he started to paint people working, such as farmers and weavers. Van Gogh drew his creativity from all his surroundings, people, nature, and emotions. He was constantly switching up his focus. This time of his life, he used darker colors, which at the time and his current location in France, unfortunately, did not sell well. However, in 1886, living in Paris, he developed his own style, now famously with bright colors. Paris gave him exactly what he needed with his art. A busy city to draw inspiration from, influences of more modern art and color, and this is where he developed his individual art technique of short brush strokes, which we see in his famous painting, The Starry Night.

After a few years in the bustle and hustle of the city of Paris, he longed for the kind of peace only the countryside offered. Moving to Arles in Southern France, where the vibrant colors and peaceful nature made his art looser, more expressive. Here he lived with other artists, collaborating on new paintings.

Throughout his life, Van Gogh demonstrated the patience of learning and starting with the basics, he showed transformation between different muses, techniques, styles, and boldness. His collaboration with other artists is a great example of taking time to do a creative hobby with your friends and learning from one another. We hope Van Gogh and his amazing work can inspire you to get out of your comfort zone, to bask in the sunshine we are finally getting, and take inspiration from your surroundings.

Our tiny coloring books are the perfect traveling companion. Pop it in your bag or your pocket and pull it out when your creativity hits. And don’t forget to be bold. Switch up your style. And find the beauty in the little things — the things right in front of us.