Someone recently asked me, “How do you find your voice in your art?”
My initial reaction… PANIC!
For years, I have struggled to define my style, my artistic vision, my reason for creating–all these ideas that seem to come so naturally to established artists. But I have experienced a few things in recent years, or even recent months, which have changed how I think about my creative voice.
As an art educator, before an artist, I have often felt like a lost sheep in the world of art. I absolutely love getting my hands dirty, exploring with materials and discovering new processes. However, I generally consider myself to be master of none. I don’t have the same level of training that many of “the greats” have attained. My work is less refined, and my experiments are often failures. I bounce between subjects and mediums, without any clear vision or voice focusing on consistency.
The turning point came in 2020, when I began creating in collage and mixed media processes. Having historically been geared toward precision and realism in art-making, I suddenly found myself free to create expressively. I knew that I was never going to achieve perfection with the techniques I was utilizing and found it easier to achieve satisfaction and feelings of success with my work. I also suddenly had a style that felt unique to me, an emerging creative voice.
Confidence Through Teaching
Collage is far from a new method of art-making, with notable artists like Hannah Höch and Henry Matisse applying collage techniques in unique ways. For me, this was the first medium in which I was completely self-taught. Sure, I saw what other artists were doing, but created consistent guidelines for myself that ultimately separated my work from others. Things like only tearing my magazine pages, ignoring text as it found its way into the imagery, and carefully considering the manner in which I tear. I quickly grew in confidence with this medium, and I was eager to share this enthralling process by teaching it to others.
The beautiful thing about teaching is that it challenges our thinking in new ways. I encourage my students to create in an exploratory way, because that is how I discover my own artistry. Since no two artists work the same way, I get approached with questions I never considered otherwise. This ongoing process of Q&A in the teaching experience is really what solidifies my confidence in any medium. I learn from my students just as much as they learn from me. This too helps solidify my creative voice.
Not Just a Style
Developing an artistic voice is more than choosing a medium and developing your art methods. In hindsight, I realized that this conversation we had about “voice” never actually got to the root of the question. An artist’s voice does more than allow you to recognize their work. It goes beyond the methods they can teach you. Those things define an artist’s style. Voice is not just a style.
The truth is, our styles can continue to evolve forever. But there is something else about our creative work that gives it unity and ties it to our sense of self. That is our experience. Time and time again I hear the recommendation that artists should focus on defining their style, but I am so eclectic! How could I possibly choose one medium, one subject, or one abstract shape to paint for the rest of eternity? I think of Leonardo da Vinci, Roy Lichtenstein, Ai Weiwei, and so many more! These artists, both historical and contemporary have explored many different mediums and become known for all of them. This is because their voice isn’t tied to their style, but rather the way they view and represent their world experience.
What Says My Voice?
Just like style, I believe that creative voice has the ability to evolve overtime. One’s world view can change drastically from the time we enter this world to the time we leave it.
So the real question should be, “What matters to you?”
What matters to me? My experience is engrained in nature. I have always had a heart for animals. I adore my children! These are the things that inspire my work. This is where my voice can be found. More recently, I have been guided by faith and the understanding that, just like my art, I am a work in progress.
Last year I began creating these bookmarks from abandoned watercolor paintings I knew I would neither finish nor ever look at again. I decided everyone can benefit from this little reminder that we are all works in progress. This was probably my first significant nod to my faith in my artistic voice.
My last artwork of 2025 took on a new approach to incorporating faith into my work, collaging piece of abandoned (headed for the trash) hymnals and incorporating nature in my artwork All Creation Sings. This piece represented my return to mixed media and inspired an entire series of works called Nature’s Worship. This collection has been eclectic and chaotic, just like everything else I create, while still holding to its foundation of faith.
So, this is where I have found my voice in 2026, continuing to explore those meaningful pieces of my life experience.
Artist Spotlight at The Gathering House
Most of the Nature’s Worship series, along with other related works, are currently on display at The Gathering House, in Noblesville, IN. While this space is closed to the public throughout the week, there will be a special Artist Spotlight event! I hope you will join us for this reception, where you can enjoy light refreshments and ask ALL the questions you have about my art. Details about the event can be found here.
Other amazing things are happening this year, including opening a new studio space, teaching more classes and increasing community engagement. Be sure to check my events page to find all the ways you can connect!
Be inspired,
Heather Ray Boelke
HRay Art is a Limited Liability Company.
All artwork images and content are ©HRay Art. Purchase of an original or print does not transfer copyright. No image may be reproduced or used for any commercial purpose without written permission from the artist.
