I appreciate this discussion, unpopular. I am very familiar with it, and the struggle.
I see the same issues with lots of landscape photographers as well. Their work as a whole starts to have a sameness. They also seem to rely on tricks and techniques that they enjoy, and are comfortable with. The only thing that changes, really, is the content. You can say the same of any artists body of work, in my mind, from my experience and exposure. Artists do grow, and you can see changes over time. You can see them evolve. You can see them try new things.
When I look to myself, I know I like order, I like simplicity, I like lines and shapes, I like color, I like how all that works together, I like things to be "clean". This is who I am at the moment.
I am, or was, more comfortable working dimensionally, thus my sculpture background, and love of working with metal, clay, glass, and wood. Thinking two dimmensionally is really fairly new to me, or at least, being reborn. When working with images, I frame them to my current sensibilities. This image could have been presented numerous ways that would all feel the same, because in the end, it is my mind trying to make sense of it. I feel I am showing you how I look at the world, or interpret it.
This is also where my personal jewelery design trends have fallen. When able (which I am not always, working for clients) to design freely, it tends to be clean, simple, polished, line, and shape defining form. When I am asked to make something rough, rustic, and primitive, I have a difficult time. I fight the need to polish the metal and make sure everything "lines up". These are pieces I am never satisfied with.
Currently I am quite happy with the imagery I produce. It is still exciting to me. I have been creating things in various materials for a long time. I have gone through phases. I know that there will indeed be a point that I will get less out of what I am doing now, than I do now, and I will look for a new way to express myself. I do force myself to experiment.
I also am not trying to be controversial, or very conceptual. I am making images that I hope are pleasing to look at, and hold the viewer for more than a quick glance. I like presenting little bits of the world that a vast majority of people look past without a second thought. My only hope is that from my work, they may start having second thoughts.
That may change. This is me today.
On the flip side, I see that I have made a difference on this forum over the years. What I do has challenged others to try seeing the way I do. Some with great success, and some not.
I think that is pretty neat. I have learned a LOT by looking at, or within, the world in a purely compositional manner. I am still learning. So is everyone here.
:cheers:
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