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Cat Gabriel CraftsHi everyone,
Something that I wonder about sometimes is whether I have a definite style to my bearmaking? Most bear artists have a certain style or look to their bears, and in most cases you see a bear and say "oh yes, that's made by so and so.." But I'm not sure my bears are like that 
I feel that all the bears I make are different. I guess there's nothing wrong with that, but I would love my bears to be instantly recognisable by people. Do you think this is important for an artist?
Bearly Kidz BearsI don't know about a certain style but I think when someone see's your name they will know you make very cute bears.. I love the kitties. I don't have a style really also.
Denise
Catherine,
Yes, I do see a "family" resemblance in your creations, which in my opinion, is your style. As you continue to make more, this "style" will become more pronounced as you design your creations more to YOUR liking and not to what others are doing.
I immediately think cute and cuddly while viewing your website. Keep up the good work.
Hugs,
Wanda
Laurie Lou BearsI have the same problem as you Catherine.I have been making bears for just over 2 years now and find some of my bears have a similar look and others look nothing like each other even though I have used the same pattern and size.I don't mind sometimes as it means you never know what the next creation is going to look like and that can be fun but then I find it annoying when I make a bear and know what or who I want to look like and it doesn't come out nothing like it 
If your collectors know what your work is like that is a good thing but what can you do when these bears have a mind of their own 
Laurie :hug:
BruinwerksHi Catherine
There's nothing at all wrong with wanting to make different styles of bears. There are some artists that only produce really one bear in a lot of different sizes and then say they are all different but....it really only show that they know how to use the enlarge and reduce buttons on the photocopier! (Gee...aren't I sounding confrontational the morning 
I'm not meaning to...honest!)
I do think that really successful artists have a unique thing that is just theirs. Maybe choose one feature that will remain the same in all your work. Denis Shaw has quite a range of work, but has one constant...his embroidered eyes. Janet Clarke has a pretty distinctive airbrushing style coupled with a rather unique blend of proportions. Maybe for you its a distinct paw pad design or the proportions of the head to body etc.
I thought your bears had a really sweet 'roly poly' quality about them - a handful of sweetness 
Cheryl 
They definitely have the "cute" factor down pat...... which is a good thing when it comes to tugging at heart strings.
Taber, AlbertaI have this problem too. Some look alot alike and others look totally different. My boyfriend said "that one looks like the other one" and I'm thinking maybe it's a good thing? Actually, I think the ones if mine that look more alike are cuter :dance:
Cat Gabriel CraftsThanks so much everyone for your replies and opinions. People always say my creations are "cute" - so I guess that is my style! I'll continue to explore different types of bears, I think I might get a bit bored if I make everything too similar.
Chaska, MinnesotaCatherine: I love your bears. One artist told me all her bears have a key attached to them which is her way of signifying to her customers that it is her bear. I think diversifying your bears is great and keeps creating interesting and fun. So find something that would signify the bear is yours. Like mentioned above, Denis Shaw embroiders all his eyes....
Seamore Collectibles
I think you are right when you say bear collectors and artists can tell a bear artist by the way their bears have a distinct style. My daughter can spot them in magazines and she doen't even go on forums.
I personally get terribly bored making the same pattern. I could'nt bring myself to do it. I like a challenge, it's like giving birth to a new one...and wondering if it will be a boy or a girl.... The good thing it's not as "painful"!! 
