A great inspiration to me has always been what other artists are doing. Not just visual artists, but also musicians, writers, film makers, designers. I took photos this week on the coast, and I was inspired by another photographer whose recent shots of surf were very fresh in my mind. I was inspired to find my own new approach to photographing waves.
On a recent trip to Powell’s Books in Portland, I came away with a handful of books that had some really great artwork in them. It’s fun and inspiring to get into other people’s heads (as far as you can safely do that) to see if there might be new approaches to your own work in it. It might come from unlikely places too. Look into areas that you normally don’t go. I found one book of women graffiti artist that really knocked me out, and a book of web designs that were beautiful artworks in and of themselves (actually in many cases, the artwork was better than the architecture of the site).
I used to be concerned about “copying” others, but now mostly find that if I’m really clear about what it is in other’s work that I’m attracted to, there is a way to incorporate it into my own, giving my work a new, fresh look.
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Kids freely copy no guilt. And it is never exactly what the other kid did. We each have our own voice unless we try hard to obliterate it. What a sad thing that is eh? The Loose Bruce lets Bruce loose for the rest of us to share the changes. Thanks – great air to breathe this morning on the Creative Block.
I forgot about that. Also, as students of art, copying old masters is a highly regarded way to learn the formal aspects of composition and technique, and “get inside their heads.”
Artists frequently borrow from each other but sometimes it’s completely unintentional and discovered later.
Being surrounded by the many artists in our gallery and a diverse collection at home has definitely influenced my own painting.
I move from one experimental period to the next and sometimes there’s no continuity in the transition. I’m generally satisfied with my process and don’t mean to sound self deprecating but it seems that artists who surround themselves with only their own work are more consistent and have the potential to create more profound work. Or is there a temptation to make the same painting over and over?