Is Imitation A Form Of Flattery by Reyna Noriega

As creatives, our being revolves around being innovative. That innovation inspires others the same way we were once inspired by our predecessors. 

But there’s a thin line between inspiration and imitation.  

Is it wrong? 

One of my favorite books is “steal like an artist” by Austin Kleon. I loved it because it made me want to break free from the need to “be myself” and find my artistic style so early on. It was choking me. I wanted to sit in front of a canvas, have an epiphany and know exactly what I was meant to create for the rest of my life. Life doesn’t work that way. Instead I started paying attention to what I liked. Trying to create original pieces in similar styles that I had seen and liked. But creativity lives in me so I could never be satisfied mimicking another’s work. Instead I started picking and choosing what worked for me, what spoke to me, and leaving everything else, through that process I found my own style.

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