You read the title and thought I was talking smack. But in fact, I’m trying to give advice.
The history of the world is one of shared spaces, shared food, shared water, shared DNA, shared lives. The history of art is the same. It is a history of an evolution of ideas, of appropriation and application. Therefore, if you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than 1. inside you; and then 2. to other art work that fuels your soul. Apply your own story to what you see. Make it relevant, make it yours. Remix it all and you’re underway. Filmmaker Jim Jarmusch says it best:
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent.”
The above image plus the reminder that all of life is a collage, via the uber talented Austin Kleon.
True That Chase!
I love this post thank you
To be fair, I think Austin Kleon deserves a little more credit than you’ve atributed to him. Not only is the image borrowed from Austin but the title ad the main thrust of your post.
http://www.austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/
Anyone who likes this post would do well to read the full post from Austin Kleon, I found it extremely inspiring with lots of solid pragmatic advice.
No, I’m not being funny, I’m being very serious. I know you’ve given him credit for the image but I feel you’ve taken far more from his post than just the image and the spirit. I think the decent thing to do is link directly to his original post, call it out and sure, riff on it; but as it stands I think you’re glossing over how much of what you posted is his. As far as I can tell the only thing you added is the quote.
Great post.
We are the sum of our experience and anything we create is a result of those experiences and the things that we have been influenced by.
Nothing is created from nothing, we are simply reinterpreting what has gone before.
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination”
And that’s why God created lawyers