When is it okay to copy art? What defines personal use? Have you ever imitated another’s artwork? Is original composition too difficult? What are your intentions behind imitating another’s artwork? Should I be ashamed at copying or following tutorials?
Absolutely not, with the right intentions… there is nothing wrong with copying art. It is how we learn to basically do anything in life. Almost every artist’s journey begins with copying other artists. Over time, through experience you will learn to explore and find your own style. Imitation is how we learn the mechanics, how we translate things we like, and how we evolve and add to things to make them more.
Artists are collectors of ideas. Art is: taking an idea, adding to it with other ideas in your head, and making a new idea. New ideas are constantly being created through our experience of everyday life. Our creations are a mix of everything we have lived, felt, or heard. Artists are always changing as ideas evolve.
“Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.”– Salvador Dali, painter
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” -Pablo Picasso
Watching and following instructional videos is the perfect way to hone your skills in. We as artists pride, ourselves on sharing our love of art with all of you. Teaching or sharing a skill with others is one of the most rewarding things in life. TaSha and I are extremely lucky to be able to follow our passion through art, and share it.. step by step.
Its not okay when….
When your intentions about copying another’s work gets muddy, or you are trying to pass off another’s art or words as your own is to plagiarize. Plagiarize in the dictionary is defined as “to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own; to use (another’s production) without crediting the source.” Never short change yourself or the artist you are imitating. Always give credit to the original inspiration, as you wouldn’t ever want to be the artist on the other side of things. Crediting the original artists takes nothing from you, its still your skills, your supplies, your time…. but not crediting the original artists takes everything from them.
For more information on when is it okay to copy art, check out this funny and inciteful video. Steal Like an Artist.
For more information about finding appropriate reference photos visit my Where to Find Reference Photos post.