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While pursuing Instagram, I saw Natalie Hall‘s beautiful angel drawings. Even though our artwork doesn’t have much in common, her elegant pictures often inspire me. Continue reading to learn how I take inspiration from someone else’s art make it a jumping off point for mine.
Be Inspired by Others While Keeping Your Artwork Yours
The thing I loved about Natalie’s angel drawings, besides everything, was the wings. The shapes are beautiful and expressive while having a bit of an edge. They inspired me to try drawing my own “edgy” wings, but that is probably not how you would describe my angel painting. Honestly, I don’t know if “edgy” is something that could come out of my hands or head. Edgy it not me.
So, my first piece of advice when it comes to keeping your style yours is Be Yourself, and trust that yourself is good. Once someone described my artwork as soft and flowy with sinister undertones. It’s one of my favourite compliments because it describes me as a person as well as my art. We need art in the world with edge. We need art that’s flowy, and we need whatever kind of art is your art too.
My second piece of advice is to remember what another artist draws is their interpretation of something real. Natalie drew wings. Wings also exist in life. Birds have wings. Bats have wings. Airplanes have wings. Don’t forget to look at real life for yourself and interpret it your way. For this painting, I used reference of swan’s wings to help me create the finished art. So although I got the idea and the shape inspiration from Natalie, I used real life interpretation of swan’s wings for more information.
The 2 Ways to Be Inspired By Others and Be True to Yourself are:
First, even when you are looking at other artists for inspiration keep making your own marks, and thinking about art in your way. Second create your own interpretations from real life. Look at real life stuff and use lots of references.
Here is my video speed painting of this little angel piece. I hope you enjoy watching it and find much inspiration from it that you can make your own.
How do you use other artist’s work for inspiration? Feel free to tell me in the comments below.
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