Embracing Creativity through Influence

There is this notion that creativity should be solely from originality which has led many creatives into a lonely, frustrating path and oftentimes makes them static. It is understandable that people like to make boast of being the Lord, author and finisher of an idea without external input but is there any idea that came of its own without any inspiration from any source?

Austin Kleon exposed the truth in his book "Steal like an Artist". He brings the idea that true creativity does not thrive in isolation but in the communion between inspiration, influence and innovation.

In expressing ones creative ability,one must first embrace the fact that creativity does not exist in a vacuum. Every fashion style, lyrics penned, pictures painted are influenced by countless experiences, observations and associations that give us a better view of our existence. This should not be seen as a constraint but rather an open door of possibilities into the world of endless creativity.

Embracing creativity through influence allows for reimagining, restyling, reshaping and remixing. It involves taking bits an pieces from the ideas of others and bringing them together in a manner that becomes uniquely your own.
It could be drawing inspiration from role models, an occurrence or from nature. It is still creativity through influence.

In a world that celebrates individual ingenuity rather than collaborative exchange of ideas, creating via influence might seem like a betrayal of one's creative integrity.

However, in midst of a bunch of ideas, influence, masters, expressions, one must be able to find one's voice. It is about bringing out your own uniqueness amidst the vast influences.

In embracing creativity through influence, one must be wary of plagiarism or copycat and embrace the richness of the influences that are available and use them as licenses to a unique creative path.

While stealing, steal like an artist understanding the part of recognizing the brain behind an original invention where possible and in the process you showcase your uniqueness. It is about honoring those who are ahead of us while crafting our own uniqueness.

There is always an inspiration, an influence/s that births an idea. If ideas are from one's ingenuity only, there will be no need to learn from others, no need for role modelling or teaching since everyone is for his own.

This blog itself is an example. The book "Steal like an Artist" was sent by a graphics design tutor in a class I paid for months ago. He sent it amidst other books as resources to guide or graphics design journey. I have not read the book completely it's not even up to half but I have drawn influences from it not only on graphics design alone.

Also, I am a fashion designer, there are some designs I have created from other's designs. I have developed a method of drafting patterns and cutting fabrics by watching several fashion tutors draft their own patterns. I sat with all the methods, choose the steps that are comfortable for me and I created another.

Embracing creativity through influence is all about having an open mind to the inspiration from the world around you and using it to fuel your own uniqueness.

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