The Fine Line Between Inspiration and Imitation in Art

“Good artists borrow. Great artists steal??”

Are you truly being inspired by their artwork, or are you just copying it?

The line between inspiration and plagiarism is a thin one to tread. There have been countless instances of artists, filmmakers, and writers throughout history having their work stolen and peddled off under a different name. But what’s the difference between stealing and taking inspiration? 

For one, transparency. It helps to be open about what inspires you and where you draw your ideas from, be it a piece of contemporary art or an old movie. Plagiarism seeks to bypass the labor of creation by mirroring the final result, whereas inspiration uses the original work as a foundation to build an entirely new emotional structure.

In the end, it’s easy to forget that all art is ultimately derivative. What might seem like a fresh idea has been done and redone like your favorite pair of socks through the wash cycle. 

Part of the beauty of art is in this. The hallmark of true inspiration is the infusion of one’s own lived experience into an existing influence, effectively transforming a borrowed spark into a unique flame. It is human to create, and it is human to create based upon others’ creations. We uplift and, in turn, are uplifted by others’ voices.

I am reminded of the ancient toddler-sized handprints that are high up off the cave ground, and I think of a prehistoric hominid parent, raising their child aloft so that they, too, may partake of leaving a mark behind on this world.