Start with what you know

 

A question was posed in the symposium today; something along the lines of “If we live in a re-mixed culture, can we ever produce something new?”

 

I LOVE this question. It’s something I’ve contemplated many a time. As an artist, I look up to other artists. I use their knowledge with my own to create new artworks all the time. Sometimes I experiment with a technique that feels like it’s just come out of my brain but sooner or later find out it’s been tried before. It brings to mind a saying, “All art is imitation”. When I first heard that saying I was about 16 and felt a bit disheartened.  But around soon after I heard the saying “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” which made it better.

 

As a person who’s constantly creating something I’ve always thought of where ideas and inspiration comes from. And when I’m stuck, when my speculation just isn’t speculative enough and my ideas are under or over-thought, I turn to what is perhaps the greatest piece of advice a book has ever given me:

 

It comes from Stephen King’s “Duma Key”. He writes, “Start with what you know, then re-invent it”.

 

Lifesaver.