“Talent borrows, genius steals.” - Oscar Wilde 1854-1900
“Good artists copy, great artists steal.” - Pablo Picasso 1881-1973
“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: ‘It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.’” - Jim Jarmusch 1953-Present
Inspiration over imitation. That differentiates. Inspiration is the stuff that stirs something within you to create something new, being influenced by that which moved you. Imitation is the disservice you do to the world when you lack anything of your own to breathe new life into something that moved you.
