DAY 5 - HOW TO BE AN ARTIST / by Debra Matlock

Lesson 3: Feel Free to Imitate

We all start as copycats, people who make pastiches of other people’s work. Fine! Do that. However, when you do this, focus, start to feel the sense of possibility in making all these things your own — even when the ideas, tools, and moves come from other artists. Whenever you make anything, think of yourself as entering a gigantic stadium filled with ideas, avenues, ways, means, and materials. And possibilities. Make these things yours. This is your house now.


I worked all day on an election for my neighborhood council. I will work on this tomorrow.

Here are some choices to copy:

merlin_146801049_fb966b22-a1d6-435d-9a59-015bead5f184-superJumbo.jpg
1209Kalman41.jpg
2018_CKS_15473_0008_000(jean-michel_basquiat_multiflavors).jpg
basquiat.jpg
EH2790-1000x1000.jpg
mairakalman.gif