Good artists borrow. Great ones steal.

Thieves and Artists

     All great artists see the world in a unique way. They have stepped across an invisible line which separates them from other artists. They see an ordinary object, but in an unusual way that transcends the ordinary. They have an idea. I think the best ideas are simple alternatives to solving the same problems that artists have faced since the first cave-person etched a stick figure onto a stone. The best ideas are the ones that have me wondering, "Why didn't I think of that?"

      In my last blog I talked about inspiration and how to train my eye to see beauty in everyday things. But there is one further step to take.  If I want to stand apart from the many artists who are talented, driven and determined, I have to be unique. When approaching a subject, it is just not enough to paint well or get the perspective correct. I need to digest the subject and make it mine. I need to own it and translate that ownership into the painting.

      "Good artists borrow. Great artists steal." - Pablo Picasso

      A controversial statement, certainly, but I interpret this in a very different way than the common wisdom. I don't think Picasso was talking about stealing someone else's ideas. I believe he is revealing the intangible ability which sets some artists apart. That ability is to own the object that they are painting. He is not just borrowing a model's image; he steals it and makes it his own.

      Who knew thieves and artists had so much in common?