I read a book a few years ago called ‘Steal like an Artist’ [Austin Kleon]. My main take-away was ‘be inspired’. I was already designing, and I know if I see a design I love, it’s better to buy it from the artist, because anything I try to make like it will not be half as good. It’s their style. I can’t do their style! But I also realized I can see a design and work off of what I like about it.
One of my first ‘steals’ was from a picture of David Cassidy. Honestly don’t know how I came across it. But… that shirt!
I wanted to create a design that was similar. It, of course, wouldn’t be the same. It was me, drawing with my magic pen on my screen, but it could give me the same feel of that design. I drew a bunch of tiny blocks with things in them [technical term – take note].
I put them all together and made this on Zazzle:
Primitive Pattern Messenger Bag
This was my first ‘steal’.
Get inspired. Find designs from the past, present, in nature, everywhere, and make them your own. Something that sparks for only you – or so you think – can become something new. You’ll have a unique-to-you design that others will love.