Is Copying Other Artists Wrong? How to Find Your Unique Painting Style
If you're an aspiring artist trying to figure out how to paint with confidence, you've probably found yourself copying other artists' work at some point. And hey, you're not alone! We’ve all been there—scrolling through Instagram, mesmerized by our favorite artists, thinking, "I want my art to look like that!"
But here’s the thing: copying might help you improve your technique, but it can hold you back from discovering your own unique voice as an artist. (P.S Join my FREE Workshop to discover the 3-step process that worked for me! )
In this blog post, I’m sharing why relying solely on copying can limit your growth and instead, how to create a painting in a way that feels truly authentic to you.
Why Copying Only Teaches You the “How” – Not the “Why”
When you copy someone’s art, you’re only learning how to replicate a certain style. What you’re missing is the why behind their creative choices—the ideas and emotions that fuel their work. Without understanding the thought process, it’s hard to apply those techniques to your own original paintings. That’s why, even if your work looks good, it can still feel like something’s missing.
The Two Parts of Painting: Idea & Execution
There are two major aspects to any great painting:
The Idea: Your unique perspective and creative vision.
The Execution: The technical skills needed to bring that vision to life.
When you copy, you might improve your execution, but your ideas remain underdeveloped. The real magic happens when you learn to generate your own ideas and execute them with confidence. This is the key to developing your own painting style—one that’s instantly recognizable as yours.
How to Find Your Own Style
Finding your own painting style doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s 100% possible with a little patience and practice. Here are a few tips to get started:
Experiment with Different Techniques: Play around with different brush strokes, textures, and color palettes. Don’t worry about perfection—just have fun with it!
Embrace Mistakes: Your “messy” paintings are often the most authentic ones. They show that you’re willing to take risks, and that’s how you grow.
Reflect on What Inspires You: Instead of trying to copy the look of someone else’s art, think about what inspires you about it. Is it their bold colour choices? The way they capture emotion? Use that inspiration as a jumping-off point for your own creations.
By shifting your focus from copying to creating, you’ll start to develop a unique painting style that feels true to you. Yes, it might feel intimidating at first, but trust me—it’s worth it. There’s nothing more fulfilling than expressing your own ideas through your art and watching your skills grow along the way.
Ready to Let Go of Tutorials?👇
If you’re feeling ready to embrace your creativity and step into your full potential as an artist, check out my latest video where I go deeper into this topic here.
Let’s break free from relying on tutorials and start creating art that’s uniquely you. I’m inviting you to my FREE ART WORKSHOP where I share the 3-step process to finally being able to create the artwork you’ve always wanted to (without feeling chained to tutorials!)