what we are // what we want to be

Graphic Design is like all other creative endeavors. There are the powerhouse designers that came before us and give us a pushing off point. Steal Like an Artist deals with the idea of copying those that you admire. It's important to start out this way. In drawing and painting classes you often make master copies, to go through the motions of making something that already exists so that you might better understand the process.

In the beginning it's important to copy, and as you get better it turns into something else entirely. Trying to see things from your idol's perspective allows you to make things in their style without directly copying their ideas. The more people you study the more you will have to pull from and create something new that is truly yours.

The idea is basically to emulate, not to imitate. Emulation is where you make something your own. By emulating you use the perspective, not the composition. You may be inspired by colors or type faces, but emulating means finding your own way to use styles you see and like as a new jumping off point for your own project.

The author in Steal Like an Artist says that good theft comes from honoring work, studying it, stealing from many artists, giving them credit for the inspiration, transforming their styles and remixing it into something new. This is a logo I just did for a friend's blog that is definitely a result of my Andy Warhol love (I KNOW BUT IT'S TRUE). He and Lichtenstein are masters of bright color and simple form. Here is the logo and the famed Warhol banana.