Good artist copy, great artists steal.

Our house is full of books and magazines on photography. I take three mags a month and one bimonthly and I am currently working my way though two books on marketing and personal improvement .
Good artist copy, great artists steal.
With the mags I find myself reading everything, even the stuff I think I already know, quite often the way one photographer will approach a subject may spark an idea for something completely different, evoking a whole new approach to something I'm already working on .
Good artist copy, great artists steal.
In art as well as photography you can often see connections. The art of one, inspiring the other.
The work of bob Carlos Clarke for instance has surely inspired many over the years from other photographers to fantasy artists alike. Although his style may not be to every ones taste, his approach and lighting , his ability to see to shot still draws you in and offers plenty of food for the imagination.
Good artist copy, great artists steal.
And so yes since time in memorial artist, musicians, sculptors, politicians have taken inspiration from others, stealing one thing or another and making it their own. The key is to steal a small facet of something that lights your fire. Taking an idea and expanding it until it's your own.
I suppose you should just replace the word "steal" with the words "are inspired"
Inspiration is all around us, the more you look for it, the more you find it.
Be inspired this week.
Yes your right dear reader, once I start you can't shut me up ! So with that...