Are You an Original?

They say that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery", but I am not so sure. While I do look for inspiration in lots of places, I do my best not to straight up copy and always put my personal spin on it. I worry about not being an original, a forward thinker, a pioneer. Am I creative enough? Am I original enough? Maybe it is the new year coming and there are resolutions and reflections on my mind. Here are a few things I have been mulling over...

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple; awesomely simple, that is creativity.
~Charles Mingus

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”
~Herman Melville

“The principal mark of genius is not perfection, but originality.”
~anonymous

“Art can make the old surprising, and the new and sudden soothing.”
~Eli Siegel

“Creativity is more than just being different. Anybody can plan weird; that's easy. What's hard is to be as simple as Bach. Making the simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.”
~Charles Mingus

Comments

Paula Wanamaker said…
Brandie:
I feel "totally" the same way you do!!!!!
At first, I thought I was becoming hormonal, then I just sat and cried! Sometimes it helps just to let it all out. But then, I realized that with this 'blog thing' going on, people are ALWAYS going to copy or replicate something you are doing and add their own thing to it. But, it's always better to be a LEADER, THAN A FOLLOWER!!!! And the honest people who love and know you, will always stand beside you!! SMILE, because you are definitely a TRUE ORIGINAL TO ME!!!
LOVE, PAULA
LeAnne Grissom said…
Your talent could not be copied, because you are a unique individual. You do awsome work and I love seeing it all. Have a Happy New Year!!!
Stephanie Edens said…
inspiration [to me, anyway] is when i look at another photographer's image and love it and then stop to ask myself why i love it--is it the color? the composition? the mood? what?...and then i incorporate that into my work. i think that's how we all develop our own style--we take bits and pieces of things we love about others and make it our own. but the key here is to truly make it your own.

blatant copying just isn't cool.

press on, girl. keep creating, because there's only one you and we love you!

steph
Brandie,

Some may try to copy you, but you are uncopyable. They will never be the person you are inside or on the outside. Take it from me, someone who has had the same situation, just be you. When I started "The Lunch Lady Catering" I had my customers contacting me, asking me about "others" trying to copy my business. From my memus to my business cards. You may have thought that it hurt me or my feelings, but I sat down and prayed for those people. Sometimes prayer works better than anything. I hold my head high, give my 100% and don't worry about "copy cats". As Paula stated and in my opinion, you will always be a leader not a follower! I was once told that "copy cats" is a form of flattery. I didn't understand that in the beginning, but, I do understand it now. I use to let it bother me when somebody copied my ideas or work, but, some people just can't think outside of the box. Girl, you think outside the box and around everyone in circles in 3rd gear. Just keep on doing what you are doing! Hold your head up! My two signs you made me are hanging proudly in my kitchen! I have more compliments on them and would never ask anyone else to do them for me! You got me as a true friend.

Keep Up The Great Work!

Joy Tubb
Simply Joy Catering
Sheila said…
...I look at others talents and am inspired by it...It sometimes causes me to look inside myself to try to find my "God given talent" I think it all comes down to inspiration..many people are talented and so many are looking for their nich..so I would take it as flattery or a compliment when others are inspired by your work, and honestly, God put us here to help each other...truly to help others make it to heaven...In the grand scheme of things that is all that matters...we are all unique and blessed more than we deserve...My moto for 2008 is don't sweat the small stuff and thank God for the blessings...much love and enjoy your break with your family....