Copycat or Copyist?

As students, we are all greatly influenced by our teachers, mentors, and those we ultimately admire. These people are somewhat the reason we started painting in the first place, right? We looked at their art and saw something appealing that drew us in to want to create something similar. We want to use the same materials, hold the same brush the same way, in hopes we will produce a comparable masterpiece of our own. Does this make us a copycat?

Well, this way of thinking has been popular for hundreds of years. In fact, artists throughout time have been copying other artists to help develop their talent. It is a common practice that is still used today to copy the master painters of the past that are displayed in museums around the world. There is a name for these copy cats, they are called copyists. It is seen as a privilege to have the right to reproduce these masterpieces in such a guarded setting among priceless works of art. It is by copying these successful works that you learn about the basic concepts of painting, and also are able to recognize the bold differences as the daring artists of their time broke away from the norm. Many museums will allow this activity, but only by request. Ask your local art museum if you, in fact, have an opportunity to be a copyist.

Copying has its purposes, however, at some point, true artists have to break away from what is normal or popular and express their selves in their own unique manner.

Mary Cassatt is a fine example of a young developing artist at the turn of the century, trying to release the passion and purpose of her need to create art. She was not so encouraged by her family but still took a risk to follow her heart. Mary began as most students do in a professional school of arts, trying to adhere to the right and wrong ways of painting as suggested by her teachers. Her passion to paint was hampered by timely lessons and she soon grew bored with the formality of college life. Against her father’s wishes, she traveled to Paris, France. What a new and exciting place this was, just teaming with aspiring artists from around the world. Mary soon sought out a school to attend to further her art exploration. She also became a copyist at the Louvre, which provided much teaching and influence on her own art from past masters in all mediums.

It was also about this time that Mary became friends with some of the art community’s most unpopular members. These were the Impressionists, considered rebels and radicals for not adhering to the strict rules and guidelines of what was expected from artists at that time. Mary loved the excitement and enlightenment that she discovered from the paintings being produced by this forbidden group. She happened to be befriended by one of the group’s most notable members, Edgar Degas. Mary admired his style and was once quoted as saying, “I used to go and flatten my nose against that window and absorb all I could of his art. It changed my life. I saw art then as I wanted to see it.” I, myself, can relate to that statement as I’m sure most of you can as well who have a strong passion for art. It is this moment that you know what you were born to do, and you ultimately are on a mission to seek out every shred of information and influence that will enable you to achieve your full potential. Mary was greatly influenced by Degas, whose proficiency in pastels compelled her to create many of her most notable works at that time in the same medium. She adopted family settings as subjects, in particular, mothers and children in everyday activities. Although Mary herself never married or had children of her own, she portrayed these families in her art with feeling and compassion that was present in every painting. Her style was unique and her own, and once again, influence from other artists shaped her life and her art. However, Mary did not stop evolving as she continued to change her style and mediums throughout her life. She perhaps made the biggest change of her life when she visited an exhibition of Japanese art in Paris. These works were created with a carved woodblock printing process, an age-old art that had been practiced in Japan for countless years. The concept of printing became an obsession for Mary. She experimented with the combination of the intaglio process of drypoint etching as well as aquatint printing. This became her new medium and where she found complete freedom in her artwork. She continued to focus on maternal subjects and concentrated on using the minimum amount of lines to create gestures and the essential information to convey the scene. The simplicity of the artwork overshadowed the complexity of the drypoint process. This was a very time-consuming art, involving painstakingly drawing the design with a small needle on a copper or zinc plate. Then ink was applied to the surface and wiped in areas that would be lightened. It was then applied to paper face down and ran through the press by then transferring the image to the paper with very fine detail. Mary complicated the form of art by then applying the aquatint process of transferring muted color to the image from an acid etched plate. This created an unusually serene print of soft, distilled and elegant colors and an intentionally minimal illustration. Although multiple prints could be achieved with one inking, everyone was unique.

Mary had finally come to the place in her life as an artist where she was truly happy. “I have touched with a sense of art some people- they felt the love and the life. Can you offer me anything to compare to that joy for an artist?” What satisfaction she must have felt in that very moment that she made that statement. I think it is within us all as artists to strive for such an achievement. Art is created in stages and every stage is a new learning experience. Learning from other artists is natural. Whether taking workshops or watching DVDs and reading how-to books, these are all great ways to learn and develop your talent. Even copying is perfectly acceptable as long as you use it as a learning tool and not take credit for someone else’s work. Just remember to eventually form your own style and technique in order to break away from the norm and be complete in your art. Also, respect the other artists that have done the same and be sure not to violate the copyrights of their art. Happy Copycat Day!