Read this if you're feeling STUCK...

As creatives, we’re always looking to the past. Bakers using recipes handed down through the family. Pianists practicing Mozart and Bach. Artists studying the brushstrokes of Sargent.

Lately, I’ve been diving into the story of J.C. Leyendecker, one of the most influential artists of the Golden Age of Illustration and one of my Art Heroes. His use of shapes is unmatched in my mind, and the expressiveness of his work is something I strive for.

For the Dance theme of my 20 Illustrations Challenge this year, I looked to the past at J.C. Leyendecker for inspiration and guidance in creating characters that were dynamic and full of life. If you want to learn more about Leyendecker, you can watch my video on his story here!

Too often, we try to be “original”. To do something that’s never been done before in effort to avoid “copying” or “stealing” from other artists. (And, of course, we should never plagiarize the work of others!) But there’s nothing wrong in looking to the past for inspiration and guidance. We’re simply a part of one long timeline of knowledge passing down through the ages. We’re all learning from those who came before us, and THAT’S OKAY.

Looking to the past is what moves us forward in our creative journey. We learn from those more skilled than us. The ones who’ve stood the test of time and proved that they were masters of their craft.

Maybe your creative juices aren’t flowing right now. Maybe you feel like you’ve plateaued in your skills. If you’re feeling a bit stuck in your creative journey this week, try looking to someone in the past! Find a baker or silversmith or musician or artist in the past and learn something new from them.

I’d love to hear what past creative is inspiring YOU, so feel free to reply to this email and let me know!