The Masters offer you the opportunity to see their vision and the beauty they were able to create. Have you ever stared at a Van Gogh or a Rembrandt and think, How did they do that? The way the light dances, the movement, the emotion—it’s mesmerizing. But then the doubt creeps in: If I try to paint like them, am I just copying? Is it even possible to capture that essence without losing my own artistic voice?
The short answer? Absolutely. And you should. The longer answer? There’s an art to it (pun totally intended), and it’s about inspiration, not imitation. We have talked before here about imposter syndrome and the fear that we are not artists, not good enough, etc. Using the Masters in your work does not mean that you are copying or not good enough to use them.
Understand, Don’t Mimic
Think of studying the Masters like learning a new language. You wouldn’t just memorize sentences—you’d learn how the language works so you can speak it in your own way. Instead of copying brushstrokes, compositions, or colors exactly, ask yourself:
- What draws me to this artist? Is it their bold color choices, their dramatic lighting, their unique brushwork?
- What emotions do they make me feel? And how do they achieve that feeling?
- What techniques are they using that I can adapt to my own style?
Steal From the Masters Like an Artist (The Right Way)
Austin Kleon’s famous book Steal Like an Artist (affiliate link: https://amzn.to/4iyhrTQ) breaks it down: great artists don’t copy—they collect, transform, and remix.
Instead of copying a painting, take pieces of inspiration from multiple sources:
Love Monet’s dreamy, atmospheric quality? Experiment with softer edges and layered color.
Admire the dramatic lighting of Caravaggio? Play with contrast in your own way.
Obsessed with Van Gogh’s movement? Try exaggerating rhythm in your brushstrokes, but with your own subject matter.
Remixing vs. Replicating
Think of your art like a playlist. You wouldn’t copy a song note for note—you’d mix influences to create a sound that feels like you.
One way to do this is by blending old techniques with new concepts. Imagine taking the glow of a Rembrandt portrait but applying it to a futuristic sci-fi setting. Or borrowing the delicate, sketch-like quality of a Da Vinci study but using it for street scenes instead of Renaissance figures.
Make It Your Own
This is where it gets fun. Once you’ve absorbed an artist’s energy, start pushing it in new directions:
Swap Subjects – Take the structure of a famous painting but apply it to a totally different theme. What if Vermeer’s soft indoor lighting was used in a neon cityscape?
Change Mediums – Try translating oil painting techniques into digital art or pen sketches.
Mash Up Styles – Combine impressionist color palettes with bold, graphic shapes. Imagine what Klimt would do with a graffiti wall!
The Best Artists Learn From The Masters, Then Let Go
Picasso didn’t wake up one day painting in cubes. He mastered classical realism first, then shattered it into something new. Studying the Masters is about building your toolbox, but what you build with those tools? That’s all you.
So go ahead—learn from them, take what inspires you, then make it yours. That’s not copying. That’s art.
