Creative Clarity Series
Published on April 28, 2025

The Creative Journey, Part 2 of 12: Imitation as a Creative Superpower

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2687 words // 14min read time

Hello, lovely crafter! Today, I’m releasing Part 2 of 12 of the Creative Journey Series. I am so proud of this series, as it’s a deep dive into the life cycle of the creative art experience. I hope you will read the tips and insights, and decide where you are in the journey, gleaning any help that you can to guide you through to the next step. Enjoy!

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[Crochet Pattern Shown: Beach Hut Blanket]

3 Phases: Intro and Quick Links

The Creative Journey Series has an over-arching theme of 3 phases, each one with 4 parts, making the whole 12-part series. Here’s a quick overview again of the 3 phases, just so you know where you are in the journey. I’ll be adding this intro reminder at the top of each part through the series and hyperlinking Parts 1-12 as I go.

Phase 1, Imitation and Inspiration: Steps 1-4 are a deeper dive into Phase 1 of the Creative Journey. You can read more in my series post Creative Clarity, Episode 2: Phase 1 of the Artist’s Journey and a Deep Dive into the Realm of Copying

Phase 2, Innovation and Identity: Steps 5-8 break down Phase 2 of the journey, which is the topic of Creative Clarity, Episode 3: Phase 2 of the Artist’s Journey and How to Beat Creative Burnout

  • Part 5: What Style Really Means
  • Part 6: Experimentation and the Messy Middle
  • Part 7: Surviving the Burnout Phases
  • Part 8: The Power of Finding Your Unique Voice

Phase 3, Integration and Ascension: Steps 9-12 will be a dive into Phase 3 of the journey, but this episode of Creative Clarity has not yet been released. I will be sure to release that episode before we begin Step 9.

  • Part 9: Sustaining Your Style
  • Part 10: Cross-Pollinate through Fusion and Play
  • Part 11: Staying True Despite Style Challenges
  • Part 12: Artistic Evolution – Never Stop Growing

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Part 2: Imitation as a Creative Superpower

In creative circles, imitation often gets a bad rap. It’s seen as a shortcut, a sign of unoriginality, or worse, a form of theft. But what if we looked at imitation in a different light? When handled carefully, especially in the early stages of your creative journey, imitation isn’t a weakness, but a superpower.

When you first start creating, or if you’re an expert who has found yourself at a crossroads, the loudest voice in your head might tell you that you must be completely original 100% of the time. This post is about letting go of the pressure to be original right out of the gate. It’s about learning by studying, copying, remixing, and observing. You have permission to practice the basics without shame and learn the basics of your craft before you completely invent your own style.

The truth is this: originality grows from influence. It grows through imitation, not apart from it. When I designed the Beach Hut Blanket, I looked at quilter magazines and mimicked this cover design with crochet stitches. I was trying to figure out more ways to use linen stitch (or moss stitch) and so I imitated that basic design while honing my crochet skill basics.

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Comparison is Not the Problem (It’s How You Use It)

Comparing yourself to others is human nature, but early on, comparing your creative work can either motivate you or paralyze you. The key isn’t to stop comparing; rather, to compare with a purpose.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” – Attributed to Teddy Roosevelt, and repeated by every creative ever

Instead of letting social media highlight reels convince you you’re behind, try asking:

  • What do I admire about this piece?
  • How did the artist likely get from A to B?
  • Can I try this technique, color story, or format myself?

Pro Tip: Turn your comparisons into a study list. Instead of thinking “I’ll never be that good,” think “What part of this could I try today?”

For every work that someone posts online, I assure you there are twenty that did not make the cut. The reality is that probably half of the things we create are terrible, forty percent are okay, and ten percent are amazing. You live your artistic life seeing all 100% of your works – the good, the bad, and the ugly. When you browse the works that another artist has posted, you are only seeing their “top ten percent.” It makes no sense to compare.

Jean-Michel Basquiat once said: “I cross out words so you will see them more.”

Even erasure, copying, interrupting, and reshaping existing work, is a kind of communication. When you imitate, you’re not being lazy or unoriginal. You are joining an ancient human tradition: copying to understand. In Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon reminds us that nothing is truly original. Every artist builds on what came before. So let yourself study what moves you, and don’t be afraid to copy, as long as you do it thoughtfully.

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Educate Yourself Through Imitation

There’s a difference between copying to avoid creativity and copying to develop it. In The Creative Habit, Twyla Tharp recommends “scratching” as a process of collecting, mimicking, and experimenting to warm up your creative muscles. She even encourages choreographers to replicate movements from other dancers to learn rhythm, timing, and control.

The same goes for any art form:

  • Writers: Rewrite a favorite passage in your own words
  • Fiber artists: Recreate a color palette or motif shape from a famous designer
  • Illustrators: Trace over sketches to learn proportions

When you copy intentionally, you can’t help but leave behind fingerprints. Your choices, hesitations, biases, and instincts alter what you imitate so that no two copies are ever identical. When you practice your art, your voice is developing and emerging already, even in your imitations. Crochet artists, think of this as learning the basics by making a granny square blanket. The classic shape is nothing that you had to come up with on your own, so you can focus on practicing the foundational stitches of crochet.

Exercise: Pick one artist you admire and recreate one of their works (for your eyes only). Then change one thing: the medium, the mood, or the colors. You’ve just turned imitation into transformation.

Another important tip is to put the hours in. You need to create prolifically so that you have a variety of works to post, and so that you can have some behind the scenes content to share if you want to. Whatever you focus on will grow, so if you put time and effort into building your platform, you will get noticed.

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Let Go of Perfect

I’m really going to dig in to this one, because I’m a firm believer in perfection as a complete myth. It does not exist. When you expect your first attempts to be brilliant, you strangle your own creative growth. Perfectionism is comparison’s mean older sibling, and it loves to show up when you’re just starting out. Practice letting go of perfectionism. Perfection is a myth, which is why it always seems so futile to endlessly reach for it – you’ll never reach it because it doesn’t exist.

Perfection Is a Moving Target

Even if you somehow create a so-called “perfect” piece today, tomorrow when you look at it with fresh eyes, you can see it differently. You’ll see new things you missed before, and want to fix it. This growth mindset means you’re evolving and developing. Perfectionism freezes you in a single moment. Growth demands imperfection.

“Perfection is not a destination. It’s a mirage.” – Inspired by Rick Rubin

How to Work With a Moving Target

  • Create time benchmarks instead of visual or concrete design goals. Instead of saying that you will create 3 works, say you will work in 20min increments.
  • At regular intervals, look back at your own work. You can learn a lot from seeing where you started and thinking of the ideas that used to motivate you.
  • Focus on the feeling that you’re after, not the image that you want. Aim to feel joyful, connected, and curious, but don’t seek to feel “perfect.”
  • Understand that mastery has no final form. You will be learning, developing, and evolving forever, constantly coming back to the beginning of the journey on the spiral upward.

You Can’t Skip the Messy Middle

You imagine the final product before you’ve even learned the tools. You want your first stitch to feel like a masterpiece. You want to skip the awkward art stage. But here’s the truth: You can’t skip the messy middle. It’s where the magic happens. Imitation gives you a way to start badly without shame.

Elizabeth Gilbert, in Big Magic, writes: “Done is better than good.”

Gentle Practices to Loosen Perfectionism

  • Make a bad version on purpose Set a timer for 15 minutes and crochet or sketch something bad to lower the stakes.
  • Celebrate milestones, not masterpieces. Every attempt you share is a win. Try to create a few bad versions before judging any one of them.
  • Keep a “First Draft Folder.” Save messy notes, experiments, and early versions on purpose as a reminder that everything beautiful you will make starts here.
  • Practice compassionate self-talk. When you catch yourself saying, “This isn’t good enough,” answer back: “It’s good enough for now.” Celebrate done, not perfect. 

Let yourself be bad and messy as you learn and imitate. Letting go of perfectionism doesn’t mean you stop caring. It just gives you permission to begin imperfectly in order to build a stronger foundation.

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Learning in Public: The Quiet Power of Creative Community

Here’s where imitation meets connection. Even if it’s clearly inspired by someone else, sharing your early work is a powerful part of creative growth that builds confidence and helps you find your people.

I think we can agree that the majority of artists are introverts. We work against ourselves in that way because if we want to make a career out of being creative, we have to engage in some aspect of networking. Working for yourself, and doing what you love to do (create art) is the best feeling in the world, but it will only be sustainable through meeting the right people or building a following.

When you share your work:

  • Be honest: “This piece was inspired by this artist while I learned their technique.”
  • Give credit generously
  • Invite conversation: “Has anyone else tried this?”
  • Ask for process feedback, not product judgment. (“What feels strong?” vs “Is this good?”)
  • Find creative buddies at your stage. Grow alongside people who are learning too.
  • Join small, low-pressure communities. Private Discord groups, hashtag challenges, or local meetups.

“You’re allowed to be a beginner in public. You’re allowed to be learning out loud.” – Anonymous, but should be gospel

Networking in the Real World

As a budding artist networking out in the real world can seem overwhelming and will likely be more applicable in Phase 3 of the artist’s journey, but you should at least know what you are working toward. One day you may find yourself at galleries in studio spaces, and you will want to do some networking with artists there.

Over time, you’ll stop needing to credit inspirations because your personal style will emerge. But for now, sharing can be a way to build momentum and community.

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Imitation vs. Influence: The Shift

As you practice imitation more intentionally, you’ll begin to notice a shift:

  • You’re adapting your own works instead of copying directly.
  • You mix the aspects of different artists together. For example, taking the color palette from one artist, but using the shapes of another.
  • You borrow a technique but use it to tell your own story.

That’s the moment you begin to find your voice.

Here are some things to think about when you imagine what that will look like.

  • Present yourself as a professional artist. Put effort into your persona and presentation, and research how to curate a professional portfolio.
  • Look to connect, not just to sell your art. Take a step back from your “elevator pitch” and just look to connect with like-minded artists. You can help each other and support each other.
  • Go to as many artsy events as you can. Art showings, creative workshops, small live music venues – these areas will all have creative people that you can meet and chat with.

Your work will still reflect your influences—but it will carry you more clearly. That’s not “unoriginal.” That’s art.

Want to Take This Deeper?

Try this creative challenge:

  • Choose one piece of art you admire
  • Recreate it as closely as you can
  • Then change three things
  • Then make something entirely new, inspired by the spirit of that piece

Track how your own voice emerges with each step. How did your hand shift? How did your instincts alter what you made? What new questions or ideas emerged?

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The Creative Journey Timeline

  • Phase 1: Imitation (lots of repetition)
  • Phase 2: Influence (choosing what fits)
  • Phase 3: Voice (inevitable and undeniable)

But, you move between these phases over and over, growing more each time you restart the cycle. You will imitate again, you will absorb new influences again, and you will find a deeper, truer voice again. Remember, the Creative Journey is a spiral up.

Creative Voices to Follow

These artists and writers speak directly to this part of the journey. When choosing inspiration artists, if you’re feeling unsure of your ability, ask yourself what you would do if fear was eliminated from the equation.

  • Austin Kleon (Steal Like An Artist) – On creative remixing and owning your influences. austinkleon.com
  • Elizabeth Gilbert (Big Magic) – Fear, perfectionism, and making art with joy. elizabethgilbert.com
  • Adam J, Kurtz (1 Page at a Time) – Messy creativity, self-doubt, and humor. Adam JK
  • Twyla Tharp (The Creative Habit) – Structure, repetition, and learning from others. twylatharp.org/index.php/bio
  • Lisa Congdon (Find Your Artistic Voice) – Discover personal style through influence.

10 Bonus Tips for Starting Strong

  1. Copy to learn, not to impress.
  2. Keep a file of artists/works you want to study.
  3. Start a skills sketchbook just for technique trials.
  4. Be honest about your influences. Crediting builds trust.
  5. Practice things no one will see just to lower the pressure.
  6. Try making something “bad on purpose” to loosen up.
  7. Share your work with context. Say, “I’m still learning this method.”
  8. Pair up with a friend and imitate the same artist together to contrast.
  9. Look across mediums, for example, fiber artists can learn from painters, and vice versa.
  10. Celebrate the transition from copying, to remixing, to finding your voice.

Thank you for reading this part of the Creative Journey Series! Next Monday, we will look at Part 3: The Ethics of Proper Copying. Part 3 examines the line between paying homage and stealing. This post will explore the correct best practices and the nuance of imitation. I can’t wait to dive into this topic.

Hope you have a great week, and happy crafting!

Rachele C.

Order my crochet pattern book: The Art of Crochet Blankets

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