Nobody wants to see a carbon copy of work that’s already out there.

It’s lazy and it’s also a slap in the face to the original artist. You’d get in trouble at school for copying your friend’s paper verbatim, so the same rules apply in the art world. If you’re thinking of imitating somebody’s work, it may slide as some may not recognize it as original work, but your clout won’t last forever. There will be people who will notice your imitative “work” and it will bite you in the ass later. Plagiarism isn’t cool. How can you create your own style if you’re using somebody else’s? In my opinion, it would be okay to copy if you’re just starting out and trying to find your own style (remember to credit the original artist!). Majority of artists start off by imitating somebody they look up to. If you’ve been in the game for a while, I don’t think there’s any excuses. Over time as one gains more experience, that’s when their own style is discovered.

How can I be inspired from other pieces to create my own version of my work, without imitating others?

Tons of artists I look up to, whether it be photographers, videographers, or music producers, have something in common: their art is derived from many people who inspire them. Artists take bits and pieces of things that inspire them and make it their own. Diversifying your sources of inspiration can create a form of art that is true to you. In reality, something has already been done before. A type of editing style has been done or a specific beat has been created. But how will you remix it to portray a reflection of yourself?