Have you ever seen a tribute band play? They practice and hone their act in order to sound just like the original band. Their success is measured on how well they capture someone else’s style and sound.
On the other hand, there are bands that cover the songs of other musicians. They play someone else’s song, but it’s undeniably performed in the sound and style of the cover band. Think of Joe Cocker singing the Beatles’ “Little Help From My Friends” or James Taylor with Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend.”
When it comes to you and your art (or your crafting, scrapbooking or whatever your creative outlet is) are you a tribute artist or a cover band?
I’ve seen it with many beginners, and heck, I have been there myself! When you are starting to learn, you strive to copy the examples you have. That’s not such a big problem. After all, we have to start somewhere.
The problem is when we get too hung up on imitating someone else’s style and then get frustrated or irritated when our own style starts peeking through. I’ve seen so many of my students get discouraged because they aren’t able to copy exactly.
When I explain that they don’t have to be a “tribute band,” they start to relax. Once they start embracing the differences between their abilities and their reference photos they actually enjoy the process! It’s quite freeing to lose (or loosen) the expectation of what your work’s outcome.
So, this weekend, give some thought to your creative activities and make a proactive effort to strike out in your own style. Do tell!
