Don’t Just Study It. Change It
Ben is one of my students that has been taking private painting lessons from me for a few years now.
He got to stand in front of the original American Gothic in Chicago…
…and then came back to the studio and made his own version.
But here’s my favorite part… he didn’t just copy it. He thought about it. He made a choice. He added hay to the pitchfork.
That right there is the difference between following instructions and becoming an artist.
Study the masters.
Then make it yours.
That’s where the magic actually happens.
Now- can you find where he hid his name?
7
Ben’s choice to add hay to the pitchfork reveals the moment creativity transcends replication. That personal touch is what fuels artistic growth and community.
This is so well said. That one small decision changed everything. It’s like the moment he stopped trying to “get it right” and started making it his. That’s the shift I hope every student experiences… and he walked right into it.