How Do You Find Your Own Voice?

Copied from Tamara Laporte's work from Willowing Arts' class: Ever After.

How do you learn to do something new?  
​How do you find your own voice?  

I recently signed up for an art class with Tamara Laporte from Willowing Arts: Ever After.  The goal is to explore different styles and find my own as an artist.  Tamara said something that shocked me at first:  "It's ok to copy other artists in order to find your style, your voice (as long as you don't take credit for it and don't sell the product created).'' 

I used to think that I had to come up with something new and original for even calling myself an artist/creator.  Needless to say that this way of thinking got me stuck and paralyzed me many times.  I stopped myself from creating any art because I knew that it had already been done, it wasn't original, and I had put the pressure on myself that I had to know already how to do things (but this is an other story).  I know, silly, right?  

I could just hear my teachers in my head saying how bad and wrong it was to copy.  I had to change the channel in my head to allow myself to do it anyway, at least try and see what would happen.  

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Did you know that even the great masters copied their own master for years before finding their style?
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By going through this class, I also notice that even if I copy the composition of the teacher, my painting is different.  So really, to find your voice, all it takes is being in action, doing what you are inspired to do, practice and keep practicing knowing that your own voice is emerging in parallel to your self-confidence.

Do not stop yourself from creating and exploring by copying, it's ok... know that it's one way find your own unique voice.  I see this example from my creative life applies to many other areas of my life.  I invite you to explore where in your life do you stop yourself from dreaming, doing something or expressing yourself because you think that it's not original, unique, new, or that it won't be good enough.

Have fun creating!​
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