Your artistic skill is unique. How did you develop it?

For me, an artist’s “style” is simply an expression composed from a combination of the elements in other artist’s work that the artist finds appealing.

There is a quote (attributed to Pablo Picasso) that says, “Good artists borrow, great artists steal.” I believe there is truth to that, especially since we emulate the things we desire to aspire to. The trick is to have MANY influences as too few may leave your work appearing derivative.

I suggest exploring as much art as you can and not just art within your chosen field. Despite the fact that I am primarily a children’s book illustrator, I have found mind-boggling inspiration in natural history, fashion design and vintage packaging for products. Keep your eyes and your mind open and just draw. Your style will follow.

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Never Abandon Imagination Tony DiTerlizzi: Never abandon imagination.

Imagination is a world of possibility that exists within each of us. It is what makes us uniquely human. It is our creative fingerprint that touches and influences the world around us. Imagination is essential to art and science; to innovation and prosperity. It gives us hope, calls us to action and leads to change.

Whether it’s fairies, dragons, robots or aliens, all of my children’s book characters are siblings born of my imagination – an imagination strengthened through years of encouragement from family, teachers and friends. While so many others abandoned it during their transition from childhood to adulthood, I fiercely held onto mine, hoping for a day when I could share it to inspire the next generation of dreamers. Innovators. World changers.

Imagination empowers us to envision and create a reality of what could be. We must hold it dear, foster it and never abandon it.