LPT: Dear novice hobbyists, not only is it okay to copy* from the more experienced, it is encouraged. It is the most enjoyable way to learn while producing end results you can be proud of.

Submitted by Telkhine_ t3_z6bfyp in LifeProTips

Let’s face it: there’s things you don’t know. Especially as someone entering a new hobby, there’s a lot you don’t know. But you want to know who does know? People with experience. And for the most part, the most enjoyable way to learn basic to intermediate to advanced concepts is to take the work of someone else and to dissect it and apply it to your own works. As an added bonus, you will have a much easier time creating an end product that you can feel extra proud of and motivated to continue in your efforts.

This is especially true if you can find a video or description of the creative process.

For example, if you wanted to paint a portrait, but have never done it before, I would suggest taking some portrait and copy it 1:1. It absolutely won’t look perfect, but it’s a great opportunity to learn brush control and color mixing. Then find another portrait you like and copy that. That time you might notice how the artist added a little bit of lighting or how they created some detail in anatomy. Then do it all again. That time you might learn a little bit more about color theory or how to create the focus of a painting. Meanwhile, after learning all these things, you have three pretty great portraits. Important note: this is a very exaggerated example, I HIGHLY doubt these things can be learned that fast.

Whether it be art, music, design, writing, or anything that requires creativity, an important thing to recognize is that new ideas these days are rare. Which is not a bad thing! It means that there is no pressure to pull something grand out of your bum for whatever it is you’re working on. Instead, put the things together that inspire you, that you love, and mixed with your own labor of love it will become something that will feel new and you can be proud of.

*Major disclaimer: turning over a 1:1 or a very close recreation of something with the intention of making a profit is plagiarism, don’t do that.

Edit: Also better to be safe than sorry by giving credit when it is due.

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keepthetips t1_iy0ekmq wrote

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DroolingSlothCarpet t1_iy0h0jp wrote

>not only is it okay to copy* from the more experienced

Even I wouldn't copy that.

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ModaMeNow t1_iy0h1ol wrote

This is how music works too

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Flowofinfo t1_iy0mhcu wrote

This is literally how every single thing on earth works, not just hobbying or whatever

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autotelica t1_iy0qsnn wrote

In my experience, learning how to play a musical instrument tends to work better when you are learning to play songs that you really like. Which are probably NOT the nursery rhyme melodies that you learn in formal lessons. Honestly I think that I probably would have stuck with the private piano lessons I took when I was nine years old if I had started off learning to play simple arrangements of my favorite pop songs than the boring "baby" songs I was forced to practice on. To be fair, the boring baby songs did teach me the fundamentals. But they didn't keep the passion going.

I think adults who are exploring a musical instrument would do well to get started by learning chords or melodies from their favorite songs. Being able to play a recognizable tune is so encouraging, and you need all the encouragement you can get when you don't have someone like a parent or a teacher nagging at you to practice.

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Cecilxavier t1_iy0ykh6 wrote

This, but give credit where credit is due. You learned it... From someone elses work.

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autotelica t1_iy10p41 wrote

Replying to Telkhine_ (#717,496)

Yes! I returned to it in my mid-20s when I was procrastinating writing my dissertation. The first song I taught myself to play was Madonna's Borderline. I did it by taking a midi file from the internet and used musical notation software to spit out a score of all the parts. Then I was able to cobble together an arrangement that captured the essence of the song without being too difficult for a newbie.

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TheloniusDump t1_iy15kbi wrote

Handing down traditions that help you learn is cool.

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wigzell78 t1_iy1mfdg wrote

Looking thru a gallery of art I met the artist, he introduced himself as a painter. Why sell yourself short I asked. He said he was good with a brush but lacked the creativity to come up with something new by himself so all his work was copying various other artists instead.

Roll forward to now and I an beginning a woodwork hobby. Now I understand what he meant. I have build some technical skill, but find it easier to find a design trend I like and replicate something similar than to start from scratch and create new.

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Telkhine_ OP t1_iy1pdlm wrote

Replying to wigzell78 (#721,548)

Yes exactly this. After coming to my own realization that this was for the most part how it works, everything got so much easier and I fell in love with whatever I made so much more than I would otherwise.

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Painting_Agency t1_iy1znfp wrote

Replying to wigzell78 (#721,548)

> He said he was good with a brush but lacked the creativity to come up with something new by himself so all his work was copying various other artists instead.

I'm going to bet that he actually had a fair bit of creativity, because nothing is more artist-y than thinking that you suck and have nothing to offer. Artistic megalomaniacs like Andy Warhol are the exception, not the rule.

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jrtts t1_iy26hfr wrote

sLPT: Copyright infringement is a thing. Do not download a car.

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bodhiseppuku t1_iy28u23 wrote

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... As the saying goes.

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Blapanda t1_iy29ace wrote

Can fully support this approach. This is how I learned MSSQL and PHP for web and game server programming, only due to others their coding (and some of them using proper coding language and commenting stuff on behalf of "what did I do here exactly"). Today I can set up an entire server cluster for highly popular and populated games like genshin impact or world of warcraft without any interferences and typical server delay/lag spikes.

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Eaton_Rifles t1_iy2otb9 wrote

Nothing is original, it is all digested from what has passed before and presented with a personal slant.

This is why it’s so important to expose yourself to as much of what you’re trying to learn in order to soak it up like a sponge, process what you personally like before representing as your work.

This is true of art, music, drama, it doesn’t matter, just immerse yourself in the subject, let it wash over you and you’ll be surprised at the transformation...👍

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Probablylikewaifu t1_iy41jfx wrote

i wouldn't apply this to drawing, when a profesional artist draws there is usually a diessection process going on much before the visible parts are added. I recomend copying a process, not a final painting

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Hector_ t1_iy4g9kt wrote

I stand on the shoulders of giants - Isaac Newton

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davereit t1_iy4gotq wrote

Replying to autotelica (#716,776)

But the “boring baby songs” are public domain and can be included without paying royalties and don’t require anybody to compose new, potentially more interesting tunes.

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