“We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.” Goethe
When your artwork or style is copied by another, do you get angry? Or do you view it as influencing the world with your art?
I’m going to tell a story about the circle of influence and irony, and how this post was sparked by an angry e-mail from a Rick Griffin art fan!
KNOCK OFF OR INFLUENCE?
Drew Brophy’s artwork and style has been copied by thousands of people. You could say he asked for it. He’s given a lot of his time showing others how to paint using his techniques and he makes it easy for others to use his art as a guide for their own creativity.
Friends will ask “Doesn’t it make you mad to when someone copies your art?” Drew’s answer is this: “I’m glad to influence the work of others. I’m just passing it on.”
After all, Drew himself was inspired by artists before him. Any Rick Griffin fan will tell you that you can see some of his influence in Drew’s work.
THE TRAGIC ENDING TO RICK GRIFFIN AND THE GLORIOUS INFLUENCE HE LEFT BEHIND:
Sadly, Griffin’s life ended in a tragic motorcycle accident in 1991, but he left behind his vision and talent for the world to enjoy.
He was a surfer who became very well known for his surf and music inspired artworks.
He designed album covers for many famous bands in the 60’s and 70’s, such as The Cult and Grateful Dead. His accomplishments were so vast, I can’t list them all, but you can read the well written The Rick Griffin Biography.
Griffin’s art lives on through the influence he has had on thousands of artists who have come after him.
Unfortunately, that seems to piss some people off!
INFLUENCE PISSES SOME FANS OFF:
Here’s an e-mail that Drew got this morning. It’s what got me to jump out of bed (yes, I was reading e-mails while snuggled under the covers!) and write this post:
Hi, this is my first time at www.drewbrophy.com. I’m doing research on Rick Griffin. No offense, but your art is in his signature style, symbolism, composition and color palette. Rick Griffin isn’t mentioned anywhere on Drew’s website. From my research so far I think Rick would not have thought kindly of being copied like this. Libby
Well, first of all, Libby, if you actually read Drew’s website, you’ll see he mentions Rick Griffin, along with other artists, as influences in his work.
Secondly, I can’t find ONE painting of Drew’s that uses Rick Griffin’s style. The picture to the left is the closest I could find, based on the subject matter. Drew has his own unique style which incorporates bright colors. The colors and subject matter (surfing & waves) are the one similarity that they share.
All artists find influence through other artists and subject matter. There must be millions who claim to have been inspired by Salvador Dali, and probably thousands who have been by Rick Griffin.
Dew’s art is “knocked off” by more people than I can count. Drew doesn’t see it as “stealing” but rather that he’s passing the influence onto the next generation of artists. If you go to Drew’s Facebook page, there are scores of artists who post their Drew Brophy influenced art. Some of it looks just like Drew’s paintings!
EARLY INFLUENCE:
When Drew was just a young artist in his early teens, he had already developed his own unique style of painting. But reading Surfer Magazine he would see cartoon artwork that influenced him further. He didn’t know until years later, when he moved to California, the name of the artist that influenced him greatly: Rick Griffin.
And the irony is that at the age of 25, Drew moved into a house a block over from where the famed surf artist Rick Griffin lived in San Clemente, California. And this town is where Drew’s art career flourished. Must have been the Griffin mojo!
A STRANGE VISITOR FROM THE PAST BEARING MOJO IN A BRUSH:
A few years ago a shy older man walked slowly into Drew’s studio. I’ll never forget it – he was strangely uncomfortable around people. The more I moved closer to talk to him, the faster he backed up! But he found the courage to come into Drew’s studio and say this:
“I was a good friend of Rick Griffin’s. I’ve been watching your art career and I know if he was alive today he’d be proud of what you’ve done.”
Then he handed Drew the best gift he’s ever received. “When Rick died, I got to keep some of his things. Here’s one his brushes. He would have wanted you to have it.”
He handed Drew an old, fat red paint brush. One that Rick Griffin actually used to paint with! Drew’s eyes teared up. As a huge Griffin fan, there was no greater honor than this.
And then just as quickly as this guy came into our office, he was gone.
THE FULL CIRCLE OF ART INFLUENCE:
It’s strange how many connections we have to Rick Griffin.
I’ve become friends with Rick Griffin’s son-in-law, Todd. He has taken on the job of licensing Griffin’s art. He called me one day for licensing advice, and we’ve kept in touch ever since.
The art and influence has come full circle – Rick Griffin influenced Drew, Drew has influenced others after him, I’ve helped Griffin’s family with licensing, and so on.
This is the beauty of the forces of the human race giving and sharing. We help each other and we pass information and beauty and art around the circle.
It’s what life, love and art is all about.
That’s why they call it “inspiration.”
I hope this has inspired you to share your talent with the world. And when someone is influenced by it, embrace that. Feel good about it. Know that you’ve passed on your life force to those after you.
Maria xxoo
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