o·rig·i·nal·i·ty
[uh-rij-uh-nal-i-tee] noun
1. the quality or state of being original
2. ability to think or express oneself in an independent and individual manner; creative ability.
3. freshness or novelty, as of an idea, method, or performance.
What artist, if perfectly honest, hasn’t questioned if his/her work is original enough?
‘Migration’
Acrylic on paper
I remember, when studying Fine Arts in college, being under the constant pressure (whether self or classroom inflicted) of having to create something that no one else had ever thought of creating before. Is that even really possible?
Check out the article by Brian Sherwin and see what you think:
Art and Art Criticism: The Specter of Originality
Or take the approach of C.S. Lewis to heart and find relief:
“Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.