artists borrow

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "artists borrow" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to discuss the practice of artists taking inspiration or elements from other works or creators in their own art. Example: "In the world of art, it's common to see how artists borrow techniques and styles from their predecessors to create something new."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Equally exposed to the iconography of the Soviet Union and the United States, Cuban artists borrow freely from both.

The New York Times

Picasso borrows from African art and he's a genius; African artists borrow from Western art and they're derivative.

The New York Times

She was also — no small point — the living embodiment of Picasso's observation that "mediocre artists borrow, great artists steal".

The New York Times

Here it seems proper to resuscitate both Andy Warhol's famous observation that "being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art," and to paraphrase an aphorism often attributed to the actual Picasso: mediocre artists borrow, great artists steal.

The New York Times

As Picasso said - and Steve Jobs famously repeated when explaining how the Apple Mac came to bear such a striking resemblance to the Xerox Alto - 'minor artists borrow; great artists steal'.

The Guardian - Business

"Lesser artists borrow, great artists steal" is one of the most famous quotes from the composer whose ballet score The Rite of Spring sparked a riot at its Parisian premiere in 1913.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

In the 1980's photo-based artists borrowed from fashion and commercial photography and the movies.

The New York Times - Arts

Islamic artists borrowed themes and styles in addition to Western art mediums.

The New York Times - Arts

Some hip-hop artists borrowed not only from Brown or early soul, but also many white artists too, such as Lou Reed.

The Guardian - Music

The hunger for serious puppetry has furthered ambitions, with artists borrowing from serious works like Milton's "Paradise Lost," Goethe's "Faust" and Oscar Wilde's "Salome".

The New York Times

"Gilded Lions and Jeweled Horses: The Synagogue to the Carousel" takes the idea of artists borrowing from popular culture to create art and reverses it.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing artistic influence, consider specifying the source and extent of the borrowing to provide a clearer understanding of the artist's creative process.

Common error

Avoid portraying artistic borrowing as mere imitation. Instead, highlight how artists transform and reinterpret borrowed elements to create something original.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "artists borrow" functions as a subject and verb, describing an action performed by artists. It indicates that artists actively take elements or ideas from other sources for their own work, as confirmed by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Arts

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "artists borrow" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase describing the act of artists taking inspiration or elements from other sources. Ludwig AI shows that the phrase appears frequently in news and media, arts-related articles, and encyclopedias, indicating its broad applicability. While often neutral, it is important to consider the context when discussing artistic borrowing, to avoid oversimplification or negative implications. The alternatives, such as "artists draw inspiration" or "artists adapt", offer nuanced ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

artists draw inspiration

Emphasizes the inspirational aspect of borrowing.

artists are inspired by

Highlights the inspirational source for the artists

artists take influence

Highlights the influence of other works on the artist.

artists build upon

Suggests adding to existing ideas or techniques.

artists adapt

Focuses on the modification and transformation of borrowed elements.

artists derive from

Focuses on the origin or source of inspiration.

artists incorporate

Focuses on including a new element within the art

artists appropriate

Suggests a more direct and potentially controversial form of borrowing.

artists emulate

Implies a conscious effort to imitate or follow the style of another artist.

artists pick up on

Suggests artists notice an element or concept and use it for their work.

FAQs

How can I use "artists borrow" in a sentence?

You can use "artists borrow" to describe the practice of artists taking inspiration or elements from other works. For instance, "Many contemporary artists borrow from classical techniques to create modern masterpieces."

What can I say instead of "artists borrow"?

Alternatives include "artists draw inspiration", "artists take influence", or "artists adapt", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "artists borrow", or should I use another verb?

Using "borrow" is perfectly acceptable when discussing how artists incorporate elements from other sources into their work. It accurately conveys the act of taking and using something from another source.

What's the difference between "artists borrow" and "artists steal"?

"Artists borrow" generally implies a more subtle and transformative incorporation of elements, while "artists steal" suggests a more direct and less transformative appropriation, often with negative connotations. The famous quote "Good artists borrow, great artists steal" plays on this distinction.