The Apprentice & The Invisible Ink: Finding Your Own Creative Voice
A Story About the Creative Journey
Where do great ideas come from? Every artist, musician, and writer starts by learning from others—copying, remixing, and ultimately discovering their own unique voice. This is the journey of Niko, an aspiring musician searching for originality in a world filled with influences.
This story explores the lessons behind “stealing like an artist” and how creativity is not about inventing from nothing but about transforming what has come before into something new.
The Copyist’s Journey
Lesson: “Steal Like an Artist”
Niko had always loved music but never felt original. Every time they sat at the piano, the melodies felt borrowed. They would listen to their favorites—Stevie Wonder, Richard Smallwood, and Jon Batiste—trying to recreate their sound. Yet, something was missing.
One day, an old producer known as The Archivist overheard Niko struggling and chuckled.
“You sound like a ghost trying to sing through someone else’s voice.”
Confused, Niko asked what that meant.
“Before artists become artists, they are copyists,” the Archivist explained. “But the trick is knowing what to steal.”
He handed Niko an old book filled with invisible ink.
“Inside this book are the greatest compositions never heard. But to read them, you must first copy.”
“Every artist gets asked the question, ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ The honest artist answers, ‘I steal them.’” – Austin Kleon
The Art of Remixing
Lesson: “Copy, but make it your own”
For weeks, Niko traced the faint outlines of old compositions, playing them note for note. The Archivist would shake his head each time.
“Close, but still a shadow,” he would say.
One day, frustrated, Niko accidentally played a wrong note—and something unexpected happened.
The ink on the page shifted and revealed a hidden layer of the composition, a melody that hadn’t been there before.
The Archivist smiled.
“You don’t want to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes.” – Austin Kleon
“Now you’re beginning to see. You copied, but in your mistake, you made something new.”
Finding the Invisible Ink
Lesson: “Find your influences’ influences”
Determined, Niko decided to dig deeper—not just copying but researching who inspired the legends.
They traced Stevie Wonder back to Marvin Gaye, Richard Smallwood back to Donny Hathaway, then Jon Batiste back to Mahalia Jackson, and many more.
With each layer uncovered, the ink in the book became clearer.
Finally, one day, Niko sat at the piano and played something new. A melody that was made up of the ghosts of past compositions, but undeniably their own.
The Archivist handed Niko a blank book.
“Now it’s your turn to leave ink for the next apprentice.”
“Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy. At the end of the copy, you will find yourself.” – Austin Kleon
Final Thoughts & Creative Takeaways
Niko’s journey is the journey of every artist. Before originality comes imitation. Before uniqueness comes influence. Creativity is not about making something out of thin air—it’s about remixing, learning, and evolving.
Key Lessons:
- Copying is the first step – Every great artist starts as a copyist.
- Mistakes lead to originality – The moment you add your twist, the work becomes yours.
- Know your creative lineage – Find out who inspired your inspirations.
My Personal Reflection
The hardest thing for me has never been the idea or the desire to create—it’s the doing. I used to get lost in the sea of “What does my voice even sound like?” I’d sit in front of my instrument or notebook, wanting to create something meaningful but feeling like everything had already been done.
Reading Steal Like an Artist reminded me that my voice isn’t missing—it’s layered. It’s a collection of all my favorite artists, storytellers, and moments, wrapped in my own lived experience. The originality isn’t in avoiding influence. It’s in allowing it to pass through me and transform into something honest.
This story was my way of processing that. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a reminder for all of us: our voice becomes clearer the more we trust it’s already there.
Shout-Outs & Resources
Special thanks to Austin Kleon for the inspiration. His book Steal Like an Artist continues to spark creative awakenings everywhere.
Explore more of his work here: https://austinkleon.com
Buy the book here: Steal Like an Artist
Watch the Soul Reflection
Creative Inspiration: Steal Like an Artist
If this story resonated with you, I’d love to hear what artists or moments shaped your voice. Let’s keep the ink flowing.
