Debatable topic: Inspiration

Been a while since I've posted a discussion topic but here goes.
Inspiration, I kinda want to get a few opinions on what people think it is and where they get theirs from so this is almost like two topics in one.

The first being the meaning of Inspiration itself, or more rather the outcome of what happens when people become 'inspired', for example I see inspiration as a source of an idea - but its all too easy for people to see that idea, like it and take it. This is where the issue of ripping comes in - what exactly is ripping? If someone was to see a piece they liked very much and then proceeded to try it themselves and the outcome looked very very similar to the original piece would that constitute stealing? Or would that just be a re-make or learning process. Personally for me I would say the latter, even if the piece looks very similar in almost every way providing it hasn't directly taken parts from the other (like taking something straight from the other image) and it has actually be re-made to the best of the artists ability I would say that was a test of the talent.
In the same way people will often trace round things in Illustrator when they're starting out to learn more about the program, it teaches people certain techniques and what those techniques can accomplish.

'Ripping' is often outlawed in most places and rightly so, if someone dragged a piece onto their desktop, renamed it and reuploaded as their own then THAT is ripping. If they downloaded a resource psd and took enough elements from that without permission (I suppose you could excuse the odd layer or two depending on how complex that layer is) then that is ripping. All in all generally if you take another persons work and excuse it for your own then that would be ripping ofcourse. My point is would a re-make be a rip? That gets back onto the topic of inspiration, is inspiration just taking someone else's work that you like, attempting to make it again and having that process mean the outcome is just slightly different?


Finally just a quick note to ask where people draw their inspiration from :3 I've been really down in the dumps with mine graphically for pretty much the whole year now, I remember a time maybe a year and a half ago where I would be pumping out atleast 5 things a day simply because I would be inspired from just about everywhere - "Oh look an advert for a film, lets make a sig with the main character" etc... Now its just run dry D= I partly blame the following of so many rules these days that makes doing things more of a chore than a hobby, things like flow, depth etc... All these things that you never really cared for at one point in time.

/wall'o'text
Looking foreword to some replies :3

I find inspiration in reality. If you find time and stops for a moment and reflect over your surrounding, you'll find all the small details that builds your environment. If you may accomplish to recover this vision, you don't need others work for inspiration.
This apply to all my works except some vectors. I do trace some of my vectors and it's as you say to learn how to use Illy. I'm still finding new things in Illy each time I'm using it, so I still feel I need corner stones to work with.
For all my other stuff, it's reality who serves as inspiration. What's the fun in viewing other manips and stuff when it's not real.
I may sounds like an asshole but I only like to view others photos, vectors and traditional art, rest doesn't' interest me to view nor inspire me at all.
I like reality :chuncky:

I think there's a difference between ripping someones work (taking and saying it's yours) and trying to replicate someones work. If you think about it.. copying is the ultimate form of flattery. I mean i've seen signatures and want nothing more than to try and achieve the effects they have; however i always try and change it up abit.

On the topic of inspiration, comes and goes for me.. usually ill see a piece of work and want to create something similar. Most of the times i have my best work from stocks/renders i just happen to come upon that i fall in love with..

Thanks guys, made for a very interesting read.
'Le bumpage, just hoping for a few more opinions.