What is your favorite endangered animal?

This keeps happening to me: I suddenly come up with an idea for a drawing. I would like to think it's inspiration that allows me to have a clear picture in my mind instantly. However, I always struggle with the idea that it's too clear and I must have seen it somewhere before. Often I will scour the internet using google image search and of course, key terms from my idea. I almost never come up with anything close at all.

I guess my questions are:
Does this happen to you?
How much work do you put into making sure you're not ripping off someone else's work?
If you put any work into it - how are you able to come to terms with it if you find nothing?

That's it. I just struggle with this a lot.

Thanks.

Ok - I am reading through the critiques on here and I find myself shaking my head in despair. Incase no one here has ever had a class where critiquing was covered, I have enclosed dictionary.com's definition of the word "critique." Please educate yourselves:


cri·tique [kri-teek] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, verb, -tiqued, -ti·quing.
–noun
1. an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; detailed evaluation; review.
2. a criticism or critical comment on some problem, subject, etc.
3. the art or practice of criticism.
–verb (used with object)
4. to review or analyze critically.


Now, that being covered I have to ask if Threadless was not intended to be a forum where artists from different locations, cultures, experience, education, etc. could come to express themselves, experiment and share what they like? It sure doesn't look like it to me. As an artist isn't it important to have an open mind and to respect other people's work?

It's narrow-mindedness and a lack of tolerance for differences that led to so many artists being unrecognized until (sometimes long) after their deaths!

Do the creative community a favor and stay out of the critiques section if you can't employ critical thinking skills and use good will to give CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE. That's what the area is intended for.

Your insults and slurs do nothing but make you look ignorant and discourage the visions/creativity of others! No one posts their work there because they think it's perfect. Everyone there is looking to improve on their designs.

Lastly, I would like to point out that cliches sell... that's why they're cliches. They have elements that are of common interest/taste to the masses. Any new takes on these common themes should be recognized for their validity - not put down.