Star Wars has always been about legacy and embracing destiny. To me, that is no more apparent than it is in Return of the Jedi. You have Luke fully embracing his role as a Jedi and accepting that Vader is his father. This leads to Vader protecting his son after Luke stands up to Palatine which is Vader fulfilling his destiny as The Chosen One who would bring balance to the Force. This is why the last bit of Return of the Jedi is some of my favorite moments in Star Wars. Luke was able to come through and redeem Vader because he knew that his father's legacy as a Jedi meant there was good in him. As artists, we have a lineage too. We come from a long line of artists who came before us and others before them. They may not be blood relatives but they still build a sprawling line that leads to where you are today. Knowing where you come from is the key to figure out where you're going.

Artistic Family Tree

In his book, ‘Steal Like an Artist’, writer and artist Austin Kleon put out the idea of an artistic family tree. The idea is that you take one artist you really love and study them super in depth. From there, you study three artists that inspired them. Then three artists that inspired each of those three and so on and so forth. Once you do that, you should have a sprawling tree with branches going every which way and will likely find some connections in there. This is especially a great method for studying your craft. Instead of trying to chomp down on everything about it all at once, you break it down into bite size pieces by exploring one artist or a small number of artists at a time. Not only is it great for studying, but it’s great for inspiration. Seeing yourself as a part of a lineage, a long line of artists or Jedi (or both if you’re dedicated) will help you feel less alone as you’re fighting your artistic battles. They can guide you to great choices while also giving a metaphorical safety net to experiment.

I’m a Jedi

I love that Star Wars rides the destiny train while showing that you can choose your own. Both Vader and the Emperor said that Luke was destined to join them and rule the galaxy, yet Luke still stood up and claimed the role of Jedi. The past doesn’t determine your future, rather it informs it. You’re not beholden to the path of your ancestors (metaphorical or literal). So, how do you apply this?

Let Them Inspire or Mentor You

They’re the masters for a reason. They’ve been around the block a few times and probably made a few noteworthy things or they probably wouldn’t be an inspiration for you. If you can’t literally be mentored by them, let them inspire you and teach you anyways. I definitely advise you keep some sort of picture or memento in your batcave (which I talk about here). I have some of my favorite soundtracks and posters in my studio space and it’s a great inspiration for me. Kleon mentioned in his book

“The fun thing about dead or remote masters is that they can’t refuse to take you on.”

Study their successes

When you’re diving back through your artistic tree, ask yourself a few questions

• What made this work a success

• What was their inspiration

• What separates this work from another work of theirs

• How can I apply this to my next project.

This is a deceptively simple task. Multiply this by a 9 or 10 artists and who knows how many works per artist and you have a full weekend ahead of you.

Learn from their Failures

In the widely acclaimed and well-loved ‘The Last Jedi' the force ghost of Yoda tells a grumpy Luke that failure is the best teacher. I always loved that quote and it’s so very true. Very rarely do we learn from our successes but it’s failures that teach us the most. Why didn’t a composer’s score for this film do as well as another similar film? How can you avoid making those same mistakes? Keep in mind that avoiding any mistakes isn’t the goal but rather a welcome lesson. Don't feel like you are beholden to what you learn though. Use what you learn to inform your creative choices rather than dictate them.

Conclusion

Having a master and apprentice relationship can be wildly beneficial as an artist or really any career path in life. It's helpful to have someone who's been a round a bit to show you the ropes, especially in something that involves discipline like making art does. Whether your master is an in-person "real" role or a remote "metaphorical" one, there's a couple quick lessons that we can learn from Luke when it comes to masters

Know what to accept 

Your master is likely a wise individual. They can show you things that not experience can teach and not a textbook or online tutorial. Be like a sponge and soak up what you can. Keep in mind that they're not perfect. They're human and flawed just like you are so tjeir teachings may not be wholly applicable to your situation. They can teach you but it's up to you to know how to apply that teaching.

Know When to Ignore Them

Sometimes your master may have sage advice for the ages, other times you may need to run off in an X-Wing and save your friends. There's a time and place for everything though. If you're going to shrug off some of their teaching, do it respectfully, tactfully and be prepared for the consequences if you're wrong.

Share What You've Learned

Being an artist is not like being a magician, you don't get bonus points for withholding secrets. Sharing knowledge with others is a great way to cement what you've learned but also make more meaningful connections.

Be Confident in Your Path

Wherever you go, whatever you do, and whoever you stand against, go in confidence. Your masters have imparted knowledge into you but like I said earlier, it's up to you to apply it. Studying your family tree means nothing if you don't do anything with it. When you make your creative stand, do it with confidence claim yourself as artist like the others before you.

Knowing where you come from is important. There's so much that having that knowledge can help you overcome. There is nothing new that you can go through that someone before you hasn't already gone through and that knowledge and experience is just there waiting for you to uncover it from your master.

What's your favorite Star Wars movie? Who are some members of your artistic lineage? 

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As a creator, I love creating and helping others create art. If you're interested in talking about how I can help you on your next project, just shoot me an e-mail.