Nothing's New in Art

I read some comments by several artists on an art board that stated they are reluctant to share an idea for fear of others stealing it, that they, for example, "wouldn't paint a baby lying in a flower because that style and subject has been done by someone else very successfully." I don't think she meant it quite how it sounded, but it is reflective of some people's opinions. The problem with that belief is that there is very little that hasn't been done already one way or another. So often what seems like a new idea is really a variation of a theme, just with your own unique way of representing it. Who came up with the idea of painting images/faces/pets on rocks? Who came up with graffiti? Materials may change, the way it is done might be different, but the human compulsion to make a mark using universal images/ideas hasn't changed through the centuries.

I loved seeing these Petroglyph's in the Valley of Fire National Park in Nevada

These date back to Prehistoric times and were done by the users of the Valley, the Basket Maker people and the Anaszi Pueblo farmers. These petroglyph's were in the Mouse's Tank Trail in Petroglyph Canyon. If you click on this link you can see more examples of the petroglyph's.

Markings on River Stones
I used to keep this on my coffee table, but most of the stones are sold now.
I might have to get back to doing a few as I quite miss my bowl of stone faces.
Do I worry that people might steal my idea of painting faces on stones?
While I have done a mega google search for anything like mine and came up empty I don't doubt for a minute someone somewhere painted a face on a stone, just not quite like mine :)
By the way these are faces of real people, some I know, some I don't. The guy with the fag hanging out of his mouth was my old painting pal George whose mouth never lacked the presence of a ciggie. The guy with the beard and glasses is Chuck Close.