I try to copy Mary Cassatt's "Sleepy Baby" Famous Painting here's how to Copy Famous Paintings to be a Better Artist by Danita Brooks

Copying Famous Paintings: What I Learned From the Masters

Last updated: January 2026

There’s a long history of artists learning by studying and yes, copying the work of the Masters.

This isn’t about forgery or imitation for the sake of replication. It’s about understanding how a painting works from the inside out. When you copy a famous painting with intention, you begin to see decisions instead of just results.

You notice what the artist emphasized.
Where they softened.
Where they resisted overworking.

And that’s where real growth happens.

Why Copying Can Make You a Better Artist

When I copy a painting I admire, it feels a little rebellious — like learning someone else’s language by speaking it fluently for a moment.

Not to keep it.
But to understand it.

One of my favorite works to study is “Sleepy Baby” by Mary Cassatt. It’s a piece I’ve returned to more than once, not because I want to replicate her work, but because of how much it teaches me every time I look closely.

What draws me to this painting isn’t just the subject — it’s the way the painting moves.

What Cassatt Taught Me About Color and Emotion

In Sleepy Baby, Cassatt’s pastel strokes intertwine and overlap, creating subtle color shifts directly on the surface. The colors don’t sit next to one another — they exist in relationship.

That relationship mirrors the emotional bond between the mother and child. The painting works not because of perfection, but because of restraint, softness, and trust in the medium.

Studying this piece taught me that:

Movement can be emotional, not just visual
Color doesn’t need to be exact to be expressive
Light can be suggested rather than defined

Those lessons stay with me long after the copy is finished.

What I “Stole” (and What I’m Still Learning)

Pablo Picasso famously said, “Good artists copy. Great artists steal.”
To me, that doesn’t mean stealing images — it means stealing understanding.

Here’s what I took away from this study and continue to work into my own practice:

Depth through transitions
Cassatt’s transitions are layered and patient. Mine tend to be faster. This reminded me where slowing down strengthens the work.
Letting go of perfection
As an impressionist, Cassatt allowed light to fracture color. That looseness is something I continue to practice, especially when my instinct is to control.

Working from the surface outward
This study made me rethink underpainting and surface tone. Even when I don’t copy her methods directly, the awareness changes how I approach new work.
Emotion over accuracy
The emotion in this painting doesn’t come from detail — it comes from intention. That’s not something you can steal outright, but it’s something you can work toward.

How to Copy a Painting With Purpose

If you’re curious to try this yourself, here’s how I approach it.

First: choose a painting you genuinely love.
If it doesn’t move you, the exercise won’t either.

Second: study before you paint.
Ask questions:

How are the strokes applied?
Where does the light live?
Is there an underpainting?
What materials did the artist likely use?

The more you understand before you begin, the more intentional your choices will be.

Third: paint without pressure.
This is practice, not performance. Mistakes are part of the learning — and often the most revealing part.

Every time I complete a study like this, I learn something new about my habits, my instincts, and where I still want to grow.

The Point Isn’t the Copy — It’s What Comes After

Just like a song remake or a film adaptation, the original will always exist and it should. The value of the copy isn’t in comparison. It’s in discovery.

Most successful artists don’t invent in isolation. They observe, emulate, learn, and then apply those lessons in their own voice.

That’s the real work.

So if there’s a painting that’s been speaking to you — one you can’t stop thinking about — maybe that’s your invitation. Sit with it. Study it. Learn from it.

And then return to your own work a little wiser than before.