Remember...

 

(image via Onesidezero)

Even as we are showing our students work by other artists, and basing projects around them, it's always good to remember to keep to our own unique styles. It's up to the art teacher to teach the difference between "borrowing" and straight-up copying. There are numerous motifs that have been repeated in the art world for centuries. The motifs are safe to use and reuse, but we want to make them our own not simple knock-offs of someone else's work.

Remember: your artwork doesn't have to look or be "perfect". Copying someone else's work or style isn't going to help you to become a better artist, practicing drawing from life (a lot) will.