The document discusses how artists are influenced by other artists and how students should learn from studying different artists' techniques and processes without directly copying their works. It encourages developing one's own individual style and "personal signature" through exploring ideas, materials, and techniques used by other artists in a way that is relevant to one's own art making. The document also provides examples of photographic collage works by David Hockney and various media works by Chuck Close to analyze their techniques and processes.