Issue #2 of SteamPunk Magazine just dropped. Among the cool things inside, there's an interview with I-Wei Huang, a computer-game animator by day and inventor of steam-powered robots by night. Towards the end of the interview, Huang is asked if he has any advice for aspiring creators. He said:

Yes, practice till you drop. Collect as much reference from all of your favorite artists as possible. Look around; the best designs always come from the magic of nature. Lastly, combine all of your influences together to make it your own, and hope that no one notices where you stole your ideas.