All Artist's Need Inspiration, Right?

I am currently enrolled in an intermediate/advanced drawing class at the moment. One of the exercises we go through is to look at art books of past and current artists. It is nice to relax and learn through looking at pictures, something I am good at being a visual person. However at what point does the style and ideas of the works of art creep into my subconscious, and dictate how I create?

The magazine, Communication Arts currently has a story in their April edition, concerning the artwork of Jason Greenberg. He is an illustrator who creates cultural scenes using what I believe to be Illustrator. In the article he says that he draws his inspiration from African masks, Japanese woodblocks, and guadalajaran textiles. His pictures have a very societal feel with all of them containing multiple figures, engaging in some form of public communication.

The work displayed in the magazine, by Greenberg is closely associated with the cultural influences of masks, woodcuts, and textiles; created in the form of vector art. This is where using old subject matter and new technology work. For a little while. Greenberg will need to eventually find his own subject matter, but because he is using a new medium, the old style almost becomes his own.

My slight pessimism towards Greenberg's style most likely stems from my own issues with finding inspiration in past work. Now, if I can only find examples of oil painters painting in the style of vector art, oh yeah that is everywhere right now.