Steal Like an Artist

Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist is based on his address to university students in upstate New York. He had spoken about the ten things he wished someone had told him when he was starting out. This book is an extension of that idea, aimed at anyone who wants a dose of creativity in their lives and work.

The book opens with "Art is theft" by Pablo Picasso and offers fresh and practical perspectives on creating art.

Here's what has stuck with me after a breezy read:

Steal ideas

Getting new ideas is all about knowing what (art) is worth stealing and what is not, over and over again. Every new idea is a mashup of ideas that has always existed. But it is essential to be selective about what we choose to be influenced by.

Do it now

There is no right time to start making stuff. We have to start, is all. We might be scared to start, but getting ready or waiting until we figure it all out doesn't really get anything move. Creative work is all about showing up to do the thing every day.

It's okay to copy

Nobody is born an artist. It's by practice. And that's by imitating our favourites, the people we love or are inspired by, and the people we want to be. Someday, we'll end up emulating our heroes because we'll eventually fail to become them and instead become our unique selves.

Keep all your passions alive

Side projects and hobbies are as important! Every hobby is regenerative and makes us happy.

And, practising productive procrastination helps refocus.

Get some away time

It's important to spend some time by ourselves in solitude. From gadgets. From comfort zone. Being in the wild or at some place new or around new people is always inspiring. Nothing can beat the feeling of sitting with a pen and paper and writing or sketching every thought!

Be Boring

Creativity takes a lot of braining and is exhaustive. It only makes sense if we have an orderly, regular life so that we can spend all our energy on our creative pursuits. Taking care of ourselves, having a day job, or staying out of debt will give us one less thing to worry about while creating stuff.

The book also touches on making new friends and surrounding ourselves with like-minded folks. It also encourages us to embrace limitations and leave out things while putting ourselves out in the world. Overall, the book gives new outlooks to perceiving things like/as an Artist in a different light. It's a quick read with Instagrammable illustrations and quotes from the author.

Whether you're looking for something casual or keen on getting the creative juices flowing, this is THE one!