Steal Like an Artist

What a great read, and yes they do sometimes come in short, compact reads!  The book, Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon, is a wonderfully creative book that outlines ten things nobody told you about being creative.  So here is the list:  1.) Steal like an artist (yes borrow other people’s work and let it become your own), remember nothing is original!  2.) Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started (fake it until you make it!). Good theft is to honor the person you have stolen from, study others, steal from many, credit those you steal from and remix!  3.) Read the book you want to read (I love this, makes such sense!).   4.) Use your hands: art that comes from the head isn’t any good.  5.) Side projects and hobbies are important (I tell all of my life clients to ensure that they develop their fun and creative side – so go write a poem, draw, or play the guitar).  6.) The secret: do good work and share it with people.  We have the internet – now go blog, share your crazy ideas and have people reflect and give you some feedback… what’s the down side?  7.) Geography is no longer our master: leave home; you are no longer tied to where you grew up!  8.) Be nice, the world is a small town (we all need curiosity, kindness, stamina, a willingness to look stupid!  9.) Be boring, it’s the only way to get work done, “be regular orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.”  10.) Creativity is subtraction – choose what to leave out after you create something… not everything you create is going to be great.  The book has some great quotes from distinguished poets, artists, philosophers, and other smart writers such as T.S. Eliot whose quote notes: “Immature poets immature; mature poets steal… the good poet welds his theft into a whole of feeling which is unique, utterly different from that which it was torn.”  I loved the illustrations, doodles and simple language / ideas and great quotes throughout.  This generation of “I’m going to make it, but I’m tired now” will get a kick in the backside reading this book.  I loved it.  Go spend $11.95 and give this one for yourself.  I think it should motivate you, it did for me!  A keeper!