Key Messages
How To Pay Homage To Your Artistic Heroes And Be Successful In The Creative World
When you think of a thief, you likely don’t immediately associate the idea with artwork and creativity.
But it’s true – some of the most gifted and renowned artists have found success by taking ideas from the works of their predecessors.
Famous figures like Picasso and Dali were never afraid to take inspiration from other artists.
That is what Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon aims to show readers – how creative work does not happen in a vacuum; instead, it’s the product of hard work done over generations and generations.
So, rather than being fearful of stealing someone else’s idea, embrace it!
Discover why it is important to be influenced by your artistic heroes when creating your own art as well as how you can make a living in the modern world through creativity.
How do Nick Cave and Conan O’Brien embrace theft? And why should creatives move out their cities? All these questions will be answered through Steal Like an Artist.
The Secret To Making Great Art Is Not Originality, But Inheritance
It’s a misconception that originality is what defines greatness in art.
Greatness in art can be achieved by borrowing or building upon preexisting ideas.
Picasso, Dali and W.B.
Yeats are all examples of great artists who have been influenced by others throughout their careers.
Just as genetics involves producing something new from an existing combination of genes, artistic work also starts with the right set of influences.
Perhaps this is best demonstrated with the Beatles, who started as a cover band and only wrote original music after mastering their musical heroes’ songs.
The key to achieving greatness in art is learning how to recognize great art worth stealing and exploring multiple generations of artists by creating an “artistic family tree”.
This gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of your idols – from studying what motivates them, understanding the strategies they used to create masterpieces to reading up on those three people who influenced them – so that you can eventually incorporate these elements into your own work as well.
In conclusion, there’s no such thing as completely original art – every artist builds upon previous generations of creators – but by connecting yourself with these legacy makers, it will be easier for you to take their ideas and build unique creations that stand out.
Emulating Our Idols: How Copying Others Can Help Us Find Our Creativity
If you’re an aspiring artist and want to create something truly original, start by imitating your heroes.
This will help build the foundations of your own work by learning from their lifestyles and motivation.
You don’t necessarily have to do a perfect recreation of their art, but learning from them can help you become a better creator.
For example, famous musicians such as Nick Cave started off doing this method.
As they keep copying their idols, they’ll inevitably find certain parts where they’re lacking or different from them.
This is the specific area where emulation can come into play – that is, exploiting the weaknesses in comparison.
Conan O’Brien’s career began in such a manner – he wanted to be like David Letterman but found certain areas he could not quite copy accurately.
His differences made him stand out however, making for a distinctive style which became his trademark talent in time.
Jack Benny‘s eventual successor Johnny Carson also followed a similar approach; each began with imitation then progressed to emulation based on the differences which eventually defined their careers and artwork.
By recognizing those points of distinction and building upon them, these creators achieved distinction in the art world through their unique styles which set them apart from those who initially inspired them.
Don’t Abandon Your Hobbies: They’re Essential To Productivity And Happiness
When you focus your life on art, it can be tempting to drop your hobbies and other projects in favor of this one thing.
However, doing so can actually hurt your productivity and happiness.
That’s because hobbies and other projects provide a much-needed outlet when creative blocks hit.
Without them, trying to push through just won’t work – that’s why having back-up activities is important for innovation.
Side projects don’t even have to be creative either – after all, making space in your head often requires something mundane like tidying or even dedicating time to procrastinating!
Finally, abandoning the rest of life robs us of joy in our lives.
How are we supposed to create great works if we deprive ourselves from leisure? The author discovered this when he stopped playing guitar; he felt emptier until he started allowing himself to play for fun again.
He became happier, more well-rounded, and his work improved too!
This is why it’s best not to abandon your regular hobbies and side projects when you refocus on art – they serve a crucial role that will help both with your creativity and day-to-day life overall!
Find Success Through Obscurity: Share Your Passion And Invite Others To Wonder With You
If you want to become well-known as an artist, the best way to do so is by sharing your work with others.
However, it’s important to take advantage of the benefits of obscurity before diving into the world of fame.
With obscurity you have the chance to be creative, make mistakes and experiment without worrying about criticism or people having expectations of you.
Once you start to gain traction, these freedoms won’t be possible so it’s best to enjoy them in the beginning.
Thanks to the internet, sharing your work has never been easier.
You can post anything that shows off your passion – from finished pieces to works in progress, doodles and research – all that matters is that viewers get an idea of what makes you tick.
Doing so will make them feel more connected to you and come back wanting more.
So create a blog or website or post your work on any online platform and invite people into your creative world!
Create The Perfect Home Environment To Maximize Your Creativity
The author of Steal Like an Artist reminds us that in today’s digital world, artists can easily create their work from the comfort of their own homes.
To maximize your creativity, it’s important to design your home environment in a way that inspires you.
Fill up your workspace with things that spark ideas, like works of your favorite artists or sculptures you collected during your travels.
As the author suggests, don’t forget to add gadgets for digital projects, as well as supplies for making models and sketching by hand.
But don’t forget -it’s also necessary to take a break and get out of your home office every once in a while.
Changing scenery can help you get creative juices flowing again and equip you with new perspectives that will benefit your work in the long run.
The author is an example who has lived and worked across countries such Texas, England, and Italy- so if you’re able, travel around and see how new cultures inform your creative process.
With a thoughtfully crafted workspace at home and travelling opportunities abroad, there’s no limit to how far the artist within you can go!
Harnessing Anger And Praise: How To Make The Most Of Online Criticism
When you’re putting material online, it can be easy to get caught up in the criticism and vitriol that comes from people who don’t necessarily agree with you or your art.
It’s important to remember that not everyone is going to like what you do, and sometimes it can be detrimental to engage with them too much.
If you spend the majority of your time replying to mean-spirited emails, then you won’t have time left for actual creating and developing work.
It’s essential to stay positive when dealing with criticism and make use of any anger it causes in a constructive way – like Kleon did, by reading his hate mail in the morning as an energy booster.
You also should never forget to appreciate others around you; write a blog post or create something inspired by someone important to you and share the praises they receive with others.
One way to stay positive is by making a praise file; include all positive emails, tweets and comments that come your way so that when feeling down or disheartened, reviewing this collection reminds us that there are people out there who value our creativity.
Value their praise and don’t let the criticism get you down!
Wrap Up
The final summary of this book, “Steal Like An Artist,” is that a person should embrace their influences while striving to create new work.
Artists cannot escape the fact that they will never be fully original and must “steal” in order to become successful.
To do this efficiently, one should learn about their idols and emulate them, while finding ways to create a positive work space.
They should pursue hobbies and step out of their comfort zone often, and then promote themselves online once they have had the chance to benefit from obscurity.
Doing these few steps can lead an artist to create pieces that are truly unique, which can then inspire others.
Additionally, it’s important for artists not to obsess over their creative pursuits – allow yourself breaks and don’t stay locked away for too long – take steps towards exploring the world around them.
In doing so, an artist will ultimately have healthy distance from their art which can help make it better, as well as make them feel more satisfied with life in general.
