Book Review
Steal Like An Artist is a book that encourages us to pursue our artistic pursuits. It lays out a step-by-step approach to helping us achieve them. The book contains interesting diagrams and illustrations that make complex concepts and ideas easy to understand. It is essential and requires reading for all artists, regardless of the type of art you create.
It’s a quick read that you can finish in one sitting, but the ideas and advice it contains will stay with you long after you’ve put it down. Some of Austin’s suggestions will validate what you’re already doing. Some will challenge you to fundamentally change a creative practice. Others will inspire you to grab a notebook and get to work immediately.
Because it’s such a small and accessible book, you’ll want to go back to it from time to time. Like Stephen King’s On Writing, as you change and grow as an artist, it reveals new ideas and inspirations that you may have missed in a previous read.
Key Takeaways
- Nothing is completely original: Kleon argues that all creative work builds on what came before it. To be truly creative, you need to embrace this fact and learn from the work of others.
- Creativity is about making connections: To create something new, you need to connect ideas and experiences that haven’t been connected before. Kleon encourages readers to seek out new experiences and to be open to new connections.
- Don’t wait for permission to create: You don’t need anyone’s permission to start making something. Start today, with the tools you have, and keep going.
- Share your work with others: Sharing your work can be scary, but it’s essential if you want to improve and grow as a creative person. Kleon recommends sharing your work early and often and embracing feedback.
- Embrace your influences: Rather than trying to hide your influences, Kleon suggests embracing them and using them to inspire new work.
- Don’t be afraid to copy: Kleon argues that copying is an essential part of the creative process. By copying the work of others, you can learn new techniques and gain a deeper understanding of your own creative style.
- Creativity requires discipline: Even the most inspired creative ideas won’t come to fruition without hard work and discipline. Kleon encourages readers to develop a daily creative practice and to stick to it, no matter what.
- Keep learning and experimenting: To stay creative, you need to keep learning and experimenting with new ideas and techniques. Kleon recommends making time for play and exploration in your creative practice.
- Don’t worry about being a genius: You don’t have to be a genius to be creative. Kleon argues that creativity is a process that anyone can engage in, regardless of their level of talent.
- Be yourself: Ultimately, the most important thing in creativity is to be true to yourself. Embrace your unique perspective and use it to create work that is meaningful and authentic to you.
This is a fantastic addition to your library and a wonderful gift for any creative person in your life.
Steal Like an Artist Summary
“If you use a copy of your ideal’s work to find your own style, it’s alright. The right work environment for yourself can be created if you focus on your art and don’t allow praise or criticism to come in the way.”
Favorite Quote From Author
“The best advice is not to write what you know. It’s to write what you like. Write the kind of story you like best — write the story you want to read.”
Books like Steal Like an Artist
- The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path To Higher Creativity
- The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- On Writing By Stephen King
