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How to Be More Creative by Stealing Like an Artist

by Norma Nikutowski | Feb 10, 2021 | Book Summary, Creativity | 5 comments

how to be more creative
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Are you wondering how to be more creative in your life and work?

In the book Steal Like an Artist, Austin Kleon, shares 10 things nobody told you about being creative.

Being creative is not only about writing a book, painting or composing music. We are creative when we cook, discipline our children, or stick to a budget.

According to research, using our creativity in our every day life increases positive emotions, reduces stress, and improves our immune system.

how to be more creative

The first step to be more creative is to keep in mind that when we do something we have never done before, we copy from more experienced people.

When we start a new job, we copy the behavior of our boss or successful coworkers.

Learning is copying from others.

The same thing happens with creative work such as writing a book, painting, or composing music.

This blog post is a summary of the main ideas of Austin Kleon’s book: Steal Like an Artist.

The ideas in the book apply to anyone who’s trying to inject some creativity into their life and their work (That should describe all of us.)

“Artists try to figure out what is worth stealing. Instead of worrying about what is “good” or “bad” – there is only stuff worth stealing, and stuff that is not worth stealing.”

 

The only art I’ll ever study is stuff that I can steal from.

David Bowie

We are a mashup of what we love and let into our life.

We collect, learn, and copy what we love and resonates with us.

Start with one thinker you really love, then find three thinkers that influenced your favorite thinker. Once you built your own family tree, it’ s time to start your own branch.

“Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.”

Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic.
Jim Jarmush

Don’t wait to do your work until you know who you are. Actively making things helps you to figure out who you are.

Pertend to be making something until you make it.

Dress the part.

We learn by pretending to be our heroes.

Start copying what you love. Copy copy copy copy. At the end of the copy you will find yourself.
Yahji Yamamoto

“You might be scared to start.

That’s natural.

There’s this very real thing that runs rampant in educated people.

It’s called “impostor syndrome.”

The clinical definition is a “psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments.”

It means that you feel like a phony, like you’re just winging it, that you really don’t have any idea what you’re doing.

Guess what: None of us do. Ask anybody doing truly creative work, and they’ll tell you the truth: They don’t know where the good stuff comes from.

They just show up to do their thing.

Every day.”

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.
Salvador Dali

How to Be More Creative: Fake it till You Make it

Fake it ’til you make it. There are two ways to read it:

1. Pretend to be something you’re not until you are—fake it until you’re successful, until everybody sees you the way you want them to; or

2. Pretend to be making something until you actually make something.

You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.

If we want to be more creative we have to figure out who and what to copy.

“You copy your heroes – the people you love, the people you’re inspired by, the people you want to be.

You want to internalize their way of looking at the world.”

“Write what you like, not what you know.

Write the story you want to read.

Think about your favorite work and your creative heroes.

If all your favorite makers got together and collaborated, what would they make with you leading the crew?

Go make that stuff.

Draw the art you want to see, start the business you want to run, play the music you want to hear, write the books you want to read, build the products you want to use – do the work you want to see done.

Get your body involved – don’t just sit in front of your computer. Move, make something with your body.”

“Take time to be bored. Do the dishes, walk the dog, when you are out of ideas.

If you have have two or three real passions, keep all of them.

If you love different things, you just keep spending time with them. 

It’s so important to have a hobby. A hobby is something creative that’s just for you. You do it because it makes you happy.

Do good work and share it with people.

Create your own world.”

Feelings while Working on a Creative Project

Austin Kleon shares this graphic in the book, which he stole from his friend Maureen McHugh

It perfectly describes every:

blog post I write

video I make

diy project I start

It is helpful to be aware that our excitement and enthusiasm will wear off as we move ahead with the project.

In addition after working for a while on a project we will discover difficulties we did not anticipate.

However, moving forward anyway and doing our best work will provide a sense of accomplishment in the end.

Many times when after a few years we look back at what we thought was horrible work is not that bad as we thought.

Also think of it as a stepping stone for better work to come in the future.

 

how to be more creative

Keep your day job.

It’s important to have a routine.

Only concentrate on what is important.

Make things with the time, space, and materials you have right now.

Embrace your limitations and keep moving.

If you want more ideas on how to be more creative you may find them in Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.

What is your next step to be more creative?

 

Related Readings: How to be Creative and Happy

 

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5 Comments

  1. Amber Myers on February 10, 2021 at 10:01 pm

    I love this. I have been wanting to be more creative, so this is helpful.

    Reply
  2. Kaitlyn Nicole on February 10, 2021 at 10:27 pm

    wow… I’ve never thought of creativity this way before but it makes perfect sense!

    Reply
  3. Anosa Malanga on February 11, 2021 at 8:36 am

    Indeed such a good read. I’d love to learn more about creativity and yeah, probably make the most out of it too. Thanks for sharing this to your readers.

    Reply
  4. Hollie on February 11, 2021 at 1:47 pm

    I never thought about art like this. I like the idea of fake it until you make it, which is something I often take to heart. I’m always trying to be more creative.

    Reply
  5. Lavanda Michelle on February 11, 2021 at 11:24 pm

    Wow, I’ve never thought “Stealing like a Artist” was a thing. Creativity is definitely what I need more of, and this’ll help. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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