Of Steal Like An Artist

a review of sorts

About Me: I have a(n) (un)healthy skepticism of self help books, motivational speakers and life coaches; mostly because somehow it feels like a hack… a con game, read my previous article on Invictus Obi. It could also be a tad envy at others success and me feeling as if I could write a self-help book too. I would rather write what I want to read and I want to read fantasy particularly one that is entrenched into the fabric of my culture and ancestry. Instead of Harry Potter And The Fountain Of Youth  I want Tsakani at Chirorodziva Pool Of The Fallen. ( just made those up call it fan fiction)

During a twitter conversation with Chipo who blogs at Chipok.co.zw the book Steal Like An Artist came up, she was reading it and since I was not familiar with the book I looked it up because I am always curious that should be my house motto “always curious”

I wish I could read through your eyes
and see what you like to read…

— ~B 🇿🇼 (@Beatonm5) August 19, 2019

It’s a very short read and in the hour I was done

“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again.”
guess what I just finished reading ^_^

— ~B 🇿🇼 (@Beatonm5) August 10, 2019

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon is a refreshing read on tackling creativity, it resonated with a lot of half-formed thoughts I have had, some fleetingly others more persistently. Its like that wise uncle who tells you things you didn’t know you already knew but without patronising you about not realising it.

The author has a theory that when people give advice, they’re really just talking to themselves in the past

“This book is me talking to a previous version of myself”

Steal like an artist was expanded from a list of ten things nobody told you about being a creative which was a talk the author gave to a group of community college students. They can be found at the book’s back cover.

1. Steal like an Artist
2. Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are to Get Started
3. Write The Book You Want To Read
4. Use Your Hands
5. Side Projects And Hobbies Are Important
6. The Secret: Do Good Work and Share It with People
7. Geography is No Longer Our Master
8. Be Nice (The world is a Small Town)
9. Be Boring
10. Creativity is Subtraction

One of the notions the book dispels is originality, original simply means that source of something is undetected….

There’s nothing new under the sun

“Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But,since no one was listening, everything must be said again”

Andre Gide

One needs to learn, look things up, research and go further than anyone else

Google everything… don’t ask a question before you google it. You’ll either find the answer or you’ll come up with a better question

Start Now you are as ready as you will ever be.

All the world is a stage creative work is a kind of theaterthe stage is your studio, your desk, your work station, the costume is your outfit-your business suit or that funny hat that helps you think  the props are your materials, your tools  and your medium. The script is just plain old time. An hour hereor an hor there- just time measured out for things to happen

Basically “Fake it till you make it” and steal from your heroes

Do not just copy the style your heroes have, learn to see the world as they see it, so you can see your own way too.

“it is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes unique”

Conan O’Brien

The book is filled with lots of such priceless gems and reading it should give your inspiration a kick as you realise:

“In the end, creativity isn’t just the things we choose to put in, it’s the things we choose to leave out.”

You will have to read the book if you want to know the other things I left out.

So what happens now?

You could check out the author’s site by clicking below

You could start writing that book or blog or letter, that story you want to read

You could let me know your thoughts in the comments below