Steal Like An Artist

I picked up Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon yesterday and read it cover to cover in one sitting. It’s been a while since I’ve done that.

Some of the highlights were:
1. You’re allowed to steal other people’s ideas.

     You’re not plagiarizing per se, but putting your own twist on something that’s already out there and making it your own.

2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started.

    Your tastes will change. Your feelings and thoughts will change. You will change. So start now and don’t be afraid to share your work with people. (Which is another of Kleon’s points on its own.)

3. Write the book, sing the song, make the art, that you like.

After you steal the idea, be original to your own likings.

There are many cool ideas on how to be a creative person in this 140 page book. These that I highlighted are just a few. The trick is to get started and continue to work a little toward your goal everyday.

(A little insight,  I wrote this post on my phone because the mood hit me and I didn’t have my laptop around. I just why for it.)

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have your preferred tools handy, use what you have. Sometimes not having your preferred tools makes you more creative.

As Kleon says,  “Creativity is subtraction,” or taking away stuff leaving behind a new creation.