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Sometimes, when we're sick of watching movies at night and have nothing better planned, Ben and I like to go to the bookstore and each pick out a new book. Then we come home, get some snacks, and settle in on the couch to read together. It's a cheap, relaxing, and low-key date. This past weekend, it was raining on Friday night so it seemed like the perfect time to do just that. I picked out this book that I'd heard of, which looked intriguing: Steal Like An Artist, by Austin Kleon. And I loved it! It's a quick and interesting read--easily finished it in one night--but the concepts in it were so good, I really wanted to discuss them with someone. I kept reading quotes aloud to Ben, but he was engrossed in his own book, so I thought...why not talk about it on the blog? But first, how cute are those blue thistles I got a couple weeks ago? I saw them at the farmer's market and asked if I could get a bunch of just the thistles. People looked at me kind of funny as I was walking around with my "bouquet," but it was worth it! I got all those and more for $5, and dried them out so I can have "flowers" all year long!
Now back to the book. Here are some quotes that really resonated with me:
1. Nothing is original. "Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But, since no one was listening, everything must be said again." I love that quote (from a French writer, Andre Gide). I think this concept is really freeing! In the blog world, there is this big emphasis on original ideas, and it can make me feel a little paralyzed sometimes. I'll have a great idea (sparked by something I saw on Pinterest, on another blog, at a restaurant, etc.)...but then someone will do that very same idea before I do. I'll feel like they beat me to it, and I can't do it anymore because it's no longer original. But the truth is, nothing is original! Every idea is sparked by something. I was thinking about the mini caramel apples I posted on Monday: I got the idea from Pinterest (and maybe you did too) but even if we both made them, our photos would each have a unique spin just because of who we are. Maybe you'll add salt to yours or drizzle them with chocolate, or maybe you'll take pictures with your kids eating them. No ideas are original, but our execution is still unique. If we're free from the burden of trying to be completely original, we can stop trying to make something out of nothing, and we can embrace influence instead of running away from it.
2. Fake it 'til you make it. Austin talks about the "impostor syndrome" that so many of us have (myself included). It's the feeling that you're a phony, you have no idea what you're doing, and you're just winging it. It makes us insecure and can stop us from ever getting started down the path we want to pursue. I've played around with the idea of starting an interior decorating business, but I often get doubts about myself: I'm not a professional. I didn't even go to school for interior design. How can I pretend to be an expert? Well, here's the thing: if I waited until I was an expert, I'd never get started. If you know what you want to be doing, you have to start doing it.
3. Start copying. This is how we learn--like a mechanic taking apart a car to see how it works. And here's the trick: don't just copy from one of your heroes--copy from all of them! The cartoonist Gary Panter said, "If you have one person you're influenced by, everyone will say you're the next whoever. But if you rip off a hundred people, everyone will say you're so original!" I like that. And the thing is, you can never perfectly copy someone else's style anyways. Where you "fall short" in copying them is what makes you different. Merely imitating your heroes is not flattering them. Transforming their work into something of your own is how you flatter them. Adding something to the world that only you can add.
4. Build your own world. This is one that I'd like to work on. Thanks to the Internet, our world is not that limited by geography...which means that even if you're tied down to a place, you can still make connections. You don't have to live anywhere other than the place you are to start connecting with the world you want to be in. That's encouraging, don't you think? I would really like to get to know more of you bloggers, crafters, decorators, and creative small businesses, wherever you may be from! It can be so nice to have a community of fellow-minded creatives that "get" you, who can give you a boost when you're feeling unmotivated and get excited over the kind of things that your "real-life" friends might think are a little silly. If any of you would like to connect with me, look me up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram and say hello!
5. Keep your day job. Those of you who have started your own businesses, what do you think of this one? I'm really curious, because part of me really wants to scale back or quit my day job eventually. But I do worry about not having a steady income where I know I'll make such-and-such amount every paycheck. Austin says, freedom from financial stress also means freedom in your art. He says day jobs give you a regular routine, a connection to the world, and a chance to get paid to learn new things that you can apply to your creative work. As far as having time for your creative pursuits? Work gets done in the time available. What do you guys think of that? I think it's true that routine can be helpful--and certainly, it's less stressful to have a regular income...but sometimes my day job leaves me feeling so drained and tired. Those of you are self-employed, when did you feel you were ready to let go of your day job?
If you've read Steal Like An Artist, tell me what you thought of it! Did you have a favorite piece of advice? Anything you disagreed with? I'd love to hear!
Also, I'm curious: who are some of your heroes, the ladies (and gentlemen) that you would "steal" from? Some of mine are Victoria of sfgirlbybay, Holly of decor8, and Bri of Designlovefest. I love how each of their blogs are very approachable and personal. They have great style, each of them, and their posts are always total eye candy--but they also share glimpses into their personal lives and thought processes, which makes their blogs so much more interesting.
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It sounds like a great book. There is only one creator! He's the originator! Enjoy your art. Be creative to be refreshed.
this is great! i want to read it now
kw ladies in navy
You should! It's under $8 on Amazon--totally worth it.
I LOVE this post! Thankyou Thankyou! I have been so 'paralyzed' so many times unable to come up with 'new ideas' or 'new blog posts.' This was a breath of fresh air! All the stress is gone! haha And although I would love to quit my day (well, night) job, I know thats not practical... ;)
Yay! I'm so glad. I feel the same way, it was really like a weight got lifted off my shoulders.
Looks good! I'd like to read it! I love all your commentary Aileen! About the day job thing...I think it would be perfect to work part time! Then you know you have money, but you also have time to thoroughly pursue your creative endeavors. As we know, these things take time!!
Thanks for posting this, Aileen! I really needed to hear this right about now. I definitely have the tendency to think that any creative thing I do has to be 100% "original." It's good to realize that I don't have to live that way. :)
Sounds like a neat book -- some great concepts there!
And I love the thistles!
just ordered this book. looks awesome.
thanks for being so honest!
This sounds like a really informative, easy read! I may have to check it out :)
Sounds like a really great book. I'm going to have to check it out at my local library!
I really need to buy this book. Just about every time I go to barnes and nobles I read some of it and SO enjoy it every time. You would think that by now I would have bought it.
Wow this is so inspiring! I started a blog a while ago, but stopped because I didn't think I had a niche, didn't think that I was original enough to write stuff that others want to read.. But the idea that I should stop caring about being original and just do what I love is liberating! I love it!
Aww, Patriecia--I'm so glad you found this post. I think we all have that self-doubt in us. It's good to take a little pressure off ourselves!
Fantastic post! I love finding great book recommendations and being able to read your thoughts on it is like a mini book club.
Loved your article, Steal like an artist. I started painting other peoples ideas, thought it was cheating!! But gradually my own style came through....so you are so right in your article where you write Fake it til you make it...thank you!
Though I have heard of the book, I haven't read it yet. I was skimming Pinterest (LOVE IT!) and came across this post at probably THE PERFECT TIME. I've recently worked through Imposter Syndrome and have been struggling with feeling truly confident in my own work. And then I read your blog post. Thank you for putting this and yourself out there for people like me who needed to hear it.
I loved reading this post! So well said and it puts a lot of things into perspective!
I believe in all of these but the last. If you have a dream, having a plan B (day job) means you believe your plan A will fail. It gives you an out when things get hard. And they get A LOT harder than affording food when launching your brand and self.
If you are launching your own startup and only working 40hrs or less a week, you wont survive. There is always some else out there working on something that will compete with your idea. And those of us that quit the "steady income" from the man are working 27, 28 29 hours at a time, sleeping 2 or three and getting back to work.
Do you really think Michael Jordan spent half his time working for someone other than basketball to get where he is?
If you trust your art, then cannonball into your trust. Theres a reason behind the term starving artist.
Brilliant! This the most interesting thing that I have read for ages, we are an amalgam of our experiences - whether its art or life in general. Thanks!
Hi Aileen,
Thanks so much for this article..... it resonates with me on so many levels. I am just recently started my creative journey. I will get this book.... and I LOVE the thistles
(must be my Scottish blood). All the best.
Thank you for sharing this!! I am now starting out with watercolour and acrylic painting. I've found it to be great therapy but I find myself looking for inspiration online, and feel like I'm copying by wanting to recreate what I like but this has really made me see it in a completely new light. I think once I start doing more I'll find my own style eventually. Will look up this book! X
Dear Aileen
I just saw this post and was so glad ! I’m a Pinterest “art” junkie and it’s my happy place ! I love and dabble in different art forms ( most recently scrap booking and collages) . This post literally gives us the permission to emulate artists of our choice and not feel inadequate because it was not original . You have happily absolved millions of people of their guilt for not being original. God bless you 😃
I’m horrified by this read. As a lifelong visual artist & musician who has put in so much work to compete against only myself & never ever copy, the notion that people think it’s okay to copy because they can’t come up with their own ideas is pathetic & unjust. It screams insecurity. I also DO strongly believe people DO/CAN have their own style from birth that continues to develop without adulteration of copying others. It’s called being authentic.
Beauty is a BEAUTIFUL Creation. I Love it!
I Love beauty & BEAUTIFUL THINGS
Awesome! Precious !!
Thanks a lot for the best article. !!
Hi!
I'm gonna read this book, sounds like something I need!
I started a creative business (easy!) but as I've learned: the start up is not hard, what's tricky is to run your business, and all of a sudden I didn't have the time...it was as if I drew one day, and the next, nothing. I even jumped on the lease of an art studio for creative businesses! Old post, but I felt, that perhaps this just had to get out there!! And by the way I havn't given up ;) I just am and do when I feel like it, but oh so many ideas, you can't take the artist out of the artist!!
Picasso said something about this. "Good artists copy. Great artists steal".
Hey, you’ve written all that I want to say… I do Indian folk art and I’m from India. I’m an auto didactic, a self honed artist, all by as you say, copying works that pleased me. I love art and I have really tried hard to learn through these artworks I copied. I have to say, I’m at a great space now and very equipped to bring out an original.
That is a great book and I so agree with learning by reverse engineering artwork. When I was in art school, we sometimes had assignments to copy an artwork for this very reason. Have you also read “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert? She also advises keeping your day job so that your art is free. Even when you quit your day job, unless you are trying to make a go of being a fine artist, you will also find that the business you create will be your job and you will still have a part of your art that is just for you because in the business, you will have to create for a purpose for a niche that people want to buy. I’ve had my own creative business for 13 years and I’ve been toying with getting a day job again for awhile.