(Those were some of my personal favorites.)Īnd this book also included pictures within, which I thoroughly enjoyed. “If you ever find that you’re the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.” The Internet can be more than just a resting place to publish your finished ideas-it can also be an incubator for ideas that aren’t fully formed, a birthing center for developing work that you haven’t started yet.” “You don’t put yourself online only because you have something to say-you can put yourself online to find something to say.

Painters learn to paint by reproducing masterpieces.” Musicians learn to play by practicing scales. “We learn to write by copying down the alphabet. In the beginning, we learn by pretending to be our heroes.

We don’t come out of the womb knowing who we are. At the end of the copy you will find your self.” Whether you’re in school or not, it’s always your job to get yourself an education.” It’s not the book you start with, it’s the book that book leads you to.” There’s magic in being surrounded by books. It really inspired me and I can’t wait for what’s next.Īlso, can I just quote everything? Because I really need and want to: Steal Like an Artist gives ideas that apply to anyone who’s trying to inject some creativity into their life and their work. This was such a phenomenal and much needed read for me. It's just hard to pack away the awareness that while you're reading about creating art, you could spend that time creating art. It's good to read motivational stuff, especially because creating art can be a pretty lonely process. I'm not saying there's no place for these types of books, and this one is smart because it's a quick read and it sticks pretty well to the motivational side of things as opposed to the nuts and bolts. A how-to book about painting is probably of less use than a book of paintings you enjoy. In other words, a book ABOUT writing is probably less helpful to a writer than a book that's just plain good. The inherent problem in any book that's a how-to for something artistic, whether it be writing or painting or making music or the artistry in tailoring a custom Voltron costume, the problem with the how-to book is that when you're reading the how-to book you're not doing the actual thing you're being taught to do. They make me feel better in the moment, but ultimately don't do much towards building a full picture of happiness.

Steal like an artist book