Go Read 'Steal Like An Artist' by Austin Kleon

Looks as though we have the theme of stealing going for the month of May and this next post will be no expection. I finally purchased 'Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative' by Austin KLeon and it was an extremely quick but helpful read. I've been wanting to read it for a while and with all this talk about originality of ideas and stealing artwork I was reminded of the books existence.

The basis of the book discusses how no ideas are original. Everything comes from somewhere and it is only when you can't figure out where all the reference points are that people are fooled into thinking it's new. This concept isn't completely unknown to me. Back when I took a script writing class in university this was one of the first things our teacher told us. His words where closer to "don't try to wrack your brain for some that has never been done because everything has already been done before you. There are no new ideas so you may as well do what you want!" It can be quite a freeing and comforting thought if you let it. I with that thought I wrote a script that probably wouldn't be fit for a soap opera or channel 5 afternoon movie. Let's just say creative writing isn't where I was destined to go but at least the thought helped me get the job done. 

'Steal Like An Artist' in many ways reminds me of a more bizesize version of Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Big Magic' which I have previously raved about here. Both books cross over in many ways but I feel Kleon's book is more concentrated on the steps of how to become more creative whereas Gilbert questions creativity as a whole and is more anecdotally driven. I love both books for there own qualities but Kleon's book is definitely more suited for those who are itching to get stuff done more immediately. 

Some of the points that really resonated with me in the book where surrounding the chapter "Don't wait until you know who you are to get started". I know have been quite intimitated by the thought of creating personal artworks that represent me when sometimes I have felt I don't even have a firm grip on who I am. But quite rightly KLeon says that it's in the act of making work that we figure out who we are. Part of me wishes that one day I was going to have an epic epiphany and sing at the top of my lungs "I AM HHHHAAAZZZEELLLLLLLLLL!" in the style of Moana, without having to put any actual effort. I'm not exactly great at starting things. So when he touched on imposters syndrome in relation to all of this I felt like screaming "ME!" 

He also talked about stepping away from technology in order to be more hands on and uses technology for finishing work instead of doing it which is something I can definitely relate to. While writing essays at university I found it incredibily hard to sit at a computer and just churn it out. I didn't feel any connection to what I was writing and it usually turned into a bunch of waffle to make up the word count. Eventually I figured out the only way I could actually work on essays was if I split the work up so that most of time I was figuring out my layout, wording and references with paper and pen. Only when I had a better idea of what I was going to say could I step over to the computer and type it up. 

There are tons more things I could talk about from the book but then I might be verging on bad theft. All in all I really liked the book. It practices what it preaches and is filled with great quotes from other creatives and has a ton of great diagrams and drawings. It was a breeze to read yet it has plenty of substance. My favourite kind of book. Highly recommend it!

Hazel, xoxo

"Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" Review

A while back I bought a book called "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I'm usually not one for self help books but only because I never seem to connect with them. There intension is to help but I always leave confused with nothing I can actually apply to my life. For instance I always think about vague books like "The Secret" that are about the simple idea of putting good energy in the world and the universe giving it back - a sort of cause and effect deal. But when it tries to get deeper down into the subject it tends to waffle on and go round in circles.

So when I saw "Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear" at the bookstore I was cautious. However the title called out to me. I've been grappling with how to lead a creative life and whether I should keep it a hobby or turn it into a career. But also I knew that my life unfortunately is overwhelmed with fear. If I had an "Inside Out" scenario going on in my head fear would definitely be the leader of the control room. And with that thought I bought it.

It sat on my shelf for quite some time waiting to be read as I tried to get myself out of a reading funk. It was only a couple weeks ago on a sunny day while I was in the middle of the #makeasplash challenge I decided to start the book. That day I finished half of it in one foul swoop and rest of it on the sunny days after. It's been a while since I've read something that I felt so connected to. It doesn't feel like a self help book but instead more like a collection of stories from the author's life that have taught her lessons she wishes to pass on.

What I liked about it the most surprisingly is that it is quite a spiritual book. Gilbert talks about inspiration as if it is a separate entity on the hunt for open people to bestow its ideas to. Reading Gilbert's ideas on inspiration and creativity reminded me of one of my favourite pieces of writing about what is known as the blessed unrest:

"There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time. This expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it.

  It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.

  No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."

-Martha Graham

What draws me back to creative living again and again is the process of turning inspiration into pieces of art - the act of capturing "Big Magic". Gilbert talks about the importance of leading a creative life but not necessarily have it be a career. Just as long as creativity is incorporated in whatever way it can improve your quality of life profoundly. We should be free to make what we desire and not have to worry about the response and judgement that comes after we put it out into the world. It's act of making that is what we should be in it for, not the approval of others (no matter how nice it can feel).

With this in mind Gilbert also talks about the pursuit of a creative career and the mindset needed in order to prepare yourself for the shit that comes along with the whole process (the shit sandwich as she calls it) and how she deals with it. Failure is part of the journey. In this part she touches on the idea of the tortured artist and completely debunks the idea which makes me internally cheer.

There's probably so much more I could say about the book but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you incase you do eventually decide to give it go. I've already passed mine onto a friend to read and once I get it back I'm definitely considering reading it again which is a rarity for me. I wouldn't say the book has changed my life but it has definitely opened my eyes. Whether my life changes is in my hands.

Hazel, xoxo