Steal Like an Artist
10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
Book Edition Details
Summary
In a world bursting with borrowed inspiration, Austin Kleon's "Steal Like an Artist" stands as a vibrant clarion call for creative souls daring to craft their own path. This isn't your typical guide; it's a colorful collage of wisdom that emboldens you to tap into the wellspring of artistic innovation. Kleon, with the playful insight of a modern-day sage, reveals that originality isn't born in solitude but thrives on the echoes of the greats before us. With engaging illustrations and hands-on exercises, this manifesto shatters the myth of the solitary genius, inviting everyone to joyously remix the familiar into the extraordinary. Here, the digital age becomes your canvas, and the internet, your stage. Ready to redefine creativity on your own terms? The blueprint is yours for the taking.
Introduction
Every creative person faces the same terrifying question: where do ideas actually come from? Whether you're staring at a blank canvas, an empty page, or a blinking cursor, that moment of creative paralysis feels universal. The truth might surprise you—nothing comes from nowhere, and the most original artists have always been the most skilled thieves. This isn't about plagiarism or shortcuts; it's about understanding how creativity really works in a world where everything builds on what came before. The pressure to be completely original is not just unnecessary—it's creatively destructive. When you embrace the reality that all creative work is a remix, a mashup of influences and inspirations, you free yourself to focus on what truly matters: making something meaningful with your unique voice and perspective.
Embrace Creative Theft and Build Your Foundation
Creative theft isn't about copying—it's about understanding that all art builds on what came before. As Pablo Picasso famously said, "Art is theft," and T.S. Eliot expanded this idea: good poets don't just imitate, they steal and transform what they take into something entirely different. The key lies in recognizing that originality doesn't mean creating from nothing; it means combining existing elements in your own unique way. David Bowie exemplified this principle throughout his career, openly stating he would only study art he could steal from. He didn't hide his influences—he celebrated them while transforming them into something distinctly his own. The writer Jonathan Lethem observed that when people call something "original," they usually just don't know the references or sources involved. This revelation should liberate rather than discourage you. Think of it like genetics: you're a remix of your parents and ancestors, possessing features from both but creating something entirely new. Your creative genealogy works the same way. You can't choose your family, but you can choose your teachers, the books you read, the art you consume, and the influences you let shape your thinking. As Goethe said, "We are shaped and fashioned by what we love." The practical approach is to become a selective collector. Unlike hoarders who collect indiscriminately, artists collect only what they truly love. Study one creator you admire deeply, then discover three people who influenced them. Repeat this process, climbing up the creative tree as far as you can go. Keep a swipe file—physical or digital—where you collect things worth stealing. When you need inspiration, open it up and see what sparks new ideas.
Start Before You're Ready and Find Your Voice
The biggest creative mistake is waiting until you know who you are before you begin. In reality, you discover who you are through the act of making things, not before. Every professional creative struggles with impostor syndrome—the feeling that they're just winging it and don't really know what they're doing. The secret is that nobody knows where the good stuff comes from; they just show up every day and do the work. Shakespeare understood this when he wrote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." This theatrical metaphor reveals a profound truth about creativity: fake it 'til you make it. There are two ways to interpret this phrase. First, pretend to be something until you become it—dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Second, pretend to be making something until you actually make something. Patti Smith embodied this principle perfectly when she and Robert Mapplethorpe moved to New York wanting to be artists. In her memoir "Just Kids," she describes how they would dress up in bohemian clothes and hang out in Washington Square Park. When tourists would stare, one would say "Oh, take their picture, I think they're artists," while another would dismiss them as "just kids." But that's exactly the point—they became real by first pretending. Start copying what you love, but copy intelligently. Don't just steal the style; steal the thinking behind the style. Musicians learn by practicing scales, painters by reproducing masterpieces, writers by copying down the alphabet. Even The Beatles started as a cover band, with Paul McCartney admitting they emulated everyone from Buddy Holly to Elvis. They only began writing original songs to prevent other bands from playing their set. Copy your heroes, then examine where you fall short. What makes you different is what you should amplify and transform into your own work. As filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola explained, you can't actually steal—you take what's given and put it in your own voice, which is how you find that voice.
Share Your Work and Connect with Community
The path from obscurity to recognition follows a simple but challenging formula: do good work and share it with people. While the first part—doing good work—remains incredibly difficult with no shortcuts, the second part has been revolutionized by the internet. The secret isn't about having something profound to say; it's about wondering at something and inviting others to wonder with you. Bob Ross and Martha Stewart mastered this principle long before social media existed. Ross taught painting techniques on PBS, giving away all his secrets about happy little trees and color blending. Stewart showed people how to improve their homes and lives, revealing her methods openly. People loved learning from them, and this generosity built devoted audiences who supported their work in return. When you share your process openly, remarkable things happen. You learn from your audience, discover new ideas to explore, and build genuine connections with people who care about similar things. The internet transforms from merely a publishing platform into an incubator for developing ideas and a community space for creative growth. Start by sharing small glimpses of your work—a sketch, a snippet, a handy tip you've discovered. You don't need to reveal everything; just offer something valuable to others. Learn basic digital skills: build a website, understand social media, connect with people online who love the same things you do. If you're worried about giving away secrets, remember that you control what you share and how much you reveal. The goal isn't immediate fame or recognition—enjoy your obscurity while it lasts and use it to experiment freely. Focus on consistent sharing rather than perfect content. Most websites show recent posts first, so you're only as good as your last contribution. This keeps you engaged and constantly thinking about what to create next.
Create Constraints and Stay Productive
The most paralyzing creative obstacle is believing you have unlimited possibilities. Nothing kills creativity faster than thinking you can do anything. The secret to breakthrough work lies in the opposite approach: embrace limitations and create constraints that force innovative solutions. When you restrict your options, you free your creativity to work within defined boundaries. Dr. Seuss proved this principle dramatically when his editor challenged him to write a book using only 50 different words. This constraint produced "Green Eggs and Ham," one of the bestselling children's books ever written. The limitation didn't hinder his creativity—it focused and intensified it, leading to his most memorable work. Jack White of The White Stripes deliberately limited his band to guitar, drums, and the colors red, black, and white. These constraints forced him to find innovative solutions within narrow parameters, creating a distinctive sound that made the band famous. As he explained, having all the time, money, and options in the world actually kills creativity. Establish productive routines that create natural constraints. Get a day job that pays decently, doesn't drain your soul, and leaves energy for creative work. Use a calendar to break large projects into daily chunks, creating an unbroken chain of small accomplishments. Jerry Seinfeld's calendar method works perfectly: make a big X each day you complete your creative work, then focus solely on not breaking the chain. The key is finding sustainable rhythms rather than waiting for perfect conditions. Write during lunch breaks, paint with one color, shoot movies with your phone, build with spare materials. Don't make excuses for not working—make things with the time, space, and materials you have right now. Remember that what you choose to leave out is often more important than what you include.
Summary
Creativity has never been about divine inspiration or magical talent—it's about understanding that all great work builds on what came before, then having the courage to start making things before you feel ready. The most successful artists are skilled thieves who study their heroes, copy intelligently, then transform what they learn into something uniquely their own. As the book reminds us, "You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences." The path forward is surprisingly simple: surround yourself with work you love, start creating before you feel qualified, share your process with others, and embrace the constraints that will focus your creativity. Stop waiting for permission, stop worrying about originality, and start making the work you want to see in the world—because the world needs what only you can contribute.
Related Books
Download PDF & EPUB
To save this Black List summary for later, download the free PDF and EPUB. You can print it out, or read offline at your convenience.
By Austin Kleon
