Is it worth Stealing like an Artist?
As one struggles to become more creative and fight to become more original, the truth of the matter is that no one is original and nothing is ever new. I’ve faced this as a fact reading Austin Kleon’s, “Steal Like an Artist.” Judging by the title alone, I thought this book would give me more ideas of idea generation, instead I have learned that it is empowering to the lifestyle as an artist. Be the artist that you want to be! That’s the IDEA (at least that I got from it).
Born in an Asian home to two loving parents in America, I was given a choice to what I wanted to do as a career. I wasn’t forced to be a nurse, but because I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, because I didn’t have much of any other example to follow, this was all I saw myself doing—healthcare.
Up until my college years, I dabbled in shooting skate videos, skit videos, comic drawings, school news production, and various other mediums. I was definitely not much of a jack of all trades or master of one, but the benefit in exploring those avenues was really seeing where I didn’t fit, what skills were transferrable, and seeing what fascinated me most. In the end, it was only just an interest that could only ever be a hobby that you’d spend time on with your friends, but not a career. Therefore, I didn’t consider pursuing a path of freelance art or anything in the creative industry. I did not bother with learning about artists and how they make a living, what was behind-the-scenes process of creating meaningful and less meaningful work on the road to “greatness”, or even the idea of perseverance in improving your craft.
After reading, “Steal like an Artist,” although I am a professional nurse, once I clock out, I resonate even more as an artist who’s on the ongoing journey of producing the next big thing (even if its just within your inner circle). Although I’ve practically started this 2021 as an aspiring Youtuber, I am more proud of the progress I’ve made through my reps of producing and publishing weekly videos than my actual subscriber growth (275+ from 10-20 subs). I am ok with starting and not knowing everything about what my brand is like, what my mission is, what my aesthetic is, or what kinds of videos I like to make. I have struggled with the idea of originality, having a unique voice in a noisy world, but it’s all OK.
Before I read this book I thought I’d have more ideas my next Youtube videos, but instead I am embracing more of my identity as artist and to stay creative. The more I accept this identity, this fact that I do enjoy this, that I am creative, that this is impactful, the more I am driven to create without fear that I am a fake, an imposter, or that all my work should be as high quality as an individual with high academic performance.
“You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences. The German writer Goethe said, ‘We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.’”I don’t regret my career path to being a nurse. I only regret not embracing my creative side more.
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Austin Kleon’s Website HERE
Austin Kleon’s - Steal Like an Artist
Special thanks to Cody Mitchell for recommending this book to me.
Check Cody’s work HERE
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