Last year I stumbled on a surprising little book called “Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative.” The author, Austin Kleon, shares his best advice for how to be creative. To begin, all you need is to “do good work and share it with people.”
“Steal Like an Artist” is full of illustrations, drawings and examples. It’s a quick read, but you’ll want to make it last, like a tasty ice cream cone on a warm summer evening.
Steal It. Once you’ve read Kleon’s advice, try it out. Draw inspiration from your favorite artists, explore on Etsy.com or browse one of these books:
“Art that Changed the World” by Ian Chilvers.
“Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary” by Ross King.
Make It. Now get your hands dirty. These books should amp up your creative mojo:
“Creating Art at the Speed of Life: 30 Days of Mixed-Media Exploration” by Pam Carriker.
“Origami Dinosaurs for Beginners” by John Montroll.
“Learn to Burn: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started in Pyrography” by Simon Easton.
“The Ultimate DIY Geek Toys Guide” by Doug Cantor.
“Art Made from Books: Altered, Sculpted, Carved, Transformed” by Laura Heyenga.
Show It. This month, Kleon releases a new book, “Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered.” In a fun format and easy-to-skim sections, he shares his tips on promoting yourself, getting noticed and sharing your work with others.
Now get out there and show it.
ImagineIF Libraries encourage exploration, fresh ideas and self-discovery. Learn more at www.imagineiflibraries.org.