Steal Like an Artist: Introduction

Technique Tuesday

On Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Austin Kleon did us all a tremendous service. That's when he posted, "How to Steal Like an Artist (and 9 Other Things Nobody Told Me)."

Stop now and go read his presentation. It's well worth your time.

I was so impressed that I'm going to take Austin's advice and steal his presentation--like an artist. More to the point, I'm going to riff on Austin's ten techniques in the coming weeks. Here's an overview of what's to come:

1. Steal Like an artist.
2. Don't wait until you know who you are to make things.
3. Write the book you want to read.
4. Use your hands.
5. Side projects and hobbies are important.
6. The secret: do good work, then put it where people can see it.
7. Geography is no longer our master.
8. Be nice. The world is a small town.
9. Be boring. (It's the only way to get work done.)
10. Creativity is subtraction.

Austin is working now to turn Steal Like an Artist into a book. I encourage you to keep an eye out for it.


Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net