Steal Like An Artist: Summary, Review, Quotes (Ultimate Guide)

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In this ultimate guide to Steal Like An Artist, you’ll find a summary, review and some of my favourite quotes from the book.

I picked up Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon after learning that it is a book highly recommended by one of my favourite Youtubers, Ali Abdaal.

If you’re looking for a journal to help you along with the book, checkout Steal Like An Artist Workbook.

steal like an artist summary
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Steal Like An Artist Summary

steal like an artist summary
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Steal Like An Artist 1-Sentence-Summary: 

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon teaches every aspiring creator on how to gain inspiration by stealing ideas or copying from artists they admire to eventually find their own voice and success in their creative pursuits.

Steal Like An Artist Chapter Summary:

  1. Steal Like an Artist
  2. Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are to Get Started
  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 and Share it With People
  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.

1. Steal Like an Artist

steal like an artist summary

In the first Chapter, the author emphasizes that nothing is original. Everything comes from something, there are always some references to it as nothing is entirely original. 

If we free ourselves from the idea to make something original, we can embrace influence and make something out of it.

Every idea is a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.

The more good ideas an artist collects, the more you can choose from to be influenced by. However, having too many ideas (hoarding ideas) can present you with too many choices and this might not be helpful.

To find these ideas, study the artist instead of the art. Then find 3 people that artist loved and study them too. 

Repeat this process and you’ll get a family tree of artists you admire.

2. Don’t Wait Until You Know Who You Are to Get Started

steal like an artist summary

In this chapter, readers are urged to start making things. Do the work and you’ll figure out who you are along the way.

Most of the time we wait until we are ready because we think we aren’t ready (imposter syndrome) but no one is entirely ready, they just start with what they have.

One way to do this is to “fake it till you make it”:

  • Pretend to be something you’re not until you are
  • Pretend to be making something until you actually have made something

Don’t wait any longer, just start copying. However, copying here is referenced to practicing not plagiarizing. First, you have to figure out who to copy, then you figure out what to copy. 

It is easy to know who to copy – they’re your favourite artists, role models. Figuring out what to copy is the tricky bit. 

A good tip is to not only steal ideas from them but steal the thinking behind these ideas. This way, you get a glimpse into their minds. 

Besides, you don’t want to imitate your heroes – you want to emulate them. And when you fail to do so, that’s how you evolve as an artist. 

Failing to copy your heroes is where your own thing comes to life.

3. Write the Book You Want to Read

This chapter was fairly short and straight to the point.

Write the book you would want to read. 

The same goes for draw the art you want to say, start the business you want to run and so on. Build things you would for it to exist in this world.

4. Use Your Hands

In this chapter, readers are encouraged to use their hands in making their art come to life. In this digital age, we are very used to our laptops and gadgets. 

However, stepping away from them every once in a while is important to create something.

Sometimes, computers can make our work seem abstract because we’re just typing keys and clicking buttons.

To make your work feel more concrete, you’ll have to try to use your body in the process of creating your work.

5. Side Projects and Hobbies Are Important

Your creativity doesn’t have to be solely one thing. You can have multiple passions and some of these can be your side projects. 

Cutting of other passions for you to focus on only one is going to do you more harm than good. It’s like cutting a part of yourself and throwing it away.

You don’t have to try to make money off these other passions, just let them be your hobbies. 

6. The Secret: Do Good Work and Share it With People

steal like an artist summary

In this chapter, there are two secrets to getting discovered for your creative work.

  1. Do good work.
  2. Share it with people.

Sometimes, if you share with people a glimpse of your work or what you know, you’ll find people wanting to learn more from you or even purchase what ou have to offer.

If you’re worried about giving too much away – give away what you know but without connecting the dots.

Share bits and pieces of your work without giving them the whole picture.

7. Geography Is No Longer Our Master

We live in a borderless world, thanks to the internet. You are no longer confined to your location. 

You can meet people from all over the world online and exchange ideas.

However, there are times when we are physically unable to leave our home or where we are from. But when the opportunity arises, it is important to leave our nest.

Your brain gets too comfortable in your everyday surroundings. Getting uncomfortable gives you room to grow. Our brains will work harder to adapt to something new.

Find a place that feeds you creatively, socially, spiritually, and literally. Even if you set up a new home, you need to leave it now and then

8. Be Nice (The World is a Small Town)

Do not talk bad about people on the internet. The world is small, people will find out. Make friends, not enemies.

Learn to surround yourself with talented people. If you ever find yourself the most talented person in the room, find another room.

The Internet can make you angry and disappointed. However, it is better to use that anger as a source for creative work. If you don’t like something that was created, create a version of it that you and others will appreciate more.

As artists, we want to show appreciation and be appreciated. 

To show appreciation – write fan letters, blog posts, or make a video about the artist and their work that you love so much. 

If you genuinely love their work, you will not need a response for them but to just leave out in the world and share the art you truly enjoy.

There are times we want to be validated and appreciated for our work, but at times when that truly happens we could either be bored to death from our creative pursuits or no longer be on this earth. 

We cannot control when people validate our work, it is best not to seek external validation. 

However, when you do receive it, keep a praise file. It’ll help you during your darkest times as an artist as it serves as reminder that your work matters to others.

9. Be Boring (It’s The Only Way To Get Work Done)

It takes a lot of energy to be creative. Therefore, we should be stingy with who and what gets our time and energy.

Having your day job might be boring, but it does provide you with financial stability. Only when you have your finances in check, you won’t have financial stress to distract you from your creative work.

Being boring and having a routine will get you far in your creative pursuits. Plus, your day job may also help you gain skills you can use for your creative pursuits.

The trick is to find a decent day job that doesn’t take up all your energy while leaving you the time and money to fund your creative work.

10. Creativity is Subtraction

Information is abundant and so are creative pursuits. With so many choices, if you try to be everything and anything – it’ll only distract you. Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities.

Often, it is not only what an artist incorporates into his art that makes his piece interesting, but also what he chooses to leave out. 

What makes us interesting is not only what we have experienced, but what we haven’t experienced.

Steal Like An Artist Review

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon is an excellent book for any artists looking to make a career from their creative pursuits (especially if you’re a digital creator).

I finished this book in one-sitting. It was incredibly quick to get through as it only took me 2-3 hours.

As a creativeprenuer, this book has greatly benefited me. It is therapy for creatives going through imposter syndrome or stuck in a rut when creating something.

It teaches you how to “steal” ideas from other successful artists to find your own voice in the process of “stealing”.

I would highly recommend it to any creative individual struggling to find inspiration and are having great self-doubt.

Steal Like An Artist Quotes

Everything that needs to be said has already been said. But since no one was listening, everything must be said again.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)
steal like an artist summary

You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

Your job is to collect good ideas. The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)
steal like an artist summary

It’s in the act of making things and doing our work that we figure out who we are.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

The great thing about dead or remote masters is that they can’t refuse you as an apprentice. You can learn whatever you want from them. They left their lesson plans in their work.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

All fiction, in fact, is fan-fiction.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

You can share your dots without connecting them.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)

The best way to get approval is to not need it.

Steal Like An Artist (Austin Kleon)
steal like an artist summary

FAQ

What is Steal Like An Artist book about?

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon teaches every aspiring creator on how to gain inspiration by stealing ideas or copying from artists they admire to eventually find their own voice and success in their creative pursuits.

How Long Does it Take to Read Steal Like An Artist?

You can finish reading Steal Like An Artist in one sitting which takes about 2-3 hours.

How Many Pages Are There In Steal Like An Artist?

160 pages for the paperback version.

Wrap Up: Steal Like An Artist Summary & Review

I hope this Steal Like An Artist summary, review and quotes inspire you to continue working on your craft as it has helped me with mine!

This book was the therapy I needed as a creativepreneur that is often haunted by imposter syndrome.

Let me know if you do decide to pick this book up and if you enjoyed it!

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