How to steal like an artist

That’s the title of a talk given by Austin Kleon on how to do good creative work. Most of it is of the no-nonsense “don’t worry and just work” variety of which I am a big fan.

9. Be boring. It’s the only way to get work done.

As Flaubert said, “Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work.”

I’m a boring guy with a 9-5 job who lives in a quiet neighborhood with his wife and his dog.

That whole romantic image of the bohemian artist doing drugs and running around and sleeping with everyone is played out. It’s for the superhuman and the people who want to die young.

The thing is: art takes a lot of energy to make. You don’t have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.

(via ★bryce)

• Austin Kleon
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