How can you ignite your creativity and make your ideas truly shine? In this free Steal Like an Artist summary, artist and writer Austin Kleon presents transformative insights to shift your mindset, remix ideas into innovative solutions, discover your authentic voice, and unlock your full creative potential.
What is Creativity?
According to Austin Kleon, great ideas are built upon the foundations of what came before. Creativity isn’t about conjuring something from thin air. It’s the deliberate process of borrowing ideas, reimagining them, and improving upon them to create something truly unique.
Kleon draws inspiration from creative icons like Pablo Picasso and T.S. Eliot, who openly embraced the idea of creative borrowing. He combines their wisdom with his own practical insights to present 10 key ideas that help readers curate their influences, develop their voice, and produce meaningful work.
In this book summary, we’ll break down these 10 key ideas and explore how you can apply them to unlock your creative potential.
10 Big Ideas to Unleash Untapped Creative Potential
1. Curate, then Create
There are no completely original ideas—everything builds on something before it. If you think an idea is original, you may not know its original sources. The key is not to avoid influence but to be intentional in what you take in. True creators master the art of selective stealing—curating ideas that resonate and combining them into something unique, meaningful, and authentic.
There are some tips for curating inspiration.
One of which is to surround yourself with people, ideas, and objects that uplift and inspire you. Another would be to create a personal scrapbook or swipe file of your inspirations.
As an artist, you want to be as good as the people you admire. Form your “creative lineage” by studying the work of artists, writers, and creators you admire. Look for themes or patterns to understand what makes their work interesting and unique.
Here’s a visual summary of this first powerful idea. Check out our full 13-page summary for similar graphics and detailed tips to help you implement all 10 creative ideas!
2. Start Before You’re Ready
Creativity flourishes through action, not perfection. When you first start to create something, you’ll have no idea what you are doing. You might feel insecure or like a fraud (“imposter syndrome”). This is is normal. It’s important to realize that it is by doing that you start to develop your skills and discover your style. So keep creating until you craft something meaningful. Keep rehearsing at being the person you aspire to be. Eventually, your actions and reality will align with your vision.
3. Create What You Wish Existed
Don’t create out of obligation—create what truly excites and inspires you. Focus on what you love, not just what you know, to make your work authentic and meaningful. Ask yourself: What do you wish your artistic heroes had created? Then, go make it. If you see gaps or missing pieces in a field, fill them with your own voice or creation. This is how you make a real impact.
4. Engage Your Body & Senses
Creativity involves the entire body, not just the mind. Great artists, musicians, and leaders engage their entire bodies when they create, perform, or inspire. So, get moving. Use your hands to make or do something tangible. Move sticky notes around, play an instrument, or sketch on paper. The physical act of creating activates your mind-body connection, engages your senses, and helps ideas to flow more naturally. The author also recommends having two workstations—one digital and one analog—to balance both approaches. In our full Steal Like an Artist summary, we explore how to harness the strengths of each when doing creative work.
5. Nurture Your Creative Outlets
Allow yourself to work on side projects and fun hobbies outside your main responsibilities. These real passions can spark fresh perspectives and help you to develop new skills and inspiration from diverse fields that you wouldn’t normally dive into. Kleon also suggests embracing boredom and productive procrastination. Let your mind wander during simple tasks like walking or doing chores—some of the best ideas emerge in moments of quiet.
6. Create Great Work, then Share With Others
Get good first. Consistency is key. Keep showing up daily to create, experiment, and hone your skills. You’ll be lousy at first, but that’s normal since progress comes through practice. Over time, you’ll start delivering higher quality content.
Share your work: Share your passion, discoveries, and insights with others who share similar interests. Sharing opens doors to learning, growth, and collaboration. It may even connect you with future customers. In our full summary, we provide tips on sharing your work effectively.
7. Connect and Create Anywhere
Today, physical location is no longer a constraint for creative work. With the internet, it’s easier than ever to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and network with diverse, like-minded individuals in online communities or events. Work wherever inspires you—at home, in a café, or even in a remote setting. In our complete full Steal Like an Artist summary, we outline steps to create an ideal workspace, including the importance of mental space for deep thinking, free from distractions and noise.
8. Make Friends, Not Enemies
Everything you say or do—good or bad—can be seen by others. Kleon’s advice is simple: be nice. Say good things about those you like, and ignore your enemies. In the full 13-page summary, we guide you on how to build a meaningful connection with people. We also share how you can cultivate positive self-encouragement instead of looking for validation from external sources, how to deal with criticism, and how to celebrate the positives by keeping a “praise file.”
9. Create Structure for Creative Freedom
Creativity thrives on discipline, consistency, and balance. Creative success often comes from a structured, “boring” life with consistent routines, adequate rest, and self-care. Such a balanced lifestyle provides the required energy and focus for your creative goals. In our full summary, we share practical tips on maintaining balance while making time for your creative pursuits.
10. Simplify to Amplify
Creativity isn’t about constantly adding more—it’s often about removing what’s unnecessary to reveal what truly matters. Too many choices can be overwhelming, but by focusing on the essentials, your work becomes clearer and more impactful. So, try adding constraints to overcome creative blocks. Simplify and do more with less. Our full summary guides you on how you can challenge yourself to work with what you have and use constraints to your advantage.
Getting the Most from Steal Like an Artist
Creativity isn’t reserved for the chosen few; it’s a skill anyone can cultivate by embracing inspiration, experimenting fearlessly, and sharing openly. By adopting the principles presented here, you’ll discover new ways to unlock your creative potential and make your mark on the world.
If you’re ready to apply these principles and start thinking like an artist, check out our full summary bundle, which includes an infographic, a 13-page text summary, and an 25-minute audio summary to help you take action.
Austin Kleon also includes visuals, sketches, and creative exercises throughout the book to bring his concepts to life. For more details and valuable resources, purchase the book here or visit austinkleon.com.
Interested in unlocking your creativity and bringing your ideas to life? Check out these must-read free blog summaries:
- The War of Art– Learn how to overcome creative blocks, self-doubt, and procrastination by developing discipline and pushing through resistance.
- Creativity, Inc. – Gain valuable insights from Pixar’s creative process and leadership strategies to foster innovation, collaboration, and a thriving creative culture.
- Think Like Da Vinci – Discover the timeless principles of Leonardo da Vinci’s genius and how to apply his methods of curiosity, observation, and creativity to your own work.
Who Should Read This Book
- Aspiring and established creatives (artists, writers, designers, musicians, and content creators) who want to develop their unique voice and produce meaningful work.
- Entrepreneurs, marketers, and innovators looking to harness creativity, remix ideas, and think outside the box to stand out in their field.
- Anyone feeling stuck or uninspired who wants practical strategies to overcome creative blocks, spark fresh ideas, and build a sustainable creative practice.
About the Author of Steal Like an Artist
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative was written by Austin Kleon. He is a bestselling author, artist, and speaker who specializes in creativity and the intersection of art and life. His works, including Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going, have inspired millions worldwide. Known for his engaging writing and simple yet profound insights, Kleon’s expertise spans creative disciplines. His ability to distill complex ideas into actionable steps has made him a sought-after voice in the realm of personal growth and artistic inspiration.
Steal Like an Artist Quotes
“All creative work builds on what came before. Nothing is completely original.”
“Every new idea is just a mashup or a remix of one or more previous ideas.”
“You have to dress for the job you want, not the job you have, and you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.”
“If you ever find that you’re the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.”
“Freedom from financial stress also means freedom in your art.”
“When it comes to creative work, limitations mean freedom.”
“Creative people need time to just sit around and do nothing.”
“Inertia is the death of creativity. You have to stay in the groove.”
“Relationships are hard enough, but it takes a real champion of a person to be married to someone who’s obsessed with a creative pursuit.”
“Nothing is more paralyzing than the idea of limitless possibilities. The idea that you can do anything is absolutely terrifying.”
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