Have you ever heard the phrase "good artists borrow, great artists steal"? This quote, often attributed to Pablo Picasso, highlights the importance of learning from and building upon the work of others in the creative process. It's a concept known as "stealing like an artist," and it can be a powerful tool for fostering growth and innovation.
But what does it really mean to "steal like an artist"? It's not about literally stealing someone else's work and passing it off as your own. Instead, it's about taking inspiration from the work of others and using it to fuel your own creative process. This could mean copying a specific technique, studying the work of a particular artist, or simply using someone else's ideas as a jumping-off point for your own creations.
The idea behind stealing like an artist is that creativity is not a finite resource. It's not something that you either have or you don't. Instead, it's something that can be nurtured and developed over time. By learning from and building upon the work of others, you can learn new techniques and gain new perspectives that can help you grow as an artist.
But stealing like an artist isn't just about learning from others. It's also about building a "second brain" – a system for capturing, organizing, and accessing the vast amount of inspiration that you encounter on a daily basis. This could include anything from your own ideas and notes to articles, books, and the work of others. I first learned of the idea of “building a second brain" from author Tiago Forte.
Having a second brain will serve as a source of inspiration and ideas when you're feeling stuck or uninspired. There are many different ways to build a second brain, including using digital tools like Evernote or OneNote, or simply keeping a physical sketchbook or journal.
A key aspect of building a second brain is to make sure that you're regularly reviewing and synthesizing the inspiration that you've captured. This could involve setting aside time each week to review your notes and ideas, or simply taking a few minutes each day to reflect on what you've learned.
Ultimately, stealing like an artist and building a second brain are about fostering creativity and growth. By learning from and building upon the work of others, and by having a system in place for capturing and organizing the vast amount of information that we encounter on a daily basis, we can continue to grow and evolve as artists and creative thinkers. So the next time you're feeling stuck or uninspired, try stealing like an artist and building a second brain – you may be surprised at the results!