[insert clever title]

For my class, we're required to read this hidden treasure called "Steal Like An Artist" by Austin Kleon. Waiting an unexpected week for my book to be delivered (thank you Amazon Prime delay), I could finally begin to read it... and finish it. After reading through the whole thing once, I found it refreshing and incredibly relatable.

I even began some of the exercises he recommended, like keeping a logbook.

Now, the title of the book "Steal Like An Artist" only scratches the surface of what it means to steal like an artist. He goes into detail about that and obviously doesn't mean stealing art or claiming other's art as your own. It's more of stealing ideas (the good ones anyways) and molding them into something of your own.

Is stealing ideas legal?

From now on I think I'll ask every artist their opinion of this. I have mixed feelings about this question. Keaton talks about this and to quote him "The reason to copy your heroes and their style is so that you might somehow get a glimpse into their minds... If you just mimic the surface of somebody's work without understanding where they are coming from, your work will never be anything more than a knockoff." (p.36)

This is kind of where I stand on the matter. Understand where your heroes get their ideas and then start thinking like them instead of copying them.

Now, "originality" is supposed to be valued in the art world. But that "original" idea emanated from something else— someone else's work, giving that artist the inspiration for that so called original idea.

"Nothing is original and everything has already been done before."

We, as artists, feed off of each others creative minds whether we realize it or not. This is where having collections and a "stash" folder is so crucial. I've been collecting items for as long as I can remember. Bottlecaps, pins, stickers, pens, and don't even get me started on notebooks and sketchbooks. I think human beings are natural collectors. Of course, art and design is apart of that list. Though it's a bit newer, so far I have menus, business cards, catalogs, and posters wherever they will fit in my room. I love having physical copies of designs but digital hoarding can be so much more convenient. Pinterest (link) is something that has been around for awhile but I never got into it until last year or so. I find it's good for some quick inspiration but I don't go to it too often.

Kleon also suggests "climbing your family tree" and finding a mentor. So I've decided to study the amazing Teresa Sdralevich. She is an active designer working in Brussels. Besides her awe-inspiring work, she uses her work to address social, political, and cultural topics which is what I'd like to do with my design abilities.

Below are some examples. There's a playfulness in her illustrations and her use of bright colors is wonderful... and I mean, just look at her studio. I only dream of having a place like that one day (I'm not crying, you're crying).

I'm excited to follow in her footsteps and see where she began. I've sent her an email so hopefully I'll hear back soon. Since I've finished the book already, I'm giving it a second run-through while I wait for Kleon's recommended books to be delivered to my house. This adjourns this weeks blog post. Have a wonderful seven days. Until next time.
— B

Image sources:
"Good Theft vs. Bad Theft", Steal Like An Artist, Austin Kleon (p.39)
"Folon Poster Contest", Teresa Sdralevich
"Posterzegel march 2014: Family, don't feel like it", Teresa Sdralevich
"La Donna Scimmia", Teresa Sdralevich
"Posterzegel may — elections: Are our dreams in your programs?", Teresa Sdralevich
"Studio", Teresa Sdralevich