Steal This

No matter what kind of creator you are—musician, painter, writer, gardener, teacher, parent, or anything else—you’ll experience moments of deep connection to inspiration, love, and freedom. But you’ll also face times when your inner creativity feels lost, afraid, or stuck.

The following ideas, which are inspired by Austin Kleon's books "Steal Like An Artist", "Show Your Work!", and "Keep Going", have been a guiding force for me, and I hope they offer you some clarity and direction when you need it most.



1. BEGIN HERE AND NOW

Start before you’re ready.

You don’t need to know who you are to begin. Imposter syndrome hits everyone; remember, the world is your stage, and you’re playing your part. The world is your desk, your costume is what you’re wearing, and your tools are your props.

Creating helps you discover who you are—“I AM” is a verb, not a noun. Don’t wait for validation to make something. 

Be an amateur. Don’t worry about being a perfect genius.

You’re a mix of what you let into your life, so embrace every influence. Study one thinker deeply, then follow their influences. Curiosity is key. Collect what inspires you but don’t hoard it—curate it. Keep track of everything in a journal or digital folder; small details lead to big ideas.

Copy to learn. Mimicking one artist is plagiarism, but drawing from many is originality. Learn to think like your heroes, not just look like them. 

Always credit your sources, tools, and influences properly, letting others explore deeper. Share your work to connect with others.

Make what you want to see in the world. Imagine if your favorite creators collaborated—what would they create? Now go make that. Mix your influences, and don’t worry about how people will react.

Tell a compelling story, full of conflict, resolution, and connection.

Create every day. Fail, improve, and document your journey online. Start with analog tools to avoid premature editing, then move to digital when your ideas are solid. Cycle between hands-on and digital work to stay inspired.

Embrace boredom, side projects, and hobbies. These often lead to the work you should be doing. Procrastinate productively, moving between projects to stay fresh which can lead to new ideas or breakthroughs. One day, everything will make sense.

Keep your space messy enough for creative juxtapositions but tidy when in doubt.

  

2. COMMUNITY

Celebrate others’ successes as your own, and when you succeed, give opportunities to those who helped you. Find a supportive group, whether online or in person, and trade ideas.

Post about what you’re working on, explore new platforms without abandoning the old ones. These are places to develop ideas. Wonder publicly, discover openly, and invite others to join in. Reflect on your past work looking for themes and patterns, then build on them.

If you’re stuck, destroy a popular idea you despise or revive a forgotten one. Visit the past for inspiration—old books, films, and technologies. Ask for recommendations and connect with people who have similar passions.

Forget about making good connections—just get good at what you do, and share the results. Fill voids with your efforts, however imperfect, and don’t worry about lack of publicity. Use this time to experiment and get better.

If you’re not embarrassed by last year’s work, you’re not growing enough. Keep an open mind, learn, and always be ready to share your knowledge, tips, tricks, and breakthroughs. Highlight what you love, and reshape it into something new. Good artists don’t keep secrets; teach what you know.

Respect your audience’s trust. Before sharing, ask: Is it helpful? Entertaining? Is it something I’d be comfortable with my boss or parents seeing? Share it if yes, discard it if no, save it if unsure.

Think process, not product. Document your daily grind, not just the highlights. Small, consistent efforts lead to big impacts. After a day's work, find a nugget of your process to share. It's about showing how you operate, where you find inspiration, and the skills you use.

 

3. SUSTAINING 

Creativity thrives on limitations. Don’t let anything overshadow the work itself. Stay focused.

Say yes to opportunities, embrace uncertainty, and don’t fear going off-brand. Creativity is about change, exploration, and risk-taking. Be curious, kind, and willing to look foolish. Travel, meet new people, and explain your work with humility and respect. Keep your bio simple—no adjectives, just the truth.

Be interested to be interesting. Follow smarter, more talented people. Make friends, praise their work, collaborate, and show appreciation. Save kind interactions for when you need encouragement, and ignore negativity. Criticism isn’t personal; it’s a reflection of the critic. The goal is to be too busy doing your work to notice or care. When you must, say "no" with grace and focus on your craft.

Learn to take a punch, practice meditation. Every moment is created from scratch. Identify what you want to spend your time on, get up (or sit down), and do your work. Now!

Live below your means to free your creativity. Ignore metrics; focus on quality. Establish a routine, and don’t quit your day job—find one that supports your creative energy. Search for ways to sell your craft, work, and skills, but don’t let financial stress stifle your art.

Slow down, pay attention, and find beauty in the mundane. Be boring to get work done. Cultivate relationships and value your work fairly.

Persistence is key—don’t quit. Use each project to fuel the next, and grow from your mistakes. Your work is what you do, not who you are.

Recharge with breaks to maintain a good level of self-care through mental and physical—exercising, being with nature, tea with a friend, or taking a walk can all clear the mind and cleanse the soul.

Learn from nature’s cycles—shed the old, make room for the new. Know which creative season you're in and act accordingly. Embrace the off-seasons; they lead to the most glorious springs. 

Create a sacred space or time for yourself. Mornings are fertile ground; protect them from chaos. Recap each day, plan for tomorrow, then let it all go. When you shed old work, you push yourself to create something better. Remember, you’re not starting over—you’re always beginning again.

 

4. THE BIGGER PICTURE 

Remember: you’ll be dead soon so share both the beautiful and ugly ideas and pay close attention to the way the world reacts. Feed yourself creatively, socially, spiritually, and literally. Surround yourself with books and objects that you love. 

Worry less about getting things done, being a great artist, or making a lasting impression. Learn more about becoming a good human who makes art by leaving things better than you found them.



Thank you Austin Kleon!

Jace Lee Anderson

I’m an artist based in Missoula, Montana, where I live with my spouse, our blue heeler, and our bearded dragon. My creative work spans pen and ink, graphite, oil paint, gouache, digital media, and photography.

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