… but I like to call it “assimilating influences”

As a cartoonist, I like to try to keep my creativity on at least a steady simmer all the time. While my weekly comic strip helps keep those fires burning, I also enjoy seeing what other artists do to keep their creative juices bubbling …

The latest book on this topic I’ve discovered is poet Austin Kleon’s Steal Like an Artist (New York: Workman Pub. Co., 2012). At 140 heavily-illustrated pages, it’s a quick read … which is a good thing, because after finishing it you’ll still have time to put some of his energizing tips right to use! He even includes a page of “what now?” ideas to help get you started.

While some of Kleon’s advice reminded me of that presented in James Kochalka’s “Craft is the enemy” (“Don’t wait until you know who you are to get started”, “Write the book you want to read”), he offers lots of practical tips (“Use your hands”, “Keep a log book”) mixed in with inspirational and entertaining quotes from others (“We don’t know where we get our ideas from. What we do know is that we do not get them from our laptops”—John Cleese).

My favorite tip was the way that Kleon divided his work space into “analog” and “digital workstations. The analog side is for markers, scissors and other physical tool, kept free of electronic devices, “where most of my work is born.” The digital desk, containing his laptop and scanner, is used for the technical tasks needed to edit and publish his work. Which is kind of the setup I use, even if my computer desk is adjacent to my drawing table (which contains a light table, though I definitely use that as a physical tool).

If you’re in need of a dash of inspiration to energize your own creative endeavors, give Steal Like an Artist a try– you won’t regret it. What inspirational tips/tricks help you achieve your creative goals? Share below…

[Disclaimer: a different version of this review was written by me for the Lawrence Public Library’s website. Images courtesy of Austin Kleon and steallikeanartist.com]