A brilliant book reminding people that we are all free to express ourselves creatively no matter what our place in society. The book is a reminder of the true definition of art and a great lens into what it really means to be an artist. It is also a “call to action” and leaves a good outline on how to harness our own unique creative processes.
“Creativity is a fundamental aspect of being human. It’s our birthright. And it’s for all of us.”
Just being alive means taking in all the inputs of life and expressing what we perceive. Paying attention to the world around us and being willing to express is the process of being creative.
In discussing how to harness the process he shares that the imagination has no limits. The physical world does. The work exists in both.
Look for clues…Look for what you notice but no one else sees.
Being an artist takes practice.
“We tend to think of the artist’s work as the output. The real work of the artist is a way of being in the world”
Lower the stakes, start small…
“We’re not playing to win, we’re playing to play. And ultimately, playing is fun.”
“The purpose of the work is to awaken something in you first, and then allow something to be awakened in others.”
“Rules direct us to average behaviors. If we’re aiming to create works that are exceptional, most rules don’t apply. Average is nothing to aspire to. The goal is not to fit in. If anything, it’s to amplify the differences…”
The importance of patience….
“When it comes to the creative process, patience is accepting that the majority of the work we do is out of our control. We can’t force greatness to happen. All we can do is invite it in and await it actively. Not anxiously, as this might scare it off. Simply in a state of continual welcoming.”
Setting the tone for inspiration…
“Beginner’s mind is starting from a pure childlike place of not knowing. Living in the moment with as few fixed beliefs as possible.”
“For the mind to draw inspiration, it wants space to welcome the new. The universe seeks balance. Through this absence, you are inviting energy in.”
“Taken more spiritually, inspiration means to breathe life into.”
Importance of habits…
“Good habits create good art. The way we do anything is the way we do everything.
Discipline is not a lack of freedom, it is a harmonious relationship with time.”
Experimentation…
“If you know what you want to do and you do it, that’s the work of a craftsman. If you begin with a question and use it to guide an adventure of discovery, that’s the work of the artist.”
“Failure is the information you need to get where you’re going.”
The Goal of Art…
“The goal of art isn’t to attain perfection. The goal is to share who we are. And how we see the world.”
“Artists allow us to see what we are unable to see, but somehow already know.”
“When making art, we create a mirror in which someone may see their own hidden reflection.”
“The best art divides the audience. If everyone likes it, you probably haven’t gone far enough.”
“In the end, you are the only one who has to love it. This work is for you.”
The Abundance Mindset…
“Each mindset evokes a universal rule: whatever we concentrate on, we get. If the mind creates a world that is limited, where we think we don’t have enough worthwhile ideas or material, we will not see the inspiration the universe is providing.”
Success…
“Most variables are completely out of our control. The only ones we can control are doing our best work, sharing it, starting the next, and not looking back.
If we can tune in to the idea of making things and sharing them without being attached to the outcome, the work is more likely to arrive in its truest form.”
“And remember that commercial success is completely out of your control. All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.”
Curiosity…
“The heart of open-mindedness is curiosity. Curiosity doesn’t take sides or insist on a single way of doing things. It explores all perspectives. Always open to new ways, always seeking to arrive at original insights. Craving constant expansion, it looks upon the outer limits of the mind with wonder. It pushes to expose falsely set boundaries and break through to new frontiers.”
Purpose…
“When we’re making things we love, our mission is accomplished. There’s nothing at all to figure out.
Think to yourself: I’m just here to create.”
“Sharing art is the price of making it. Exposing your vulnerability is the fee.
A work of art is not an end point in itself. It’s a station on a journey. A chapter in our lives. We acknowledge these transitions by documenting each of them.”
Why Make Art?
“As human beings, we come and go quickly, and we get to make works that stand as monuments to our time here.”
“I was here.”
“The reason we’re alive is to express ourselves in the world. And creating art may be the most effective and beautiful method of doing so. Art goes beyond language, beyond lives.”
“It’s a universal way to send messages between each other and through time.”