Make art that’s part of the conversation.
“Write back” like an artist!
In Bird by bird, Anne Lamott, offered this as part of her parting remarks.
“Write back”.
Imagine the books that we ‘get’. The books that speak to the deepest part of our beings. Imagine they were letters written directly to us. Now it’s our turn to write back.
Austin Kleon says ‘Steal like an Artist’, but sometimes it feels like we’re stealing like a thief when we repeat parts of things we’ve read, phrases and ideas. So maybe instead of thinking of it as stealing, you could think of it as having a conversation.
And it’s not just for writing but art in general.
Assume the art you love was made particularly for you. But if if the art was any good, it would be calling out for a reply. More than a review or a retweet… why not make art back at the creator.
Don’t feel like you need to make something completely new and never before seen.
And don’t rip off other artist quietly and in secret.
Point at the art that influences you.
Point out what you like.
Point out what you think is missing, not as criticism, but as conversation, as dialog.
Celebrate the artist that have gone before us by making art that’s part of the conversation.
Man, I love this. Creating art as conversation--replies that add to the cannon. The most important piece is that conversation is flowing and bi-directional and sometimes tangential.
And you’re right fear of stealing oftentimes keeps us in place. So thinking of art creation as an intellectual exchange makes it easier to approach. Less daunting and it makes you feel like that quote about the painting not being complete but stopping in an interesting place.