When it comes to blogging, you’d think that most ideas are curated and drafted in a journal of some sort, whether on paper or digitally. For myself, these ideas tend to emerge whimsically and late at night. I start these blog posts when a moment of clarity arises. A feeling in my veins that I want to put on paper and make visible to my eyes, so I can expand upon it and leave it out there for others to explore.

But lately these type of nights have been uncommon. I think I’ve put too much stress on myself to compose something for family and friends to read. To see the things I’ve been up to in Europe, and how it’s changed me, and blah blah blah.

The truth is, I feel the same. Still pretty lost, and a bit inferior to my surrounding population, but in good company.

So instead I’m going to do some reflecting on a book I just finished called “Steal Like an Artist.”

Steal Like an Artist is basically a guidebook on how to steer your creative passion in the direction of a successful avenue of work. Freakin’ sweet right? I feel that there is a negative notion surrounding the idea of pursuing art, any form of it, as a career. “Ninety percent of musically talented people never make it.” “Artists are usually alcoholics because they spend their life making work that often doesn’t sell.” “Most writers write for 30 years before they come out with a decent book that sees success.” These ideas are drilled into our head and I find it so detrimental. How is that supportive and positively influential at all? That just makes life seem utterly confusing and scary honestly. It's unfortunate to see so many unique and creative people surrender to the comfort a corporation provides.

Nowadays everyone wants to come up with a cool and original idea, something new, revolutionary, efficient, life changing, that will provide youth and light to their life. But the truth is, nothing is completely original – each idea is built upon things in the past, and those things from the past were built upon ideas in their past. Exceptional ideas grow within you when you surround yourself with stuff that fascinates and inspires you. Sometimes I feel myself being picky with the close friends I hold because I have the tendency to acquire their similar traits, mental processes, and emotions. At times when this has happened with people I didn’t look up to or feel inspired by, I felt lost and most unlike myself. Who I was becoming was the farthest from what I wanted to be, me. Being in Italy, I have met some of the most amazing people who show me the joys of living. I have not laughed so hard with a group of people as I did with them and a bottle of champagne (shouts out to Meg, Lauren, Hailey, Matt, and Dustin). They each come with the most refreshing personalities and the way they positively speak their mind has made this transition from American culture to Italian culture so gracious.

Austin Kleon, the author of Steal Like an Artist, and Ryan, my man, have both influenced me to write everything down on a daily basis. I always try to keep a pen and paper close for those thoughts that pop up when I’m driving to places like the doctors office, or walking to class, or taking a shower, maybe grocery shopping. In Italy, I've been writing about the anxieties I have encountered when it comes to ordering at restaurants, or just speaking up when I have a question in general. I have finally been put in a situation that makes me realize how much I don't know, and how much there is still to learn. Its terrifying yet exciting all at the same time.
Days have passed where I was astonished with my emotions and how quickly they fluctuated. My first day in Florence I lugged my 75 lb bag up four stories of stairs, whilst carrying my 25 lb pack on my back, and getting scolded at by an old italian woman. A warm welcome to Florence amiright?

Enough of that complaining as know I am in one of the most beautiful and historical cities in the world. I am so incredibly lucky. Each day is a new adventure and once I can wrap my head around the fact that I am finally here, I will get back to you with some of my explorations and teachings.

Some Kleon teachings that I hope inspire you to read this amazing piece of work:
•Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.
• You have to dress for the job you want not the job you have - you have to start doing the work you want to be doing.
• The human hand is incapable of making a perfect copy.
• Don't just steal the style, steal the thinking behind the style.
• We need to move, to feel like we're making something with our bodies, not just our heads.
• Creative people need time to just sit around and do nothing. Take time to be bored. When we get busy we get stupid.
• Don't worry about unity from piece to piece - what unifies all of your work is the fact that you made it.
• There is a kind of fallout that happens when you leave college. Never again will you have such a captive audience. (Take advantage)
• If everyone is wondering about apples, go wonder about oranges.
• Leave home.
• You're only going to be as good as the people you surround yourself with.
•Validation is for parking!!!!!
• That whole romantic image of the creative genius doing drugs and running around sleeping with everyone is played out. It takes a lot of energy to be creative. You don't have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.
• Do not make excuses for not working - make things with the time, space, and materials you have, right now.

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