Austin Kleon, the author of Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work has a new book out: Keep Going. Like the other books, it’s full of great advice, easy to read, and fun to look at.
His books can be consumed in a single sitting but I tried to savour the experience by reading one chapter a day. On Friday, I read the first chapter. On Saturday, I read the rest of the book. I couldn’t help myself!
My second read was much slower.
The great thing about the book is that it gives you tips to help you continue on your artistic journey when things go wrong and even when they go incredibly right. And they come in easily understood nuggets.
Organized in the same way as Steal Like an Artist and Show Your Work. 10 chapter headings. Simple straightforward suggestions. Quotes from other artists. Different kinds of art on the pages.
For example, chapter one is called “Every Day is Ground Hog Day”. It’s in reference to the movie with Bill Murray, when his character keeps waking up and relives the same day over and over. (Russian Doll with Nastasha Lyonne plays with the same idea.) It’s code for having a routine or system that you follow. Every day. Follow your process and the product will take care of itself.
When things are going bad, follow the process. When things are going good, follow the process. When you get asked the dreaded: What are you doing next? You tell them you’re going to follow your process.
The book is simple but full of goodness. It’s a shot of adrenaline to help maintain your movement forward when you are starting to falter. Enjoy it and Keep Going!
© 2019 Peter Gruner
peter gruner 