Read this book if you ever question why you make things, second guess your worth as a maker or creative, need some kind support to believe in yourself, or think you can’t make art because a thousand reasons that are frankly, bullsh*t.
Don’t Call it Art was published in June by Penguin Random House. The subtitle is 10 ways to create like a kid again (and boy do we need to remember to emulate small children when it comes to making art).
I loved this book and will likely read it many more times. In Kleon style, it is a quick read with lots of graphics and rabbit holes (he loves to mention other authors and thus has caused me to buy more books every time one of his comes out. So sneaky.) He credits his kids Owen and Jules Kleon on the title page as they contributed all the illustrations Austin didn’t make himself.
I don’t have kids, but this book reminds me what it is like to think like a kid. It reminds me how valuable it is to hang out with my 5 year old neighbor because she sees stuff I never do and she don’t have any fear about exploring.* Kids see the world differently, especially young kids. And they make art differently too. Have you watched a child in grade school or younger draw? They can fill page after page and though they’re totally invested in what they’re making, once they set it aside, it isn’t important any more. And the quality of those drawings? How many of us wish we could have the spontaneity and wild abandon children exhibit in their art?!
Adults don’t create like children do. Most of us making art fret and fidget and fight our instincts about whatever we’re making. We’re afraid of what people will think and whether it is good. Kleon is saying, forget all that. If you have that reaction to making things, just don’t call it art. Make stuff and see what happens.
And he reminds us that we can’t find our voice or way of working if we don’t keep creating.
The table of contents says it all: Throw out the instructions, Don’t take things too seriously, Give yourself time, space, and materials, Permission to be bad!, Believe in magic, Think outside your head, Problems of output are problems of input, Borrow a kid!, Nothing is wasted, You don’t need a vision.
Don’t Call it Art by Austin Kleon, table of contents
I recommend the whole set of these Austin Kleon books, but this is my new favorite. Plus who doesn’t love a bright pink cover?
His prior books are:
Steal Like an Artist
Show Your Work
Keep Going
The book is a small square hardback with a hot pink cover. It contains Kleon’s thoughts on freeing ourselves to make art and is interspersed with his drawings, photos, and quotes as you see below.
Don’t Call it Art by Austin Kleon, page example
Now put your phone aside and go make something! How about a sketch tapestry?
*For example my 5-year-old neighbor in one of her princess dress collection outfits (I think it was Snow White), found a bird under their car. It had been alive the day before but had since passed. She showed me the wings. I had never seen this bird which turned out to be a Common Poorwill. The plumage was stunning and I wouldn’t have been able to really see it without her help. Because I was trained never ever to touch any dead animal ever. My little princess next door was trained to explore everything and she will change the world because of it.