Real Artists Don't Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age

In 2003, Tharp admitted in her book The Creative Habit that she is not as original as people think. She is, in fact, a thief.

Stubbornness gets in the way when it’s about you—your fame, your reputation, your success—but it becomes a tool when used to further your work.

Creativity is not a solitary invention but a collaborative creation. Community offers opportunities for creative work to thrive, and that is a kind of magic we can all create.

This is the Rule of the Patron in action. You can’t just ask for a handout; you must demonstrate both competency in your craft and a willingness to learn.

There is a secret every professional artist knows that the amateurs don’t: being original is overrated. The most creative minds in the world are not especially creative; they’re just better at rearrangement. In order to do that, they have to be familiar with their influences. They have to study before they steal. Yes, before you become an artist, y

This is the Rule of Collaboration, which says genius happens in groups.

When we show the world our ideas as they unfold to us, people repay such generosity. Because she shared

The best artists, or the smart ones at least, tend to involve other people “because,” as Diana Glyer told me, “the life of an artist, any kind of creator, is fraught with discouragement. You need people to correct your path.”

“On one hand,” she said of her blog, “it’s a self-serving project that holds me accountable to doing art. And at the same time, it’s been amazing to see how people have connected with my cartoons. It’s also a place for me to share about the moments I’m experiencing. It’s the messages I need to hear.”