5 Tips from Will Gompertz for Thinking Like an Artist

In his book "Think Like an Artist," BBC arts editor Will Gompertz shares tips for living a more creative life both within and outside the arts .

Pictured: "Think Like an Artist" by Will Gompertz

If you enjoy art and reading, you've probably come across one of Will Gompertz's books. The BBC's art editor and former director of communications at the Tate Gallery is renowned for making art accessible through his publications—and his 2015 book "Think Like an Artist" is no slouch, offering valuable tips on creativity that are useful to anyone.

Creativity is not just for "artists"!

As we've discussed here , being an artist doesn't necessarily mean knowing how to draw, paint, or engage in another form of artistic expression . Any field, from art to engineering, can benefit from a little creativity—and it was with this in mind that Gompertz analyzed the careers of some of history's greatest artists throughout the book to prove that anyone can and should start making more creative decisions.

Among many others, here are some tips that give a new perspective on what it means to think like an artist:

Artists steal.

When it comes to creativity , it's impossible to create a 100% original work. Therefore, it's completely normal to incorporate elements from other people's work and take them in new directions based on your own experience. As Isaac Newton said, "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Of course, it's always important to differentiate between artist "theft" and plagiarism: copying someone else's work in its entirety and calling it your own will never be well regarded, whether in art or any other field.

Artists don't fail.

There's no doubt that any successful person has a long list of moments in their life when they made mistakes or felt like failures. Mistakes are inevitable, but they're not synonymous with failure. From them, it's possible to identify the points of failure and work on something new that avoids the mistakes already made and maintains the positive aspects of previous experiences.

Artists are curious.

The best ideas always come from personal interests. However, for this to happen, it takes effort, dedication, and, above all, curiosity. It's the very act of seeking to learn more that sparks the imagination to produce new ideas, and doing so with the things you love makes the process even more natural.

Artists are entrepreneurs.

While creative works often represent emotional connections to the artist's story, they also require planning to move beyond their personal circle and conquer the world . To truly change things around them, artists must follow the same paths as entrepreneurs, recognizing the value of their work and being willing to take risks for the chance of advancement.

Artists are confident.

What sets an artist apart from others is not creativity itself, but rather the purpose and courage to believe in what they do . They create a channel to invest their interests and release their work into the world, knowing that the most important thing will always be their own vision of what they've created.

To find out more…

Amidst these and many other inspiring tips and stories, Will Gompertz restores the reader's motivation to step out of their comfort zone and change the world through creativity. I think it goes without saying that I highly recommend reading the entire book, especially for those who still insist they don't have anything artistic about them.

Published by
Renata de Camargo