The most interesting paintings challenge the status quo.
They are unconventional and bold.
Their creators are rebellious artists.
Here are 3 books to help you embrace the contrarian mindset for your art.
Ignore Everyone
by Hugh MacLeod
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This book gives 40 timeless and opinionated lessons on creativity.
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It emphasizes embracing your own uniqueness and ignoring others.
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Many insights on creative energy, self-first, focus, and resilience.
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A great combination of humor, advice, and tough love.
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Like all rebel books, this one is hard to find. So snag a used copy.
Steal Like An Artist
by Austin Kleon
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This book is not about “stealing” but taking inspiration and remixing.
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It emphasizes curiosity, focus, enjoyment, and process over perfection.
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Easy to read, lots of diagrams, and inspirational.
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A great blueprint for rearranging old ideas into new and unique.
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If you like it, check out Kleon’s Show Your Work and Keep Going.
Rework
by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
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This book is about business! But the mindset applies to art.
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The emphasis is one simplicity, agility, and iteration.
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Ditch the traditional “best practices”.
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Embrace constraints and make steady progress.
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A great contrarian take for a rebellious mindset.
These books reject conventional wisdom.
They offer individualistic, and empowering insights on creativity.
Get into this rebellious mindset.
Apply the ideas to your own art to stand out.