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The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Book by Rick Rubin · 21 quotes · Art, Artist, Creativity

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Browse quotes from The Creative Act: A Way of Being.

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The Creative Act: A Way of Being Quotes

“The ride may not last long. But we are grateful for the opportunity. If inspiration does not come to lead the way, we show up anyway.”

Art Inspiration Work

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“In terms of priority, inspiration comes first. You come next. The audience comes last.”

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Through this, we get to face our inner world outward, remove the boundaries of separation, and participate in the great remembering of what we came into this life knowing: There is no separation. We are one.”

Art Universal Connection

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“If each piece is approached as our life's defining work, we revise and overwrite endlessly, aiming for the unrealistic ideal of perfection.”

Art Editing Perfectionism

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Ride the wave as long as it can be ridden. If you are fortunate enough to experience the strike of inspiration, take full advantage of the access. Remain in the energy of this rarefied moment for as long as it lasts. When flowing, keep going.”

Art Inspiration Artist

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Taking a wrong turn allows you to see landscapes you wouldn't otherwise have seen.”

Art Journey Failure

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Carl Rogers said, "The personal is the universal." The personal is what makes art matter.”

Art Artist Personal

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Choosing to live in scarcity leads to stagnation. If we work on one project forever, we never get to make another. The fear of drought and the impulse for perfectionism prevent us from moving on and block the river's flow.”

Art Artist Perfectionism

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“The recognition of abundance fills us with hope that our brightest ideas still await us and our greater work is yet to come. We are able to live in an energized state of creative momentum, free to make things, let them go, make the next thing, and let it go. With each chapter we make, we gain experience, improve at our craft, and inch closer to who we are.”

Art Creativity Abundance

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“When another great work inspires us to elevate our own, however, the energy is different. Seeing the bar raised in our field can encourage us to reach even higher. This energy of rising-to-meet is quite different from that of conquering.”

Art Competition Artists

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“The creator stops being the creator once they finish the work. They then become the viewer. And the viewer can bring as much of their own meaning to a piece as the creator.”

Art Artist Creating

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“In many of the greatest bands, collectives, and collaborations, a degree of polarity between members was part of the formula for greatness. The magic comes from a dynamic tension between different points of view, creating works more distinctive than a lone voice would.”

Art Tension Collaboration

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Each of us has our own way of seeing the world. And this can lead to feelings of isolation. Art has an ability to connect us beyond the limitations of language.”

Art Isolation Connection

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“You may sometimes wonder: Why am I doing this? What's it all for?...If we like what we are creating, we don't have to know why. Sometimes the reasons are obvious, sometimes not. And they can change over time. It could be good for any of a thousand different reasons. When we're making things we love, our mission is accomplished. There's nothing at all to figure out.”

Art Artist Creativity Way Of Being

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“A rule is any guiding principle or creative criterion. It might exist within the artist, the genre, or the culture. Rules, by their nature, are limitations.”

Art Music Creative Process Inapirational

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“The word comes from the Latin—inspirare, meaning to breathe in or blow into. For the lungs to draw in air, they must first be emptied. For the mind to draw inspiration, it wants space to welcome the new. The universe seeks balance. Through this absence, you are inviting energy in.”

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Break habits. Look for differences. Notice connections.”

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“To live as an artist is a way of being in the world. A way of perceiving. A practice of paying attention. Refining our sensitivity to tune in to the more subtle notes. Looking for what draws us in and what pushes us away. Noticing what feeling tones arise and where they lead. Attuned choice by attuned choice, your entire life is a form of self- expression. You exist as a creative being in a creative universe. A singular work of art.”

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“When it comes to the creative process, patience is accepting that the majority of the work we do is out of our control.”

Art Artist Creativity Patience

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“A river of material flows through us. When we share our works and our ideas, they are replenished. If we block the flow by holding them all inside, the river cannot run and new ideas are slow to appear. In the abundant mindset, the river never runs dry. Ideas are always coming through. And an artist is free to release them with the faith that more will arrive. If we live in a mindset of scarcity, we hoard great ideas.”

Art Artist Scarcity Abundant Scarcity Mindset Abundant Mindset

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being

“Just do the work and see what comes. If you like a result, accept it graciously, whether it arrives in a sudden flash or after long bouts of difficult, skilled labor.”

Art Success Results

Book:The Creative Act: A Way of Being

Source: The Creative Act: A Way of Being