Steal Like An Artist ( And From Many!)

I just read this book for the second time.

Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

It's a great little book about creativity.  By the way, I love books on creativity and dream of someday writing one of my own.  It's one of my "go to" areas at the library and at bookstores.  Steal Like An Artist is one of the better ones.  And believe me, I've read many.

One of the points Austin Kleon makes in the book, is that all artists steal from each another.  And it's totally okay to do that.  But rather than copy one artist, steal from many, he says.  And then, stir all those influences up in your warm little pot, and you'll turn it into something that is uniquely your own.

Fermin and I were once listening to a pianist that sounded like a cross between George Winston, and I don't know... someone else...  So when we talked to him, I asked him who his influences have been.  And he said no one.  He went on to say that he tries to not listen to other music because he aims to be unique.  As soon as he said this, I knew he was full of crap and I just wished he would stop talking immediately. What musician doesn't listen to other musicians?!  How could you avoid it even if you wanted to?!

If I knew that lying pianist and were to see him again, I would recommend this book to him.  Just to let him know, it's okay to steal from an artist!  And the more, the better.  I know he's doing it anyway, I just want him to be okay with admitting to it.

Who are your favorite people to steal from?