The Creative Act    
Rick Rubin     

Summary

The journey of being a creative from Rick Rubin, one of the greatest producers of the 21st century

Rating: 5/5

Notes

We are all living as artists

The taste of beauty of great art are in the eyes of the beholder

We are all translations for the messages the universe is broadcasting

If we choose to share what we make, our work can re-circulate and become some material for others

Art is our portal to the unseen world

Pay particular attention to the moments that take your breath away

Notice connections and consider where they lead

Be weary of when clues present themselves (UCAS #/Physics)

Look for what you notice but no one else sees

Submerge yourself in great works

There’s so much wisdom inn nature that when we notice it, it awakens possibilities within us

You can’t step into the same stream twice because it is always flowing - everything is

There’s great wisdom in transitional realms between wakefulness and sleep

It’s better to follow the universe than those around you

The path of art and sharing your innnenrmost vulnerabilities is not for everyone. Adversity is part of the process

All are is a work in progress

We’re not playing to win, we’re playing to play

Your desire to create must be greater than your feat of it but for even some of the greatest artists, the fear never goes away

Sometimes disengaging is the best way to engage

The purpose of the work is to awaken something in you first and then allow something to be awakened in others

Rules direct us to average behaviours and average is nothing to aspire to when creating

Instead of sounding like others, value your own voice

The artists who define each generation live outside the boundaries society sets

Listening is suspending disbelief

Time is something we have no control over so patience begins with acceptance of natural rhythms 

Innocence brings for innovation

All great artists throughout history are the ones able to maintain a childlike enthusiasm and exuberance naturally

Aim to live in a way where we see the extraordinary in the seemingly mundane then challenge ourselves to share what we see in a way that allows others a glimpse of this remarkable beauty

When flowing, keep going

‘The only person you’re competing against is yourself. The rest is out of your control’ - John Wooden

Create an environment where you’re free to express what you’re afraid to express

When looking for the best idea, test everything

The goal of art isn’t to attain perfection, the goal is to share who we are

Copy the works that inspire you on the road to finding your own voice

The best art divides the audience

In an environment where nothing is permanent, we produce static artifacts. We hope they live forever but it’s impossible to know. We can only keep building

When making art, the audience comes last

The works we do are chapters in our book of life and there will always be another chapter

The essence of great art - creating our version of beauty and bringing all of ourself to every project

Any story beyond ‘I want to make the best thing I can make, whatever it is’ undermines your quest to create great art

Success has nothing to do with variables outside yourself

Art is an expression of who we are, not a competition with those around us

Use great art to inspire your own, not compete with it

Outer voices are usually absorbed early inn life and they’re not our own

Sometimes the mistakes are what makes a work great. Humanity breathes in mistakes

Do what you can with what you have. Nothing more is needed

Creativity is something you are, not something you do

The destination is a work we feel energized to share and we look back on and wonder in amazement how it could come from us

‘Think to yourself: I’m just here to create’

The world is only as free as it allows its artists to be

The context changes the content

The best work is the work you are excited about

When co-operating, be as specific as possible with your feedback

The story you tell yourself doesn’t matter. All that matters is the work itself - the art that gets made and how it’s perceived

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