How to Be an Artist

Saltz's central claim is that creative work is fundamentally a practice, not a gift bestowed on the specially talented — the difference between someone who calls themselves an artist and someone who doesn't is mostly a matter of persistence, willingness to make bad work on the way to good work, and refusal to wait for permission or perfect conditions. He rejects the myth of the tortured genius waiting for inspiration, insisting instead that showing up regularly, working through failure, and treating your own obsessions as legitimate material are the actual mechanics of a creative life.

This reframing matters because it demystifies creativity for people intimidated by art-world gatekeeping, credentialism, or the fear that their ideas aren't original enough to count — Saltz's argument is that originality emerges from honest, repeated engagement with your own perspective, not from having something nobody's ever thought of before.

Who should read it

This suits anyone intimidated by starting creative work, whether visual art, writing, or any other practice, especially people paralyzed by perfectionism or the belief that they lack sufficient talent or training. It's less useful for readers seeking technical instruction in a specific medium, since its focus is psychological and behavioral rather than skill-based.

About the author

Jerry Saltz is an American art critic for New York magazine and a Pulitzer Prize winner for criticism, known for accessible, enthusiastic writing that brings contemporary art to audiences outside the traditional art world.