7 TED Talks for Artists

If you are not familiar with TED Talks, it is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks by influential speakers. There are over 3,000 TED talks and some are of course better than others.

In this post, I feature some interesting TED talks that I feel are relevant to us artists. The speakers are not all artists themselves, but they share some great ideas for helping us harness our creativity. If there are any TED talks for artists which I have missed, feel free to share in the comments.

Finding the Story Inside the Painting by Tracy Chevalier

This talk by Tracy Chevalier takes a deeper look at analyzing and appreciating art. She touches on why we tend to leave art galleries feeling unsatisfied and overwhelmed after not actually taking in or appreciating any of the individual paintings.

She provides some valuable insights into three paintings; Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer; Boy Building a House of Cards by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin; and a painting by an anonymous artist.

Key takeaway: Instead of just touching on the surface of many paintings, try to narrow down on the few which truly interest you and catch your attention. Think about the story behind the painting, why the painting interests you and what the artist was thinking when they created it.

Do Schools Kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson

This talk discusses the lack of emphasis on creativity in education. I tend to agree. Sir Ken Robinson suggests that creativity is just as important as literacy and math and should be treated with the same importance and relevance.

He believes society is currently educating people out of their creativity by focusing on avoiding mistakes, rather than trying new things.

Key takeaway: Be open-minded to criticism but do not let it stifle your creativity. If you are not making any mistakes, then you are not being adventurous enough.

What Adults Can Learn from Kids by Adora Svitak

This talk reminds me of a quote by Pablo Picasso:

It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.

Adora Svitak is a child prodigy who claims the world needs to embrace “childish” thinking, which is filled with bold ideas and unbridled optimism. She suggests that the wild dreams and aspirations of children need to be encouraged and that adults need to have a willingness to learn from children, rather than only teach them.

Key takeaway: Learn to encourage your own “childish” thinking, rather than keep it locked away in your head.

Embrace the Shake by Phil Hansen

Phil Hansen has tremors which prevent him from drawing with “spot on” accuracy. He discusses how you should embrace the artistic style which suits you, rather than defaulting to the “right” way of doing things based on how others draw and paint.

This way of thinking changed the way he created art. He adapted his art around the tremors and embraced his limitation, rather than letting it prevent him from reaching his goals.

Key takeaway: Do not feel bound by your limitations. If you cannot paint accurately, then focus on color and expression. If you cannot see color, then focus on value and composition. Instead of focusing on the things you cannot do, focus on the things you can do.

How a Boy Became an Artist by Jarret J. Krosoczka

Jarret Krosoczka is an author and illustrator who talks about his journey from a child who wanted to pursue his passion to draw and write stories. He talks about how using your imagination and creativity was encouraged whilst he was growing up, but in today’s society it is not.

He mentions how art is currently limited in education, if at all present and that this is preventing kids from using their imagination and creativity as an outlet. He also mentions that you should draw or paint in your own style and ignore what others are telling you. “Just do you”. 

Key takeaway: Find a passion and pursue that passion.

The Power of Introverts by Susan Cain

This talk really hit home for me since I consider myself an introvert.

Susan Cain mentions that introverts are not necessarily shy and that introversion refers to how you respond to stimulation, including social stimulation. Extroverts crave stimulation, whilst introverts work best in quiet, more low-key environments.

She goes on to talk about how society builds environments which are catered to extroverts and that introversion is not really considered the right way to go. Our schools and workplaces emphasize being loud and outgoing. Desks are arranged at schools so that they are all facing each other in groups. Workplaces are mostly becoming open-plan. If you do not enjoy working in these environments, it is often suggested that you are the problem, not that the environment does not suit you.

She talks about how she denied her own introversion and became a lawyer, rather than the writer she always longed to be. How she made “self-negating” choices like going out to crowded bars when she really just wanted a nice dinner with friends.

She claims that the “world needs introverts doing what they do best”. To maximize your talents, you need to put yourself in a place where you are most comfortable working. An introvert does not usually work well in an environment suited to extroverts, and vice versa.

Key takeaway: “Solitude matters”. If you are an introvert, then to maximize your potential you should place yourself in introverted environments.

How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals by Stephen Duneier

Stephen Duneier is not an artist, but I found this talk to be useful for the overall learning process and goal setting. He explains how you can accomplish your most ambitious goals through small, incremental improvements each day.

Key takeaway: Set goals and do something every day. Instead of looking at a painting by Michelangelo and thinking…. “well I could never do that”, take that first step and start practicing.

Want to Learn More?

You might be interested in my Painting Academy course. I’ll walk you through the time-tested fundamentals of painting. It’s perfect for absolute beginner to intermediate painters.

Thanks for Reading!

I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I hope you found it helpful. Feel free to share it with friends.

Happy painting!

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

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