“Make Good Art.” Lessons on Business and Living an Artistic Life

Takeaways from writer Neil Gaiman’s prolific 2012 commencement speech.

Neil Gaiman’s 2012 commencement speech to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia entitled “Make Good Art” is brilliant, timeless, and necessary. His advice, while delivered to students looking to lead an artistic life, is applicable to… well, everything.

The funny thing is, Gaiman isn’t saying anything that hasn’t been said before or since. Yet he articulates everything so eloquently and in his own unique way (a point in and of itself we’ll get to later). In fact, as I was listening I was reminded of many other influential speakers, authors, and thinkers, and I’ve included them — everyone from Brené Brown to Teddy Roosevelt. The more inspiration the better, right?

While I run the risk of summarizing the entire speech here, I urge everyone to watch and listen in its entirety. Gaiman talks about inexperience and making mistakes. He talks about being unique and being vulnerable. He talks about how to pursue an artistic life against all odds. Here are a few brilliant takeaways.