An artist so influential even long after his death, Pablo Picasso has some great advice for you whether or not you’re into arts. Picasso was not just an artist. He changed the game in the art of painting regardless what’s your opinion about his controversies. He loved what he was doing for a living. And he turned his life around from having close to nothing. Dare we say he lived his life to the fullest?
So, why not take a look at how the legend lived his life and took some life-changing lessons? Get your brush and palette ready and let’s paint a better, more positive way of life while we can!
1. A working studio.
No matter what your job or your project is, you need a suitable environment to work with. Picasso understood how important it is. His studio was where he expressed himself without anyone judging (not that he cared that much, though).
Find a working space that can help you work your best, keeps you motivated and focused, but also keeps you entertained so you’re not stressed out with work, especially when your work does not involve expressing yourself freely on a canvas, like Picasso.
2. The right brush and palette.
Brush and palette are important tools for artists, including Picasso. His was a kidney-shaped one with an oval thumb hole. You can see his palettes being displayed in some of the many museums dedicated to him. And you can see how even his palette is an artwork by itself.
If you paint, you need to understand the importance of picking your suitable brush and palette. They are like the extension to your arms and minds altogether. If you’re not, your brush and palette can be any tools you use to help you work. It can be your laptop, your camera, anything, and you need to choose the one most suitable for you.
3. Inspiration.
Now that you have the right workspace and tools, you need something else to keep you going. And Picasso said the best thing you need for that is an inspiration, a muse. However, having an inspiration does not necessarily mean you will get to where you’re aiming at unless you move your lazy bun! As the legend himself said, “Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working.”
So, find your inspiration and work with it! It can be your special one, your bucket-list vacation, your dream house, or simply your happiness.
4. Confidence!
Yes, the exclamation point is necessary when it comes to confidence! Having confidence will help you tremendously in so many aspects of life.
Picasso was known for his confidence. It is believed that the first sold his work on a sort of accident involving his confidence. Let us tell you the story. Picasso was busy painting in his studio when a man came in and asked him how much he wanted for the painting. Keep in mind that he hasn’t sold any painting at that moment, yet he answered, “Two hundred thousand dollars.”
To paint you a picture of how important confidence was to Picasso, one of his most popular quotes itself is about confidence, “He can who thinks he can, and he can’t who think he can’t. This is an inexorable, indisputable law.”
5. Passion.
Art won’t work without passion. Without it, art would be bland and not expressing the right feelings the artist would want. And it’s not just about art. You need a passion for whatever you’re doing in life to succeed, to be Picasso in your world.
Picasso worked with passion, as you can see from his masterpieces. This dated back to where he was young, as his mother once told him, “If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general,” So he became an artist, and he was the Picasso!
6. Curiosity.
Picasso was one of the most evolving artists. He kept innovating and changing his styles, that was because he was driven by his intelligent curiosity. He followed his art instinct like a detective follows his leads. The thing is, he wasn’t just curious, he asked the right questions.
He once said, “Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and ask why not.”
7. Positivity.
Hate him or love him, Picasso was everything but judgmental. Perhaps his facial expression didn’t say it all, but he had always been positive with what was going on in his life.
This is what you need to have in your life. Your passion, your inspiration, and your curiosity need positivity as well. Think of it as a fuel to keep your entire engine moving.
8. Vision.
Now that you know how to start the engine and keeps it going, you need to know where to steer your vehicle. You need a vision. Your vision needs to be clear and feasible so you can see wherever you’re going.
If you are a true follower of Picasso’s works, you would understand how hard people criticized him over his controversial, yet groundbreaking and influential pieces. But his vision kept him going. Trust us, the world can be so cruel and you need all the tools to fight for yourself, one of them is your vision.
9. Art.
Yes, this one is a no brainer. But to have a touch of art in your life is so important. Just one minute spending time with the art you love can wipe the dust off your soul after a long, hard day.
Through art, you can express your feelings and let go of any emotions you cannot channel through anything else. See, art is freeing and the best part is that you get to choose from various kinds, from painting like Picasso himself to singing, dancing, playing music, and so much more!
10. Experiment.
Picasso’s style changed through time for a reason: he was experimenting with his ideas! From blue to rose to cubist, he expressed himself through his experiments. And it helped him became a better, if not the best in the world, artist!
Did you know that he used house paints for his pieces? Yes, a regular, industrial paint! He also used sand and newspaper. Yep, that was some experiment. What’s yours going to be like?
11. Childish soul.
Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grew up.”
Do you remember how free and expressive you were as a kid? It felt great, right? You worried about nothing, and you did what you loved, what you wanted. That’s what you need in your adult life, the freedom, the expression, all that in so many aspects of your life. So, why not add a little bit of fun in life? Trust us; you’ll end up becoming more creative too!
12. Experience living abroad.
Born as a Spaniard, Picasso lived most of his adult life in France. He first moved to Paris back in 1900. And this was where he grew as an artist.
Living in a new place is like pushing you out of your comfort zone. It forces you to adapt and grow as a person. Plus, you get to see new places and meet new people.
13. A balanced life.
In the end, you need to enjoy what you’re doing, just like Picasso did. He always tried to balance pleasure and business in his life. That’s why you often see his “crazy” photos when he was having fun. It was also his way of expressing himself.
We get that you need to work, we all have bills to pay. But remember to reward yourself after a long, hard day of work. Have fun and do what you want to do, but of course, responsibly. That’s the point of balancing things out. Pleasure and business, have both in your life.
Okay, future artists of life. There you have it, the 13 things you need in life according to Picasso and his way of life. Adapt these, and you might end up like him, Picasso 2.0 if you will. Of course, it’s going to take a lot of time and effort to achieve big things, but hey, if you’re enjoying the process with your childish soul, keep driving your vehicle towards the clear vision you have set, you won’t even notice the efforts!
So, what do you think? Share your artsy thoughts on the comment section. We also want to know why you choose Picasso as your role model. Let’s take this Picasso journey together!
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