https://twitter.com/geoffmuskett/status/1682858591747751936?s=20Who do you want to be inspired by? Who’s ideas do you want to build upon?
Personally I want to learn from the most creative people who ever lived.
So I’m going to study them, starting with Pablo Picasso (or to give you his full name: Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno Mara de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santsima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso).
Can geniuses be made?
Once I’ve extracted and shared Picasso’s creative ways, then I’ll study another creative genius. And another. And see what they have in common.
Why?
—I believe we’re all creative. I believe there are ways to cultivate creativity.
—I want to be as creative as possible, and I want the world around me to be as creative as possible. So if I can inspire others to be creative it will inspire me. A beautiful cycle.
—I don’t believe in talent. At least not to the level that “talented” people are eulogised.
Here’s my rant on talent:
If you’re 8 foot tall you have an advantage as a Basketball player. But that’s not talent, it’s a physical attribute. It just makes you a bit better that your peers, and therefor you enjoy it and play more. The more you play the better you get. And if you’re lucky to have the right circumstances and the single-minded drive to succeed, then people will say you’re talented ‘baller.
There’s no physical attributes required to be a world-class creative. It’s all brain, and doing.
Is there a brain equivalent of being 8 foot tall? A gene that pre-disposes us to creativity? Maybe. But I’d argue that, unlike our physical height, our brains are trainable. Creativity muscles.
/End rant.
The point is creativity can be developed. Pay attention to what geniuses like Picasso do and you’re likely pick up techniques that increase your creative output.
(Disclaimer: becoming a genius may be pushing it, sorry 😆).
Creative lessons from the best
What can we learn from Picasso, how did he become a world-class creative? What inspired him? How hard did he work? When did he work? Did he even class art and creativity as work? Did everything he touch turn to gold, or did he have off days? How did he get out of a creative funk? Did he have creative funck’s? How much of his creative lifestyle is down to circumstance?
I’m spending a year finding answers and publishing my findings on Twitter.
Follow me on Twitter and learn the creative tips, tricks and habits of Pablo Diego José Francisco … Picasso.
How to be a creative genius #️⃣1️⃣
The way Picasso approached art will change your creative process forever
He didn’t look for harmony, balance, or accuracy. He wasn’t interested in making a pretty picture
His priority was an EMOTIONAL REACTION
Learn how, read on
🧵 👇
— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) June 27, 2023
How to be a creative genius #️⃣2️⃣
Picasso re-used elements, ideas, and symbols in his art
Even through different periods of his work we can see a through-line
It creates coherence, recognition and identity
Here's how to create this in your own creative work
1/4 🧵 👇 pic.twitter.com/L6mkL520tO
— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) June 30, 2023
How to be a creative genius #️⃣3️⃣
In my reading on Picasso, I came across these amazing cover art pieces.
Minotaure was a surrealist art magazine that ran from 1933-39
Check out the names who created cover art
1/6👇 pic.twitter.com/19mMl7QEF6
— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) July 11, 2023
How to be a creative genius #️⃣4️⃣
Picasso was a bit of a hoarder
He found inspiration in found objects
His photographer friend, Brassaï, called the objects he kept "delayed-action bombs: they will go off at the right moment"
For example…
1/6👇 pic.twitter.com/kNXx4lBCHj
— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) July 17, 2023
How to be a creative genius: Picasso #️⃣5️⃣
Picasso didn't need inspiration
"What I capture in spite of myself interests me more than my own ideas"
Not knowing what to create causes procrastination, but it's the first part of the creative process
Ideas come when you start
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— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) July 22, 2023
How to be a creative genius: Picasso #️⃣6️⃣
Picasso used to steal like an artist
If you're read @austinkleon you'll know what I'm talking about
You don't have to come up with a monumental idea, you can build upon the ideas of others
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— GΞOFF MUSKETT (@geoffmuskett) July 24, 2023