“I am always doing things I can’t do, that’s how I get to do them.” -Pablo Picasso

Whenever I see a painting by Spanish artist Picasso (1881-1973), I’m awestruck with the beauty, creativity and sheer iconic status of his works. His distinctive mesh of abstract faces with distorted facial features and use of bold black lines at one moment then use of soft curves and colors the next is enough to make him one of my favorite artists. His catalog spans from still life to abstract, portraiture to sculpture. The guy was prolific. He is one of the greatest.

Not often does an artist’s life spark my curiosity as much as their work. But Picasso’s life, both facts and rumors, fascinate me in a special way. More than anything, I find wonder and inspiration in his quotes. Here are a few of my favorites:

“Everything you can imagine is real.”

If you can believe it, you can achieve it! Don’t you believe you can fly?!

OK, sorry for the R. Kelly reference, but that statement is simply The Truth. I believe in this principle so much that I devote time each day to prayer, positive affirmation and visualization. Every day. It’s important to imagine myself accomplishing goals and seeing my dreams come true. Taking the time to use my imagination not only helps me be more creative, it increases my faith and belief that all things are possible for me.

“Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.”

With so much conflict, hatred and ignorance running rampant in the world, I charge myself with stepping back and asking “why can’t creation of beauty through love ease the pains of the world?” and “what will I do to promote and perpetuate art, beauty and love everyday. How can I make this goal my life’s work?”

“How can you expect a beholder to experience my picture as I experienced it? A picture comes to me a long time beforehand; who knows how long a time beforehand, I sensed, saw, and painted it and yet the next day even I do not understand what I have done. How can anyone penetrate my dreams, my instincts, my desires, my thought, which have taken a long time to fashion themselves and come to the surface, above all to grasp what I put there, perhaps involuntary.”

Picasso often spoke on his internal world as an artist giving insight to how his mind works as a person who is an artist. He reveals the long process inner thoughts and overall humanness of who he is as an artist. Such insight fascinates me. I place as high value on an artist’s statement as I do on the artist’s work. I always wonder, “who does this artist say she/he is?” instead of relying solely on who I interpret her/him to be.

“Good artists copy, great artist steal.”

There’s controversy over whether or not Picasso actually said this but since it has become so synonymous with his persona, I’ll include it here.

I identify more as in innovator than an inventor. With a blank page in front of me, my mind is, well, blank. However, when I look at something that already exists, something that has already been done, I can take it and add to it in creative and unique ways. This ability is a gift and as a result of it, I’m not one to copy something I see. Copying requires taking what’s already done and doing the exact same thing. To innovate, one can take what’s there and make it one’s own (steal it) in order to make it better.

“Action is the foundational key to all success.”

This quote spawned this blog post. If I want to run a blog, I have to write. If I want to become an authority in the art world, I must immerse and surround myself with the people and objects that define that world (yes, please!). To get anything done, you have to do it. If you’re a painter, paint. If you’re a writer, write. If you’re a hater, hate! It’s just what you do so do it! But seriously, do something, anything to live up to who you are. You owe that to yourself.

Here’s to more action and inspiration from Picasso and beyond.

Artfully,