I Tried Picasso's (incredible) Daily Routine: What I Learned – ep. 3

Nathaniel Drew
11 Feb 202113:27

TLDRIn this video, the creator explores Pablo Picasso's daily routine and its impact on his prolific artistic output. By adopting Picasso's schedule, the creator learns about the importance of focus, creativity, and the sacrifices made for art. Despite mixed feelings about Picasso's personal life, the experiment highlights the value of finding a personal rhythm and the power of singular dedication to one's craft.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Picasso was an incredibly influential and prolific artist, creating over 50,000 works in his lifetime.
  • 🕒 The experimenter decided to follow Picasso's daily routine to understand his level of productivity and creativity.
  • 🛌 Picasso's day started at 11 am, which was considered late, and his schedule was contrary to common productivity advice.
  • 🥗 His daily routine included having breakfast, meeting friends, working in the studio, having dinner, and then working again until 3 am.
  • 🌃 The experimenter found that Picasso's routine allowed for a lot of creative work, especially during evening hours.
  • 🖌️ Adapting to a new schedule took time, and the experimenter struggled with the sleep schedule but found nighttime creativity beneficial.
  • 🎭 Picasso's focus on his work was unparalleled, and the experimenter learned the importance of singular focus on tasks.
  • 🚫 The experimenter noted Picasso's complex character, with both brilliant artistry and personal flaws.
  • 🔄 Despite the challenges, the experimenter gained insight into the effects of multitasking and the value of dedicated focus.
  • 🌟 Picasso's belief in art as a form of magic and his dedication to his craft continue to inspire artists today.

Q & A

  • What was Picasso's daily routine like during his time in Paris?

    -Picasso would start his day at 11 am, have breakfast and meet friends until 2 or 3 pm. He would then work in his studio from 2 pm until dusk, have dinner from 10 to 11 pm, and work for another four hours until 3 am.

  • How did the author find Picasso's routine in comparison to conventional productivity advice?

    -The author found Picasso's routine exciting and counter to typical self-help and productivity advice, which often emphasizes the importance of morning routines.

  • What was the author's personal experience with adjusting to Picasso's schedule?

    -The author found it difficult to maintain regular sleep hours and waking up early, but adjusting to Picasso's schedule was easier due to their natural inclination to be more creative at night.

  • How did the author's perception of Picasso change as they grew older and learned more about him?

    -The author's views on Picasso changed as they learned more about his personal life and behavior towards women, which affected how they saw him despite his artistic brilliance and contributions to art.

  • What was the author's main takeaway from trying Picasso's daily routine?

    -The author realized the importance of singular focus on a task at a time and the detrimental effects of multitasking. They also appreciated the control over the intentional flow of attention and energy.

  • How did Picasso feel about distractions and solitude in his work?

    -Picasso despised distractions and believed that without great solitude, no serious work is possible.

  • What was the author's conclusion about Picasso's life and work after the experiment?

    -The author concluded that Picasso was a creative genius with a darker, tortured side and that his level of genius and output came at a cost. They respected his work and devotion but also acknowledged his emotional poverty in terms of intelligence and support.

  • How did Picasso's approach to his work influence the author's view on productivity?

    -The author was reinforced in their belief that productivity is overhyped and unnecessary, and that living by a few core principles—mission, outlet, energy—is more important than following strict routines.

  • What was Picasso's fundamental belief about art?

    -Picasso believed that art is a form of magic, and this belief was a pillar of the legacy he left behind.

  • How did the author's experience trying Picasso's routine affect their own creative work?

    -The author found the experience liberating and enjoyed painting more, using the late-night hours as a therapeutic and creative outlet. They also became more mindful and intentional about their work.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Picasso's Prolific Creativity and Unconventional Routine

This paragraph delves into the life and work of Pablo Picasso, exploring his immense influence and productivity as an artist, having created over 50,000 works. The speaker expresses a desire to understand how Picasso achieved such a high level of creativity and productivity. It also discusses the artist's daily routine in Paris, as detailed in Mason Curry's book 'Daily Rituals: How Artists Work', highlighting the unconventional hours he kept, which contrasted with typical self-improvement advice. The speaker shares a personal connection to Picasso's work and the challenges of adapting to his schedule, noting an increased creativity during nighttime hours.

05:01

🌙 Balancing Creativity and Personal Life in Picasso's Shadow

The speaker continues to reflect on Picasso's impact, discussing the complexity of the artist's character and the contradictions between his revolutionary art and his personal life. It's noted that Picasso's relationships, particularly with women, have affected the speaker's perception of him. The speaker also shares their own creative process, attempting to adopt a singular focus on tasks in the spirit of Picasso's dedication to his work. The paragraph explores the idea of balancing creative pursuits with other responsibilities and the challenges of adjusting to a new schedule, while also acknowledging the therapeutic role of painting in the speaker's life.

10:01

🌟 Learning from Picasso's Unapologetic Dedication and the Human Side of Genius

In this paragraph, the speaker concludes their experiment of living by Picasso's schedule, reflecting on the lessons learned about focus, productivity, and the human aspects of a genius like Picasso. It's acknowledged that while Picasso's dedication and work ethic are admirable, his personal life had its flaws. The speaker is inspired by Picasso's belief in art as a form of magic and his unapologetic approach to living and creating. The paragraph ends with a reminder that even heroes have their human sides and that finding one's own rhythm in life is crucial. The speaker also promotes the use of audiobooks as a source of inspiration and learning, sharing personal recommendations.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Pablo Picasso

Pablo Picasso was a renowned Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and ceramicist who is recognized as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Known for his pioneering role in the development of movements like Cubism, his creative process and vast body of work have inspired countless artists. In the video, the creator explores Picasso's daily routine in an attempt to understand the habits and rituals that contributed to his prolific and influential career.

💡Creative Giant

The term 'creative giant' refers to an individual who has made a significant and impactful contribution to the field of art or any other creative endeavor. In the context of the video, it is used to describe Picasso, highlighting his exceptional creativity and the monumental influence he had on the art world. His innovative approach to art and the sheer volume of his work, which includes over 50,000 pieces, exemplify his status as a creative giant.

💡Daily Routine

A 'daily routine' refers to the regular sequence of activities that a person performs each day. In the video, the creator investigates Picasso's daily routine in Paris, which involved late mornings, socializing, focused work in the studio, meals, and more work into the early hours of the morning. This routine is explored as a potential key to understanding Picasso's productivity and his ability to create such a vast and influential body of work.

💡Prolific

The term 'prolific' describes a person who produces a large amount of work, especially in a creative field. In the context of the video, Picasso is described as a prolific artist due to his extensive output of over 50,000 works throughout his lifetime. His ability to create such a vast quantity of art, including many masterpieces, is a testament to his dedication and productivity.

💡Masterpieces

A 'masterpiece' is a work of art that is considered to be of exceptional creative quality or significance. In the video, the reference to Picasso's masterpieces underscores the enduring value and impact of his art. These works are celebrated for their innovation, technique, and the way they have shaped the course of art history, continuing to be revered and studied to this day.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration refers to the process of being mentally stimulated to feel or do something, especially something creative. In the video, the creator is seeking inspiration from Picasso's life and routine in order to gain insights into the habits and mindset that might lead to a more creative and productive life. The idea is that by emulating the daily practices of a creative genius, one might be able to tap into similar levels of inspiration and productivity.

💡Self-Help

Self-help refers to the practice of empowering individuals to achieve personal growth and self-improvement through various techniques and strategies. In the context of the video, the creator discusses how Picasso's unconventional daily routine challenges common self-help advice, particularly the emphasis on morning routines. This highlights the idea that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to productivity and creativity.

💡Creativity

Creativity is the use of imagination or original ideas to create something new and valuable. In the video, the creator's experiment with Picasso's routine is a quest to understand the factors that contribute to creativity. The video suggests that Picasso's nocturnal schedule and focused work sessions allowed him to tap into his creativity, especially during the night, which contrasts with the common belief that morning routines are essential for creative output.

💡Multitasking

Multitasking is the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. However, the video discusses how the creator's experience with Picasso's routine led to a realization about the potential drawbacks of multitasking. It suggests that focusing on one task at a time, as Picasso seemed to do, can lead to greater productivity and creative output. This insight challenges the common tendency to juggle multiple tasks and emphasizes the importance of singular focus.

💡Productivity Guru

A 'productivity guru' is an individual who is considered an expert in the field of productivity, offering advice and strategies to help others optimize their time and output. In the video, the creator mentions productivity gurus in the context of questioning their advice, particularly regarding morning routines. The experiment with Picasso's schedule serves as a counterpoint to the conventional wisdom often espoused by such experts, suggesting that there may be alternative paths to productivity and success.

💡Artistic Legacy

An 'artistic legacy' refers to the lasting impact and influence an artist leaves on the world through their work. In the video, Picasso's artistic legacy is discussed in terms of his groundbreaking contributions to art, such as the development of Cubism, as well as the emotional and intellectual resonance of his work. The creator grapples with the complexity of Picasso's legacy, acknowledging both his creative genius and the darker aspects of his personal life.

Highlights

Pablo Picasso was an influential artist known for his prolific output of over 50,000 works.

The video creator aims to understand the daily routine of Picasso to gain insights into his creative process.

Picasso's daily routine in Paris began with breakfast at 11 am and socializing until 2 or 3 pm.

He would then work in his studio from 2 pm until dusk, take a break for dinner, and work again from 11 pm to 3 am.

The video creator finds Picasso's late start and focus on creativity in the evening hours intriguing and打算 to follow it.

The creator notes that Picasso's routine goes against common productivity advice, which often emphasizes morning routines.

During the experiment, the creator plans to balance Picasso's routine with their own work and other projects.

The creator finds that adapting to a new schedule takes time and that multitasking is often detrimental to focus.

Picasso's intense focus on his work and his ability to reinvent himself decade after decade are highlighted.

The creator's personal connection to Picasso through their mother and their own early paintings is shared.

Despite Picasso's significant contributions to art, the creator has mixed feelings about his personal character.

The experiment reveals the importance of singular focus and the potential downsides of multitasking.

The creator finds the late-night painting hours to be liberating and their most favorite part of the day.

Picasso's quote about the necessity of solitude for serious work is mentioned.

The creator extends the experiment for a second week, noting the challenges of missing mornings and feeling sluggish.

Picasso's dedication to his work until his death at age 91 is emphasized.

The experiment concludes with the creator reflecting on the importance of finding a personal rhythm and the overemphasis on productivity.

The creator acknowledges Picasso's genius but also recognizes the complexity and flaws of his character.

The video ends with a reminder that even heroes are human, and the legacy Picasso left behind is his belief in art as a form of magic.