What Picasso Is Teaching Me About Success

Episode 112 of the Do It For the Process: For The Artists by Emily Jeffords podcast, hosted by Emily Jeffords, titled "What Picasso Is Teaching Me About Success" was published on March 4, 2025 and runs 30 minutes.

March 4, 2025 ·30m · Do It For the Process: For The Artists by Emily Jeffords

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Summary

SHARE THE WORK -- RSVP to join us March 10th-14th Making Art Work opens for enrollment March 13th! Hi sweeties. I've moved into my new studio and settled into my work (getting ready for Share The Work, writing, and teaching), but painting? That's a different story. Let's talk about what it means to find success in your creative practice year after year. As I continue focusing on creating meaningful art, I find myself thinking so much about Picasso's career and why it’s important to honor our personal version of growth, no matter how it unfolds. In this episode, we’ll explore: Realizing You’re Always Growing and Changing: The success of your work is not linear. Picasso’s career is a perfect example—he created less refined work year after year, embracing abstraction more fully as he went. Creative growth doesn’t look the same for everyone, and it’s okay if your journey is different. We’ll also talk about the powerful story from Threads about an old artist who never sold a single painting but continued to create because he valued leaving behind his soul in his work. Anchoring Yourself in Past Successes: Reflecting on past accomplishments can be a source of reassurance. When we look back at the work we're proud of, it reminds us that we’re capable of creating great things today and in the future. I mentioned my friend Ekaterina Popova and you must check out her work and Create! Magazine Looking to Guides for Inspiration: Has someone else walked this path before you? Seeking out mentors and guides who’ve navigated their own creative journeys can offer invaluable lessons. Sometimes, seeing that others have walked this road without falling off a cliff can give us the confidence to keep moving forward. RSVP for the upcoming Share The Work series starting March 10th!

Episode Description

SHARE THE WORK -- RSVP to join us March 10th-14th

Making Art Work opens for enrollment March 13th!

Hi sweeties. I've moved into my new studio and settled into my work (getting ready for Share The Work, writing, and teaching), but painting? That's a different story. Let's talk about what it means to find success in your creative practice year after year.

As I continue focusing on creating meaningful art, I find myself thinking so much about Picasso's career and why it’s important to honor our personal version of growth, no matter how it unfolds.

In this episode, we’ll explore:

Realizing You’re Always Growing and Changing: The success of your work is not linear. Picasso’s career is a perfect example—he created less refined work year after year, embracing abstraction more fully as he went. Creative growth doesn’t look the same for everyone, and it’s okay if your journey is different. We’ll also talk about the powerful story from Threads about an old artist who never sold a single painting but continued to create because he valued leaving behind his soul in his work.
Anchoring Yourself in Past Successes: Reflecting on past accomplishments can be a source of reassurance. When we look back at the work we're proud of, it reminds us that we’re capable of creating great things today and in the future. I mentioned my friend Ekaterina Popova and you must check out her work and Create! Magazine
Looking to Guides for Inspiration: Has someone else walked this path before you? Seeking out mentors and guides who’ve navigated their own creative journeys can offer invaluable lessons. Sometimes, seeing that others have walked this road without falling off a cliff can give us the confidence to keep moving forward.

RSVP for the upcoming Share The Work series starting March 10th!