Picasso once said, “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” And honestly, he was right. There’s something magical about showing up every day to create, even when the muse seems to be off on holiday.
At first, the ideas flowed. Bright portraits, bold strokes, layers of meaning—each piece better than the last. But then, disaster struck. I ran out of canvas. No crisp, white surface staring back at me, just… an empty cereal box.
Did that stop me? Nope.
I cut the box open, smoothed it out, and painted right on it. And guess what? It turned out amazing. The rough texture added something unexpected, something raw and real. It reminded me that the act of creating matters more than the perfect materials.
I couldn’t help but think of Picasso’s bold portrait of photographer Dora Maar from 1938. Measuring just 25⅝ by 21¼ inches, it was a small but striking piece—vivid red, intense expression, full of movement. When it sold at Christie’s New York, it proved that size (or even surface) isn’t everything. Art is about emotion, about daring to create, no matter what.
So if you’re ever stuck, grab whatever you have—paper, wood, or even cardboard. Just keep painting. Because inspiration? It loves momentum.
