Blink:

I was sorting through some old newspapers, when I came across an article that piqued my interest. It was about Frank Gehry, one of my favorite architects, detailing all the current projects he is working on.

Read On:

At age 92 when most people retire or garden, the man continues to be prolific (building projects, Philadelphia museum renovation, an opera set, Los Angele’s Riverwalk, etc.). He is the truly “An energizer bunny.” Reading about Gehry Reminded me of my 2009 post: Lessons from Great Artists & Architects.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Lessons from Great Artists & Architects

Blink:
In my last blog posting, America’s Coach, I indicated that I have been inspired by some great people I never met, artists and architects that have guided me on my business journey. The list is long: Leger, Matisse, Picasso, Chagall, Miro, Calder, Dali, Neel, I. M. Pei and Frank Gehry.

Read On:
Detailed below are the lessons I have learned from my favorite artists and architects:

– You must start with traditional training before you can breakout and create new ideas.
– Simplicity.
– Scale – sketches that lead to large masterpieces.
– There is no instant gratification when it comes to artistic creation.
– Artists serve people and live in a commercial world, but they need to discover how they can step outside the norm, take risks and slice their sliver/niche.
– When artists/creative people step outside the norm they must accept criticism, wear it like an article of clothing for a while, then toss it and move on.
– What makes it all worth it (the thrill) is the process of pulling together an achievement.
– Don’t compromise your values.
– Treat each client differently and special.
– Harmony = Balance.

One final thought. Each one of the individuals on my list were larger than life, thus taught me the value of Joie de Vivre, the Joy of Living.

Actually, when I reviewed the list of great artists and architects above, beside their Joie de Vivre, I realized most continued to be very prolific and creative, thus experiment as they got older.

• Picasso (90) experimented with betograves concrete engravings for his sculptures.
• Chagall in his 90’s experimented with a new stencil technique called pochoir.
• Matisse (74) created his famous Jazz series made from collages of colored cutouts.
• Miro at 90 was quoted, “young people, future generations interest me not the old dodos. Miro began painting with his fingers.

Are you an “Energizer Bunny?”