Do You Think Breaking Rules Is Essential in Exploring Creativity?

Adrian S. Potter
3 min readDec 25, 2022

Transform into an artistic maverick with Pablo Picasso (The Secondhand Inspiration Project).

Photo by Ameen Fahmy on Unsplash

The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.

Do you think breaking rules is essential in exploring creativity?

This question immediately reminds me of a splendid quote by Pablo Picasso that reads:

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

I love this quote. And within its subtle wisdom, I see the answer to the question of whether defying prescribed conventions is vital to the creative process.

Sure, breaking rules is essential in exploring creativity. But a true artist should never violate norms and practices just for the sake of becoming a rebellious poseur or sparking some faux fight against the establishment. That convoluted tactic seems reckless and makes a person seem like a hack or a wannabe.

Understanding the first part of Picasso’s quote is critical. Learn the rules like a pro…

A great creative takes ample time to learn, abide by, and deeply understand the motives of the rules in their chosen field. This might take…

--

--

Adrian S. Potter
Adrian S. Potter

Written by Adrian S. Potter

Antisocial Extrovert · Writer and Poet, Engineer, Consultant, Public Speaker · Writing about self-improvement, gratitude, and creativity · www.adrianspotter.com

No responses yet