WAIT. BASQUIAT DIDN’T GO TO ART SCHOOL?
A few weeks back, while in research mode for a new talk, I stumbled onto a youtube video that I have probably watched 10 times now: “BASQUIAT's work ethic” by Make art not content. Here it is, you gotta watch:
Seriously, watch it.
I personally didn't know tons about Jean-Michele Basquiat. I know he had a unique style. I have heard he was fast, prolific. I know he died too early. I know one of his paintings sold for like $110 MILLION DOLLARS.
But I think this peek into his process is contains so many helpful lessons, and I'm so huge thanks to the makers of this video who crafted such an inspiring story.
So many takeaways, but this one revved me up the most:
“Most of the flow that you will have while making art, will come from all the things you were doing when you were not making art. In between your creative sessions—while everyone else is busy consuming regurgitated content on social media—you should go offline, and you should go deep.”
I think it builds on last week's Dispatch—my ode to liberal arts education, squiggly paths into marketing, and Dan Wieden's infamous source for the "Just Do It" tagline.
Jean-Michele Basquiat didn't go to art school, he even claims to have failed the art classes he took in his regular education. And yet, his paintings have sold for hundreds of millions of dollars.
What gives?
It sounds like the dude was full of inspiration, and what set him apart from others who might sit around and wait for that inspiration, is that... he didn't wait. He was OUT there, hunting it down. It's what he did. He studied art. He gathered source material. When he wasn't painting, he was participating in the world around him, and paying close attention to it. Walking runways. Making out with Madonna. Kicking it with Warhol.
There's a lot of talk about taste being the new currency now that everyone can build and write and design with AI.
For anyone asking, "well, how do I develop good taste?" The answer might be to channel that Jean-Michele by feeding your creative mind, continuing to build those brain bridges, and deepening that well of inspiration and future flow.
✌️💚🏕️
Don't forget to write back!
Mikey
