The fact that Picasso started his day at 11AM makes it so clear that your productivity isn't decided by when you wake up. You just have to find a rhythm that works for you
That is so true, yet so many people glorify waking up early. I'm always the most productive between 10pm and 3am. My brain is at the highest level of creativity and I have a thousand ideas an hour, which is great considering my main job is creating stuff. Yet my family still considers me lazy, because I wake up at 10 or 11 am. But when you work your ass off till 4 in the morning, you need your sleep. Otherwise you'll be dead tired. It is so frustrating to me, that only one rhythm of living is considered correct or valid.
It's true. I had a friend who started a business (in media). He had a similar schedule. Would work till 2am or so. Go into office around 11am. But overall he did a lot of work. Would work all weekend if needed.
Good man, Picasso.... I don’t believe all the videos/books which proclaim millionaires get up at 4am and do a load of ‘morning routine’ stuff. Staying in bed until 11am sounds more plausible.
Summed it up perfectly. Working at night is just the easiest way to secure solitude and remove distractions. Waking up late isn't intentionally part of the rhythm, it's a side effect of needing to sleep at all.
The thing that is NOT often talked about, especially with male artists, is how they were able to have a singular focus because someone else behind the scenes was doing all the chores. It is interesting that you tried to get your own chores done during this process as that is our current reality. But many 'famous' creatives have someone else doing that for them. We need to talk about that: how do you achieve a singular focus when you still have to deal with the reality of living? Thank you for the informative video. Will definitely watch / listen to more.
omg THANK YOU for bringing this up. this is what I'm thinking too because we only have so many hours in the day to juggle work, art/something we're really passionate about, and the demands of daily living
The key is shrinking your world. Live in a bedsit/studio apartment. Spend frugally. Live like a monk. And then, if you become successful, and money flows like water; you can live like Picasso.
Have a maid like Picasso, don't look after your kids, never look after your laundry/food/cleaning/the emotional care of your family, just get a new one. That is Picasso. No female artist can realistically do this. None of today's great artists do that either, and knowing quite a few from my profession I can swear that's how it is. And if you are a woman don't even plan to have kids to become a great artist. THAT is the reality. Name one globally renowned internationally acclaimed female artist with kids and a working family.
Respectfully… hiring a maid (or nanny) is NOT exclusive to being a man. If a man can hire help, or have a supportive partner, so can a woman. There’s no law that says a female artist has to do both, paint and be a full time mom. It’s 2023, not the 1800’s.
Hi! A Spaniard here. I think one important thing to bear in mind that can explain this schedule is that Picasso was Spanish. This is a perfectly doable schedule for a Spanish person in my opinion, pretty comfortable for many actually, because we grow up and are used to a different way of life, especially in the south (where he was born). Things around us keep that rhythm so it just feels natural: in Spain you can have breakfast until 12/12:30pm in any cafeteria, have lunch at 14:30h, etc. So waking up at 11 am is not actually considered that late (although people with a 9-5 job only do that during the weekends) and certainly your meal at that hour wouldn't be called lunch, it would be breakfast. Because our lunch is at 14:30, like I mentioned. After lunch people usually rest (it's siesta time, but you don't have to sleep; the thing is most shops close so you kind have to wait) and then you can work again or go out, or do your shopping or your groceries. You can do this up until 10pm in many cases. So it's almost like the "fun part" of the day actually starts in the afternoon. So i totally understand his schedule: going out to see his friends in the afternoon and then working. Ok, yes, maybe it is a bit late going to sleep at 3am, but most people in Spain go to sleep at 1am anyway (even if they wake up at 6-7am) so... that's just 2 hours later. I'm not saying it's healthy xD I'm saying it happens. I know you said Picasso was in Paris while doing this, but probably he got his habit before that, growing up or later, as a young adult. I found it funny when you said eating at 11am is lunch... It makes me laugh because... well, just not in Spain. Here, 11 am is a perfect hour to have a normal breakfast. No one would be surprised. It's always funny to hear people from other nationalities say that Spanish people do everything "so late" in the day. The only thing I can say is... you have to come to Spain to understand. That is just the natural rhythm of life here. We kinda have more hours of light in general, especially in the summer, shops and restaurants stay open late, cities are "alive" in the evening and night... I can compare very different living styles because I've lived in England (amongst other places), so I totally understand how some people can't understand Spain and Spanish rhythms when their streets are empty by 5pm in the winter months. They just have to make the most of the day before that because after 4:30/5pm, the streets are just "dead". And if shops and other places close, there is no one outside and you can't do anything... you just can't live with Picasso's schedule there, it is as simple as that, because you'd have no time at all to go anywhere or see anyone. But the thing is: you can in Spain. And probably his body was just used to that rhythm, his mind used to focusing in the evenings and nights and it was easier to live that way his entire life than to change it and not feel productive. I think maybe Paris was a comfortable place for Picasso with this schedule, actually. I've also lived in Paris and I can say it is a place that feels active and alive in the evenings and nights too, being a big city. But, yes, you'd also have to bear in mind shopping hours and dinner time, which is not as late as in Spain. Anyway! Having said that, i just wanted to give a cultural point of view from a Spanish person. I hope it was interesting even if it was long :) I think you did a great job and, as you said, everyone has to find their own rhythm :) Take care!
I live in the north of England but DREAM of living in Granada or somewhere else Mediterranean. I think my natural circadian rhythm would finally find a home there.
I mean, it’s a guy sitting talking to the camera in one location. That level of production isn’t difficult, and certainly isn’t extensive. What’s more impressive is the consistency in style and execution of his post-production, especially the cues for graphics and how they’re animated.
"Productivity" is robotic. A state of thinking which ostensibly focuses on outcome. Art is not focused on outcome. Art is therapeutic at the very least, philosophical at the very highest; art is about and has always been about the journey. With the fast pace life of a businessman or the modern man, one misses the nuance of life, and the people and things within it. The little things matter. Not to sell something, but to be something.
Agree. Saying an artist like Picasso was "productive" is so out of place. Art isn't a product. And don't get me started on how that whole productivity obsession is just a clever way of self-oppression capitalism found recently.
The creation of great art is decidedly focused on outcome - creating a thing which communicates in a very particular way. It's focused on a realizable outcome the same way an archaeologist is focused on uncovering still unknown but discoverable pieces of an ancient civilization.
Before anything, Picasso was an artist. He loved art, he was obsessed with creating. Picasso became a great artist purely by practicing his art. Don't be distracted by his celebrity or "lifestyle". If you want to be like Picasso, practice your art as much as possible at whatever time of day is best for you.
it's hard to "be like picasso" because he is the sort of artist who had no choice but to paint and draw all the time. i'm a graphic designer, and i call myself that cos i have no idea what i want to draw, but i want to draw, so i get someone else to tell me what they want, and hopefully pay me for it too, but i don't have that "picasso drive".
@@HarryNicNicholas I CAN RELATE...it can feel like a waste of time if you arent getting paid to make art/ graphics etc...but imagine waking up only to make what YOU WANT TO MAKE and people call you to see what you have made so they can buy it from you because its freakin awesome....seems like a dream...but it is a reality for many artists...
Its hard to be like picasso cause he beat his wives and cheated on them (yes at one point he had multiple wives and gfs) You should look into it, it disturbs me.
@@presidentbluehackergaming8318 He made a woman hang her self and made multiple die and didn’t give a frick. He will never ever be accepted by me. He was heavily sexist and physically and domestically abused women.
@@motttta lol he was definitely much tougher with that one. The thing is, if its looked at as abandoned and that keeps people holding on to "create perfection" then they end up making far fewer pieces of work. Less ability to build more creativity, and be more prolific in their work. But I don wanna Fk w/ DaVinci :)
He had people who made his meals for him, did his shopping for him, ... that's why you felt more drawn out; stretched thin. You were doing his schedule on top of your own.
So did Georgia O’Keefe and Cecilia Beaux. A lot of them did. Cecilia Beaux mentioned in her autobiography that she never had to make her bed and that her lunches were always made for her to take to the studio. It’s not an easy balance. God bless you if you can figure it out.
He was possessed by the need to paint, in my opinion. Also, when anyone talks about ‘great’ people, i wonder who washes their clothes? Who fixes their meals, pays their bills, shops for food? All of these little things add up to time away from a passion.
@@chiaradelia829 that's not completely sure. I invite you to read a book written by Françoise Guillot (picasso's ex wife) and he's not pictured like a bad person or someone cruel. I'm not saying he's a Saint, but he was no monster
I'm honestly so glad that you actually mentioned the person he was and how horrible he sometimes treated the people and specifically the women around him. I notice far too often that people like to ignore that and it never sits well with me as a woman.
I think the only reason why he was able to be such a great artist is he managed to draw out the everything inside him including vileness and channel it to his art. One cannot achieve greatness without some sort of sacrifice. In his case was his relationships with other humans. Its depressing to see how he spent his final years.
@@reficul9995 that shouldn't be the norm. An artist can't have such a huge ego that he harms other people just for his art. Before being artists, we're humans. I think it would be better to live without certain art than to sacrifice others for it. Although I could give him the excuse that most men were horrible to women during his time, but we can't repeat the same mistake for the sake of 'art.' Everything we create must be for the good of humankind not for our own selfish egos. I've been writing professionally for close to a decade as my sole means of living. My sacrifice is my own (not making money at the level of my peers during the first few years) but I was never a twat. It's time we find more sustainable ways of creating things (the same way some companies are creating environment friendly products).
@@reficul9995 another thing, we as artists have way more access to tools and insights of past artists to be able to create stuff that is way better without going through the same process (like being awful to others). I think to say that 'today' you have to be horrible to create such amazing art just because picasso did it... is just a lazy excuse. Art is a skill like anything else. You get up at the same time every day, you write/draw/compose until you get good at it. You do your time. It's not the gift of a muse to a tortured artist. That's not sustainable for the artist nor the people around him.
I’m a tattoo artist and honestly this is the life. You get up late, head into work for noon or so, work hard for eight hours with a short break for lunch, go home and draw some more for the next day. Repeat. It is pure joy to be a tattoo artist :)
i had a temp job cutting irrigation ditches for rich folks lawns, and one of the biggest houses, and nicest employers, was a guy who ran a tattoo franchise - lots of money in that game if you know what's what apparently.
I have a similar thing going on, Pyrography, woodburning in a similar fashion to tattooing, but yeah, being your own boss and working to the hours that suit you is a godsend
You mentioned Picasso's maltreatment of women, and almost immediately after marvel at his "incredible focus on his work", or earlier in the video how much "space" he was able to make for his creativity - but the opportunity was missed in the video to draw a link between those things. Precisely the reason that Picasso or any figure like him was or is able to "create space" for their work is all the unpaid and underappreciated work done, most often by women, to pick up everything else in the background.
Thank you for pointing this out, this is so important. Surveys show there is still a great disparity in this realm today. Women are picking up the slack at home so the "genius" men can flourish.
This is what I was thinking the entire time watching the video. How the genius of men is made possible through the unappreciated and unnamed sacrifice of women. It makes me sad knowing that by the time I get into a good rhythm of productivity I’ll probably have kids by then and I’ll be unable to lean into my creativity so frequently. Would Picasso be Picasso if he was born a woman? Probably not
Exactly what I was thinking, I already came hier with some doubts but gave him the benefit of doubt because I really like his work. At the end it is was disappointing, how all this "deeply looking" into Picasso's life doesn't scratch any discomfort in the matter, although there are ALREADY sooooo many papers/videos/documentaries about how he's success was mainly gained over disrespecting women
Can we just appreciate the beautiful editing of this video. I can tell how much hard work went into creating this. With the typography and motion graphics and sound design. I hope other people notice how cinematic this video is. It was so interesting, as a person who wakes up late and draws late. Productivity is different for everyone and I think the part of having core values was such an important point.
The best thing about this channel is that, every single video is like a pill to keep the audience stay motivated and productive! And thanks Nathan, for taking us all for another meaningful philosophical journey on life! :)
One thing I've noticed between these routines especially with the artists is that they spend almost their entire day focusing on one single thing; the "singular commitment" he was talking about
"morning routine" is not limited to traditional morning hours, but when u naturally wake up. My gf is a night owl and her "morning ritual" starts at 11, whereas mine starts at 8. We need to move past the constriction of when time begins.
The book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, has a really neat section on how human inventions, such as the artificial light and clocks, shifted us from a natural staggered sleeping pattern to a clock-based pattern. I totally agree with you and just wanted to add a reference for anyone else questioning modern sleep habits and their origins
Please continue allowing her to be different than you. I was accused of being lazy for not being up before my ex husband but I had to make my schedule around when my children needed things. He wasn't around to do any of that. Neither of those schedules were MY natural schedule
One of my pet theories is that having humans with naturally distinct sleeping patterns is beneficial in that back in prehistory there would always be people around who were awake in case of emergencies or attacks.
@@recoveringsoul755 our differing schedules work perfectly for us. I work 5 am to 2 pm. She is retired. So by the time she is up to face the day I'm getting off work. On the weekends when my natural clock gets to control we each have a stretch of hrs to do what we want solo, separate from each other. I would never ask someone to change. I'm sorry u were treated that way.
This weird neoliberal idea of self-enhancement and pushing your productivity is a product of post modernism of the 21st century. Most artists, philosophers and writers young people look up to today would have laughed about or dispised that way of thinking. Picasso didn't follow that schedule to make more and "better" art, it was just the way he lived.
The way he lived was already productive. Once you have that habit it just is. But before he had this habit he surely thought of something. Also I don't see why it is weird. Some people just feel sad/uncomfortable when they look back on a time in their life and realize they didn't do anything. You only have one life. Why not make the best of it?
I agree but also kinda disagree. Picasso is Picasso. Nathaniel is Nathaniel. we all have different ways to drive our creativity. I am more creative and more focused when there is a deadline. I plan what I can then I procrastinate to get the best work out of myself. But someone who plans like Nathanial needs to follow the schedule to get the creative juices flowing. He is a bullet journaler he does what works for these videos is just trying to understand what they did that worked for them. I don't think he is setting out to find the most productive schedule I think he is trying to just simply make content.
Sure people are stupid by thinking that imitating the outer appearances that they will be as good, or at least similar to their idols, like the people that read how much of a jerk Steve Jobs was and decide to imitate that to become better at business. Yeah it doesn't work... On the other hand it is as stupid to just be lazy and do some self-destruction, what can go wrong
Beautiful, Nathaniel. My father was an artist. He longed to make a living with his paintings. He was a bit tortured by this. He died without that dream coming true. I used to think "What a tragedy that his dreams never came true". Now that I am older, I see that he sacrificed his dream for something more beautiful--for a family. Thank you for making this video for all artists-and the reminder of this delicate balance!
One key thing that you touched upon, but for me it is quite important to note....Picasso and other famous (usually male) artists had wives/lovers that helped with a lot of the domestic work, shopping, cooking, cleaning...that is a lot of time that allows Picasso to create even more. As a pro artist, I would kill for a supportive partner or to be able to afford domestic help to give me more time.
One way to test what your natural sleep cycle is really like: Go camping without your phone, or any other stimulating electronics, for a week. You'll find out real quick what your natural sleep schedule is like
Picasso, a Spanish man with Spanish habits. Here 11 am is a perfectly fine time to take breakfast. Actually it's 11 am and I just woke up and I am about to eat
Literally I was thinking... but he was Spanish this is normal lol 😂 my family is Spanish so I grew up like this and my parents just would say “just burn the midnight oil then sleep in”
Ah, I would love to visit Spain again, for the first time, my sleep schedule was not the exception! And, it was never hard to find late night food like it is most places in the US. And my mid-day break was common practice, it seemed. I felt like I found my people, even though I am not Spanish!
I have never, ever been a morning person. As a Registered Nurse of 32 years, I fought it. I struggled working on day shift for years and I hated every minute of it. I have worked 12 hour night shifts for 8 years now and I am finally on my own circadian rhythm. Honoring my body's own clock has changed my life.
I'm an artist and have produced over 60 pieces of work mainly graphite and charcoal but over the last few years ive been focused on painting portraits in oils. I started by painting members of my family but through researching methodology I found that I fell in love with the classical Renaissance masters and have been painting some of the famous works by caravagio, rembrant and vermeer for example and ive learned a lot by coping the masters. Ive been using art over the last ten years as a means to cope with my ongoing fight with cancer and ive found that it works for me, I feel that while I'm drawing or painting I dont need to think about the cancer and how awful the treatment is making me feel. I hadn't done any art since high school but when I done my first painting (which was of a Bob Ross style landscape) it blew my wife's mind as she never knew that after being married for 15 years that I had any interest in art let alone any talent for it. I went on to paint lots of crappy watercolour landscapes which I quickly got bored with so I set myself the task of teaching myself portrait drawing. I spent the next 8 years learning and improving until I decided that painting portraits was a logical step to continuing my studies. I love art and its no small statement to say that it saved my life as when I was at stage four my depression led me to feel suicidal but focusing on my art as a means of therapy I overcame those suicidal thoughts and now after 11 years I'm finally in remittion and still painting every day.
"productivity is a social construct" Of course it is a construct, if you work hard and practice you become more productive, but if you're lazy and don't work on improving your abilities you aren't. So sure, it's something you "construct".
Having lived in Spain, I'd say yes. He moved to Paris as a young man and that's where he spent the remainder of his life. Not sure what he did when the germans occupied France, if he stayed or left.
Nathaniel is a perfect example. He's insufferable, with his walls covered by bookshelves. Give those things away, let somebody else read them, instead of trying to look all insightful. He also missed the fact that Spanish people have a naturally "late" schedule. It's just what they do. It's obviously going to feel very strange to Americans. Has this guy ever even been to Spain, or read a book about it?
The late schedules of Western Europeans are helped by the fact that the entire region is in the same time zone as most of Central and Eastern Europe, something people living outside of Europe are also likely to miss. When the sun never comes up before 7:00 even in late June and half the year the sky is still light almost until midnight, it's actually easier on the circadian rhythm to wake up "late" and stay up "late".
Does this guy really think waking up at 11 am will turn him into a Picasso. It’s a SLEEP schedule. He’s missing the point. A journey as an artist is personal and spiritual. It’s unique to them.
Americans are so focused on the external schedules and appointments. This guy totally misses that art is more of a journey within yourself. Picasso saw the world through eyes no one saw. Waking up at 11 didn’t make Picasso an artist. His vision made him Picasso. I can’t believe this guy is missing just an obvious point.
Picasso was Spanish, getting up late is kind of normal, plus he used to live in early 20th century so no social media etc and that's why he got so much focused
There's a saying among artists that goes: "You can't escape Picasso". Meaning that it's impossible not to be influenced by him in some way because of all the art styles he helped to create.
As a High School ceramics instructor and Ceramicist in my own life, I found this so video fascinating. I appreciate the true wonder and interest you have for the creative process. A delicate balance is needed when you have the soul of an artist. Beautifully done Nathaniel. I can't wait to take a deep dive into the other videos and content you have.
Fascinating - bear in mind, though, you can bet your life he didn't do laundry, shopping, prepare meals, clean up, anything... someone else would have done that, so no wonder you got tired.
I loved this so much! As an artist don’t ever restrict yourself! For me...I am an early riser, I paint for an hour, hour and a half between 4 and 6 in the morning because that is when I’m most productive...so in these hours I work on my paintings! I can however also be night owl (especially when I have no “normal” responsibilities the next day). When this happens, I create, I plan and start a painting...drink a few glasses of wine and listen to music and just feel what I want to do! Hemingway style😊
@@cordialgreetingsart "On Writing" :) I believe he writes 3-4 hours straight per day when actively writing a book. He's also a big believer in daily walks, reading all the time and keeping screen time to a minimum.
Yes, Nathaniel is extremely preoccupied with what people think. He exudes a sort of guilt/apology for following the daily routine of someone who wasn't great with women. It's not like he went full Picasso and started womanizing. Maybe someone should one up this guy.
I think meeting w friends, for Picasso probably artist friends, we can’t underestimate how much that contributed to his creativity, ideas and inspiration too.
...and a surrounding culture that values and supports artists. I would not say the US is that kind of place, unless the artist happens to be financially successful, in which case he/she is celebrated, but those people are in the extreme minority.
This ie truly beautiful video but I feel he was missing out of going to the coffee shop (which in Europe this is how you start every morning) and having breakfast and beeing with people. Just to have a bright start of your day. Its not going and sitting alone with your computer its about see people and be seen.
I love how you phrase it as emotional poverty. “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Exceptional video. Beautiful production. What kind of programs do you use to animate?
There’s a difference between a creative mind and a business mind. Creativity comes better when the mind is relaxed and calm where reading and comprehension of business tasks are sharper in the first few hours.
"Morning routines" are the worst things ever created... As a night owl I can say that they have been the bane of my existence almost since birth :P . Fuck morning routines... despise them with a passion.
@@233Hicks Yeah :P We were the men and women that biologically/evolutionarily stayed up at night and kept the tribe safe at night from predators or other tribes... and humanity says thanks by imposing forceful and man-made rules onto nightowls. It's not a coincidence that depression-rates within Evening-active people are considerably higher compared to the early riser counterparts... We're basically an oppressed minority, heh.
People have a misconception of laziness association with night owls. You aren't lazy just because you start later, if you still work the same amount of hours anyway.
@@elimdd I wish... my natural clock goes from roughly 4-6am to 10-12 am , if i go to sleep within that timeframe iam usually well rested , also if i sleep anytime over the day... But work forces me to be up at 5am which is basically almost the exact time my body and brain try to get into sleepmode , reducing my overall mental and physical health aswell as my brains ability to think considerably, along with bad insomnia... and then i get shit for being late or taking many sickdays :P I don't wanna know how often I've been told that " I just need a healthy routine and need to go to bed early enough!" . Makes me incredibly mad to hear everytime... It's prettymuch literal torture, but not something modern society will ever adjust to support as the world is under control by the so called "early risers".
I love the idea of following daily routines of highly successful people. It gives you a glimpse into their lifestyle and how dedicated they are to their life's work. I feel like there is so much more we can learn from the previous greats of our world. Well done Nathaniel.
OMG Nathaniel, what you do here is so sincere and awesome! Exploring yourself and the world and sharing it with us in such a natural yet exciting high-quality manner - it's precious! Thank you so much!
I feel like I miss out on detail that natural light allows me to see ,so I don't paint at night so i watch youtube videos 😰😣😒😒😒😒😒 it's best if I reconsider
I’m surprised you didn’t bring up his heavy opium usage, as if his schedule is the main thing that enhanced his ability to dissociate and come up with his unique style
LOVE THIS! I am naturally a night owl and have always struggled to be a "early bird". Now that I work for myself I have allowed by natural rhythm to take over and determine what my "working hours" really are now. I don't do Picasso's hours, but my peak work hours are 3-9 and so I work around that and am in bed by 1:30am and up around 10:30am.
i think the big chunks of time are key!! i just realized this recently. i have lots of different pursuits that i like to focus my time on and i’ve been making the mistake of trying to split them up into small chunks like an hour for this, an hour and a half for that, but that doesn’t allow you enough time to get into the flow. i’m changing my schedule asapppp
My favorite time to paint is in the middle of the night. No distractions, everyone is asleep, and I can work uninterrupted. I kind of think I could enjoy this routine.
I am loving this whole series! I also love the little doggie painting. We have become a society of constant multi tasking and not being particularly moved by one thing, that one or two things that drives us. I'm the "weirdo" because I focus on my art, photography, animals and being outside. I removed everything else that does not fit those categories.
I came across this & it is exactly what I needed to see. I hear and read about the "morning routine" all of the time. Thing is, not everyone's clock is the same. I'm a night owl, it's also my most productive and creative time. So... it's really cool to know that I'm not alone.
I am not sure an 11 AM to 3 AM schedule would work for me but I know the traditional business day wasn't exactly right during my work career either. So finding your own rhythm would be a key. The other take away for me is blocking out the time for the various activities that you feel are important to accomplish. Now in retirement I have taken up writing and have returned to music and painting. But without blocking out the time I find myself jumping from one to the other and too often taken over by distractions. So next is to commit to blocks of time for preferred activities. This video is inspiring and incredibly well done. thanks!!
It’s easy to dismiss his actions from his work. He said himself that he leaves his body at the door. You are a fellow artist, as am I. You know the feeling of drinking from the spring. In the zone, personality long gone, who cares if it ever returns. It is you and the membrane you work on. Anyways, love your work.
Here is the thing, we all know what we want to do or who we want to become in life. We don’t need reminders to chase or dreams or goals because that person we want to become is engraved in our mind. It’s just that most of us are affected by the thoughts and opinions of others and within 10 years you realize you were in the same exact place you started and most of us will think it is too late and just decide to just give up our dreams. Keep in mind this isn’t everyone’s story. I just wanted to share my thoughts from personal experience :) Also Nathaniel, your art is amazing. Have a good day everyone :)
I found your coment very interesting because, in a matter o fact, the biggest problem in my life always was NOT knowing what is my purpose. I have artistic things that I enjoy to do (write, sing, acting) however I do not know if any would qualify as a passion per se? Either way, I think that's why I don't invest that much effort and time into it... I always feel like something is missing...
@@getreadywithmaddie4656 like he said ,u r going in circles ,u dont think they are a passion per se cause u didn give them enough energy , without energy they are nothing ....so is your life now compared to " the purpose " u envisioned in the beginning .
Just a quick shoutout of how important and helpful is to have this kind of videos subtitled. For us spanish speaking people to have the chance to find this videos and to be able to understand them is huge. Congrats.
I’m adhd and this is really my preferred rhythm. It’s what my body naturally does. All my life people have tried to change that and I finally just don’t GAF. You gotta do what works for you.
ADHD high five! I gotta switch my schedule because of my work, so I try to get in bed not too late. Having only 6 or 7 hours of sleep kills my vibe :) I live in both worlds. I would love to have a schedule starting at 8/9 am, but i tend to stay up too long. Saying this - I continue my drawing now and go to bed :D
Hey, it’s QUITE unfair!! As if everyone had the same background I am not trying to sound like a failure, I really get what you mean, but it’s not true It’s kind of hateful, as if most people (poor) suffer everyday just because they are not able to make themselves successful It’s even dumb to say it in a world that is designed to just give the illusion you can grow while this only happens to a very small amount of people It’s impossible to most ppl to be successful, it’s against the way the world works
@@gabrieltomaz6034 GM. I know what your saying. I came from a background with my parents starting off poor than they had more in my teen years. I never felt deprived tho materially. I had a lot and graduated highschool early. I than had my family and chose to live a different lifestyle homeschooling my kids. We lived on one income and I felt the lack of income. But I will tell you now I work again and would not trade the time I had of being below the poverty line with my family. I learned to live off the grid and get frugal. Self development was huge. It was well worth the cost. I used community resources and enjoyed my kids. Where there is a will there is a way.
@@gabrieltomaz6034 And just to add to this my mom came from the projects. My grandmother had 10 kids, dirt poor. So my parents poverty at first was to work hard to get ahead and they did.
@@energeticconfidentlady4254 I truly believe you And I know where you want to get It’s just not the reality of most people in the world You can say “they have time with their family at least! You don’t rly need to have a lot to be happy” That’s true, but, more than half of the world is poor or below it And, the message above isn’t for everyone, that’s what I mean Working hard and growing in life is only true in developed countries, only a few ones,,,
Waking up early is not necessarily going to make you more productive. We tend to have this idea that just because successful people do it, that alone is enough of a reason to do it but the reality is that you have to figure a time that works for you and allows you to be at your best.
This applies to everything too though. Trying to copy other people will never ever produce anything great. Not a single great artist of any kind throughout the history of humanity has ever made what they did by copying anyone else. In fact, entirely the opposite. Though this stuff sure makes for youtube content for making ad revenue...
Circadian rhythms are also subject to variation as you age. Teenagers, for example, are better off going to bed around 1-2ish and getting up at around 10-ish. Later in life, the natural rhythm shifts more towards the morning.
Yep, artists and philosophers of the past would have laughed about how much people have become slaves to the capitalist idea of "growth" some people internalized so deeply today. Especially "content creators" and "influencers".
Some people just feel sad/uncomfortable when they look back on a time in their life and realize they didn't do anything. You only have one life. Why not make the best of it?
Becasu trying to improve yourself, being productive, or setting goals is how you get things done. Good grief, do you think Picasso would be who he was, create so many pieces of work, or explore so many styles if he didn't devote himself to his work, have goals, or keep trying to improve?
"Hyperfocus" on a special interest also exists, becoming obsessive. No matter how much I know about certain subjects, I always want to have more, better, and to expand what I can do. Not for anyone else or for profit but because I want to be the damn best at something.
I don't think Picasso was just dedicating himself. To someone who painted until a few hours before his death I feel he was taking something out of him, something that he just needed to put on a canvas.
Great video. As an artist myself, I've found that everyone has their own rhythm. I've tended to work in really strong bursts of energy with lulls in between where I focus on building a cache of ideas to work into an overarching concept. For me, having a daily routine where I just paint isn't necessarily where I thrive. if I have nothing meaningful to paint, why would I just paint still lifes? Granted it would probably be better for exercising my mind as a muscle. but creating art is this living breathing thing. and it needs rest as well.
The fact that Picasso started his day at 11AM makes it so clear that your productivity isn't decided by when you wake up. You just have to find a rhythm that works for you
This is a very important distinction. Find what works for you and then work it 🙂
That is so true, yet so many people glorify waking up early. I'm always the most productive between 10pm and 3am. My brain is at the highest level of creativity and I have a thousand ideas an hour, which is great considering my main job is creating stuff. Yet my family still considers me lazy, because I wake up at 10 or 11 am. But when you work your ass off till 4 in the morning, you need your sleep. Otherwise you'll be dead tired. It is so frustrating to me, that only one rhythm of living is considered correct or valid.
Soo true man!
It's true. I had a friend who started a business (in media). He had a similar schedule. Would work till 2am or so. Go into office around 11am. But overall he did a lot of work. Would work all weekend if needed.
@@JustAgnes5 I feel ya I dont pick up a paint brush until 10 or 11pm and work until around 5am sleep wake up between 11 and noon.
Picasso: Wakes up at 11am everyday
Me: "You know I'm something of an artist, myself."
Good man, Picasso.... I don’t believe all the videos/books which proclaim millionaires get up at 4am and do a load of ‘morning routine’ stuff. Staying in bed until 11am sounds more plausible.
@@peterkelly8357 yeah sleep is very important 😎 you should sleep 8 hours at least 👍👍
That's funny
💀💀💀
This made me laugh
Summed it up perfectly. Working at night is just the easiest way to secure solitude and remove distractions. Waking up late isn't intentionally part of the rhythm, it's a side effect of needing to sleep at all.
Not necessarily. I prefer getting up early at around 5 in the morning. It gives me at least 3 hours of uninterrupted work.
This just sparked an aha moment in me, thank you for writing this!
@@glockenrein Not everyone can wake up early, just like not everyone can stay up late. And I can't do both.
@@p.9227 I agree I just wanted to point out that there are several ways to get rid of distractions that work for different people.
J.R.R. Tolkien did the same!
The thing that is NOT often talked about, especially with male artists, is how they were able to have a singular focus because someone else behind the scenes was doing all the chores. It is interesting that you tried to get your own chores done during this process as that is our current reality. But many 'famous' creatives have someone else doing that for them. We need to talk about that: how do you achieve a singular focus when you still have to deal with the reality of living? Thank you for the informative video. Will definitely watch / listen to more.
omg THANK YOU for bringing this up. this is what I'm thinking too because we only have so many hours in the day to juggle work, art/something we're really passionate about, and the demands of daily living
Very good point, I totally agree now that you say it. I've never really thought about this before.
The key is shrinking your world. Live in a bedsit/studio apartment. Spend frugally. Live like a monk. And then, if you become successful, and money flows like water; you can live like Picasso.
Have a maid like Picasso, don't look after your kids, never look after your laundry/food/cleaning/the emotional care of your family, just get a new one. That is Picasso. No female artist can realistically do this. None of today's great artists do that either, and knowing quite a few from my profession I can swear that's how it is. And if you are a woman don't even plan to have kids to become a great artist. THAT is the reality. Name one globally renowned internationally acclaimed female artist with kids and a working family.
Respectfully… hiring a maid (or nanny) is NOT exclusive to being a man.
If a man can hire help, or have a supportive partner, so can a woman. There’s no law that says a female artist has to do both, paint and be a full time mom. It’s 2023, not the 1800’s.
Hi! A Spaniard here. I think one important thing to bear in mind that can explain this schedule is that Picasso was Spanish. This is a perfectly doable schedule for a Spanish person in my opinion, pretty comfortable for many actually, because we grow up and are used to a different way of life, especially in the south (where he was born). Things around us keep that rhythm so it just feels natural: in Spain you can have breakfast until 12/12:30pm in any cafeteria, have lunch at 14:30h, etc. So waking up at 11 am is not actually considered that late (although people with a 9-5 job only do that during the weekends) and certainly your meal at that hour wouldn't be called lunch, it would be breakfast. Because our lunch is at 14:30, like I mentioned. After lunch people usually rest (it's siesta time, but you don't have to sleep; the thing is most shops close so you kind have to wait) and then you can work again or go out, or do your shopping or your groceries. You can do this up until 10pm in many cases. So it's almost like the "fun part" of the day actually starts in the afternoon. So i totally understand his schedule: going out to see his friends in the afternoon and then working. Ok, yes, maybe it is a bit late going to sleep at 3am, but most people in Spain go to sleep at 1am anyway (even if they wake up at 6-7am) so... that's just 2 hours later. I'm not saying it's healthy xD I'm saying it happens.
I know you said Picasso was in Paris while doing this, but probably he got his habit before that, growing up or later, as a young adult.
I found it funny when you said eating at 11am is lunch... It makes me laugh because... well, just not in Spain. Here, 11 am is a perfect hour to have a normal breakfast. No one would be surprised.
It's always funny to hear people from other nationalities say that Spanish people do everything "so late" in the day. The only thing I can say is... you have to come to Spain to understand. That is just the natural rhythm of life here. We kinda have more hours of light in general, especially in the summer, shops and restaurants stay open late, cities are "alive" in the evening and night... I can compare very different living styles because I've lived in England (amongst other places), so I totally understand how some people can't understand Spain and Spanish rhythms when their streets are empty by 5pm in the winter months. They just have to make the most of the day before that because after 4:30/5pm, the streets are just "dead". And if shops and other places close, there is no one outside and you can't do anything... you just can't live with Picasso's schedule there, it is as simple as that, because you'd have no time at all to go anywhere or see anyone. But the thing is: you can in Spain. And probably his body was just used to that rhythm, his mind used to focusing in the evenings and nights and it was easier to live that way his entire life than to change it and not feel productive.
I think maybe Paris was a comfortable place for Picasso with this schedule, actually. I've also lived in Paris and I can say it is a place that feels active and alive in the evenings and nights too, being a big city. But, yes, you'd also have to bear in mind shopping hours and dinner time, which is not as late as in Spain.
Anyway! Having said that, i just wanted to give a cultural point of view from a Spanish person. I hope it was interesting even if it was long :)
I think you did a great job and, as you said, everyone has to find their own rhythm :) Take care!
This was really insightful and made a lot of sense! Thank you for explaining your culture 😊
@@lania7823 Thanks! Glad you found it useful! :)
I live in the north of England but DREAM of living in Granada or somewhere else Mediterranean. I think my natural circadian rhythm would finally find a home there.
@@lania7823 Yeah true....Thank you @Marga Lua Soleil
I have friends in Barcelona. *packs* :D
The level of production that Nathaniel puts into his videos is incredible. Like how is this even possible?!
he is a work horse he doesn't lie down on the bed and scrolls through social media like the most of us(including myself) 😜
Work.
I mean, it’s a guy sitting talking to the camera in one location. That level of production isn’t difficult, and certainly isn’t extensive. What’s more impressive is the consistency in style and execution of his post-production, especially the cues for graphics and how they’re animated.
He's not behind all the animations. Hire someone else.
Gabriela Nava well that’s why I didn’t compliment him on his AfterEffects work, I complimented him on the consistency in the style
"Productivity" is robotic. A state of thinking which ostensibly focuses on outcome. Art is not focused on outcome. Art is therapeutic at the very least, philosophical at the very highest; art is about and has always been about the journey. With the fast pace life of a businessman or the modern man, one misses the nuance of life, and the people and things within it. The little things matter. Not to sell something, but to be something.
Beautiful
@@onmyway7970 and very accurate I'd say
Agree. Saying an artist like Picasso was "productive" is so out of place. Art isn't a product. And don't get me started on how that whole productivity obsession is just a clever way of self-oppression capitalism found recently.
so true
The creation of great art is decidedly focused on outcome - creating a thing which communicates in a very particular way. It's focused on a realizable outcome the same way an archaeologist is focused on uncovering still unknown but discoverable pieces of an ancient civilization.
Before anything, Picasso was an artist. He loved art, he was obsessed with creating. Picasso became a great artist purely by practicing his art. Don't be distracted by his celebrity or "lifestyle". If you want to be like Picasso, practice your art as much as possible at whatever time of day is best for you.
it's hard to "be like picasso" because he is the sort of artist who had no choice but to paint and draw all the time. i'm a graphic designer, and i call myself that cos i have no idea what i want to draw, but i want to draw, so i get someone else to tell me what they want, and hopefully pay me for it too, but i don't have that "picasso drive".
@@HarryNicNicholas I CAN RELATE...it can feel like a waste of time if you arent getting paid to make art/ graphics etc...but imagine waking up only to make what YOU WANT TO MAKE and people call you to see what you have made so they can buy it from you because its freakin awesome....seems like a dream...but it is a reality for many artists...
Its hard to be like picasso cause he beat his wives and cheated on them (yes at one point he had multiple wives and gfs)
You should look into it, it disturbs me.
@@presidentbluehackergaming8318 He made a woman hang her self and made multiple die and didn’t give a frick. He will never ever be accepted by me. He was heavily sexist and physically and domestically abused women.
Well said
If i don't have red i use blue
-my favorite picasso quote
and this leads to *"A painting is never finished - it simply stops in interesting places”* Paul Gardner
Mine too
Bobby Fischer daily routine next please!
@@nextlevelwarrior Or Da Vinci - "Art is never finished, only abandoned."
@@motttta lol he was definitely much tougher with that one. The thing is, if its looked at as abandoned and that keeps people holding on to "create perfection" then they end up making far fewer pieces of work. Less ability to build more creativity, and be more prolific in their work. But I don wanna Fk w/ DaVinci :)
“People who are obsessed with productivity, have a tendecy to forget the product.”
his energy when he talks about painting and his smile is adorable
×2😍
🥰🥰🥰🥰
He had people who made his meals for him, did his shopping for him, ... that's why you felt more drawn out; stretched thin. You were doing his schedule on top of your own.
BOOM!
Wow I didn't see this and wrote the same thing!
So did Georgia O’Keefe and Cecilia Beaux. A lot of them did. Cecilia Beaux mentioned in her autobiography that she never had to make her bed and that her lunches were always made for her to take to the studio. It’s not an easy balance. God bless you if you can figure it out.
@@bluegreygreen for real. privilege is privilege. I wish!
Oh very true but even back in Montmartre Picasso was pretty into being a solitary night owl 😂
He was possessed by the need to paint, in my opinion. Also, when anyone talks about ‘great’ people, i wonder who washes their clothes? Who fixes their meals, pays their bills, shops for food? All of these little things add up to time away from a passion.
I wonder this too! Probably at some point they had people do these "boring stuff" for them
Usually woman.. - mothers, sisters, spouses, lovers... 🙄
@@Manu-ih7zf yes its really plausible... Considering how Picasso viewed woman.. He was a great artist, but not a great person... Unfortunately
@@chiaradelia829 that's not completely sure. I invite you to read a book written by Françoise Guillot (picasso's ex wife) and he's not pictured like a bad person or someone cruel. I'm not saying he's a Saint, but he was no monster
Francoise Gillot was too strong and clever for him.
I feel like I always say this, but man!!! This is one of the best videos you’ve ever made! 🤯
I am a big fan of yours.
True
You and Nathaniel are one the best.
Actually, this is the *first* time you’ve said this one video is one of the best he’s ever made.
Maybe it is another result of that routine
I'm honestly so glad that you actually mentioned the person he was and how horrible he sometimes treated the people and specifically the women around him. I notice far too often that people like to ignore that and it never sits well with me as a woman.
It's cause you're a hipster with no talent.
@@ardvarq9027 That doesn't make any sense, but yeah, sure.
I think the only reason why he was able to be such a great artist is he managed to draw out the everything inside him including vileness and channel it to his art. One cannot achieve greatness without some sort of sacrifice. In his case was his relationships with other humans. Its depressing to see how he spent his final years.
@@reficul9995 that shouldn't be the norm. An artist can't have such a huge ego that he harms other people just for his art. Before being artists, we're humans. I think it would be better to live without certain art than to sacrifice others for it. Although I could give him the excuse that most men were horrible to women during his time, but we can't repeat the same mistake for the sake of 'art.' Everything we create must be for the good of humankind not for our own selfish egos. I've been writing professionally for close to a decade as my sole means of living. My sacrifice is my own (not making money at the level of my peers during the first few years) but I was never a twat. It's time we find more sustainable ways of creating things (the same way some companies are creating environment friendly products).
@@reficul9995 another thing, we as artists have way more access to tools and insights of past artists to be able to create stuff that is way better without going through the same process (like being awful to others). I think to say that 'today' you have to be horrible to create such amazing art just because picasso did it... is just a lazy excuse. Art is a skill like anything else. You get up at the same time every day, you write/draw/compose until you get good at it. You do your time. It's not the gift of a muse to a tortured artist. That's not sustainable for the artist nor the people around him.
I’m a tattoo artist and honestly this is the life. You get up late, head into work for noon or so, work hard for eight hours with a short break for lunch, go home and draw some more for the next day. Repeat. It is pure joy to be a tattoo artist :)
Seems like you love your life. I'm happy for you, congrats 🙏
i had a temp job cutting irrigation ditches for rich folks lawns, and one of the biggest houses, and nicest employers, was a guy who ran a tattoo franchise - lots of money in that game if you know what's what apparently.
Good that u enjoy it 😊
am glad you love what you do
I have a similar thing going on, Pyrography, woodburning in a similar fashion to tattooing, but yeah, being your own boss and working to the hours that suit you is a godsend
How is this free to watch
Exactly ✔
The generosity of the human spirit.
BRO YOU HEREEEE!!!
ay I love your videos man
Liam, mate, what's your daily routine look like? You also mentioned you're going to bed at 3am
You mentioned Picasso's maltreatment of women, and almost immediately after marvel at his "incredible focus on his work", or earlier in the video how much "space" he was able to make for his creativity - but the opportunity was missed in the video to draw a link between those things. Precisely the reason that Picasso or any figure like him was or is able to "create space" for their work is all the unpaid and underappreciated work done, most often by women, to pick up everything else in the background.
Thank you for pointing this out, this is so important. Surveys show there is still a great disparity in this realm today. Women are picking up the slack at home so the "genius" men can flourish.
This is what I was thinking the entire time watching the video. How the genius of men is made possible through the unappreciated and unnamed sacrifice of women. It makes me sad knowing that by the time I get into a good rhythm of productivity I’ll probably have kids by then and I’ll be unable to lean into my creativity so frequently. Would Picasso be Picasso if he was born a woman? Probably not
Exactly what I was thinking, I already came hier with some doubts but gave him the benefit of doubt because I really like his work. At the end it is was disappointing, how all this "deeply looking" into Picasso's life doesn't scratch any discomfort in the matter, although there are ALREADY sooooo many papers/videos/documentaries about how he's success was mainly gained over disrespecting women
Never what the video was about. Understanding Picasso “through his daily schedule”. What a fatuous comment.
@@AndrewsApprentice Oooh someone's mad.
The sauce: "Having control over the intentional flow of your attention and energy". This was a brilliant video
Really loved this quote from the video that I wrote it down. The concept can seem obvious but is often understated.
Can we just appreciate the beautiful editing of this video. I can tell how much hard work went into creating this. With the typography and motion graphics and sound design. I hope other people notice how cinematic this video is. It was so interesting, as a person who wakes up late and draws late. Productivity is different for everyone and I think the part of having core values was such an important point.
The best thing about this channel is that, every single video is like a pill to keep the audience stay motivated and productive! And thanks Nathan, for taking us all for another meaningful philosophical journey on life! :)
he's doing phil of mind, he's not just aware of it yet
One thing I've noticed between these routines especially with the artists is that they spend almost their entire day focusing on one single thing; the "singular commitment" he was talking about
I guess because they have found something that is important ENOUGH for them
And someone else to do the rest
"morning routine" is not limited to traditional morning hours, but when u naturally wake up. My gf is a night owl and her "morning ritual" starts at 11, whereas mine starts at 8. We need to move past the constriction of when time begins.
The book, The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another, has a really neat section on how human inventions, such as the artificial light and clocks, shifted us from a natural staggered sleeping pattern to a clock-based pattern. I totally agree with you and just wanted to add a reference for anyone else questioning modern sleep habits and their origins
totally agree! morning routine is a different time for everyone.
Please continue allowing her to be different than you. I was accused of being lazy for not being up before my ex husband but I had to make my schedule around when my children needed things. He wasn't around to do any of that. Neither of those schedules were MY natural schedule
One of my pet theories is that having humans with naturally distinct sleeping patterns is beneficial in that back in prehistory there would always be people around who were awake in case of emergencies or attacks.
@@recoveringsoul755 our differing schedules work perfectly for us. I work 5 am to 2 pm. She is retired. So by the time she is up to face the day I'm getting off work. On the weekends when my natural clock gets to control we each have a stretch of hrs to do what we want solo, separate from each other. I would never ask someone to change. I'm sorry u were treated that way.
"It is having control over the intentional flow of your attention and energy".
Secret to a life well lived right there.
This weird neoliberal idea of self-enhancement and pushing your productivity is a product of post modernism of the 21st century. Most artists, philosophers and writers young people look up to today would have laughed about or dispised that way of thinking. Picasso didn't follow that schedule to make more and "better" art, it was just the way he lived.
Well said.
The way he lived was already productive. Once you have that habit it just is. But before he had this habit he surely thought of something.
Also I don't see why it is weird. Some people just feel sad/uncomfortable when they look back on a time in their life and realize they didn't do anything. You only have one life. Why not make the best of it?
I agree but also kinda disagree. Picasso is Picasso. Nathaniel is Nathaniel. we all have different ways to drive our creativity. I am more creative and more focused when there is a deadline. I plan what I can then I procrastinate to get the best work out of myself. But someone who plans like Nathanial needs to follow the schedule to get the creative juices flowing. He is a bullet journaler he does what works for these videos is just trying to understand what they did that worked for them. I don't think he is setting out to find the most productive schedule I think he is trying to just simply make content.
Sure people are stupid by thinking that imitating the outer appearances that they will be as good, or at least similar to their idols, like the people that read how much of a jerk Steve Jobs was and decide to imitate that to become better at business. Yeah it doesn't work...
On the other hand it is as stupid to just be lazy and do some self-destruction, what can go wrong
YES! THANK YOU!
Beautiful, Nathaniel. My father was an artist. He longed to make a living with his paintings. He was a bit tortured by this. He died without that dream coming true. I used to think "What a tragedy that his dreams never came true". Now that I am older, I see that he sacrificed his dream for something more beautiful--for a family. Thank you for making this video for all artists-and the reminder of this delicate balance!
I completely agree - productivity is *intensely* over-hyped. All you really need is a mission, an outlet, and energy.
That's it! Enjoy it ☺️
One key thing that you touched upon, but for me it is quite important to note....Picasso and other famous (usually male) artists had wives/lovers that helped with a lot of the domestic work, shopping, cooking, cleaning...that is a lot of time that allows Picasso to create even more. As a pro artist, I would kill for a supportive partner or to be able to afford domestic help to give me more time.
Hello how are you doing 😊😊
Artists in general , not only male
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up." -Picasso
One way to test what your natural sleep cycle is really like:
Go camping without your phone, or any other stimulating electronics, for a week. You'll find out real quick what your natural sleep schedule is like
Amazing advice.
Yess
I just realized how exciting this is...
I must try this
Picasso, a Spanish man with Spanish habits. Here 11 am is a perfectly fine time to take breakfast. Actually it's 11 am and I just woke up and I am about to eat
I'm Portuguese and I eat my dinner between 9 10 pm everyday :D
Damn I gotta visit 😍
Literally I was thinking... but he was Spanish this is normal lol 😂 my family is Spanish so I grew up like this and my parents just would say “just burn the midnight oil then sleep in”
Ah, I would love to visit Spain again, for the first time, my sleep schedule was not the exception! And, it was never hard to find late night food like it is most places in the US.
And my mid-day break was common practice, it seemed. I felt like I found my people, even though I am not Spanish!
That's exactly what I was thinking. You guys eat dinner at like, what, 10PM or something?
I have never, ever been a morning person. As a Registered Nurse of 32 years, I fought it. I struggled working on day shift for years and I hated every minute of it. I have worked 12 hour night shifts for 8 years now and I am finally on my own circadian rhythm. Honoring my body's own clock has changed my life.
I'm an artist and have produced over 60 pieces of work mainly graphite and charcoal but over the last few years ive been focused on painting portraits in oils. I started by painting members of my family but through researching methodology I found that I fell in love with the classical Renaissance masters and have been painting some of the famous works by caravagio, rembrant and vermeer for example and ive learned a lot by coping the masters. Ive been using art over the last ten years as a means to cope with my ongoing fight with cancer and ive found that it works for me, I feel that while I'm drawing or painting I dont need to think about the cancer and how awful the treatment is making me feel. I hadn't done any art since high school but when I done my first painting (which was of a Bob Ross style landscape) it blew my wife's mind as she never knew that after being married for 15 years that I had any interest in art let alone any talent for it. I went on to paint lots of crappy watercolour landscapes which I quickly got bored with so I set myself the task of teaching myself portrait drawing. I spent the next 8 years learning and improving until I decided that painting portraits was a logical step to continuing my studies. I love art and its no small statement to say that it saved my life as when I was at stage four my depression led me to feel suicidal but focusing on my art as a means of therapy I overcame those suicidal thoughts and now after 11 years I'm finally in remittion and still painting every day.
Thank you for writing this. I relate to it.
Ah, yes. The Night. The world sleeps and the artists thrive. I would argue that like time, productivity is a social construct.
"productivity is a social construct"
Of course it is a construct, if you work hard and practice you become more productive, but if you're lazy and don't work on improving your abilities you aren't. So sure, it's something you "construct".
@@trinidad17 lol
Your editing just blew my mind!! Great job, Nathaniel!
Right?!
His routine is very much aligned with the Spanish culture.
....how? genuinely curious
Having lived in Spain, I'd say yes. He moved to Paris as a young man and that's where he spent the remainder of his life. Not sure what he did when the germans occupied France, if he stayed or left.
@@oceandust8113 we spanish eat so late and all that stuff
@@mikelx191 I think I'm secretly a Spaniard.
@@aditisk99 maybe
Americans are far too preoccupied with seeming well adjusted to be well adjusted.
Angel your so pretty
Nathaniel is a perfect example. He's insufferable, with his walls covered by bookshelves. Give those things away, let somebody else read them, instead of trying to look all insightful. He also missed the fact that Spanish people have a naturally "late" schedule. It's just what they do. It's obviously going to feel very strange to Americans. Has this guy ever even been to Spain, or read a book about it?
The late schedules of Western Europeans are helped by the fact that the entire region is in the same time zone as most of Central and Eastern Europe, something people living outside of Europe are also likely to miss. When the sun never comes up before 7:00 even in late June and half the year the sky is still light almost until midnight, it's actually easier on the circadian rhythm to wake up "late" and stay up "late".
Does this guy really think waking up at 11 am will turn him into a Picasso. It’s a SLEEP schedule. He’s missing the point. A journey as an artist is personal and spiritual. It’s unique to them.
Americans are so focused on the external schedules and appointments. This guy totally misses that art is more of a journey within yourself. Picasso saw the world through eyes no one saw. Waking up at 11 didn’t make Picasso an artist. His vision made him Picasso. I can’t believe this guy is missing just an obvious point.
Picasso was focused and very organized. He didn’t wait for inspiration he just worked.
"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." - Picasso
"Bobby, put that down." - Hank Hill
Picasso was Spanish, getting up late is kind of normal, plus he used to live in early 20th century so no social media etc and that's why he got so much focused
i think self discipline has something to do with his productivity
It’s not kind of normal...people start to work around 8 am....
It is known that in Spain, we don't need to get up early for work and that kind of stuff.
I think he was focused because he had something he loved doing.
@@raquelcliment7969 I want to move to Spain now.
There's a saying among artists that goes: "You can't escape Picasso". Meaning that it's impossible not to be influenced by him in some way because of all the art styles he helped to create.
LMAO it’s so funny how he finds this routine so extravagant, whereas this is just a standard routine in Spain
As a High School ceramics instructor and Ceramicist in my own life, I found this so video fascinating. I appreciate the true wonder and interest you have for the creative process. A delicate balance is needed when you have the soul of an artist. Beautifully done Nathaniel. I can't wait to take a deep dive into the other videos and content you have.
I'm a lifelong night owl. This schedule sounds heavenly!
even his surname is Drew, he's destined to paint
😂😂😂
😂😂🙃 I wish he sees this lol
Or... a mystery fiction writer...
This routine is definitely the routine of most uni students haha
Beautiful experience and great narration, bravo!
Ma anche voi siete fantastici
Fascinating - bear in mind, though, you can bet your life he didn't do laundry, shopping, prepare meals, clean up, anything... someone else would have done that, so no wonder you got tired.
Hello how are you doing 😊😊
So basically this is Nathan living like every Spanish man ever
lmao!
Every Spanish unemployed/self-employed man ever* hahah
Sarah
@@JErnst-pl5xk no, I’m from Galicia, Spain. But my father is and he couldn’t bear for me to not have the H haha
@@lebowski6203 wouldn't that mean you are half american?
"This is the secret sauce: It is having control over the intentional flow of your attention and energy." Loved that!
I love how by doing other’s routines you learn a lot about yourself
I loved this so much! As an artist don’t ever restrict yourself! For me...I am an early riser, I paint for an hour, hour and a half between 4 and 6 in the morning because that is when I’m most productive...so in these hours I work on my paintings! I can however also be night owl (especially when I have no “normal” responsibilities the next day). When this happens, I create, I plan and start a painting...drink a few glasses of wine and listen to music and just feel what I want to do! Hemingway style😊
I'd love to see Stephen King's daily routine - the man is a writing machine.
I don’t think doing a coke binge is a good idea for a video 😩
@@peegirl6952 Yeahhh... maybe he should leave that bit out 😂
@@peegirl6952 although imagine the VIEWS
@@deeperanddown what’s the name of the book?
Maybe he could do Stephen King’s routine after he sobered up? 🤔
@@cordialgreetingsart "On Writing" :) I believe he writes 3-4 hours straight per day when actively writing a book. He's also a big believer in daily walks, reading all the time and keeping screen time to a minimum.
He sure as hell wasn’t on UA-cam worried about wtf anyone thought ... He was trying to find perfect within his own mind and the canvas.
This is how he earns his money, tho. And I'm sure he earns a whole lot more than you, so don't be jealous.
Yes, Nathaniel is extremely preoccupied with what people think. He exudes a sort of guilt/apology for following the daily routine of someone who wasn't great with women. It's not like he went full Picasso and started womanizing. Maybe someone should one up this guy.
I mean he was also a piece of shit abuser, so...
I think meeting w friends, for Picasso probably artist friends, we can’t underestimate how much that contributed to his creativity, ideas and inspiration too.
...and a surrounding culture that values and supports artists. I would not say the US is that kind of place, unless the artist happens to be financially successful, in which case he/she is celebrated, but those people are in the extreme minority.
This ie truly beautiful video but I feel he was missing out of going to the coffee shop (which in Europe this is how you start every morning) and having breakfast and beeing with people. Just to have a bright start of your day. Its not going and sitting alone with your computer its about see people and be seen.
You're a very genuine person. I wish you alot of succes in this life.
I love how you phrase it as emotional poverty. “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Exceptional video. Beautiful production. What kind of programs do you use to animate?
Ever child is an artist, the trick is how to remain one when growing up
The best time for creativity is late at night. When its dark, quiet and mysterious.
The Hunter S. Thompson daily routine is what I wanna see.
Indeed. Wake up and take a sip of rum, some pills, and write for a unholy amount of time in one sitting. Than ride a bike. Repeat. *cheffs kiss*
“Having control over the Intentional flow of your Intention and Energy”...🗣 Brilliant ✨
me, a nocturnal artist, watching this:
wow guess i share picasso's daily routine
Oh hey i watch your videos
There’s a difference between a creative mind and a business mind. Creativity comes better when the mind is relaxed and calm where reading and comprehension of business tasks are sharper in the first few hours.
Not really. I have much better reading comprehension late at night.
It deoends. There are people zombie in the first hours and really alert at night
Very insightful. And beautifully edited video. I loved it!
"Morning routines" are the worst things ever created... As a night owl I can say that they have been the bane of my existence almost since birth :P . Fuck morning routines... despise them with a passion.
It's not surprising, "morning routines" and the desire to impose them on others were likely dreamt up by some asshole lark.
@@233Hicks Yeah :P
We were the men and women that biologically/evolutionarily stayed up at night and kept the tribe safe at night from predators or other tribes... and humanity says thanks by imposing forceful and man-made rules onto nightowls.
It's not a coincidence that depression-rates within Evening-active people are considerably higher compared to the early riser counterparts...
We're basically an oppressed minority, heh.
@@Kiiltec thank you.
People have a misconception of laziness association with night owls. You aren't lazy just because you start later, if you still work the same amount of hours anyway.
@@elimdd I wish... my natural clock goes from roughly 4-6am to 10-12 am , if i go to sleep within that timeframe iam usually well rested , also if i sleep anytime over the day...
But work forces me to be up at 5am which is basically almost the exact time my body and brain try to get into sleepmode , reducing my overall mental and physical health aswell as my brains ability to think considerably, along with bad insomnia... and then i get shit for being late or taking many sickdays :P I don't wanna know how often I've been told that " I just need a healthy routine and need to go to bed early enough!" . Makes me incredibly mad to hear everytime...
It's prettymuch literal torture, but not something modern society will ever adjust to support as the world is under control by the so called "early risers".
I really respect how you celebrated his creativity as an artist while also acknowledging his flaws as a person.
I love the idea of following daily routines of highly successful people. It gives you a glimpse into their lifestyle and how dedicated they are to their life's work. I feel like there is so much more we can learn from the previous greats of our world. Well done Nathaniel.
There you are again brother ;)
OMG Nathaniel, what you do here is so sincere and awesome! Exploring yourself and the world and sharing it with us in such a natural yet exciting high-quality manner - it's precious! Thank you so much!
*“Take responsibility of your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands.”*
Painting late at night is soo much fun! It gives such a sense of freedom I think :D
I feel like I miss out on detail that natural light allows me to see ,so I don't paint at night so i watch youtube videos 😰😣😒😒😒😒😒 it's best if I reconsider
I’m surprised you didn’t bring up his heavy opium usage, as if his schedule is the main thing that enhanced his ability to dissociate and come up with his unique style
My one art history teacher brought this up in class. I can see how this can be possible, personally my art style has evolved thanks to substances.
His style was heavily influenced by some West African art
A lot of distorted ways of painting and drawing, like cubism, where provably inspired by drug use.
@@Ignasimp fworks for me.
This was so interesting! You literally walked a mile in someone else's shoes. Great concept Nathaniel.
I love how counterintuitive this routine is to all the "self help guru routines!" Great video and editing as always! 😍🙌🏻
Hello how are you doing 😊😊😊
You missed adding something to that Picasso routine: Drinking heavily.
yeah his schedule makes a lot more sense once you factor in the drink and drugs
@@soonaftermidnight Im curious how that makes "more sense"to you?
@@berealrelentless6237 I suppose it depends on the time of day he was drinking huh?
And opium.
LMFAO 😩
this is put together so well! enjoyed every bit of it
you should make honest review of his videos
this is a very interesting vid 🤌🤌
LOVE THIS! I am naturally a night owl and have always struggled to be a "early bird". Now that I work for myself I have allowed by natural rhythm to take over and determine what my "working hours" really are now. I don't do Picasso's hours, but my peak work hours are 3-9 and so I work around that and am in bed by 1:30am and up around 10:30am.
i think the big chunks of time are key!! i just realized this recently. i have lots of different pursuits that i like to focus my time on and i’ve been making the mistake of trying to split them up into small chunks like an hour for this, an hour and a half for that, but that doesn’t allow you enough time to get into the flow. i’m changing my schedule asapppp
I need to try Nathaniel Drew's daily routine tbh
😂😂😂
My favorite time to paint is in the middle of the night. No distractions, everyone is asleep, and I can work uninterrupted. I kind of think I could enjoy this routine.
Hello how are you doing 😊😊😊😊
I am loving this whole series! I also love the little doggie painting. We have become a society of constant multi tasking and not being particularly moved by one thing, that one or two things that drives us. I'm the "weirdo" because I focus on my art, photography, animals and being outside. I removed everything else that does not fit those categories.
A surprising amount of famous artists exercised a lot =)
the fact that no one talks about the editing... this is amazing.
I came across this & it is exactly what I needed to see. I hear and read about the "morning routine" all of the time. Thing is, not everyone's clock is the same. I'm a night owl, it's also my most productive and creative time. So... it's really cool to know that I'm not alone.
I am not sure an 11 AM to 3 AM schedule would work for me but I know the traditional business day wasn't exactly right during my work career either. So finding your own rhythm would be a key. The other take away for me is blocking out the time for the various activities that you feel are important to accomplish. Now in retirement I have taken up writing and have returned to music and painting. But without blocking out the time I find myself jumping from one to the other and too often taken over by distractions. So next is to commit to blocks of time for preferred activities. This video is inspiring and incredibly well done. thanks!!
It’s easy to dismiss his actions from his work. He said himself that he leaves his body at the door. You are a fellow artist, as am I. You know the feeling of drinking from the spring. In the zone, personality long gone, who cares if it ever returns. It is you and the membrane you work on. Anyways, love your work.
Here is the thing, we all know what we want to do or who we want to become in life. We don’t need reminders to chase or dreams or goals because that person we want to become is engraved in our mind. It’s just that most of us are affected by the thoughts and opinions of others and within 10 years you realize you were in the same exact place you started and most of us will think it is too late and just decide to just give up our dreams.
Keep in mind this isn’t everyone’s story. I just wanted to share my thoughts from personal experience :)
Also Nathaniel, your art is amazing.
Have a good day everyone :)
Wow, that is deep and yet so true. If your still breathing it’s never too late to start.
Thank you 😊
I found your coment very interesting because, in a matter o fact, the biggest problem in my life always was NOT knowing what is my purpose. I have artistic things that I enjoy to do (write, sing, acting) however I do not know if any would qualify as a passion per se? Either way, I think that's why I don't invest that much effort and time into it... I always feel like something is missing...
@@getreadywithmaddie4656 don’t worry. Just don’t give up on what you love. :)
@@getreadywithmaddie4656 like he said ,u r going in circles ,u dont think they are a passion per se cause u didn give them enough energy , without energy they are nothing ....so is your life now compared to " the purpose " u envisioned in the beginning .
Undoubtedly one of my favourite videos from you - they get better and better!
Just a quick shoutout of how important and helpful is to have this kind of videos subtitled. For us spanish speaking people to have the chance to find this videos and to be able to understand them is huge.
Congrats.
I’m adhd and this is really my preferred rhythm. It’s what my body naturally does. All my life people have tried to change that and I finally just don’t GAF. You gotta do what works for you.
My son has ADHD and this is definitely his routine. I just wish school and society wasn't such a 9-5 world!
I'm one of those weird early bird ADHDers, so I'm up at 430 am and asleep by 9-10pm 😅😅
Although on longer holidays I do revert to 530-6am to 10-11pm
ADHD high five! I gotta switch my schedule because of my work, so I try to get in bed not too late. Having only 6 or 7 hours of sleep kills my vibe :) I live in both worlds. I would love to have a schedule starting at 8/9 am, but i tend to stay up too long. Saying this - I continue my drawing now and go to bed :D
I’m autistic, and have the same exact thing going on. I’m done with letting people decide what works for me, because it never did. Very much agree.
*Art is a lie that makes us realize truth.* -Pablo Picasso
In spain, 11 AM is actually kind of early. Most things don't even open here til 10 AM. Especially in southern spain where he is from.
I worked retail in Barcelona and we wouldn’t open until noon 😅
@@killsunhee and then you close between 2 and 5 for siesta time
"finding a rhythm that fits you it's the most important thing": thank you
*"It doesn't matter what your background is or where you come from; if you have dreams and goals, that's what matters."*
True. Anyone can have a can do attitude.
Hey, it’s QUITE unfair!!
As if everyone had the same background
I am not trying to sound like a failure, I really get what you mean, but it’s not true
It’s kind of hateful, as if most people (poor) suffer everyday just because they are not able to make themselves successful
It’s even dumb to say it in a world that is designed to just give the illusion you can grow while this only happens to a very small amount of people
It’s impossible to most ppl to be successful, it’s against the way the world works
@@gabrieltomaz6034 GM. I know what your saying. I came from a background with my parents starting off poor than they had more in my teen years. I never felt deprived tho materially. I had a lot and graduated highschool early.
I than had my family and chose to live a different lifestyle homeschooling my kids. We lived on one income and I felt the lack of income. But I will tell you now I work again and would not trade the time I had of being below the poverty line with my family. I learned to live off the grid and get frugal. Self development was huge. It was well worth the cost. I used community resources and enjoyed my kids. Where there is a will there is a way.
@@gabrieltomaz6034 And just to add to this my mom came from the projects. My grandmother had 10 kids, dirt poor. So my parents poverty at first was to work hard to get ahead and they did.
@@energeticconfidentlady4254
I truly believe you
And I know where you want to get
It’s just not the reality of most people in the world
You can say “they have time with their family at least! You don’t rly need to have a lot to be happy”
That’s true, but, more than half of the world is poor or below it
And, the message above isn’t for everyone, that’s what I mean
Working hard and growing in life is only true in developed countries, only a few ones,,,
wouldn't have clicked if incredible hadn't been in the title - ESPECIALLY inside these ( ) bad boys!!
By the way, most people don't realize the actual inventor of abstract art was a woman named Hilma af Klint.
She also invented the “AF”
As in: chill AF, bored AF, excited AF, etc... she was quite the woman that Hilma AF Klint!
@@TheSlambert123 lol af
btw learning a lot about the person in question is a really cool side effect. keep putting in random facts, it makes everything so enjoyable to watch
Waking up early is not necessarily going to make you more productive. We tend to have this idea that just because successful people do it, that alone is enough of a reason to do it but the reality is that you have to figure a time that works for you and allows you to be at your best.
This applies to everything too though. Trying to copy other people will never ever produce anything great. Not a single great artist of any kind throughout the history of humanity has ever made what they did by copying anyone else. In fact, entirely the opposite. Though this stuff sure makes for youtube content for making ad revenue...
Circadian rhythms are also subject to variation as you age. Teenagers, for example, are better off going to bed around 1-2ish and getting up at around 10-ish. Later in life, the natural rhythm shifts more towards the morning.
Where does this obssesion with productivity, self improvement and goals come from?? We have become our worst exploiters!!!!
Yep, artists and philosophers of the past would have laughed about how much people have become slaves to the capitalist idea of "growth" some people internalized so deeply today. Especially "content creators" and "influencers".
Some people just feel sad/uncomfortable when they look back on a time in their life and realize they didn't do anything. You only have one life. Why not make the best of it?
Becasu trying to improve yourself, being productive, or setting goals is how you get things done. Good grief, do you think Picasso would be who he was, create so many pieces of work, or explore so many styles if he didn't devote himself to his work, have goals, or keep trying to improve?
"Hyperfocus" on a special interest also exists, becoming obsessive. No matter how much I know about certain subjects, I always want to have more, better, and to expand what I can do. Not for anyone else or for profit but because I want to be the damn best at something.
@@downtime86stars17 yes the result is evident A WORLD FULL IF IDIOTS sorry I meant a world full of PICASSOS!!
I don't think Picasso was just dedicating himself. To someone who painted until a few hours before his death I feel he was taking something out of him, something that he just needed to put on a canvas.
My art teacher always said that the last paintings of Picasso were made by his family Who forced him to paint Just for the Money
@@pinetinav9083 ok, this kills all the romantic view I had of this situation lol. But good to know, thanks.
Great video. As an artist myself, I've found that everyone has their own rhythm. I've tended to work in really strong bursts of energy with lulls in between where I focus on building a cache of ideas to work into an overarching concept. For me, having a daily routine where I just paint isn't necessarily where I thrive. if I have nothing meaningful to paint, why would I just paint still lifes? Granted it would probably be better for exercising my mind as a muscle. but creating art is this living breathing thing. and it needs rest as well.