“Enjoy the process, not the outcome.”

It began when I showed my son Liam the works of Spanish artist Bruno Olle, whose exhibition we’d once visited in Barcelona. Liam asked me a simple question: “What’s his favorite color?” and with that, our family-style interview was born.

Bruno Olle is not just an artist; he's a gentle philosopher of creativity, and his answers are too good not to share with your little ones.

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Here are 5 things to learn from a conversation with Bruno Olle, lessons for young artists, curious minds, and anyone navigating frustration, perfectionism, or the pressure to “get it right.”

1. “Enjoy the process, not the outcome.”

Bruno shared that in both life and art, fixating on the final result can steal your joy. Instead, he encourages kids (and grown-ups!) to love the process itself.

“If you have a really clear ending in mind, you’ll never reach it. It’s the feeling that matters. I exercise my mind to live in the moment.”

Even when things don’t go as planned, and they often don’t, staying present is what keeps the magic alive.

2. Art is not about perfection. It’s about curiosity.

When I asked how he knows a piece is done, Bruno said it’s a feeling. He often plays with pieces like a puzzle, mixing and surprising himself with the outcome.

“You go really far when you’re a kid. Then, over time, you simplify searching for a balance between fragility and strength.”

Let your child experiment. Let them go “too far.” That’s how they learn to find their own rhythm.

3. Let it go. (Yes, even the masterpiece.)

When Bruno sells a painting, he sees it like a child leaving home. It’s hard but necessary.

“They’ll probably care for it more than I would,” he said of his collectors. “It’s an exercise in letting go.”

Teaching our kids to create without clinging to the result might be one of the healthiest lessons art can offer.

4. Break the mold. Draw a house shaped like a cloud.

Bruno challenged a familiar childhood image: the triangle-roofed house with a square base.

“Why do we teach kids to draw the same house?” he asked. “What if a house looked like an animal or was made of stones?”

Art gives children the freedom to think differently. It helps them imagine worlds that don’t exist… yet. And that's where innovation begins.

5. Color matters, but not how you think.

Liam's original question finally got its answer: Bruno’s favorite color is white.

“White is the color that balances everything.”

Creativity is something warm and close, something worth protecting in childhood. So, next time your child says “I messed up” during an art project, maybe tell them what Bruno told us: You didn’t mess up. You’re just in the middle of the process.

And that might be the most beautiful place to be.

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