This is The Thirty Fourth Episode of the Visual Scholar Podcast With Tim Mcburnie.

Let's talk about challenge. And more importantly how finding the right level of challenge for your art can be a major key to your overall improvement and happiness as an artist.

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CHALLENGE IN ART
Finding the right level of challenge in your art is crucial. It’s easy to either bite off more than you can chew or take it too easy, resulting in unproductive work or lifeless creations.

IMPORTANCE OF PUSHING YOURSELF
To progress, you need to stay at the edge of your comfort zone. This involves understanding three key things:

The edge of your comfort zone.
When you're well within your abilities.
When you're biting off more than you can chew.

ARTISTIC CHALLENGE ELEMENTS
Consider the following elements:

Knowledge of the Subject: Do you know what you’re drawing?
Technical Skills: Do you know how to draw it?
Medium: Are you familiar with the tools and materials you're using?

PRACTICE AND GROWTH
A lot of artistic improvement comes from practice. Art, like sports or dance, is a physical skill that improves with repetition. The right amount of challenge helps you focus and enter a flow state, enhancing creativity.

FINDING THE BALANCE
Too little challenge is boring; too much is overwhelming. Aim for a "Goldilocks" zone where the challenge is just right, typically around 4% beyond your current abilities.

MANAGING CHALLENGE
Break down your challenges:
Focus on one element at a time (e.g., drawing a castle, mastering a medium).
Combine new elements gradually.
Use familiar subjects to explore new techniques.

BEGINNERS AND SIMPLE IMAGES
For beginners, start with the simplest images possible and gradually increase complexity. Build a small comfort zone and expand from there. Even simple images can teach you valuable skills.

ADVANCING TECHNIQUE
If you're more experienced, incrementally add new elements (e.g., incorporating technical objects into fantasy scenes). This helps bridge gaps in your skills without overwhelming you.

CREATIVE URGES AND CAREER GROWTH
Creativity thrives on a mix of comfort and challenge. Always having a bit of uncertainty keeps the process exciting. Your goal is constant selfimprovement without burnout.

CONCLUSION
Understanding and managing the right level of challenge keeps you motivated and helps you improve. It’s about finding a balance where you can push your abilities without feeling overwhelmed.

00:00 Intro
02:25 Welcome
02:47 Comfort Vs Challenge Vs Flow
07:32 Why The Right Level Of Challenge Is Key
14:28 The Different Aspects Of Challenge
23:27 Figuring Out Where You Are Right Now
30:40 The Analytical TakeAway
32:34 The Simple TakeAway
32:57 The Practical TakeAway
35:58 The Philosophical TakeAway
39:08 Out!


This Podcast is designed to help you demystify the world of Art, Productivity, and Creativity. So you can get better faster, and enjoy your Art Journey. We discuss Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Entertainment Design. Along with Productivity and Career Advice.

The Visual Scholar Podcast is designed to help you demystify the world of Art, Productivity, and Creativity. So you can get better faster, and enjoy your Art Journey.
We discuss Drawing, Painting, Illustration and Entertainment Design. Along with Productivity and Career Advice.

Find Visual Scholar as an Audio Podcast Here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6VbdwbiZqy8nqb90ruKQCX?si=21b9c1d02c85419f

Show homepage on The Drawing Codex:
www.thedrawingcodex.com/podcasts/thevisualscholar

Learn more about Tim Mcburnie:

Learn Drawing and Illustration at The Drawing Codex: www.thedrawingcodex.com

Check out The Drawing Codex Youtube Channel:
   / @thedrawingcodex  

Portfolio: www.timmcburnie.com
www.artstation.com/timmcburnie
www.instagram.com/timmcburnie
twitter.com/timmcburnie