Listen "E49: Artists! Chip Away At Something Great"
Episode Synopsis
Check out my Free Brainstorming Workshop: https://mightyartisan.com/worldbuilding Learn to silence your inner critic. Ignite creative ideas. And watch a live demo of these techniques in action.
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This is The Forty Ninth Episode of the Visual Scholar Podcast - With Tim Mcburnie.
What if you could create your masterpiece by working just 15 minutes at a time?
Below is in Automagically generated summary so you can check out the content and also to help with search functionality!
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This episode challenges the belief that meaningful artistic work requires long, uninterrupted sessions of 6+ hours. The discussion explores how artists can create significant projects by chipping away in 15-minute increments, and why this approach often produces better results than waiting for perfect conditions.
The episode examines the relationship between flow states and shorter work sprints, drawing parallels to athletic performance where focus can be achieved despite distractions. It breaks down the practical advantages of building a "chipping away" muscle, including staying warmed up creatively, reducing friction to starting work, and replacing passive screen time with active creation. The core argument centers on the principle that all great works are completed through accumulated small efforts, and that learning to manage projects in small chunks prepares artists for larger opportunities when they arise.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:10 Welcome
00:02:27 Why We Think We Need 6-Hour Sessions
00:06:45 Flow, Focus, and Small Chunks of Time
00:18:13 The Advantages of Building the Chipping Away Muscle
00:31:19 Making Art More Fun
00:35:24 Big Things Are Always Finished by Small Efforts
00:48:29 The Analytical Takeaway
00:52:34 The Simple Takeaway
00:53:00 The Practical Takeaway
00:57:10 The Philosophical Takeaway
01:00:36 Out
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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.
You Can Find The Visual Scholar Podcast In These Places:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-visual-scholar/id1678505411
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/6VbdwbiZqy8nqb90ruKQCX?si=21b9c1d02c85419f
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MightyArtisan
Show Homepage:
https://visualscholar.mightyartisan.com
Where To Find More About Tim Mcburnie:
Learn Drawing and Illustration at The Drawing Codex:
www.thedrawingcodex.com
Take Your Career and Productivity To The Next Level:
www.mightyartisan.com
The Drawing Codex Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheDrawingCodex
Mighty Artisan Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@MightyArtisan
Portfolio: www.timmcburnie.com
www.artstation.com/tim-mcburnie
www.instagram.com/timmcburnie
x.com/timmcburnie
More episodes of the podcast The Visual Scholar
E52: The Truth About Art Industry Deadlines
09/09/2025
E51: The 3 Elements Your Art Style Needs
29/07/2025
E50: The Hidden Power of Artistic Intent
14/07/2025
E47: You Need Your Own Worldbuilding Process
11/06/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.