E43: How To Turn Up Your Visual Volume

Update: 2025-04-12

Description

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 Third Episode of the Visual Scholar Podcast - With Tim Mcburnie.

In a world where everyone's employing every attention-grabbing trick imaginable, your artistic success doesn't come from adding more techniques—it comes from having the clarity and courage to focus only on those that truly amplify your authentic voice.

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In this episode of The Visual Scholar, I dive deep into how artists can amplify their unique style and message in today's oversaturated attention economy. I explore three distinct categories of attention-grabbing techniques: biological markers (like bright colors and contrast that appeal to our primal instincts), illustration theory (composition principles developed over centuries), and narrative structures (story elements that naturally hook viewers). The key insight isn't adding more techniques, but rather identifying which specific approaches genuinely amplify your authentic message while having the courage to remove those that don't serve your artistic voice – even if they're objectively "good" techniques.

I share my own journey of realizing that fan art, dynamic superhero poses, and hyper-detailed rendering weren't authentic to my artistic voice, despite being pushed as "essential" in the comic book world. What worked better for me was focusing on storytelling, creating detailed scenes with multiple characters, and building fantastical worlds. This clarity allowed me to stop spinning my wheels on skills that weren't serving my vision and instead develop the specific techniques that amplified my unique artistic voice. When you align your genuine interests with your creative output and find people who resonate with that authentic voice, everything becomes more enjoyable and success snowballs rather than feeling like an uphill battle.

— 00:00 Intro 02:11 Welcome 03:26 Preface 10:48 The Different Categories of Impact and Attention 33:19 Which Methods Should YOU Use? 37:35 Focusing... And Giving Up On Stuff That Works 44:21 The Analytical 46:17 The Simple Takeaway 46:34 The Practical Takeaway 48:34 The Philosophical Takeaway 52:45 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