The comfort zone is a mental space you go to where you are safe, at ease, anxiety neutral, and usually without a sense of risk. So what does this have to do with being an artist? This week on Thriving Women Artists, Ping, Sarah, and Dorien will discuss when you need to leave your comfort zone, how they can go in cycles, and their own unique tips and experience on growth. 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

In certain moments you need to be in a comfort zone to do repetitive work when you need to, but if you’re not taking risks then you are limiting yourself as an artist. 
It can be scary to go out of your comfort zone, we feel this way in all walks of life not just in art. It can be tied to fear, rejection, and confidence. 
You can go into a cycle, going in and out of comfort zones when those things you once found scary become comfortable. Then you go onto the next new scary thing.
Comfort zones are personal to each individual, we all have different areas where we don’t feel as confident or feel scared. 
When Sarah filmed her Domestika course she was in a country where she didn’t speak the language, doing something she’s never done before, feeling overwhelmed by what she had to do. At the time she thought it was too far out of her comfort zone. But Sarah got through it and feels like she's grown a lot from the experience. 
Chasing something too far away can make you retreat to your comfort zone. Remember to test yourself but don’t take that huge step all at once. It stops being the growing edge at that point. Take a step out of your comfort zone, but make sure it’s the right size step for you. 

 
BEST MOMENTS
‘The comfort zone is a very risk averse place’ 
‘Then you can go step by step to the growth zone’ 
‘It’s important to be kind to yourself’
‘We face the challenge and earn a lot of skills along the way’
‘I did survive….. And thrive’ 
 
EPISODE RESOURCES 
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
Helen Stephens
 
ABOUT THE PODCAST 
A serious and fun podcast for female creatives hosted by Ping, Dorien and Sarah, three happy artists from Amsterdam.  This podcast will inspire you to make a living out of your art. We welcome you to be part of this community of like-minded people.
www.thrivingwomenartists.com
www.instagram.com/twapodcast
 
ABOUT THE HOSTS
Ping He 
Ping is a watercolor artist. Her work is inspired by nature and her motherhood experience. She develops her greeting cards brand and teaches Botanical Illustration courses online and offline. 
www.pinghe.art
info@pinghe.art
www.instagram.com/pinghe.art
 
Sarah van Dongen 
Sarah is a children’s book illustrator and visual artist. She takes her sketchbooks and art supplies everywhere, which results in illustrations based on observation and daily life.
www.sarahvandongen.com
sarahvandongenillustration@gmail.com
www.instagram.com/sarahvandongenillustrations
 
Dorien Bellaar:
Dorien is an illustration artist. Her work is mainly focused on illustration for children, editorial/food illustration, hand lettering, and she likes to combine those into both traditional and digital art. 
www.dorienbellaar.nl
hello@dorienbellaar.nl 
www.instagram.com/dorienbellaarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.