Thinking about the film...

The question asks if artists are monks. I believe that they are similar in the way that they must sometimes have to live under certain restrictions like monks do. Not in a religious way, but as artists, although we make work that is attractive or makes sense to us, at least in art school, we have to aim to please a group of people in order to achieve as a student. For example, one thing I dislike doing is drawing from life, especially on projects where I want a specific pose that is sometimes hard to find the right circumstances to situate. Also, like monks, a lot of times artists live under poverty. So in these types of ways, I feel that monks and artists are similar.
"It's peaceful in this temple, but outside it is turbulent." This quote about Shaolin in relation to art school makes me think of ways they are similar. Like in the temple, in art school we are all working toward a common goal. We try to help and encourage each other in order for each of us to grow. It is a challenge, but it is also a safe place because we know that our actions are not going to make or break us. In the real world though, (outside the temple) failure is not taken so forgivingly. Especially in the art world, we must aim to please the public in order to make it as a career. In the movie, the temple is a place where the monks work together in order to achieve a common goal. But the world outside for them is much more intimidating.
In art, "to challenge the master" stands for the struggle that we face as artists. The task is not only to make work that is attractive to ourselves but we must also impress society. As an artist aspiring to make a living, one must be a sort of people pleaser in a sense that we have to conform to the likes and dislikes of the public. The quote could also mean that we have to challenge ourselves, or to challenge what has already been done and to push it further. In any case, we face challenges as artists to please a mass number of people.
To me, making art after school will be very different. I have only experienced foundation year, where in a sense we have no choice but to take certain classes that may be below our common interests. In some ways, this is very limiting to what making art in the real world will be like. But when I compare the two, I know that making art after we graduate will allow a lot more freedom. I am looking forward to it, but the idea of complete freedom and no restrictions is also an intimidating factor, but I look forward to it nonetheless!