ONE ARTIST’S STORY…

“I have found confidence in myself and a new mindset. Listening to Matt’s teaching/mentoring and the support of the community of artist has made a huge difference since I joined. My family and close friends say I am not the same person I use to be, “what happened” they ask! God’s gift in me is springing forth like a seed that is growing that had been dormant for years. No more fear holding me captive. This is huge for me friends. As a result I am painting and creating like never before and with a new confidence, a new reality. Each day is closer to having my own voice, having a business and being successful.” 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) states that small businesses (including art businesses), that receive mentoring or coaching have a 70% higher chance of surviving the critical first five years compared to those without mentoring support.

Finding an Art Mentor: 6 Questions You Should Ask

Choosing someone to walk with you on your own artistic journey is probably one of the most important choices you’ll make as an artist.  Why? Because who you choose as your art mentor determines what seeds you’re going to plant in your life and ultimately, what fruit is going to be produced. As you consider choosing an art mentor to help you on your journey as an artist, let me offer a few questions you need to ask:

• Do they have actual experience or just good ideas? 
  One of the big frustrations I hear from artists who are seeing an artist mentor or creative coach is that the people offering the artist mentoring haven’t actually been successful themselves. They are professional consultants but have never actually made a living selling art.  Artists who choose to work with me as their mentor really value the fact that I have been and continue to be a very successful working artist who is making a six-figure income from my art and thriving creatively.
  
• Is this a one-sided relationship, or is there opportunity for actual interaction with your mentor? 
  Many online and so-called “artist mentorship programs” out there are simply archives of information. One thing I’ve learned over the years in mentoring hundreds of artists is that real change only happens when there’s good information AND powerful interaction.  However, interaction with the artist mentor is not the only interaction that’s needed. It’s also important to connect with others on the same journey for encouragement and collaboration. In my “Created to Thrive Artist Mentorship Program” we offer both weekly interaction with me through live q/a sessions and a vibrant Facebook community with other artists in the program.
  
• Can I access their resources when and where I want? 
  How and when you learn depends on so many variables. I know life happens and so that’s why I’ve made all my resources available anywhere, anytime, 24/7 via my members-only website. You can also interact with other artists on the journey through our Created to Thrive Artist Mentorship Program Facebook community.
  
• Is the information they are providing actually going to help me on my journey as an artist? 
  Again, lots of consultants out there have good ideas, but are they actually practical and proven?  Because everything I share and impart to the members of Created to Thrive is based in my own journey and best practices as a thriving artist, you can rest assured that the tips, tricks and methodology I teach are proven and work. I’m an internationally celebrated artist, recognized by the Smithsonian Museum of American Art’s Renwick Gallery as an American Artist Under 40 (2011) and a member of the prestigious Southern Highland Craft Guild. The proof is in my own business and in the lives of countless members of Created to Thrive who are now experiencing success in their art.
  
• Does the art mentor have a holistic approach? 
  I’ve come to believe that thriving as an artist is not just about being a better artist or stronger marketer, but rather aligning with your divine design as an artist.  Everything else flows out of that foundational relationship with God. If you don’t know who you are, what you want, where you’re going and what God says about all of that, no marketing trick is going to enable you to live the life you were designed to live.  My art mentorship program is so unique because it is all about the convergence of a healthy, vibrant spiritual identity, growing in your artist excellence and learning how to establish, cultivate and grow a thriving art business.  It’s a holistic approach to artist coaching.
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• Will you connect on a spiritual level with your art mentor? 
  I believe who you receive from has a big determining factor on what fruit gets produced in your life. As a Christian, it’s important that I mentor other artists from that perspective. I believe each person is divinely endowed in a supernatural investment and it’s my great honor to help you uncover that investment as led by the Holy Spirit.  You were created to be an artist that releases the supernatural life and light of God.

Another Artist’s Story… 

“Wow! I’m a bit floored by the amount of insight that teaching just brought to me. I’m shocked because these are all thing I thought I “knew” and had heard before but something just clicked in as I listened.  What this teaching made me realize is the paradigm I was living in then was completely different. These past 5 years I have allowed disappointment and hurt to rule my thoughts and it has been an uphill battle. Well, this revelation just popped my disappointment bubble big time! An ah-ha moment for sure! I’m still in shock that I couldn’t see it before this…but the time is now and God is so gracious to draw me out into truth. Thank you so much! I’m excited to see where this leads!”