ISSUE #014
Have you ever wondered if your art really matters? If it’s just a hobby, something fun to do on the side—or if it actually has eternal significance?
This week, I want to remind you that your art isn’t just a personal pastime; it’s a divine invitation. God planted creativity deep inside you as a reflection of His own heart, and when you create, you’re partnering with Him to release beauty, hope, and transformation into the world.
In my new YouTube video, “Why Your Art Matters More Than You Think,” I explore this truth in depth. I believe it’s going to awaken something inside you and help you see your art through God’s eyes—full of purpose, power, and potential. May this week be filled with intentional reflection, creative breakthroughs, and meaningful connection with the Creator who put that beautiful imagination inside you.
I’m cheering you on always!
Matt Tommey
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CONNECT
Scripture: Genesis 1:27 (NLT) — “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
Devotional Thought:
You were created in the image of a Creator. That’s not a coincidence; it’s a calling. Your creativity is a mirror reflecting His beauty and goodness to a world desperate for authentic hope. Whether you paint, sculpt, weave, or write—each brushstroke or word is an invitation for someone to encounter the heart of God.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for making me in Your image and entrusting me with creative gifts. Help me to see my art as a holy calling and to use it to bring Your love and light into the world. Give me courage to share it boldly and faithfully. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Action Step:
Take 10 minutes today to journal about how your art reflects God’s image and ask Him to reveal fresh ways to use it to bless others.
CLARIFY
This week, let’s get super clear: Your art is not an afterthought—it’s an assignment. If God has given you this gift, it deserves your time, focus, and energy. Think of your creative practice as a ministry to both your own soul and to others who will experience it.
Reflect on what it would look like to honor your art as a divine calling. What small changes could you make this week to treat it with the importance it deserves? Maybe it’s scheduling studio time, investing in new materials, or simply sharing a piece online.
Action Step:
Write down one concrete way you’ll prioritize your art this week—and put it on your calendar today.
CREATE
When we step into the studio, we’re not just making “things.” We’re participating in God’s ongoing act of creation. Every moment you spend creating is an opportunity to cultivate intimacy with Him and let His Spirit flow through you.
Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” When you create, do it wholeheartedly, knowing you’re offering it as worship.
Action Step:
Set aside a focused block of time this week (even just an hour!) to create purely for the joy of it, inviting God into every brushstroke, stitch, or note.
CULTIVATE
Your audience isn’t just potential customers—they’re people who long to encounter hope and beauty. When you share your art, you’re opening a door for God to move in unexpected ways.
Think about how you can invite people into your creative story this week. Maybe it’s a behind-the-scenes video, a personal post about what inspired your latest piece, or an in-person conversation at your church or local art fair.
Action Step:
Choose one piece of art and write a short story about its meaning or process. Share it on social media and invite your audience to respond.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
🎯 Pinterest: Your Visual Testimony Board
Pinterest isn’t just a platform for recipes and home décor—it’s a powerful tool for artists! Create boards that share your creative journey, finished pieces, and process shots. Each pin becomes an opportunity for someone to discover your work and connect with the message behind it.
Check out Pinterest for artists: https://business.pinterest.com
INSPIRE
At Waunakee High School in Wisconsin, many students thought 18-year-old Molly Schafer was a loner. But instead of withdrawing completely, Molly chose a surprising way to reconnect: she painted 44 stunning portraits of her classmates — spending over 600 hours in her garage loft to bring them to life.
Her courageous gesture left her peers deeply moved and reflecting on the power of connection. Molly’s story reminds us that art can be a bridge to healing and unexpected friendship — if we’re willing to take the first step.
Read the Full Story or watch below
LISTEN
Podcast Episode: Authentically Connecting on Social Media
Gone are the days of just posting pretty pictures and waiting for sales. In 2025, it’s all about building authentic, heart-level connection. This week on the podcast, I’m sharing exactly what turns casual followers into passionate collectors — and spoiler alert: it’s not about algorithm hacks or perfect photos.
We’ll unpack how to tell your story in a way that invites people into your world, use each social platform strategically (yes, even TikTok!), and make real invitations instead of surface-level announcements. Whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, or anywhere else, this episode gives you practical steps to build a true community that loves your art and wants to support your journey.
Key takeaway: When you lead with authenticity and connection, you don’t just gain followers — you build a family of collectors who believe in you.
WATCH
“Canvas and Clay” by Pat Barrett
This beautiful worship song captures the heart of being God’s artwork—shaped, molded, and refined by the Master Artist. Let it remind you that you are a masterpiece in progress and that your art can reflect His goodness no matter where you are on the journey.
FEATURED ARTIST: Shana Grugan
Layers of Beauty, Shadows of His Presence
Website | Instagram
For Shana Grugan, art isn’t just about what we see on the surface—it’s about uncovering the deep, unseen processes that reflect God’s presence and promises.
Shana is an acrylic painter working on canvas, panel, and paper, inspired by the natural world, especially botanicals. But it’s not just the flowers and plants themselves that capture her imagination—it’s the story behind them. The seed buried underground, the rooting before sprouting, the play of light and shadows—all of it mirrors God’s ways in our lives.
“My hope is that the final image of beauty beckons the viewer to lean closer to ponder the process beneath it,” she says.
Her current body of work focuses on shadow shapes, each unique and fleeting—like a whispered promise from God that is here today and never the same again. This revelation began during a season of exhaustion when she noticed the dancing tree shadows on the pavement while taking her new puppy outside. Psalm 91:1 came alive: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” It was a moment of profound rest and covering that forever marked her creative path.
Through the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, Shana went from wrestling with doubt and the question, “Am I good enough?” to becoming fully persuaded by God’s promises over her life.
“I now have a God-given vision as my roadmap for my life, creative work, and business,” she shares. “I’ve learned to apply ‘faithful with little, ruler of much,’ and as I take steps of faith, God shows up!”
One beautiful example of this was a recent divine connection with an author of a Christian mini-book series. Years after praying with her at church, Shana was invited to create art for the book’s cover—a commission she would have previously shied away from. She stepped out in faith and was blessed to see God use her art to encourage and inspire others through the book’s message.
At the heart of Shana’s life and practice is journaling the voice of God. This is not compartmentalized—it’s foundational to every part of her creative and spiritual life. She writes, listens, and co-creates with the Lord, uncovering layers of His goodness along the way.
Her encouragement to fellow artists?
“Remember God’s vision for your life. Make it real by imagining it, regularly. Then take the one step He shows you and say yes to the invitation. Be faithful and joyful in the journey.”
Currently in a season of “simplifying” and “fertilizing,” Shana is focusing deeply on her most fruitful gallery relationships, intentional learning, and meeting consistently with an artist friend for encouragement and accountability.
Through every layer, texture, and shadow, Shana Grugan invites us to look deeper—beyond the surface—to see the hidden beauty of God at work in every season.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
Would you like to be considered for one of our artist features? We love sharing the work from our friends around the world who create unique, beautiful and inspired art, regardless of creative medium. And just a reminder, your work does NOT have to be overtly faith-based to be considered. Interested? Just complete this application: https://forms.gle/vmtyk6wg3hSuUAhi9
Resources for Christian Artists
If you’re ready to grow as an artist in your faith, art and even business, then check out these affordable resources for artists just like you.
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