• Thrive Where You’re Planted

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    Are you one of the many artists I know who lives, works, and creates while living in the middle of nowhere? Have you ever wondered how you can sell art and thrive in business if you’re stuck out in the boondocks?

    Well, in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring and my blog, I’ll share with you a few time-tested nuggets of wisdom that will help you thrive where you’ve been planted.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    One of the secrets to art business success that I teach artists is that “Connection is Key.”  Your ability to thrive creatively is directly affected by your willingness and ability to connect with clients, strategic partners, mentors, and other creatives.
     
    But what do you do if you live, work, and create in the middle of nowhere, or out in the boondocks, as we say down south?  Is thriving while geographically isolated even possible? Well, the short answer is yes, and here are a few nuggets of wisdom that will help you thrive where you’ve been planted.
     
    Create Community
    No matter where you live in the world, the internet is your gateway to connection.  Even if you only have a cell phone and a mobile data plan, you can still:

    • Connect with clients for art sales and art class sales.
    • Find strategic partners for referrals and gallery opportunities.
    • Join creative communities where you can be encouraged, inspired, and mentored.  

     
    So, where do you begin?  Well, obviously, in today’s world, social media may be the best way to start building a connection with people online. Connecting with clients and strategic partners online is something you can do from anywhere. From regularly posting on a Facebook page or an Instagram account to posting your art process and how-to videos on YouTube, you’re only limited by your own imagination and a couple of tech tools like a phone, some basic lighting and internet connection.  
     
    But the benefits of social media for creatives don’t end there. One of the worst things about remote living can be a crushing sense of isolation, and it makes sense. We weren’t created to live alone. To combat isolation, consider starting your own Facebook group of fellow artists, joining an existing group or program (like my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program), and even starting a simple group chat or text among creative friends!  It doesn’t have to be fancy, just get started.  
     
    Fine Tune Your Website
    Online art sales exploded last year with close to $5 Billion worth of sales. For many artists that I know, 2020 was their best year ever. Now they did have to pivot to prosper during a global pandemic. Still, the fundamentals of what they did on their websites will help any artist succeed.
     
    Your website should pique curiosity, showcase your talents, inspire and inform your visitor, all while providing a clear, simple pathway for them to connect to you and the art you create. A great website is a mobile-friendly hub where you display, describe, and inspire people through your art. It tells the story of who you are, building that initial connection with your visitor. Then it presents them with an opportunity to purchase right on your website or through a link to a third-party site like Etsy, Fine Art America, or Saatchi Art.
     
    Go to Where the Fish Are
    So down south, it’s said, “If you want to catch fish, you have to go to where the fish are.” Make sense, right?  The same holds for selling art. If art is not selling in your local area, you sometimes have to be willing to travel to where people are buying art. At this point, you might be wondering, “But Matt, isn’t online sales enough?”
     
    Well, yes, but mostly no. I’m a big believer in something I teach in the Mentoring Program called The Parthenon Plan ™ .  I encourage artists to create a multi-pronged, multi-strategy approach to building their art businesses. This concept helps creatives build healthy businesses with multiple income streams through the variety of methods they use to connect with their clients.
     
    In a nutshell, don’t have all your “eggs” in one basket. Over the years, I grew my art business both only online and in person. I learned early on that I had to be willing to travel.  From Atlanta to Philadelphia, from Atlanta to Chicago, or from Asheville to New Orleans. I sought out the shows and opportunities where I knew that my best clients would be.
     
    “But Matt, I don’t know where to go. What do I do?” First of all, don’t let not knowing something paralyze you. Begin with a little research:

    •  Get on Google and start looking
    • Talk to other artists
    • Visit the shows you’re interested in being in
    • Read trade magazines and find out what’s going on in your niche

     
    As we begin to return to a sense of normality post-covid, in-person shows and sales will come back. We’ll see old shows return and new shows and opportunities to connect and sell in-person springing up for those willing to do a little “road work.”
     
    Be Intentional
    The last thing that I would say is be intentional.  Be intentional about going to where your best clients are. Be intentional about creating community online. Be intentional about developing strategic partnerships.  Don’t be afraid to be deliberate and step out.  Be prepared.  You have got to build a net, if you will, to be able to catch all the “fish” that God is bringing into your art business.
     
    I hope this has been an encouragement. Thanks for reading.

    PS: Combating isolation is one of the reasons why I started the Created To Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.  Created To Thrive is a world-wide community of artists that have banded together to be encouraged, inspired, mentored, and challenged. They are embracing their calling as Kingdom artists while living life together online. Sure, we host a couple of live events a year, but we connect on Facebook, post on Instagram, and chat regularly on Zoom for the rest of the year.  For many of our geographically isolated members, this online community has allowed them to find “their people.”  Created to Thrive is truly a band of brothers and sisters who encourage and inspire each other along the way.  ​

  • Pondering with Purpose: An Introduction to Journaling

    Pondering with Purpose: An Introduction to Journaling

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    Have you ever thought about starting a journal but didn’t know where to start or even if it’s worth your time? Well, if there is one practice in my life that has made the biggest difference in my relationship with the Lord and my ability to grow artistically, it has been journaling.  

    In my blog and today’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’ll be cracking open my journals to help you get started as I reveal how this simple practice can revolutionize your creative and spiritual journey. 

    Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
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    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    I talk a lot about journaling. It’s true. Journaling has been a big part of my spiritual life and my artistic life for years.  Many people have asked me about journaling over the years, but most recently, Myra, one of my podcast listeners, reached out to me, looking for some guidance as she embarks on her own journaling journey. 

    What is a Journal, and why should I have one?

    Unlike a mere diary, which is usually a record of events that have happened, a journal is a powerful tool for exploring new ideas that are still taking shape.  It’s the physical manifestation of your creative headspace.  It’s where your next big idea will be born, grow, and played with before it makes the leap off the page and onto your workbench or canvas.

    It’s also a safe place. A judgment-free zone where you can push the boundaries of your creative process before committing your time and resources to flesh it out. For visual artists, this may be sketches, for poets, prose lines, for songwriters, lyrics. Not all of the ideas and notions committed to your journal will see the light of day, but that’s not the point.

    Finally, for so many creatives, an art journal is a vault for stewarding creative ideas. The concepts you’re exploring in your journal today are the seeds of inspiration that will bear fruit in the days, weeks, months, and even years to come.

    What do I put in my journal?

    The easy answer is “Whatever you want.”  After all, it’s your journal, your tool for doodling with intent.  I started journaling as a part of my spiritual processing with the Lord. It started with me writing and recording my prayers, and the dreams I felt came from God. That quickly evolved to include inspiring ideas, scripture verses, prophetic words, and quotes that meant a lot to me.

    I realized pretty quickly that the only rule of journaling is that there are no rules. Today, my journal lets me capture the creative interactions that take place between my spirit and the Holy Spirit during my quiet time with the Lord in the mornings and sometimes before I go to bed.  

    Over the years, I got into the habit of dating every entry to track how these ideas, inspirations, and promises from God played out over time. Just this past month, I reached a major membership milestone inside my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. We were in the middle of our latest membership launch when I realized that one of these God-given dreams had just come to pass.

    Click Here to Learn More about Matt Tommey's Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program - https://matttommeymentoring.mykajabi.com/CTTMentoring

    Back in January of 2017, while spending time with the Lord, dreaming His dreams, and receiving His vision for the Mentoring Program, I wrote down the following divinely inspired goal…

    How a journal entry can build your faith when a promise from God and a goal come to pass. https://matttommeymentoring.mykajabi.com/CTTMentoring

     Now while it took a few years longer for that original vision to come to pass, the point is it did! We’ve linked arms with over 2000 Kingdom-minded artists from all around the world, and we’ve been blessed with the tools and the team that made this dream a reality. And having the ability to pull an old journal off the shelf and see the faithfulness of God in action was an affirming faith-building moment I’ll always remember. 

    Do I need separate journals for my creative and spiritual journeys? 

    This is a great question, and in the end, the answer is just a matter of personal preference. I actually keep two journals at any given time. I have a journal that stays with me in the studio. This volume is more of a traditional artist’s sketchbook where I work through ideas, concepts, colors, sizes, and connections for my current and future projects.

    At home, I keep what I would call a prayer journal. I continue the regular practice of recording the prayers, dreams, ideas, and visions I feel come from the Lord in this book.  I’ve even developed my own set of marker codes to help me quickly find the goals I’ve set for myself and remember the inspired gems the Lord speaks to me in those early morning hours. It’s not anything fancy, just some rudimentary lines, scratches, and dots that help the important things stand out to me. 

    Now without fail, I’m sitting at home in the morning with my prayer journal when artistic inspiration strikes. Instead of regretting that my sketchbook is at the studio, I simply record that initial Holy Spirit inspired stream of consciousness there at home and transfer it later when I’m back in the studio. That seems to be the most natural process for me and allows me to get the thought out and record it when the inspiration strikes.  

    I’m ready to begin my journaling journey. How do I start?

    Listen, if there is one practice in my life that has made the biggest difference in my relationship with the Lord and my ability to stay moving forward, it has been journaling.  And now that you are ready to embark upon your own journaling odyssey, I encourage you to go out and get a great one.

    A journal can be as simple as a $1 composition book from an office supply store or as fancy as a leather-bound journal from your local art store. I have a local artist fashion me a few hand-made journals each year. I love them because they are beautiful and they all match.  At $60 to $70 a piece, these journals may seem like an indulgent splurge to some. But in reality, I see them as an annual investment in something that yields immense returns in my creative and spiritual life. 

    Here is one of my amazing hand made journals from one of my favorite local artists, Alyssa Sacora of the Patchwork Underground. Alyssa Sacora is based out of Fairview Nc (right outside of Asheville , NC) https://www.thepatchworkunderground.com/

    I sure hope this has been helpful. So if you are a long-time journaler or just starting on this journey, I’d love to see what your journal looks like. Post a picture of your journal, or journals, on Instagram, and tag me @TheThrivingChristianArtist. 

    ​Thanks for reading. 

  • Finding Your Unique Artistic Style

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    Have you ever wondered how to discover and cultivate your unique creative voice as an artist? Or more importantly, why this is even an important thing to do? 

    It’s a question I get all the time, and this week’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring (and on my blog), I’ll be sharing how I discovered my unique creative voice and how you can access a great resource that will help kick start the journey to finding yours.

    Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed and the resource mentioned in this episode is no longer available for sale. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

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    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    One of the things that makes art sales a lot of fun and a lot easier is having a unique, creative voice. It’s that recognizable style and aesthetic that makes people go, “Wow!” when they see a piece of your art. It’s the thing that lets them instantly recognize that work as yours when they see it at a store, in a gallery, or online.

    My unique artistic voice helped me develop my reputation as a fine artist and become known in the marketplace. It has allowed me to stand out in a unique, profitable, and very fulfilling way.

    So, how do you do this?  How do you find your unique creative voice? 

    I don’t believe that your unique voice is something  you find as much as I think that it emerges over time. It comes out as you’re in the studio, as you are doing the work, filling your creative well, and cultivating and nurturing your creative talents. 

    Over the years, I’ve found that artists journey through four phases on their path towards uncovering their unique creative style. 

    Emulation – We All Start Here 

    All of us start our artistic journeys in a place of emulation.  We look at Pinterest, take classes, and find art and artists that inspire us. This process is as true for painters and potters as it is for sculptors and basket makers. 

    In this phase of your quest, you learn some initial techniques and start creating works inspired by what you’ve learned from a specific artist, class, book, or online video. And you stay here a while honing your skills, but then something begins to itch inside creatively speaking and you begin to take things a little further.

    Exploration – Having a Look Around 

    Standing on the foundation of confidence and experience you’ve built up emulating others, you, like so many other creatives, begin to yearn for more. It begins with a single step out of your artistic comfort zone as you start exploring different artists, techniques, tools, and materials.

    You move from the relative safety of copying others into an era of fearlessly exploring and pushing past your creative bounds. And as you do, you begin to discover and develop a cohesive expression of who you are as an artist that expresses itself through your creations. Your art’s tone and nature start to mature as you create beautiful, unique works that resonate with who you are as an artist. 

    Once I mastered several different basketry skills, I got bored. That began a quest to find that something more, that missing piece that would take my art to the next level.  I explored different materials, treatments, surface designs, positioning, and shapes to incorporate into my baskets.

    Even if I didn’t know it at the time, this creative quest’s goal was a unique creative aesthetic that told the world who I was as an artist and resonated with buyers out in the marketplace.

    Maturing – It’s Gonna Take Some Time 

    Now I’d like to tell you that the exploration phase of my journey was a safe, quick, and uneventful trip. It wasn’t. It took several years of working, testing, and pushing the boundaries of all that I had known artistically.  Sure, I was turning out some beautiful pieces, but I made a lot of ugly ones along the way.  The key was that I was always pushing, always exploring, always honing my skills, and cultivating the talents God gave me.

    You have to understand that your journey of artistic exploration will, at times, be uncomfortable. You’ll spend as much time, energy, and resources discovering what you don’t like, don’t excel at, and are not called to do as you do finding what you do like, excel at, and are called to do. The secret is not to stop and not shortcut the process of growing, learning, and discovery on the way towards defining yourself and your artistic voice. 

    Autonomy – The Promised Land 

    But eventually, you move through emulation, complete your artistic exploration, mature creatively, and then you arrive at a place I call autonomy. Here is where your uniqueness begins to emerge.  Everything starts to fall into place. 

    The techniques, materials, and inspiration you’ve worked with for so long just begin to click and work together. Suddenly, you start to recognize and embrace your unique creative voice, and so do your clients and potential clients in the marketplace. Your artistic individuality springs forth, and a maturity of skill and vision emerges in your work. That’s really how you find your unique artistic voice and style.  

    Trust the Process
     
    I know this journey intimately. For me, it started back in the mid-90s when I started making baskets at 19 years old. I did that for 15 years just as a hobby, playing around with traditional patterns and materials until 2009 when I started exploring ways to create something unique and special. 

    Even though I started from a place of traditional basketry, my artistic autonomy began to emerge as I embraced unique materials, techniques, and shapes for my work. It took a couple of years, but all of that inspiration, exploration, and studio time began to pay off. 

    So to anyone ready to embark upon this epic quest, I would say this: Trust the Process. 

    • Continue to fill your creative well with lots of inspiration. 
    • Show up in the studio regularly and do the work.
    • Create something every day with your art. 
    • Push the concepts that you know.
    • Don’t be afraid to explore, play, and make ugly stuff along the way.

    But most of all, I think, just listen.  Listen to your heart, listen to your materials, listen to the results of what you are creating, listen to the market and other artists that you respect. Give them all permission to speak into your work. Over time, as you do this, your unique voice will emerge.

  • Community vs. Comments: Finding the Balance in Social Media

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    Do you ever feel overwhelmed at times with Instagram, Facebook, Tic Toc, Club House, Linked In and all of the different social media platforms that are out there? Part of me thinks they are a wonderful opportunity for connecting with others to share our ideas and art, but sometimes the dark side of social media can leave me feeling gross, overwhelmed, and maybe even a little demeaned.

    Well, in my blog and in this week’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’ll be sharing how I find the balance between the real community we create online versus those random unhinged comments that pop up on our social media feeds. You can find my blog right here: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/blog

    Be sure to take a few minutes to listen to the podcast on the app of your choice like ApplePodcasts®, Amazon Music®, Stitcher®, Spotify®, GooglePlay® or online at MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcast

    Please Note: The registration for the conference mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    I don’t know about you, but I get way too overwhelmed with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Clubhouse, Linked In, and all of the different social media platforms out there. Part of me thinks they are wonderful because we have this incredible opportunity to share our ideas, our art, and to reach out to clients and friends while building community.  

    The other part is that it can sometimes feel gross, overwhelming, and even demeaning when the comments start rolling in. So as Kingdom artists, how do we find the balance between the real community we create online versus those random unhinged comments that pop up on your social media feeds?

    What is Real Community?

    There are several characteristics of authentic community.  Number one, is real intimacy. Being vulnerable, transparent, and knowing each other’s heart is a huge part of the ground that real relationship is built upon. While this is best built face to face, this isn’t always possible or feasible. But given the technology we have available, real relational intimacy with people online is possible. 

    Secondly, real community is marked by an opportunity and openness to give and receive.  We have all been in a one-sided relationship before where either it was us receiving something that somebody was trying to give that we didn’t necessarily want to hear, or vice versa.  A healthy relationship needs a balance of both giving and receiving, sharing and taking equally so that one person isn’t being dominated by the other. 

    Thirdly, in a real community, people are invested in each other for the long term. These are people that you want to walk with and have chosen to share your time, energy, attention, and resources. These are the people you have chosen to focus on in your life because they are important to you, and hopefully, they feel the same way about you. 

    The real question is, how does real community differ from the comment driven “relationships” we all have on social media?

    Who Are These People? 

    First of all, you really don’t know WHO most of those people are.  We all have Facebook “friends” we barely know or have never even met in real life. When you think about it, you don’t know that much about them at all. You only see the happy high-points of their life and the stuff they choose to share in their posts. 

    These are not people you’re invested in. So many of your online interactions are based on algorithms and not on authentic connection. These are people that are like leaves; they blow in and out of your life, they are here for a moment, here for only a short season. For the most part, these are not the folks you have chosen to invest your time and energy into. 

    When you look at the Biblical concept of community, we are called into relationship with others so that we can complete one another. I am here to sharpen you, and you are here to do the same for me. Just like in a healthy body, a healthy community supports the members, supplying them with the support, comfort, and care they need. Again, this is a very different concept than the reality we face in our social media post-driven world. 
      
    A Healthy Community Supports Your Godly Identity 

    Diving in a little deeper, take a moment to answer these questions honestly. How do you define yourself, and who are you allowing to shape your identity? Of course, you can be defined by anything you want to be defined by, but from a Kingdom perspective, God’s best for us is that our identity comes from who Jesus says we are. Our identity is meant to come from the Word of God.  

    That’s the gold standard God intended for each of us. A healthy identity that comes from the Lord is designed to be reinforced and encouraged through a healthy community.  The relationships you build inside a safe, supporting, and caring community are there to build you up in the Lord and equip you to be all that God has created you to be.

    But those relationships, just like everything good in the Kingdom, have to be cultivated. It’s yet another case of reaping back what you’ve sowed.  As you walk together with others in a life-giving community, your healthy, godly identity matures when you’re helping others do the same. 

    So, take a moment and ask yourself these questions?

    • How much are you choosing to invest in real relationships?
    • How much are you pouring into and encouraging the lives of others?
    • Are the people supporting and reinforcing your calling and your Godly identity?

    As you continue to travel through this social media-driven landscape, it’s vital that you learn to temper your reactions to posts and comments based on the level of authentic connection you have with the commentator.  When the relationship isn’t genuine, then take the feedback, whether good or bad, with a grain of salt.

    I hope this has been an encouragement to you. I, for one, am glad that you are a part of my community.

  • Overcoming the Fear of Stepping Out

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    So many artists are being held back from their full potential because they are scared to step out and do something they’ve never done. Fear, anxiety, and self-doubt become a wall that blocks them from being all that God has called them to be.

    Well in my blog and this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’ll be sharing the strategies God used in my life to help me move past this fear and into truly thriving as an artist.

    Doors Are Open Now for the Mentoring Program!

    We only do it a couple of times a year. But, if you’re ready to join a dynamic life-changing community of artists from all over the world and start seeing real change happen in your life and art, then I invite you to learn more about my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.

    The doors to join are open right now through Feb 1st, 2021 and I would love to have you join us. To learn more, click right here.

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    So many artists lead paralyzed lives because they are too scared to step out and do something they have never done.  No matter the cause, whether it’s fear, self-doubt, or isolation, it’s like a wave builds up to push them back to block them from being the Thriving Christian Artist they were called and created to be.

    Sound familiar? If so, you’re in good company. I struggled with this very same thing in my life until God began to show me some simple strategies that gave me the confidence to step out.   

    Defeat Fear With Faith 

    You know, all of us, if we are honest, have struggled with the fear of stepping out into the new. I know that a root cause of this in my life stems from growing up in a situation that wasn’t the greatest emotionally or relationally. I ended up retreating in self-protection so much that I didn’t do anything unless I was fairly certain of what the outcome was going to be. 

    In some ways, this led to some early successes in my life, especially those areas that played into my strengths.  But most of the time, this fear kept me from stepping out of my comfort zone and into new experiences because I never wanted to try anything new where the outcome was uncertain.

    Whether it was from a fear of failure, fear of ridicule, or even the fear of success, fear kept me from trying anything new. Maybe you can identify with what I’m saying here. The enemy loves to use our past, our fear, or even our woundedness to drive a wedge between the promise of what God has for us and the reality of where we are right now.

    The one thing God showed me that set me free from this fear-based paralysis is this: Change only happens when my faith and my willingness to step into the promises of God become bigger and more powerful than the fear of the unknown. 

    Think about that for a second. Transformation will only happen in your life when your faith in all that God has for you becomes bigger than the fears that are holding you back.

    Embrace Your Identity

    The second area that I had to grow in was in the area of identity. My fear of stepping out was also a result of my unwillingness and inability to accept, believe, receive, and fully embrace my identity as a Son of God and as an artist in His Kingdom. My own self-doubts and anxieties about “not being enough” kept me from even dreaming that I was meant for more.

    I learned, through times of healing and revelation, that having an identity that is rooted and grounded in Christ sets the stage for everything else in life. And I want to encourage you to do the same.  

    As you begin to grow in confidence and start to embrace who God has called you to be, things start to change. You’ll find yourself in position to receive the strategies, knowledge, and guidance that God has had for you all along.   
      
    Don’t Go It Alone

    Finally, like so many creative believers, I fell into the trap of isolation. Believing the lie that I was the only one going through this particular struggle or dealing with this specific challenge, feeling alone led to a hopelessness that kept me from stepping out. 

    Over the years, I’ve learned that artists who try to thrive on their own rarely ever do.  Why?  It’s simple. We simply weren’t designed to just “white knuckle it” through life’s challenges all on our own, looking for external solutions to internal problems. 

    As believers, we are called and created to do life together. As Kingdom Creatives, we are meant to walk together in a mutually supportive community with other artists and other believers that are on the same journey. 

    As you receive fully by faith the promises and provisions that God has for you while embracing your identity as an artist in His Kingdom in the context of a loving, supportive community, life begins to change.  Your confidence builds, your vision clarifies, faith grows, and acceleration starts happening.

    I sure hope this article has been an encouragement to you. If it has, please share it with others on the journey as you kick fear to the curb and embrace the fullness of who God has called you to be this week.

  • How To Know If You Are On The Right Track

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    Have you ever wondered how you can know if you are on the right track and following God’s best for your life? Well in my blog and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’ll be giving you a really simple strategy that will let you confidently know you’re right where you need to be. 

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Please Note: The registration for the masterclass mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    People ask me all the time, “Matt, how do I know that I am on the right track?  How do I know that I am following God’s best for my life?”  It’s a great question and one that I’ve asked myself many times as I’ve journeyed through life. Over the years, I’ve learned two keys that have helped me find and stay on the path God has for my life and my art.

    Start By Following the Favor
    One of the things that I have done over the years that has served me well is what I call “Follow the Favor.”  It’s easy. Look around in your life and pay attention to see where God is moving.  Pay special attention to:

    • The things God is blessing in your life 
    • The doors that God is opening in your life 
    •  The things you do that seem to come naturally to you
    • The things that make others say, “WOAH!  You are really good at that.”

    All of these are clues that point to your divine design and purpose. And as you continue saying “Yes” to the opportunities and open doors, faithfully using the natural talents you’ve been given, your confidence will begin to grow.  As you are faithful to use the opportunities, open doors, and skills He’s trusted you with; God will continue to show up in your life in huge ways. 

    Find Your People
    Surrounding yourself with other Kingdom-minded artists is one of the best ways to confirm you’re on the right track. Why? Well, it’s simple. The enemy loves to isolate and separate God’s kids. He loves to get us on our own and fill our heads with lies and fill us full of fear and doubt. Lies like:

    • Are you really an artist? 
    •  Are you really called to sell your art? 
    •  Are you any good? 
    • What if no one likes what you do?
    • What if no one buys what you do?
    • What if…..

    But when you surround yourself with others that are in your “tribe,” your people, all of a sudden, you begin to see yourself and your journey in a whole new light. You begin to realize, “Hey, I am not as weird as I thought I was,” especially when you start to connect with other artists who are called to serve the Kingdom of God with their gifts and talents.

    And in that place of connectedness, there is an incredible grace that gets released. When you stop trying to do life and art on your own and start walking with others on the same journey, faith, momentum, acceleration, and breakthrough become your new normal.

  • Renewing Your Mind: You Really Can Change Your Life

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    What Does the “Renewing of the Mind” Look Like for Christians?
    That’s the question most Christians struggle with and have had very little teaching on during their life as believers. Consequently, they are left feeling unfulfilled, frustrated and confused when it comes to actually living the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10 NLT where he said “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” That rich and satisfying life manifests in the life of believers through one simple, life-changing strategy: the renewing of the mind.

    What Does Renewing of Your Mind Mean in the Bible?
    Simply stated, renewing your mind according to Romans 12:2 means interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rather than through the lens of your experience, woundedness, trauma, preferences or the opinions of others. It’s a fundamental shift toward seeing the world, yourself, others, God and especially what’s possible from a Kingdom perspective. It’s making a daily, moment by moment choice to choose the Mind of Christ which lives inside of us as new creations rather than operating from our soulish mind the way we did before we were saved.

    Why Do Christians Need to Renew Their Minds?
    Unless a Christian learns to renew their mind, they will continue to walk in defeat, struggle and confusion as they desire to experience a Spirit-led life yet have no understanding how or tools with which to see that life manifest.  This is the predicament of most believers who live lives of religious obedience and obligation yet void of any real Spirit-led power. Without renewing your mind, the only two options are to wait, hope and beg God to change you or to work, sweat and strive on your own to achieve the results you so long to experience. Neither is God’s best.

    Renewing your mind aligns your mind with the truth of God’s Word by learning to recognize the lies of the enemy, replace them with the truth of God’s Word and then reinforce that truth every time the enemy comes at them with those same lies.  In 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV, God’s Word teaches us that “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…”  Taking a thought captive literally means to capture or conquer that thought as you identify it and compare it to God’s Word. Does this thought agree with God’s promises over my life or not? If not then I cast it away – rejecting it’s influence in my life – and I plant in its place one of God’s promises from His Word.

    In 2 Peter 1:3-4, the Bible says “3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
    4 Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  Did you get that? It’s through God’s precious promises that we participate in the divine nature.

    Renewed thoughts resulting in new beliefs help you engage with God’s plan for your life because thoughts fuel your beliefs. Godly Kingdom-Focused thoughts are great fuel for your godly beliefs, while ungodly, fear-driven lies and half-truths fuel ungodly beliefs.

    Renewing your mind is not just a spiritual process, but a physiological one as well. When you intentionally change the way you think to align with God’s Word, it literally creates new connections and pathways in your brain to make that process easier and more preferred over time. Through the process of neuroplasticity, your brain can literally be reconfigured to align with the truth of God’s Word and thus create the solutions, strategies and opportunities that best align with God’s plan for your life.  Remember, in Proverbs 23:7 KJV “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Your thoughts (which ultimately create your beliefs resulting in your actions) literally create the boundaries of your life. If you want to experience a different life – the abundant life Jesus promised – you must learn to intentionally renew your mind.

    5 Ways to Renew Your Mind Today

    1. Recognize: Intentionally “capture” each thought that comes into your mind and compare it to God’s Word and His promises for your life. Ask yourself “Does this thought that I’m having right now reflect what God’s Word says about this situation or does it reflect a lie that I know doesn’t represent God’s heart for me?”
    2. Replace: If the thoughts you’re having don’t agree with God’s Word, then replace them with promises from God’s Word. It can literally be as simple as asking the Holy Spirit to bring to your remembrance a scripture that is opposite of the lie you may be faced with currently. You can also just do a quick internet search for scripture verses based on the lie you’re trying to replace.  Remember, thoughts are like seeds and whatever you allow to be planted in the garden of your heart will bring forth a harvest in your life.  Choose your seeds wisely.
    3. Reinforce: Every time you are flooded with those same types of thoughts which don’t agree with God’s best for your life, simply reject and replace with God’s Word. One way you can accelerate this process is to write down your newly created Biblical affirmations on note cards, laminate them and carry them with you for easy access. You can also post them in places that you see often like your office wall, your desk, your car or even your bathroom mirror. This can feel tedious at first, but as you do so in the context of gratitude, faith and expectancy God’s presence will infuse this process, making it become more and more natural. 
    4. Visualize: God created you with an incredible imagination to see, sense, feel and create new realities in your mind before they ever come into the physical realm. It’s one of the primary ways we co-labor with the Holy Spirit to release His Kingdom in and through our lives.  As you are replacing and reinforcing new thoughts based on God’s Word, imagine in your mind’s eye what it would look like, feel like to experience life within this new reality. This further stimulates your brain and accelerates your own ability to come into agreement with God’s best for your life.
    5. Affirm: Create affirmation statements based on God’s Word that, along with your visualization exercises, continue to reinforce the truth of God’s Word inside your heart.  Over time, your subconscious mind will become convinced of the new truth you’re aligning your heart with, rather than the old way you’ve been living.

    Conclusion
    You can absolutely live the abundant life Jesus promised if you master the process of renewing your mind including recognizing the lies of the enemy, intentionally replacing them with the truth of God’s Word and reinforcing that truth through visualization and affirmations.  As you do, you’ll be amazed at the double doors of favor that seem to instantaneously appear in your life simply because you came into agreement with God’s design for your life, rather than trying to make it happen all on your own.

  • Renewing Your Mind: Rebooting Your Life for 2021

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    Send us a text

    Sometimes in life, we just need a reboot. And after the year we all had in 2020, now is a great time to hit the reset button in life. 

    If you’re ready for your reset, I’m going to be sharing some really practical advice in my blog and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring on how to do just that.

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Please Note: The registration for the masterclass mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to hit the reset button after the year we just had. If you’re reaching for that button in your life, then I want to share with you four things that will absolutely help you get rebooted, reset, and ready for what God has in store for your life and art in 2021.

    Vision
    You know, the Bible says that without a vision, the people perish.  Unless you have a clear view of who God has called you to be, what He has called you to do, where He is leading you, and what He has for you this year, then you may end up very frustrated. 

    If you find yourself adrift in a sea of doubt, fear, and uncertainty, then I encourage you to go get with Jesus. Take some time away, a few hours or maybe even a couple of days, to get alone with the Lord. Ask Him to show you what He has for you this year in your life, family, art, and business.    

    The clarity you get will form the seed of a vision that you can cultivate in your life. And as you are faithful to nurture this vision, it begins to release clear direction for everything going on in your life.  Vision speeds you down the road when things are good and keeps you on the road when things are bad.  Why?  Because vision informs everything in our life. 

    Belief 
    What you believe deep in your heart is as important as what you see for your future. When you cultivate God-centric Kingdom-focused beliefs in your heart, they inform and shape all of your thoughts and actions. Why?  Because what you believe deep in your heart is the fruit of the thoughts and ideas you meditate and focus on day in and day out.   

    Your beliefs are the faith-colored glasses through which you embrace and engage the vision God has established for your life. Vision gives you the path to follow while illuminating the Kingdom-focused truths and concepts you should be cultivating in your heart and mind. 

    Vision, coupled with a well-cultivated belief, also serves as an early warning system against spiritual attacks. When the enemy comes and throws crazy pictures, thoughts, and lies in your mind, you have a strong foundation from which to say, “NO!  This lie does not align with God’s vision for my life or look anything like what He is showing me.  

    Renew Your Mind 
    A couple of scriptures that I love are  Romans 12:2 and Proverbs 23:7. Romans teaches us to be transformed by renewing our minds, while Proverbs tells us that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  If vision informs your path and beliefs help you engage with God’s plan, thoughts fuel your beliefs. Godly Kingdom-Focused thoughts are great fuel for your godly beliefs, while ungodly, fear-driven lies and half-truths fuel ungodly beliefs. 

    The key to effectively renewing your mind can be summed up in three words:

    • Recognize
    • Replace
    • Reinforce

    Learning to evaluate your thoughts mindfully will teach you to Recognize when an idea lines up with the Word of God and His vision for your life and when it doesn’t.  Once you’ve identified an ungodly belief, the next step is to Replace it with a truth that lines up God’s Word, His Character, His Nature, and His Plans for your life. Finally, once you have that Godly Truth in hand, you need to Reinforce it regularly through a daily practice of declaring Godly Truths and Affirmations over your life.

    Faithfulness
    If vision sets our path, belief helps us to engage with God’s plan, and thoughts fuel our journey of faith, then faithfulness is the oil that keeps things running smoothly.  Faithfulness, simply put, is the practice of clearly executing every day the things you need to do as you grow into your calling as a thriving artist. Faithfulness for a creative could look like:

    • Spending time creating in your studio
    • Talking about your art
    • Developing strategic relationships
    • Establishing your online and social presence
    • Renewing your mind and reinforce your godly truths
    • Acting with faith on your beliefs
    • Daily embracing and affirming God’s plan and vision for your life​

    All this and more while learning to lean into His grace and not our strength, following God’s lead while avoiding the personal pitfall of striving. Faithfulness walked out over time leads to the “suddenlies” we all long to experience. Suddenly, as you’ve been faithful in the little things the Father has put into your hands, you “suddenly” find yourself thriving in life, art, relationships, and maybe even business.   

    2021 is a year of great promise and great potential for creatives. This year we are all called to get serious about embracing vision, renewing our minds, cultivating godly beliefs, and faithfully walking out the plans God has for us.  And as we do this in the context of a community of others doing the same, I promise you will have a reset and a reboot like no other.   

  • The Number 1 Thing Holding You Back in 2021

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    Send us a text

    Even though we’ve just come through one of the hardest years any of us have ever lived through, there could be something huge holding you back from being all that you can be in 2021.

    I’m going to expose that and give you some real tools to move through it here in my blog and in this episode of 5-minute mentoring.

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Please Note: The registration for the masterclass mentioned in this episode is closed. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    It is a brand-new year, and I genuinely believe that God has got some incredible things in store for us all in 2021.  But guess what?  There is something massive out there right now that is holding so many artists back. It’s NOT…

    • COVID-19
    •  The Government 
    • Your Mama
    •  Your Family
    • Your Abilities
    • Your Inabilities
    •  A Lack of Money
    •  A Lack of Opportunities

    All of these molehills pale compared to this mountain so many creatives face: a lack of vision. No matter where you are, what kind of an artist you are, no matter how long you have been walking with the Lord, THIS is the number one thing that holds people back.

    Vision Is Defined by What You Focus Upon 
    One of the critical truths I’ve learned about developing a vision for my life, art, and business is this: Vision is either based on what has been or on what is possible. You can’t have it both ways. 

    Far too many people allow their ability to see into the future be defined by what has happened in their past.  In other words, they run every idea for the future through the lens of what has happened to them in the past. This is a recipe for self-sabotage. 

    Set Your Vision Higher
    As you are stepping into 2021 with all the promise, opportunities, and thousands of hours yet to be filled with creativity, it is time to dream.  It is time to set your vision higher and NOT on what has defined you in the past.  

    Now is not the time to focus on how good or bad 2020 was. It’s not time to worry about the lost opportunities and things you didn’t think you could get through. It is time to set your eyes on things above and to refocus as you establish a vision for your life and art in this new year.

    Don’t Let the Year Define You –YOU Define the Year
    It’s easy to blame your current situation on the year that we all just experienced. But for many artists I know, 2020 was their best year ever. They started last year focused on things above instead of their past failings and limitations. They were ready to pivot and take advantage of the opportunities a socially distanced, partially shut down society had to offer. In short, they had an incredible year – but do you know why? 

    Vision. They believed it was possible. They saw it in their imagination, they cooperated with the Holy Spirit on a daily, moment-by-moment basis, and with His help and guidance, they acted upon those ideas.

    They didn’t allow fear from the past, the drama of the present, or what other people were saying to define what they thought was possible in 2020. They simply dreamed with God and agreed in their heart that the thing God was showing them, the thing that was burning inside of them, was their truth, their vision, for the year.

    And as they agreed in their heart with the vision God was birthing in their spirits, praying and believing that they have received it, just like Mark 11:24 teaches us, things began to happen. The dream started to manifest in their life.  And as a result, their lives, their art, and their businesses all thrived. That is how the Kingdom of God works.  

  • The Best Podcasts for Christian Artists

    The Best Podcasts for Christian Artists

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    Artists who are Christians are often looking for inspiration and encouragement not only creatively, but also in their spiritual life and businesses as well. For most Christian artists, their faith is not something that’s just ancillary to their journey, it’s at the core of who they are and how they operate in the world.  Rightly so!

    Over the years, I’ve been asked what podcasts are the best podcasts for Christian artists to be listening to and so I thought I’d create this quick post to share some of my favorites:

    The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast with Matt Tommey
    ​
    Inside this twice weekly podcast, artist, author and mentor Matt Tommey shares inspiration, encouragement and interviews with artists who are thriving all over the world in just about every creative medium. Their stories incorporate practical business tips, creative strategies and how their walk with the Lord is foundational to all they do. For artists who want to thrive spiritually, artistically and in business, there’s no better podcast out there.

     Listen Now

    Makers & Mystics with Stephen Roach

    Makers and Mystics is the podcast for the art-driven, spiritually adventurous seekers of truth and lovers of life.  Stephen is a great interviewer, curious story-teller and uber-creative who goes deep with his guests during interviews reminiscent of an NPR story or TED talk. Definitely worth the listen.

    Listen Now

    The Listening Porch with Ray Hughes

    ​Ray Hughes has been inspiring and equipping creatives for the last 40 years all over the world. There’s no more rich storyteller, Bible-teacher and encourager for creatives than Ray. His southern humor, deep knowledge of God’s Word and romantic storytelling make this podcast a must listen. Be sure to pay attention… he’ll have you laughing one minute and rewinding the next to hear that truth nugget!
    ​
    ​ Listen Now

    The Kingdom-Driven Entrepreneur with Shae Bynes

    The Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur Podcast seeks to inspire you to do business completely yielded and in partnership with our awesome and limitless God. Shae is funny, encouraging and offers incredible insight for living in the Kingdom of God as an entrepreneur.

    Listen Now

    Art & Faith Conversations with Libby John

    How does creativity intersect with our spirituality? This podcast is all about conversations with artists that explore our humanity and spiritual identity through the integration of art and faith.  
    ​
    Listen Now

    Transformed You with Mark & Melissa DeJesus

    ​Transformational living and how to walk in healed and free from the inside out. Renewing of the mind. Healing to the heart. Living healthy and whole in relationships. Teaching and insights from a biblical perspective. Getting to the core issues that effect our every day fruitfulness in relationships.
    ​
    Listen Now

    Exploring the Prophetic with Shawn Bolz

    On Exploring the Prophetic, Exploring the Industry, and Exploring the Marketplace co-hosted with Bob Hasson, Shawn interviews some of his close friends, entrepreneurs, and leaders from all different industries on how God’s voice has caused great change in their lives and the world around them. Along with Shawn, you will hear from church leaders, politicians, entertainers, music industry professionals, and everyday empowered people on how the prophetic is shaping their lives. We invite you to be a part of the conversation.
    ​
    Listen Now

  • The Best Books for Christian Artists

    The Best Books for Christian Artists

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    Artists who are Christians need encouragement, inspiration and equipping as they pursue God’s creative calling on their lives. Here are some of the best books for Christian artists on the market today:

    Created to Thrive: An Artist’s Guide to Living in Divine Abundance by Matt Tommey

    Imagine just for a moment, life the way you have always dreamed it could be. Feeling connected to God and hearing His voice, creating with the Holy Spirit, following His lead as you share your art and see it transform people’s lives. Imagine a world where artists are free to thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially in everything they do. Imagine a life where your mind is clear, renewed, and focused on God’s purposes for your life and art; no longer struggling with negative patterns of thinking that have held you back for years. My friend, this is not some pie in the sky dream that will never come true. This is the way God designed life to be lived in His Kingdom. This can be your story, fully alive and thriving in everything you do.

    ​In Created to Thrive, you’ll learn how to start living life from a new blueprint based on God’s Word and His divine design for your life as an artist in His Kingdom. You’ll begin to see your life without limits as you learn to align with Him and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to create new patterns of living. Your mind will be renewed, your heart will be unlocked, and your imagination will be set free to resonate with the Kingdom that’s already living inside of you. You were made to be more than just a frustrated artist, struggling to make sense of your life and art. Get ready to become the artist you were created to be, get ready to thrive! 

    Get It Now

    Unlocking the Heart of the Artist:

    A Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom of God by Matt Tommey Unlocking the Heart of the Artist has been called “The Purpose-Driven Life for Artists” and is a clarion call to a new generation of artists who want to fulfill their unique purpose in the Kingdom of God. At the core of Unlocking the Heart of the Artist is an invitation to begin a journey of healing and wholeness that will yield deeper Spirit-led creativity and personal fulfillment. In addition, through learning practical ways to engage the Holy Spirit in their creative process, the reader will learn how to collaborate with God not only in their chosen artistic medium but in life.

    Get It Now

    Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination & Spirit by Luci Shaw
    ​
    Imagination, appreciation of beauty, creativity: all of these qualities have been given to us by God. For the Christian artist, the drive to create something wonderful is also a means to glorify and better understand our Lord. Using excerpts from her own works as well as those of writers who have gone before her―Emily Dickinson, Annie Dillard, C.S. Lewis, and others―poet and writer Luci Shaw proves that symbolism and metaphor provide ways for humans to experience God in new and powerful ways.Shaw offers a rich and thought-provoking exploration of art, creativity, and faith. Believing that art emanates from God, she shows how imagination and spirituality “work in tandem, each feeding on and nourishing the other.” Faith informs art and art enhances faith. They both, for each other, are “breath for the bones.”Provocative, enlightening, and above all, inspiring, Breath for the Bones will help readers discover the artist within, and bring them further along the path to God Himself.

    Get It Now

    Art & Faith: A Theology of Making by Makoto Fujimura

    Conceived over thirty years of painting and creating in his studio, this book is Makoto Fujimura’s broad and deep exploration of creativity and the spiritual aspects of “making.” What he does in the studio is theological work as much as it is aesthetic work. In between pouring precious, pulverized minerals onto handmade paper to create the prismatic, refractive surfaces of his art, he comes into the quiet space in the studio, in a discipline of awareness, waiting, prayer, and praise.
     
    Ranging from the Bible to T. S. Eliot, and from Mark Rothko to Japanese Kintsugi technique, he shows how unless we are making something, we cannot know the depth of God’s being and God’s grace permeating our lives. This poignant and beautiful book offers the perspective of, in Christian Wiman’s words, “an accidental theologian,” one who comes to spiritual questions always through the prism of art.

    Get It Now

    The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus

    The Most Important Work of Art Is the Life That We Create
    ​
    In The Artisan Soul, Erwin Raphael McManus— author, thought leader, and founder of MOSAIC in Los Angeles—pens a manifesto for human creativity and the beginning of a new renaissance. McManus not only calls us to reclaim our creative essence but reveals how we can craft our lives into a work of art. There are no shortcuts to quality, and McManus celebrates the spiritual process that can help us discover our true selves.

    McManus demonstrates that we all carry within us the essence of an artist. We all need to create—to be a part of a process that brings to the world something beautiful, good, and true—in order to allow our souls to come to life. It’s not only the quality of the ingredients we use to build our lives that matters, but the care we bring to the process itself. Just as with baking artisan bread, it’s a process that’s crafted over time. And God is the master artisan of our lives.

    With poignant, inspirational stories and insights from art, life, history, and scripture interspersed throughout, McManus walks readers through the process of crafting a life of beauty and wonder.

    Get It Now

    Art & the Bible by Francis Schaeffer

    “The lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts,” writes Francis Schaeffer. “A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, mind you, but as things of beauty to the praise of God.” Many Christians, wary of creating graven images, have steered clear of artistic creativity. But the Bible offers a robust affirmation of the arts. The human impulse to create reflects our being created in the image of a creator God. 

    ​Art and the Bible has been a foundational work for generations of Christians in the arts. In this book’s classic essays, Francis Schaeffer first examines the scriptural record of the use of various art forms, and then establishes a Christian perspective on art. With clarity and vigor, Schaeffer explains why “the Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.”

    Get It Now

    Imagine That: Discovering Your Unique Role as a Christian Artist by Manuel Luz

    Why are we artists? How does God experience art? What is the artist’s calling in relation to God, the church, and the world? 

    Drawing from his experiences performing Mozart, playing “dive bars”, and leading worship and the arts in the church, author Manuel Luz seeks to answer the questions that artists often ask. Laced with humorous and sometimes poignant anecdotes, Imagine That is a thought-provoking journey through the convergence of art and faith. Luz has been a working musician, writer, pastor, and even amateur cartoonist for more than 40 years, and in Imagine That he lays out his case for a uniquely Christian approach to the vocation of artist, using theologically rich and artist-friendly language.

    In the end, Imagine That affirms and equips Christian artists for the special kind of ministry that only they can do.

    Get It Now

    Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity by J. Scott McElroy

    God will speak to humanity in as many ways as His people are willing to hear. If you are willing, there are ways to convey God’s word that you may have never imagined. Listen beyond the ordinary, and you will express the extraordinary!
    ​
    God wants to infuse a transforming wave of divinely inspired creativity into the culture and the church through His willing partners. Finding Divine Inspiration is full of practical steps and exciting biblical, historical, and current examples to help you collaborate with the Great Creator in your life and work.

    Get It Now

    Born to Create: Stepping Into Your Supernatural Destiny by Theresa Dedmon

    Offering a launching pad for you to burst into the realm of creative expression—that fun, fantasy world where the Creator is waiting to welcome you.
    ​
    There is a connection between creativity, your identity, the Church, and the world—and it is an important connection. Creativity is tied to all believers’ identity, all who are made in the image of the Creator, all who are born to create!

    Overflowing with many thrilling, modern-day testimonies, Born to Create emphasizes the magnitude of both craft—practice and excellence—as well as anointing. Many who have been freed to embrace their creative ideas and passions, whether in the art fields, business, or education, share their amazing stories with you. Their freedom allowed them to powerfully release healing, the prophetic, and the knowledge of God’s love into the marketplace.

    Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law… (Galatians 6:1 The Message).

    You will learn how the supernatural can be activated through what you create, and you will explore hindrances from understanding your creative destiny—your true identity.

    Get It Now

    Creativity According to the Kingdom: Connecting with Heaven to Create with God & Release Transformation by Matt Tommey

    What if you could walk in the transforming power of God every day by connecting to the creative nature of God’s Kingdom which already lives inside of you? Well guess what? You can! There’s a call going out in this generation. It’s a call to an army of creative Kingdom warriors who, just like the army in the valley of dry bones lay wasted and dormant, full of potential, yet with vision that has died. By the Spirit, they are coming to life again and being equipped for their work of ministry both in the church and in the marketplace. This is what you were made for!

    ​In this hour, God is raising up an army of Kingdom creatives to declare His Glory and see it cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Whether your calling is in business or the arts, education or government, family or finance, you’ve been specifically designed for this time and this cause to operate in the fullness of God’s creative nature within your circle of influence to release Kingdom transformation. It’s time to release the Glory. It’s time to live the life you’ve always dreamed possible. It’s time. It’s your time!

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    How Heaven Invades Your Finances by Jim Baker

    Heaven’s Invasion Changes Everything! What if the testimony of God’s goodness on your life brought nations to Christ? What if your faithfulness in stewarding money qualified you to shape the culture over cities? What if prosperity wasn’t selfish? Many are frustrated because they’ve tried the principles of sowing and reaping without first establishing “The Foundation for Supernatural Finances.” That’s like building a financial house with no foundation or frame structure.

    ​This book will: Give you a Kingdom lens to view your finances, prosperity and the purpose of money through. Equip your head, heart and hands with revelation, activations and testimonies. Enable you to build the financial foundation to partner with heaven and see it released here on earth! Heaven is looking to invade your finances. Will you give them a “Foundation” to land on?

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    Grace over Grind by Shae Bynes

    In the world of entrepreneurship, hustling and grinding will earn you a badge of honor. In the Kingdom of God, it is an inferior substitute for working by the supernatural power of God’s grace.The purpose of Grace Over Grind is to challenge you, shift your thinking, and transform the way that you work so that you can glorify God and experience immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine in your business.With the same relatable teaching style and storytelling used in The Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur: Doing Business God’s Way and Encountering God: A Devotional of the Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, Shae Bynes provides scripture, testimonies, and application exercises to help you on your journey to receive God’s best and have a greater Kingdom impact in your sphere of influence. *Paperback version includes bonus Companion Journal*

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    Healing the Orphan Spirit by Leif Hetland

    In Healing the Orphan Spirit, Leif Hetland explores a central aspect at the root of much of the chaos and division in the world today–the orphan spirit. Father God is waiting for His beloved sons and daughters to understand who they are and whose they are so that all might live in the fullness of our true identity as co-heirs of God’s kingdom. From the depths of personal experience and a deep knowledge of Scripture, Leif brings clarity to God’s spirit of adoption with answers to questions such as:

    • What does it mean to be “adopted” by Father God?
    • How is Jesus a perfect example of a son who knows his true identity?
    • How does one experience the true nature and heart of God so as to live as a beloved son or daughter?

    Leif’s profound teaching and powerful personal testimonies bring to light what it means to live from the place of your God-given identity and enjoy the life of freedom that every heart longs for.

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    Exposing the Rejection Mindset by Mark DeJesus

    Break free by exposing the lies of a rejection mindset. Everyone experiences rejection in their life, but few are equipped to overthrow a rejection mindset. Meanwhile, masses of hearts are held back from experiencing the fullness of love in their relationships while being held under the limitation of spiritual slavery. Rejection is a deeply rooted mindset that seeks to steal your ability to experience love, see the power of your identity and experience fruitful relationships. It keeps your heart from experiencing a healthy and fruitful life as a loved child of God. Many people never experience the fullness that is possible because a rejection mindset held them back.

    Through his work as a transformational consultant, Mark has witnessed the effects of a rejection mindset first-hand. Through his own personal freedom journey and helping many to break from personal limitations, Mark will expose this sinister mindset and give you practical tools to live free. Throughout this book, you will learn to see how this root system of rejection seeks to get itself into every facet of relationships. You will be able to: – Get to the bottom of what causes most of our relationship struggles. – See why so many believers feel far from God and struggle to connect to His love. – Uncover why many of the same cycles of limitation keep occurring. – Face personal insecurities and get an identity upgrade. – Develop a healthier lens in how you approach relationships. – Break out of places where you feel stuck and get a fresh start. It’s time to take back who you are and what you were made for. Expose the rejection mindset in your life and walk into your freedom.

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    The Insidious Dance: The Paralysis of Perfectionism

    ​When performing isn’t enough, perfectionism is the answer … or so says the system of the world. Need to get out of the MATRIX and start living life without the treadmill? Ready to be able to give your heart to someone or something, without reservation sans the fear of the consequences of failure? Then this book is definitely for you. It explains the reasons we adopt it, the maladies of it and provides a prescription to end its tyranny in your life. Packed with insight into the spiritual consequences of perfectionism if will finally draw a detailed picture for you of what’s been wrong all these years and how to fix it.

    Get It Now

    Book artwork and descriptions are from Amazon.com descriptions and are the sole property of the copyright holder.

  • How to Make a Living as an Artist

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    So you want to know how to actually make a living as an artist?  You’re in the right place! For the last 25 years, I’ve made my living using my creative expression and I’m going to share with you the top things I’ve learned so you can begin actually making a living from your art.

    You Can’t Have Business Dreams with Hobby Habits
    A lot of artists “dream” of making a living from their art but few are actually willing to do what it takes. What does it take, you might ask?  Things like:

    • Making time to create great work every day
    • Purposefully developing and enhancing your artistic skill
    • Cultivating ongoing inspiration
    • Stewarding the ideas you get so you can come back to them at the right time
    • Creating your business entity and bank account to treat your art as a business
    • Developing connection with your ideal client through marketing
    • Being found online where clients are looking (website, social, blogs, podcasts, editorials, online storefronts, etc.)
    • Connecting with other artists on the same journey for support and encouragement
    • Having a mentor who can lead you in areas you’re not proficient in yet including art, marketing, sales, business and your spiritual life.

    ​Over the years as I’ve grown my own very successful art business (I’m a woven sculpture artist) and mentored literally thousands of Christian artists, I’ve found for an artist to really thrive, they have to cultivate 5 specific areas of their life: heart & mind, art, brand, business and life. Unless you are working on all these areas simultaneously, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to make a living as an artist.

    See, making work that is masterfully created and unique is simply the starting point. That’s a given. It’s ground zero. Once you’re making work that’s uniquely beautiful you’ve got to go about cultivating an authentic connection with your potential audience.

    For more on this subject, check out The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast. It’s free and filled with hundreds of free episodes that will empower you on your creative journey toward actually making a living as an artist.

    Need some more help starting to cultivate those 5 hey areas? Take my “Start Thriving Now” ecourse. It’s free and will be a big encouragement to you.

  • When Fear Overwhelms

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    Does fear ever get a hold of you so hard that you just can’t function?  When this happens, do you ever feel stuck, not knowing what to do, how to get out of it, or how to throw it off? 

    Well, believe it or not, I struggled with that for many years until the Lord gave me a solution. In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, and in my blog, I’ll be sharing how to get freedom from fear so that you can begin to walk in the fullness of God’s strength and clarity.  

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    I was recently reflecting on my own journey, especially as it relates to fear. For many years, fear was a significant motivating factor in my life. Fear of…

    • what others would think about me
    • what God thinks about me
    • not being good enough
    • being found to be less than 
    • being taken advantage of 
    • missing something
    • some bad situation happening out of the blue
    • everything that I built being torn to pieces
    • “them” finding out who the “real me” was

    You get the picture. My life was being ruled by all of this misplaced fear-based anxiety. I was living my life based on the lies of the enemy and not the Truth of God. We have all dealt with this at some point, some of us more than others. You know those times when fear takes hold, and you start feeling absolutely overwhelmed, even to the point of a panic attack, just not knowing what to do.  

    One of the things I learned many years ago is THE KEY that God gave us in His Word that unlocks transformation in our lives.  Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t be conformed to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I learned that if I want to experience life differently, I have to learn to think differently.

    I’m a firm believer in this concept of renewing my mind. I’ve been practicing it for years, intentionally cultivating God’s Truth in my heart for years. And despite all that, there are still sometimes things just come out of the blue.  When I’m tired, mad, sad, hungry, upset, or frustrated, that’s when the enemy will come in like a flood to try to shut me down and overwhelm me.

    It happened to me just the other day.  I was having a pity party. I was really starting to get anxious about situations that are really unlikely ever to happen, the “What Ifs” of life. And as this went on for a bit, the enemy began to blow these stories up to IMAX size in my head.  I was just getting bombarded with those fears of What If…

    • What if this happens?  
    • What if that happens?

    And as the fear continued to grow, it began to morph. If it did happen, does that mean that…

    • God not big enough to walk me out of this situation?
    • God not faithful to be there with you in the middle of it?  

    As these things raced through my mind, I leaned into the truths I’d been cultivating in my heart for years. Pulling from my daily practice of renewing my mind, I realized I needed to turn to the Lord and not even try to be strong. I just needed to fall into His lap and say, “JESUS, I NEED YOUR HELP!”  

    Now while this may seem an over simplistic solution, this simple act of trust broke something free in my life. Suddenly, instead of being in agreement with the fear, I began to agree with God’s truth…

    • God IS my provider!
    • God IS my truth giver!
    • God IS my source!
    • God IS my protector!

    As I did that, a beautiful thing happened.  The Lord immediately went WHOOSH.  It was like all of the fear, anxiety, and worry that was swirling around in my head just went, POOF, gone!  It was like clouds starting to drift apart, and that’s when the Lord dropped this Scripture into my heart.

    “When you sit enthroned under the shadow of Shaddai.  You are hidden in the strength of God most high.  He is the hope that holds me in the stronghold to shelter me.  The only God for me and my great confidence.  He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy.  He will protect you from false accusations in any deadly curse.  His massive arms are wrapped around you protecting you.” Psalm 91 – The Passion Translation

    And as I sat there, I realized that God had done it again. In my time of need, as I reached out to Him, He came in to dispel the enemy’s lies with the exact truth that I needed at that moment. My fear was getting caught in a “hidden trap,” something I didn’t see coming that would destroy the things I hold dear. 

    That was my fear, the source of the anxiety that was creeping up that day, and Psalm 91 was the exact passage the Lord gave me.  I believe that the only time God is limited in our lives is when we are unwilling to invite Him into the situation.  If you and I sit there and struggle in our life by ourselves, the Lord is standing there waiting to bring a solution, waiting to bring breakthrough, but He is waiting for you to extend the invitation.  He is waiting for you to fling open the door.  He is waiting on you to run into His arms

    So my friend, listen!  If fear is one thing that tries to come on you regularly, follow my example. When you find yourself in the middle of the fear, just fling yourself on Jesus!  Turn up the worship music,  lean into His arms, and say, “Father, I need You right now to come and break the power of the enemy.” I promise you. He will be faithful to show up and bring deliverance on your behalf and give you the tools you need to begin to renew your mind and walk in strength that is already yours in the Kingdom of God.

    I hope this helps as you continue to create with Him. If so, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!
    ​
    Thanks for reading!

  • Finding Your Unique Creative Voice

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    Have you ever wondered how to find your unique style as an artist?  A lot of people wonder that, and we are going to jump in and give you some really quick tips on how to see that happen today on this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    One of the questions that I get all the time is, “Matt, how do I find my artistic uniqueness and express that in the marketplace?” It’s a great question and a real sign that the artist asking it is ready to take their art to the next level. Why, you ask? Because differentiation and uniqueness are what set you apart from other artists in the marketplace.   

    Art, after all, is a language. It is visual, auditory, and it speaks to the soul of all people. Like the spoken language you use every day, your artistic vocabulary doesn’t just appear overnight.  Here are three essential things you need to know about developing and refining your creative voice.

    You’ll Know It When You See It 
    One of the things that I really believe about finding your unique, artistic voice is that you don’t find it; you recognize it.  You uncover it.  You allow it to emerge over time. However, one of the things artists often neglect is being in the studio enough to ever see that emergence happen. 

    As you pursue this process, just start by doing the things that come naturally to you. Then, get in the studio and create tons and tons of work.  Develop that masterful competency that only time and practice brings forth. And as you do, you’ll start to see themes and styles come out as your unique creative voice emerges. 

    Consistently Cultivate Inspiration 
    Creating lots of work over time forces you to cultivate continued inspiration in your life. As a creative, you must keep your artistic eyes and ears open all the time. As you receive that inspiration, you respond through your work. And then the inspiration/creation cycle starts all over again. 

    As you cultivate inspiration, you start to recognize what you are interested in and drawn to as an artist. You begin to gravitate towards a preferred medium and limited palette of materials and supplies you’re using. You begin to recognize the things in life that inspire you the most, and you start to purposefully pursue that source of inspiration. 

    One final thought on cultivating inspiration; be consistent, be intentional and be faithful. Get serious about cultivating inspiration in your life regularly. Then, faithfully steward those ideas by journaling them. (Need more tips on this, check out this podcast episode that is all about cultivating creative inspiration.)

    Don’t Rush the Process 
    Creating tons of work and developing masterful competency while consistently cultivating inspiration takes time. One of the biggest roadblocks to artists developing their style happens when they pressure themselves to sell their work too quickly.  

    Investing time in your art is the key. There is no shortcut to gaining experience and building skills, both of which contribute to developing your creative voice. Allow your voice to emerge, over time, then refine it. As you do this authentically, people will recognize your uniqueness and respond to it, giving you an excellent opportunity to connect with those people when you make your move to the marketplace. 

    I hope this helps as you continue to pursue the development of your own unique artistic voice. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!
    ​
     Thanks for reading.

  • Can My Art Become An Idol

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    You know, if you love making art as much as I do, it’s really easy to wonder, “Hey!  Is my love of art and creating art crowding out my passion for Jesus and my desire to worship Him?  Is it becoming an idol in my life?  

    I don’t know if you have ever thought about that, but in this week’s episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, as well as in my Blog, I’ll be sharing some truths that have really helped  bring me clarity and peace on this topic.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    You know, if you love making art as much as I do, it’s really easy to wonder, “Hey!  Is my love of art and creating art crowding out my passion for Jesus and my desire to worship Him?  Is it becoming an idol in my life?  I don’t know if you have ever thought about that, but recently Tina, one of our Podcast listeners, asked me that very question.

    Fear By Any Other Name Is Just Fear
    Sometimes the enemy will disguise himself as wisdom when it’s just plain old fear.  When I hear a question like this, I find that it’s often rooted in a place of fear: Fear of messing up, fear of not doing it right, fear of disappointing God, and others.  

    It’s born out of a wrong mindset that is all too prevalent in the church and the Christian art community. This false idea that “Unless you do it exactly like this, or get exact permission to do this much but not that much, then you are somehow going to do it wrong.”

    Bottom line, God isn’t like that. I really believe that God cares so much more THAT we create than WHAT we create, or even how much we create.  I believe that it brings God joy when we do the thing that He has called us to do. 

    It is like the quote that I included in “Unlocking The Heart of the Artist” from Saint Irenaeus that says, “The Glory of God is man Fully alive.”  That is, as you do the thing that God has called and created you, nothing else could bring greater glory or greater joy to the Father. So instead of a fear-based approach that is borne out of a faulty mindset, I want you to embrace this confident heartfelt belief in your art that says, “Yeah!  When I do this thing, it is what God designed me for,” and that brings Him glory.

    Art Is A Vehicle for Grace
    If you are struggling with this question, then I want you to embrace the fact that art is a means of grace.  It’s one way we can experience the grace, love, and manifest presence of God in our life. This grace is not only for ourselves but also for others as God uses our art to reveal and release His nature in and through us. 

    Always keep in mind that it’s God who created and called you to be an artist. It’s His artistic expression that He desires to bring to life through the talent and skill He gave you. The Father desires to bring you into this Spirit-led creative process, one that impacts and changes not only you but others as well.

    Again, nothing brings Him greater glory than for you to be able to do the thing that He has called you to do. That, my friend, sounds like the exact opposite of idolatry.

    Keep Your Eyes on The Creator, Not the Creations
    For all of us who are believers, art should never be the entire focus of our lives. Art for art’s sake isn’t why you were endowed with your unique set of creative gifts and talents. Rather, art is a vehicle through which we experience the love of God, hear His voice, and allow His beauty, life, and life to flow through us to others.

    When anything in life becomes an idol, three things come to mind: 

    • That idol becomes the center of your focus and becomes an object of your worship. 
    • It becomes a source of identity. 
    • It becomes the place that we receive power.

    If the thing you create and the artistic passions you pursue begin taking on a life of its own and separating you from God, then yes, that could be a problem.  Anything that supplants your relationship with Jesus and His Lordship in your life absolutely can become an idol.

    The secret to staying on the right path is to want to make sure that you see these beautiful things, these gifts that God gives us not as an end in themselves. Art, as I shared earlier, is a vehicle God uses to draw us close to Him. He uses it to transform our lives while He moves through us and the works of our hands to transform others.  Art that accomplishes this is not an idol.

    I hope this helps as you continue to create with Him. If so, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

    Thanks for reading

  • Is This The Holy Spirit or Is It Me

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    Have you ever wondered how to tell when the Holy Spirit is guiding you and working with you in your art or when you are trying to do it all on your own?” If this is you, you’re not alone.  This is a question I get a lot from artists all over the world. 

    In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, and in my blog, I want to share with you a few things that I’ve learned over the years that have really helped me definitively answer this question for myself.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    Have you ever wondered how to tell when the Holy Spirit is guiding you and working with you in your art or when you are trying to do it all on your own?  If this is you, you’re not alone. This is a question I get a lot from artists all over the world. And today, I want to share with you a few things that I’ve learned over the years that have really helped me definitively answer this question for myself.

    Religious Baggage – We All Have Some…
    You know, a lot of us were raised with a fear-based relationship with the Lord. This is where the idea that you have to be “careful” because you don’t want to “miss God” gets ingrained in your heart. While the desire for this sort of teaching is undoubtedly good, it often produces the opposite of what it is intended to do.

    In my life, this mindset failed me completely. Instead of keeping on the straight and narrow, it took me totally off the path. I became paralyzed because I was so afraid of doing anything that might seem like my own flesh, anything that would not honor the Lord.  I was just scared all the time, and because of that, I really was not moving forward in my life.

    This kind of religious baggage paralyzes a lot of people in life. But over the years, the Lord began to help me realize some essential Kingdom truths. These truths helped me know the answer to the question, “Am I doing this with the Lord, or am I doing this on my own?”

    You Were Designed for Co-Creating with God.
    We all have to realize that God’s pleasure and His desire are FOR you. God’s design in your life was created specifically for you.  In other words, there is a design, there is a pattern, there is a way of flowing that He designed for you. Not for anyone else, and He did this before the very foundation of the earth. When you got saved, the best part is that your Divine design got reactivated and reenergized in your life.

    I love where the Bible says in Psalms that God inhabits the praises of His people.  I love it because that is what art feels like to me.  As we create in concert with the Holy Spirit, inviting Him into the creative process, God is faithful to His Word.  As we do the things we were made to do with the One who created us, He comes, and He inhabits, leads, guides, and comforts us through that process.

    You Have Everything You Need
    It is crucial to realize that through what God has done for you through the cross, you already have everything you need for life and godliness as a Kingdom Artist. The real question is, “How do you participate or partake in all that God has already done for you? In II Peter 1:3-4, it says that we participate in the divine nature through the very precious promises of God.  So, it is by faith, right? 

    It’s by faith that we take hold of the promises of God and can appropriate all the things that God has for us. Well, the same thing is true with your art.  You need to embrace the truth that every idea, every inspiration, and every skill comes from God.  He has already equipped you with all of this, plus the desire and ability to flow with the Holy Spirit in your creative process. It’s already there!  It exists right now! Well, how do you access it?  You access it by faith.

    Try This the Next Time You Are In Your Studio
    So the next time you go into your creative space, walk-in with a joyful heart saying: “Father, thank You that I have the opportunity today to come in and do the thing that You created me to do.  Now, Lord, I receive by faith Your inspiration and the movement of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, I listen with the ears of my heart for Your voice.  Lord, I respond with my hands, and God, I trust that You will lead and guide and move in and through me during this process.  Use me, Lord.  Transform me that my work might be used to transform others.”

    You see, I just find that when you can come in and create out of a place of JOY and not judgment, you can’t do it wrong.  When you approach the creative process from a place of judgment versus joy, fear rises up, anxiousness kicks in, and self-doubt rules the day. Judgment says, “I don’t know if this is God!  I don’t know if I am doing it right!  I don’t know if I am going to miss it!” 

    Joy says, “I am a son.  I am a daughter.  I am already set up for success.  God has already given me a design.  There is no way I can do this wrong. God, You are FOR me.  Holy Spirit, You are my guide, and You are the one that is here to lead me today.” As you do that, it’s like letting a drawbridge down into the spirit, receiving by faith everything that God has planned for you.

    What the Fruit Says
    Lastly, I want to share how you can recognize when the Spirit of God is moving in and through your creative process. Ask yourself the following:

    • Am I at peace? 
    • Am I joyful during this process? 
    • Am I being transformed? 
    •  Is He transforming people through my art? 

     
    Is there a sense of His presence as you are creating?

    If you’re answering yes if you’re seeing the Fruits of the Spirit manifesting in your life and through your work. All of that confirms the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life as you create.  So don’t make it more complicated than it is.  Enjoy the process.

    I hope this helps as you continue to create with the Lord. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

    Thanks for reading.

  • Overcoming The Fear of What Others Think About You

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    One of the questions I get from artists all the time is, “Matt, how do I get over the fear of what other people think about my life and my art as a Kingdom creative?”  This is a big problem. In fact, it’s the foundation of just about every problem that creatives face. 

    In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, and in this week’s Blog, I’ll hit this problem head-on. I’ll also give you some real practical steps you can begin to take to move through this and find freedom from these debilitating fears.

    In this episode, I mentioned two great resources that may help you as you begin to renew your mind.  The first is my book, Created to Thrive, and it’s available in Print, Digital, and Audio versions directly from Amazon, right here: https://www.amazon.com/Created-Thrive-Artists-Living-Abundance/dp/1536904279

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Please Note: The mini-course mentioned in this episode is no longer available for purchase. You can find all of our current resources at: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources.html

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    One of the questions that I get from artists just about every day is, “Matt; I love Jesus!  I know He is calling me to be a creative, but I am so scared!  I am so nervous about what other people will think of me, what they will say about me, and how they will judge me. I constantly fear that others will find out that I’m simply not enough. How do I get over this?” 

    Well, this whole area of fear of what others think is significant in the creative community. In fact, I believe that it’s really the foundation of every problem that artists go through. So, I think it’s time we hit this issue head-on with some practical solutions that will help you bust through the prison of what other people think about you, your art, and your creative lifestyle.

    Did I Miss Something?
    For many years I struggled with this whole concept of identity. In fact, my first book, “Unlocking The Heart of The Artist,” was really all about my struggle with identity and really coming to understand that you can be both saved and renewed. Let me explain. 

    I knew from a young age that my spirit had been renewed when I asked Jesus to come into my heart. But nobody had ever taught me that just because my spirit was instantly renewed that my soul, that is my heart, mind, will, emotions, needed to be renewed and aligned with the Kingdom of God.

    Most Christians, in general, do not have this understanding that you were saved instantly, but you can be operating out of an old, wounded mentality, an old paradigm.  You can be saved on one side and see all the promises of God that are in God’s Word while still living out of an unrenewed mind. If you live out of this wounded paradigm, you will live a life in many respects more frustrating than the one you left before you were saved.  

    Why?  Because even though you’ve got this great hope and vision for the eternal life Jesus provided for you while at the same time, you find yourself struggling daily within your emotions, thoughts, and actions.  If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not weird. This is a normal part of every believer’s walk. In fact, I was like that for most of my life until I began to understand how transformation is designed to happen in the Kingdom. 

    Kingdom Transformation
    Well, how does that happen?  Well, Romans 12:2 tells us that we are not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed, that is to be fundamentally changed, by the renewing of your mind.  Many of us probably memorized this verse in Sunday School, and countless gold stars have been awarded for these efforts. But did anyone ever teach you how to apply it to your life practically? 

    Salvation happens the moment you ask Jesus into your heart.  Your spirit man is instantly transformed, changed, and made righteous instantly. But even in that glorious moment, we still have a world of issues lingering inside our minds, wills, and emotions.   Our spirit is saved, but that is just one part of the three, body, soul, and spirit that makes us who we are.

    Our soul, that mind will and emotions part of us, still has to be renewed even after salvation. The Bible teaches us that this is a daily, moment-by-moment process that is meant to be led by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God. It’s an intentional daily process, this renewing of your mind, and it’s as simple as starting with focusing on the truth of:

    • Who God says you are? 
    • What God says you have? 
    •  What God says about you? 

    Taking time daily to focus on God’s Truth versus all of the fear, anxiety, frustration, confusion that you’ve carried for so long will transform you from the inside out.

    Consistency Brings the Change
    And as you do this thing the Bible talks about, and you begin taking every thought captive under the Lordship of Jesus, your life WILL change. It’s not an overnight change, but as you are faithful daily to focus on and believe in God’s Truth versus what you have believed, a great exchange begins to take place in your spirit man. 

    It begins with declaring in faith, “Hey!  I don’t want to believe this old lie about myself anymore.  I choose to receive the truth of God’s Word about this for my life!” And as you do that over and over and over again as an act of your will, verbally, mentally, and spiritually replacing that old lie with God’s Truth, change just happens. The old lies fade, and God’s Truth in that area becomes your go-to daily mindset. Why is this important? Because it’s your beliefs that ultimately determine your actions and your destiny. 

    I hope this helps as you take that step of creating or refining your website. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below! 

    Thanks for reading.

  • Do I Really Need A Website

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    With all the opportunities we have today to promote art and connect with buyers via social media, is a website really something you need to worry about?  

    Well in my blog article and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I tackle this question while offering a fresh perspective on how to turn a casual online follower into a connected client.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

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    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    One of the frequent questions I get goes something like, “Matt, I’m on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok. So, is it even a necessity to have a website?  

    I get it. Websites can seem so last decade. But an effective website can be the best marketing tool an emerging artist can use to grow their business and expand their influence. So, I want to give you a new perspective on websites while highlighting what I see are the four primary purposes of every artist’s website.

    All Roads Lead to Your Website

    So, I’m a big fan of Social Media. I’m currently on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, while at the same time, my podcasts are being distributed across a dozen different platforms. I’ve been interviewed on radio, tv, podcasts, and in magazines, books, and blogs. The common thread that holds this all together is my website.

    I like to think of an artist’s website as the central place or the hub of your artistic world. Your website should be the place that all roads from the social jungle point back to.  Your social pages should link to it, your blog should live on it, and when you’re interviewed online, on-air, or in print, you should mention it. 

    Why? You ask. It’s simple. Your website is where your Artist Statement lives.  It’s the place where all the images of you working in the studio, of the trajectory of your work, and the history of your creative process are displayed. Your site is where you showcase your current work, share your event calendar, and talk about your journey as an artist. 

    Now, the whole point of having a website, though, is not just to have a website.  The whole point of having a website is to move people through a process where they can do four things. 

    Learn About You
    As you are designing your website, you want to speak about what you do in a way that connects with what your site visitors are looking for.  If you go to my website, www.MattTommey.com, you can see how I speak to people that are looking for unique, nature-inspired woven sculpture.  

    I am speaking not only about myself, my art, and my creative process, but I am intentionally sharing what I do in terms of what my potential clients are looking for.  In marketing, we call that the WIIFM – “What’s In It For Me?” When you ask this question, you have to think about it from the client’s perspective since that is who you want to be able to connect with.

    Have Their Needs Met
    I remember walking through a store one day when U2’s “I still haven’t found what I’m looking for” began playing in the background.  I had a chuckle because it was true for me that day, but it also brings up a great point.

    Your website needs to persuade visitors that the solutions you offer, the art you sell, the classes you teach, or the book you wrote is something that they need. The language you use, the pictures you share, and the stories you tell on your page need to connect with these potential clients in a way that makes them want to take advantage of the opportunity you’re offering based on their values, their desires, and what they are looking for.

    Take Action
    Number three, your website has got to have a clear invitation.  You want to have an opportunity to invite visitors to get involved in your world. It can be as simple as an invite to a show, an offer to take a class, or even an opportunity to purchase a piece of work. 

    The secret is you have to ask the visitor to take action, and you’ve got to be really clear!  In the Marketing world, we call that your Call To Action.  Your CTA is effective when a site guest can clearly understand what they are being asked to do and quickly and easily do it.

    Become Connected
    Lastly, you want to make it easy for your site visitors to stay connected with you. That’s why I tell the artist in my Created to Thrive Artists Mentoring Program to make sure that there is an opt-in page on their websites.

    An opt-in page is where somebody can make a purchase, register for a class, or even give you their email address. Again, your website is not of any real use if it is just a brochure out there.  You want to make sure that it’s a vehicle to connect, persuade, invite, and enable your clients to communicate with you, do business with you, and refer you to others.

    I hope this helps as you take that step of creating or refining your website. If this article has helped, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

    Thanks for reading.

  • 6 Questions to Ask when Searching for an Artist Mentor

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    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 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? 
      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.
    • Do they 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 artist 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.
      ​
    • Are we connecting on a spiritual level? 
      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.

  • Cultivating Artistic Inspiration

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    Do you ever wonder how to keep the inspiration going when you are feeling just a little creatively dry?  Well, a lot of people struggle with that and I am going to dive into this subject and give you some real clear help on how to keep the inspiration flowing in my blog and in this episode of Five-Minute Mentoring. 

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

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    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    Do you ever wonder how to keep the inspiration going when you feel just a little creatively dry?  A lot of people struggle with that, and I am going to dive into this subject and give you some real help on how to keep the inspiration flowing. 

    You know, we have all been in this situation, right?  You get into the studio, and creatively you just hit a wall. Inside you are like, “I’ve got nothing!  No inspiration!  Nothing is flowing here! What’s going on?” As artists, isn’t being creative what we are supposed to do anywhere and at any time?  Yet somehow, we all have found ourselves in this place, but the good news is none of us have to stay there.

    Fill Your Well
    As artists, we all create from the inspiration that we’re continually collecting, cultivating, and curating in what I like to call our Creative Well. Think of your “Well” as an internal reservoir that frequently needs to be filled so that it is always ready to release a fresh flow of inspiration when you need it. 

    I was first introduced to the concept of an ‘inner well’ of creativity in Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way. As I have explored this concept more deeply over the years, the Holy Spirit began to bring me more revelation about how inspiration works, how it’s discovered, held and nurtured within is.

    This well holds the inspiration we collect, cultivate, and curate throughout our lives. Think of your “well” as an internal reservoir that needs to be refilled frequently so it is always ready to release a fresh flow of inspiration when you need it.  Central to my understanding is that the Holy Spirit moves over all the inspiration we so into our heart and mind, allowing us to co-labor with Him in the creative process. As we are continually filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) both personally and artistically, we create from a place of overflow.

    A common mistake is to assume that your creative well is just going to fill itself. In reality, you have got to be as intentional about cultivating inspiration as you do about creating the expression of that inspiration.  Find that thing that fills you up inspirationally and focus on it. Make it a daily priority in your life. Be intentional about this so that you can release that fresh flow of creativity when you do get in the studio.  As I have explored it more over the years, the Holy Spirit began to bring me more revelation about how inspiration works – how it’s discovered, held and nurtured within us. Central to my understanding is that the Holy Spirit moves over all the inspiration we sow into our heart and mind, allowing us to co-labor with Him in the creative process.  ​

    Focus On The Journey
    The second thing I would say is that you have got to prioritize your own personal creative journey.  True artistic growth requires so much more than merely mastering the tools and techniques of your chosen genre. Maturing as a creative involves integrating everything you learn along your journey into your unique creative expression, voice, and style.  

    It’s the nuance of how God speaks to you, how you fill your Creative Well, and how you interpret those things through your life and art that grow you as an artist. The secret to keeping your creativity fresh is continually looking for and focusing upon those divine teaching opportunities God puts in your path. Intentionally making this a priority in your journey will keep your art and your creative outlook fresh.

    Don’t Forget The Fun
    The last thing I would say is this: You have got to get back to the joy of just creating! I still love nothing better than to be out in my garden, pruning back plants, picking up dead leaves, and using those scraps to sit down and just start weaving. I’m not focused on any tools or techniques as I’m sitting there on my porch. I’m just having fun with the materials.

    The funny thing is that after the countless pieces I’ve created and sold, this simple act of weaving yard clippings is still a huge rush to me.  It’s creative joy unleashed and unrestrained. It’s a simple process that keeps me grounded creatively.  

    If you’re not regularly experiencing this, then ask the Lord to take you back to that place where creativity was something you embraced with child-like joy. Let those times of prayerful and playful artistic meditation revive your sense of awe and wonder in the creative process.
     
    I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!
    ​
    Thanks for reading.

  • Taking Fear Captive

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    Do you ever find yourself struggling, out of the blue, with anxiety, or jealousy, or insecurity? I know I do, and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’m going to share a few tips about how to work through it and find freedom from those debilitating thought patterns. 

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    Do you ever find yourself struggling, out of the blue, with anxiety, or jealousy, or insecurity? I know I do, and I’m going to share a few tips about how to work through it and find freedom from those debilitating thought patterns. 

    Just the other day, I was sitting with the Lord, doing things that I usually do in the mornings, when I got hit with a wave of fear, anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity. Now I know that some of you are thinking, “Matt, that happens to you?”  Of course, it happens to me because it happens to all of us.  But instead of letting these moments ruin my day, I begin to focus upon three truths I’ve learned over the years about this very human condition.

    This Is Normal
    You know, it is kind of a funny thing that I’ve learned over the years. As I felt this wave trying to overtake me, one part of me laughed as I thought, “Yeah!  Here this comes again,”  will at the same time, I couldn’t help but wonder, “This Again?  Really?  I mean, am I still dealing with that kind of stuff in my life?” 

    But then, I took a deep breath and settled into the truth that emotions and the emotional roller coaster are part of the human condition.  Even though we all want to hide it, we all still have a flesh nature that is alive and well. And it’s that part of us that the enemy is always trying to take advantage of.  That brings me to the second truth I want to share.

    This Does Not Define Me
    An emotionally trying day is not what defines you as an artist in God’s Kingdom. Being aware of your propensity to have, give into, and meditate upon thoughts like that, helps you realize when you’re having a momentary “flesh flash” or when it’s a symptom of a deeper issue that needs to be dealt with.

    Look at it as an emotional hiccup,  a reminder of our genuine need to renew our mind, and to connect the reality of God’s love for us in the person of Jesus.  Any time the enemy hits you with overwhelming thoughts of fear, anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity, you have to realize that is an opportunity to take that thought captive and to say, “Now, is this true?  Or is it not?” Then once you realize you’re dealing with yet another lie from the enemy you have the opportunity to embrace this third bit of wisdom.

    Embrace God’s Truth
    Once you realize that your current state of mind is being driven by a thought or idea that doesn’t line up with the Word of God, that’s when the real growth and transformation can begin. I know this may sound too simple, but it really works.

    In moments like this, learn to throw yourself into the arms of Jesus. Embrace the truth that He is your hope and strength when you don’t have any strength. If the enemy is hitting you with fear about money or provision, then embrace the truth that He is your Provider. When you feel like you’ve lost your way, embrace the Lord as your Vision Giver.

    If you’re feeling attacked or taken advantage of, always know that He is your Protector. If jealousy or the lie that you are somehow not enough is rearing its ugly head, then find peace in the fact that He is your Identity Giver.  Find peace in the timeless truth that in Him, your place is absolutely secure.

    Now you might wonder, “Why?”   Because His love for us never changes!  His Gifts to us are without repentance. The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God are living and active inside of us all the time!  That’s the reality, that’s the truth, not those tangled webs of emotions lies, and fears the enemy slaps you with from time to time.

    The Divine Exchange
    So, if you can relate to what I’ve just shared, then I want to encourage you to intentionally make an exchange. Choose to trade-in those dominating thoughts, feelings, and fears for the truth of God’s promises to you. Then rehearse and reinforce those truths over and over and over again. You begin to embrace this practice as a lifestyle, then the things that have taken you captive – you will end up taking captive, giving them to the Lord in exchange for the newness and the freshness of His promises toward you.

    I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share it on social media, and comment below!

    Thanks for reading

  • Pro Tips for Successful Gallery Submissions

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    Have you ever wanted to know just what it takes to get into an art gallery? I get asked about this all the time, and in this episode of 5-minute mentoring, I‘ll be sharing three tips, straight from a local gallery director, that will help you get your art ready for submission to a reputable gallery.

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

    Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
    Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    Have you ever wanted to know just what it takes to get into an art gallery? I get asked about this all the time, and in this article, I have three tips, straight from a local gallery director, that will help you get your art ready for submission to a reputable gallery.

    As many of you know, I have been transitioning out of my River Arts District studio, where I have been for the last ten years, into a private and not open to the public studio. As a part of this move, I am starting to sell my work through galleries again. 

    I was making a delivery the other day, and I had the opportunity to talk to the director and their staff. I shared with them that one of the big questions that I get all the time from the members of my Created to Thrive Artists Mentoring program is, “Matt, how do I get into a really reputable gallery?”  

    Of all the things they shared about what to do and what NOT to do when seeking gallery representation, the following three things really stuck out as vital to artists wanting to sell their work through a reputable gallery.

    Follow the Procedures

    I know that might seem like a “Duh! Everybody follows the procedures!” But not everybody does!  In fact, too many artists just show up at the gallery and ask, “How do you be an artist in this gallery,” or another favorite question, “Can you just look at my work on my phone?”  

    Listen!  Any reputable gallery has got a process, often found on their website. It will detail when they are looking at work, how to submit it, and the time frame in which they’ll get back with you.  If you research a gallery you are interested in and can’t find their submission process online, then reach out with a call or email asking how they would like for you to submit work for their consideration.

    The critical thing to remember here is that every gallery has procedures, and they all want you to follow them; why, you wonder? It’s because if they are a reputable gallery, they are a busy gallery, and following their procedures shows a gallery owner that:

    • You respect their time and their status in the local art scene
    • You are serious about your art
    • You are someone that can be trusted to work with long term

    Always remember that a gallery isn’t just someone who shows off your artwork from time to time. They are going into business with you. When a gallery accepts your work, they partner with you to distribute your art to the world.  So, it’s vital that you follow their procedures at the beginning of what can be a very fruitful relationship.

    Be On-Time

    This kind of goes without saying, but it was one of the key “what NOT to do” things the gallery staff shared with me.  They told me, “If all of our artists would be like you, Matt!  You are actually on time. You were here when you said you were going to be, and you have your paperwork!”  

    Here’s a Pro Tip for getting an art gallery director and staff to love you and your work: Make it easy to do business with you.  It starts with things like:

    • Fill out your Artist Inventory BEFORE you arrive with your artwork.
    • Have your headshots, bio, and artist’s statement ready to give the gallery both in printed form and in digital format.
    • Show up for your appointments on time with all your gallery submission work complete.

    Do this, and they will have a great feeling about you and your work. And when the gallery owner and the gallery staff feel good about you and your work, they are much, much, much more willing to talk to clientele about what you do creatively, both to sell pieces and to refer clients back to you for commissioned work.  

    Make Great Artwork

    Again, I would hope this would seem obvious, but too many people just don’t seem to get this. You’ve got to be making great work for a gallery to take you seriously.  You may be a great marketer, but if you create sub-standard pieces that are not desirable in the marketplace, then you can’t expect the gallery to get excited about what you do.  

    While you’re out there looking for a reputable venue to represent your work, owners are looking for artwork that will enhance their art gallery’s reputation. I share these concepts often, both in this blog and on my Thriving Christian Artist and 5-Minute Mentoring Podcasts, about:
     

    • Being both Filled and Skilled as an Artist, 
    • Having a Regular Consistent Studio Practice
    • Developing of Your Unique Artistic Voice

    Investing in yourself and your art is the path towards creating high quality, unique art that will be prized and appreciated in the marketplace. 

    When you do these three things, I promise that you will make friends and influence gallery owners quickly. You’ll be set apart from so many other artists in the Marketplace who may be great at what they do, but they aren’t making it easy for a gallery to do business with them. 

    I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share on social media and comment below!

    Thanks for reading. 

  • So You Want to Be An Artist Influencer, Huh?

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    So everybody wants to be an “influencer” these days, right? The lure of followers, the excitement of sharing your passion with thousands who are listening to your every word. Trust me, it’s a thing and it’s exciting! But have you ever wondered what’s God’s methodology for becoming a person of influence?

    I’ll be talking about this and sharing 5 practical ways you can approach your dream of leading and potentially influencing other in the arts in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring and in my blog article titled So You Want to Be An Artist Influencer, Huh?

    Take a few minutes to listen on the app of your choice like ApplePodcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, GooglePlay or online at http://www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcast

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    PS – Did you review the podcast yet? Screenshot the review, post the screenshot to your Instagram feed, and tag @thethrivingchristianartist. Do that, and I’ve got a surprise for you if you do…. #justsayin

    PPS – Need help leaving that review – CLICK HERE for the simple instructions on how to leave a review today

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    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    So everybody wants to be an “influencer” these days, right? The lure of followers, the excitement of sharing your passion with thousands who are listening to your every word. Trust me, it’s a thing and it’s exciting! But what’s God’s methodology for becoming a person of influence?  

    First of all, let me say that wanting to share your passion and inspire others is awesome! And it could very well be a part of what God’s called you to as an artist or art teacher.  But it’s important to come at this from a healthy, grounded perspective because for Christians, concepts like laying down your life, serving others first and allowing God to raise you up in His timing come to mind pretty quickly.

    In that context, here’s 5 other practical ways you can approach your dream of leading and potentially influencing others…

    1. Develop Masterful Competency in One Area. Yes, one.​
      But Matt, I love to do so many creative things! Yes, I know and that’s awesome, but it’s not how you develop mastery. Focusing singularly on the development of your artistic voice and the unique aesthetic you carry is a major accelerator for your growth as an artist both creatively and financially.
    2. Do it so well and so uniquely that others can’t help but notice.
      The Bible is clear that a person’s gift makes room for them. As you develop mastery over an area of your life like your art, and start sharing your story authentically with those who are interested, that in itself will start to open doors in the marketplace.
    3. When they start to ask how you did it (and they will) and if you could help them, humbly say yes and ask how best you can help.
      When you are doing great work and telling your story, you will garner the attention of others… both buyers, partners and students. As you notice the conversation happening – it’s focus, it’s frequency – embrace it and use it to develop relationships with your audience members
    4. Day by day, multiply your results in the lives of others and help them achieve even greater results
      The responsibility to influence others as an artist who’s on a Kingdom assignment is great. Not heavy, but important. Your role in that relationship is to inspire, point them to Jesus and help them grow in their own gifting so they can be the person God created them to be. It’s definitely not to create a bunch of mini-me’s.
    5. Tell the stories of those you’ve helped and the transformation you helped them achieve. Invite others to the same journey.
      One of the best ways to grow in influence is to allow other people to praise your work and influence in their life. Let your students and clients tell your story through testimonials, video and social media live broadcasts. And when you’re telling the story of what you do, make sure you’re focusing 2/3 on your impact on others, rather than your own awesomeness, which I’m sure is limitless 🙂

    Now, all that being said, I couldn’t resist giving you 5 Ways Not to Be An Influencer. So, here they are:

    1. Plaster your “brand” all over the web and social media along with your latest __________ (class, ecourse, book, album, etc) telling everyone how awesome you and your ___________ are.
    2. Show no demonstrated mastery or progress in your life over time in the area you’re wanting to encourage others in.
    3. Step into the role of coach, expert or advisor when you’ve never helped anyone else achieve real lasting results in their life in that area.
    4. Look for recognition of your position before seeing demonstrable, measurable results in your life and in the lives of others.
    5. Seek leadership and authority before being a great follower who’s under authority.

    It’s been said “Your talent will take you where your character can’t keep you” and I wholeheartedly agree. ​Remember, just because you can make influence happen through technology and marketing strategies doesn’t mean you should. Rather, listen to the voice of the Lord, watch the fruit He’s bringing forth in your life and listen to those who are organically following you.  

    Psalm 75:6-7 “For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another.”

    Lastly, in the Kingdom, those who lead have a greater responsibility. We hold the hearts of our followers in our hands and have the ability to point them in any direction. Make sure your own heart is grounded in a healthy identity in Jesus and who you are in Him, rather than what you do. Otherwise, believe me, it will be really easy to draw others to yourself rather than to Jesus and His purposes in their life.

  • Mind-Based Mood Management for Christian Creatives

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    By Casey Cole Corbin, artist-counselor

    Surprisingly to most modern Christians, we are commanded 37 times in the Word of God to meditate.  We may have neglected to be obedient in this area.  As an artist-counselor who is also a Christian, I am often asked, “How does this Mind-Based Mood Management work as a lifestyle anyway? How does it integrate with following Jesus?”  I can answer that and also share a few exercises to try.
    “Mystics” is a word I previously associated with witchcraft, until I learned that the early Christians were called this. There was something different about them that the onlookers saw, a peculiar way they handled their everyday life. They had a distinctive response to stressors, how they interacted with others, how they lived, and the priorities they set.
    They were still real humans with real struggles.  They had setbacks and they were not perfect (i.e.: Paul needing to correct Peter.)  But they faced real stress and suffering– more than most of us will ever experience, including torture and even death—and they handled it differently. I believe that they did this spiritually, but in a much more practical way than we usually consider.
    It was already part of their culture to practice a lifestyle of a mind-body connection that we might call Mindfulness today. They pulled themselves together and toward their source of strength which enabled them to do amazing things like suffer and die for the cause of Christ.
    Most of us do not have those kinds of trials, but we do live in a world full of stress. I’ll offer you a Thought Exercise that I have led thousands of my clients through.  As requests for this have increased, both for in-person sessions or over video calls, I created audio recordings to automate the process and help more people.
    Thought Exercise:

    When you have that moment in your day when you feel all over the place, anxious, or overwhelmed – get centered.
    Getting ‘centered’ is not some weird thing that only “those other religions” do.  In fact, you probably already do it, any time you say to yourself:

    • “Let me think”
    • “Breathe”
    • “OK, calm down”

    Heck, even my wife’s smartwatch tells her to breathe!
    Maybe you play a certain song. Or at CHURCH, when the worship leader says, “Everyone get your mind off the stress of the week and focus on praising God now” and “Turn your focus of thanking Jesus, in this place.”
    Or how about when you create ART?
    What is your practice to ‘get into the zone’?  You may have a formal, thought-out process and routine, or maybe it is informal and brief, just as you walk into your studio or get your space ready. That process, whether formal or informal, is you getting centered.
    Next time, pay attention to your physiology.  In a moment -your body changes.  Maybe for you, your heart rate increases for a moment and a tingly feeling runs across your chest, followed by powerful calm. As your awareness then shifts from inside your body to your outside environment, you are mentally taking inventory of what’s around you and all the possibilities of how you can use the supplies to create your art.
     So let’s try it now:

    • Breathe in.
    • Go inward with a body scan. (Be aware of the state of your body, pain, comfort, warmth, the space your body displaces, your perimeters -where you begin and end.)
    • Breathe out.
    • Eventually, go outward being aware that the Holy Spirit is with you in the room. Connect to the LOVE He is offering.
    • Breathe in.
    • Go back inward inviting Him in there too.
    • Connect to the LOVE He brings.

    You can repeat with each GIFT: Peace, Hope, Joy, Forgiveness, Grace & Mercy, etc.

    • Again, re-center yourself
    • Scanning your body again,
    • Increase your awareness to now include _____ (peace)
    • As though you are inhaling God’s peace and allowing it to travel deep and settling down inside you.”
    • (Repeat for Hope, Joy, Forgiveness, Grace, and Mercy…)
    • Keep the GIFTS when you are ready to move on with your day.
    • Bringing the Peace up with you, feeling like you just had a power nap, eyes wide open feel great!
    • Take note of how you feel!

    Hopefully, you have a taste of how Mind-Based Mood Management works as a lifestyle.  You also may now better understand how it not only integrates perfectly with following Jesus but to ignore this instruction could be an issue of disobedience.   Consider how the word “selah” appears verse after verse in the Psalms.  It means to “pause and think about this”.  Add to your word-study other terms used in the Word of God such as “contemplate” and “ponder”, and we might make the case for how this topic might be one of the most neglected biblical instructions!  But it’s OK we can always start now! 
    I’ve recorded audio versions of these exercises to help you to better focus on the internal work of building this new skill.  Also included are several skill-building audios, video, and written support materials.  These will help to cement these learnings so that this new ability will serve you well for the rest of your life.  For more information on these recordings and to learn even more about Mind-Based Mood Management, click the link below. 

    Tell Me More About Mind-Based Mood Management

    Please Note: The links in this article are affiliate links, meaning I could potentially get paid if you click on the links and make a purchase. Keep in mind, the reason I’m an affiliate is because I believe in what they are offering. 

  • Different Results Require Different Actions

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    Send us a text

    Do you want different results in life but still find yourself doing the same things you’ve always done? A lot of us have done that in our lives. In fact, that was my story for many, many years until the Lord began showing me a different way to live.

    The most exciting part? As I started making the changes He showed me and sharing those changes with others, their lives changed too!  Pretty sweet!

    In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, and in my blog article on the same topic, I’m going to be sharing some practical things you can do to stop the cycle and start moving forward in your life and your art. 

    The Doors Are Open Now

    We only do it a couple of times a year. But, if you’re ready to join a dynamic life-changing community of artists from all over the world and start seeing real change happen in your life and art, then I invite you to learn more about my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.

    The doors to join are open right now through October 4th, 2020 and I would love to have you join us. To learn more, visit: https://thrive.www.matttommeymentoring.com/CTTMentoring

    Take a few minutes to listen on the app of your choice like ApplePodcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, GooglePlay or online athttp://www.MattTommeyMentoring.com/podcast

    Ok, enjoy the podcast!

    Matt

    PS – Did you review the podcast yet? Screenshot the review, post the screenshot to your Instagram feed, and tag @thethrivingchristianartist. Do that, and I’ve got a surprise for you if you do…. #justsayin

    PPS – Need help leaving that review –CLICK HEREfor the simple instructions on how to leave a review today

    Connect with Matt online at www.MattTommeyMentoring.com or on Instagram and Facebook @thethrivingchristianartist

    Get encouraged and connect with other artists on the Thriving Christian Artist Facebook Page  https://www.facebook.com/thethrivingchristianartist/

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    Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

    ? Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

    Do you ever find yourself wanting different results in your life but still find yourself doing the same old thing you have always done for years and expecting something to change?  Well, I think many of us have done that in our lives, and I want to unmask the top three things that can keep you trapped in this cycle and share a few things that you can do to start moving forward in both your life and your art.  

    You know, if we are honest, I think a lot of us have been in places in our life where we felt like the life that I am living right now, the things that I am going through, I really wish it would change, but I am not willing to change anything in my life in order to make things change. 

    I have struggled with weight over the years and my eating.  I am just now starting to get a handle on that in my life. But for years, I like the idea of being skinnier. I liked the idea of eating healthy. I like the idea of being more fit, but for far too long, I wasn’t willing to change my habits so that those ideals that I wanted could and would become a reality. (Thankfully, my wife and I made some significant changes in our lifestyle and I’m down 30+ pounds!)

    I think a lot of people are like that with their art, too.  They like the idea of wanting to be an artist.  They like the idea of God using them in their life, but they are not really to the point yet where they are willing to make a change, where they are willing to do different actions to get different results. 
     
    Listen, we have all been there.  No shame, but in general, there are probably a couple of different reasons why people find themselves in that situation.  One is fear. 

    Fear
    Fear of failure, fear of misunderstanding, or fear of the unknown. The enemy loves to get you stirred up with “hits” like:

    • What if I fail?
    • What if it doesn’t go my way?
    • What if this happens or that happens?
    • What if I don’t achieve everything that I believe is going to happen?
    • What would other people think about me?  

    All of the drama that swirls around on the inside will suck the life out of you. Standing up to the fear and embracing God’s perfect love is a significant first step in finding that confident footing you desire.  Another reason folks find themselves stuck in life boils down to Mindset.

    Mindset
    You know, if you have never learned really to take control of your thoughts and renew your mind like we read about in Romans 12, then there’s a good chance that Stinkin’ Thinkin’ may be holding you back.  Ideas about who you are, God’s plan for your life, and what’s possible with your art are all too often based on your experiences or what others have said to you as opposed to the actual truth. 

    Your beliefs about yourself, your potential, and your art are based on your “normal.” But we are called as believers to have faith for what is “normal” in the Kingdom of God. Our challenge and I believe the point of Romans 12:2, is to begin the process of aligning with God’s idea of normal. 

    Lack of Knowledge
    I think sometimes, people just don’t know what they don’t know.  You might be full of dreams, ideas, and passion for your art and your future as artists, but you don’t know the next step to take.  Or maybe you’re like people I’ve met over the years, and you don’t even know the right questions to ask, or even who to ask to help you get going on your journey.

    The lack of knowledge and feeling like you’re all alone can leave you feeling isolated, which can reinforce false beliefs you may hold while stoking those fears that could be holding you back. But realizing that you’re not the only and intentionally seeking out peers or even a mentor with the experience you lack is the best way I’ve found to overcome any knowledge gaps.

    So let me wrap this up by saying that you are never going to get different results in your life unless you begin to take different actions.  And that is not something that starts to happen spontaneously someday far in the future. It starts right now.  

    It starts with a gut decision inside of you that says:  You know what?  No matter what I am fearful about, no matter how scary this seams, no matter where I find myself in the world, no matter if I am the only one, I am determined to begin to see the results that I believe God has for me in my life in the context of being a thriving Christian artist.

    Seeing your art transform others while it blesses you financially, thriving spiritually, artistically and in business can absolutely be your story. Still, it starts with one thing – with you deciding to change the habits and the actions that you have employed up until this time, and make it change so that you can begin to move in a different direction.

    I hope this has been a big encouragement to you. If this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend, share on social media and comment below!

    Thanks for reading.