Looking for free resources to grow as a Christian artist spiritually, creatively and in business?
​
Here's 6 great places available now:

✅ The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/podcast.html

✅ Matt Tommey Mentoring Blog:
https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/blog

✅ YouVersion Bible App Devotionals from Matt Tommey: https://www.bible.com/search/plans?q=matt%20tommey

✅  Books by Matt Tommey
https://www.amazon.com/Matt-Tommey/e/B008F0S2LQ

*✅ Start Thriving Now Mini-Course:
https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/start-thriving-now
*Only for those artists who are NOT in the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program.

Has your art hobby grown large enough that you’re thinking about turning your passion into a business? In this article, I’ll share a few quick tips that will help you know when and how to get started on the road to business success as an artist. I know it will be a big help as you consider starting an art business.
 
Start with a Call to the Experts
 
While there’s plenty of sites that offer “free” legal advice out there on the internet for starting your own business, nothing beats professional, local advice if you want to get started on the right foot. 
 
From navigating local, state, and national laws, picking the correct business structure, and exploring the liability and tax implications of owning a business, a good legal advisor and talented financial advisor can help you navigate the decisions you need to make and the steps you need to take as your hobby grows into a business.
 
Is Now the Right Time?
 
Once you have your team of experts assembled (attorney and CPA to start with), it’s time to take a look at the state of your art.  Do a little cost-benefit analysis with your financial professional, and decide if your hobby has indeed grown into a business. A few of the questions to consider when you’re at a crossroad like this:
 
Are you regularly investing personal money into your art hobby?
Are you regularly selling your work or teaching art classes?
Is the money you’re making from your art becoming significant enough to replace a part, if not all, of your work income?
Are you making enough money to offset the expenses of having an official corporate structure in place?
 
As you work with your team of experts, you’ll answer these and many more questions in making this determination. But if you and the experts agree it’s time, then your next move will be to…
 
Pick Your Business Structure
 
One of the first things you and your team of advisers will consider is what type of structure you’ll be using to start your art business. Here in the United States, we use three basic types of business structure:
 

• Sole Proprietorship
• Limited Liability Companies
• Corporations

 
While I’m no legal expert (and this is not legal advice), here’s a basic overview of each type of business entity you and your team of experts will be considering for your needs.
 

• Sole Proprietorships are the most basic types of business entity. This type of business always has one and only one owner. Generally, legal documents are needed to start a sole proprietorship because it’s not considered a separate legal entity, different from its owner in the eyes of the law. The advantage is that it’s easy to start, and you’ll have total control of the business, but the downside is that as the owner, you’ll be personally liable for all the debts and liabilities of the business.
• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are a step up from the sole proprietorship in terms of both complexity and legal protections for the owner.  LLC’s were created as a hybrid of the sole proprietorship and corporation to stimulate small business growth.  An LLC blends the simpler legal administration and tax treatment of a Sole Proprietorship with the personal and business liability protection enjoyed by corporations.
• Corporations are the most complex of the three legal entities. These are businesses that are owned by shareholders, managed by a board, and operated by officers. While a corporation does offer excellent liability protections for the owners, the increased fees, the complexity of annual reporting, and changing tax rules often make this a choice best suited for larger ventures.

Want to dive deeper and learn even more? Check out what my friends at LegalZoom have to say on this subject by clicking here.
 
Looking for more tips? 
Listen to what I shared with Bonnie, one of my podcast listeners.

One Last Piece of Advice
 
Once you’ve determined this is the time to turn our hobby into a business, do it right and do it with integrity.  Setting up a business is not the kind of thing you want to leave to chance.  Don’t fall into the trap of doing business under the table just because it’s easy and may save you a few dollars.
 
Walking with integrity in business, setting up your business, taxes, and financial accounts correctly is like weaving a net for the blessing God wants to send your way.  If you have huge holes in your net because you’re not thinking and working through the details or because you’re avoiding taxes, then you’re potentially setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.
 
If an art business is in your future, then begin by finding those experts who can help you determine the best time, the best structure, and the best way to set up a business that will be a blessing to both you and others.

Have you ever wondered about the balance between God's design for your life and your responsibility to actually walk that out? Well, I want to share what the Bible says about this balance and reveal the two things every believer must do if they're going to find it.

You know, I love talking about the Kingdom of God. It's so simple. It's so clearly laid out in Scripture. And yet, so many people, me included for many years, have no clue how the Kingdom works.  But once you get an understanding of how the Kingdom of God works in your life. Wow, things really begin to change.

Ephesians 2:10 is one such scripture. It talks about the balance between the design of God on your life and your responsibility to walk it out. It says this, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." 

You Are His Workmanship

Now the first Kingdom truth I want you to grab onto is this: You Are His Workmanship.  The Greek word for "workmanship" is poema, which we get the word poem. With that in mind, I want to paraphrase and expand upon the first part of this verse…

"You are a skillfully crafted artistic narrative that expresses the beauty and the heart of God."

You are not here by some random chance or happenstance. You are explicitly designed as a work of art by the Lord for His Glory.

You Were Created for a Purpose

The second Kingdom Truth I want to highlight is this; You Were Created for a Purpose. "Created in Christ Jesus" is how Paul puts it, but what does that mean for us today?  That means we are one in Christ Jesus, joint-heirs with Him, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and fully able to receive and walk in the fullness of the Kingdom of God. But for what end?

"For good works, which God prepared beforehand." God designed, crafted, and fully equipped you to express His nature and His Heart to humankind in a way that only you can do. You are the perfect person for this mission, should you choose to accept it, which brings me to the next truth.

You Just Have To Do It

"That we should walk in them," or as another version puts it, "for us to do." Maybe you can relate to this, but for many years, I thought that because God had a plan for my life, that He was just going to make it happen.  I believed that my role in fulfilling God's call on my life was to wait on Him to do it. Guess what? That led to a lot of frustration because that's NOT how the Kingdom works.

Overt action is implied at the end of Ephesians 2:10. While it's true that God has a divine plan for your life, one that He's had in mind for you for a very long time, His plan was for you to do it with Him.  If you don't walk out the thing God created you to do, then you're going to miss the fullness of God's design for your life.​

This Might Be Your Roadblock

But Matt, if it's that simple, why is it so hard to simply "do" the thing God has called and created me to do?  The biggest roadblock most people face when fulfilling God's call on their life is their mindset.

So many good, well-meaning, Jesus-loving people simply don't know who they are in Christ. Despite being fully saved, they allow their old natural way of thinking, their non-renewed mind, to dominate their life. Things like...

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Perfectionism
• Striving
• Feelings of Worthlessness
• The Imposter Syndrome (click here for my podcast on this)

…keep people from being everything that God has called and created them to be. I know it kept me from that for a long time. It may be keeping you from that right now. If it is, I want to encourage you to do what Romans 12:2 teaches and "be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
​

No matter where people found themselves within the spectrum of art, one question remained:  Is it ok to sell my art if I consider my inspiration comes from the Lord? To be more specific, the question was often “Is it ok to sell something that God gave to you freely?”  As you can imagine, I definitely have an opinion on the matter and I hope this article can help clarify this for many of you out there who are struggling with this question.
 
In short, the answer is a resounding “Yes”!  However, not every artist is meant to sell their art and herein lies the issue. It really depends on a few things, namely how an artist approaches their creative expression. For the purposes of this article (Yes, I know that there is a lot of crossover between these and yes, I understand that I’m going to have to speak in generalities since every situation is different) I’m going to focus on artists who approach their work in 3 different ways: their own personal spiritual experience, hobby, ministry to others and vocationally.
 
Art as Spiritual Experience
For most artists, the practice of art making is something that is innate. They can’t imagine life without it.  It’s an extension of who they are and  when they are creating, there’s nothing else like it!  There’s an emotional release, a rush of pleasure and feelings of overwhelming joy that are rarely found in any other experience.  Many times, artists also make a deeper spiritual connection with God during this process.  Either intentionally or unintentionally, the artist may feel a real sense that they are not creating by themselves but are rather receiving inspiration from the Holy Spirit and creating with Him.  Although this is not an experience unique to Christians, I believe the Father is releasing more of Himself, more of His Kingdom and more of His nature to creatives who are taking the time to invite the Holy Spirit into the creative process.
 
When artists of all creative mediums enter in to this process, it’s an intimate place.  Art making becomes a responsive act of worship where their ideas, tools, skills and processes become yielded to the movement of the Holy Spirit within them. There’s no faking it because an artist knows when it’s real. For many, there’s no greater place of connection with the Father than when they are creating; writing a song, painting, singing, dancing, weaving or just dreaming.  To downplay this experience would be a huge mistake because it’s this process of connecting and creating that is so visceral and transforming for each artist.  It’s foundational to our experience and essential for our ongoing growth and connection with God.
 
In this place of art as spiritual experience, there are don’t have to be any rules or expectations.  The experience of creating with God with no boundaries is all that matters. Whatever comes out comes out. It’s all worship. It’s all valid. It’s all important to the artist’s spiritual journey.  The artist probably has a vocation that provides income for them and spends their ‘free time’ pursuing their creative outlet.  There’s never any pressure to sell or please anyone but themselves and the Lord.  For these artists, growth happens as a result of a nurtured relationship with God and the art making process.  There’s no timetable or requirements on how or when that growth happens.  It’s art as worship, for the pleasure of creating and that’s enough.

For more information on creating with the Holy Spirit (or what some call "Prophetic Art") check out my Definitive Guide to Prophetic Art.

Art as Hobby
The good news is that all artists start here, creating from a place of passion, connection, and expression. There are usually no rules at this point, only a love for creating, experimenting and having fun!
You can probably relate, am I right?
The focus for most hobbyists is creating for their own personal enjoyment. You may find yourself pursuing your art at your leisure… when you have extra time or a few times a month. Many hobbyists don't necessarily have a dedicated studio space to create in and end up creating in the dining room or spare bedroom of their home (or if you’re like me, the back porch, garage, kitchen and the shed out back!)

Most hobbyists enjoy the freedom of creating when inspiration strikes, once a week, a couple of times a month, or even a few times a year. They often continue to create because of the spiritual connection they feel when creating.

Overall, being a hobbyist is an awesome place to be!
When you approach your art as a hobby, you're doing it just for fun. Again, no strings are required - just an enjoyment of the process. The time spent in the creative process is just for you. Sometimes you give art away to friends and family, other times you may sell a piece or two every now and again. However, art hobbyists rarely count on the income from their art sales to live.  Usually it's about enjoyment and making enough to pay for materials. 

Art as Ministry 
It’s rare that an artist creates in a vacuum without anyone knowing about their creative expression.  For most creatives, we enjoy sharing our creativity with others – friends, family, our faith community – and that only heightens the experience of creating.  Nowadays because of the rise of acceptance of art as spiritual expression within the Church, many artists are finding they have the opportunity to share their art with others through doing things like art shows, painting on stage, performing on their worship team and many other wonderful expressions of creativity.  This is an incredible opportunity for all creatives to take what’s been happening in their private studio time with God and welcome others into that process.  Instead of their art simply being a place of personal connection with God, now it also has the potential to become a vehicle for others to experience the transformative Light and Light of God through their art.
 
As with most things that involve other people, sometimes this can get a bit hairy.  What do you do when someone doesn’t understand or respond to your work in a way that’s life-giving for you?  How do you receive compliments? What if someone has a major encounter with the Lord through your work? It’s never simple for an artist to put their creative expression out for the public to interact with because it’s not just about the work. It’s bearing your soul and allowing others to come into your special place of connection, judge it and many times judge you.  Depending on how you’re wired, that can be exhilarating or a real emotional challenge.
 
Many artists now days are finding real acceptance within their faith communities as they create in the context of worship.  People are inspired by their work, it heightens their own spiritual experience and allows them to create with others. It’s from these artists with whom we work most at The Worship Studio. They mostly create as worship and for the joy of the experience, have probably sold a few pieces here and there over the years but mostly enjoy giving their work away to others as a way to encourage them in their own spiritual journey.  Artists in this place often struggle with the concept of selling their work because they don’t understand how they can or should sell something that’s such a natural expression of their own heart and given to them by the Holy Spirit in the context of worship.
 
For artists who are are creating for their own personal enjoyment and spiritual expression, I say “Don’t worry about selling you work.”  Allow it to be what it is – a joyful, creative, spiritual experience that you’re sharing with others.  Why put the pressure on yourself to sell or not sell when there’s no specific calling to move into vocational art making?  For many artists who are, for lack of a better word, hobbyists, they tension of feeling like they should sell their work causes more frustration than anything which only impedes the creative process.  I always encourage these folks to enjoy the process, freely give as you have freely received and don’t put undue pressure on yourself or your art making practice.
 
Art as Vocation
For most artists – especially Christians – who have moved into creating as their vocation, they still create from a place of spiritual experience and desire to connect with God through their own creative process.  In fact, most, if not all began in a place of creating simply as a response to their own inner need to create. I call it the compulsion to make, always searching for something to do with their hands.  These artists still value the joy, spontaneity and exhilaration of the creative process but at some point began to feel the desire to create as their vocation.  It may have been the result of a prophetic word, a longstanding dream of theirs, the recognition that if they were going to keep doing this and getting better they needed to give more attention than just what they could do as a hobby or just because their work started selling and they followed God’s favor on their work.  However it happened, did this decision to create for money diminish their spiritual experience? Was God somehow displeased with them because they were no longer just creating for the joy of creating?  I believe the answer to that question is a resounding “No”!
 
Growth in the Kingdom is always based on stewardship of the gifts that a person has been given, regardless of where they find themselves in culture. For the artist, this most definitely includes their artistic gifting and their ability to hear, sense, feel and receive from the Lord.  Let me pause and say, however, that I don’t believe becoming a full-time vocational artist means you’ve somehow achieved the ultimate maturity as an artist or as a Christian artist. Many of the best artists around choose to create as a hobby, for their personal enjoyment and have other vocations that they pursue to make their living.  Many enjoy this because it allows them to come to their art making with no boundaries, requirements or pressure.  It’s simply art for their personal enjoyment, sharing with others and even worship.
 
Other Considerations when Selling Art
Artists who have chosen to move into art making as their vocation however, don’t have the luxury of simply creating for personal enjoyment, although there is always joy that comes from the process. They have to consider the salability of their work, how it’s marketed, priced and presented to the public in a way that represents their values. Vocational artists can’t give most of their work away because for them, this is the primary way God has given them to make harvest their financial provision. They have to think about things like dedicated studio space, gallery representation or direct retail sales, inventory, shows and marketing their work.  These artists have to pay attention to who’s buying their work, why, for what price and to be used in what context in order to continue to grow and thrive.  To be successful, a vocational artist has to be both artist and entrepreneur.  There is no either or if an artist is to be successful in the marketplace.
 
This is where a lot of Christians who are artists somehow jump ship.  They have this notion that artists who have chosen the vocational art path have somehow sold their soul to the art devil and have lost the essence of creating from a place of spiritual connection.  How ridiculous! In my opinion, that’s just a load of religious poppycock and emotional gobbledygook! No one would think of making this accusation to someone who gets a million-dollar business idea from the Lord yet somehow, because we’re creative our motives and intentions are called into question. Should a pastor not be paid because they receive inspiration from the Lord for their sermons and daily ministry?
 
Vocational but Still Spiritual
Yes, being a vocational artist requires a different skill set and thought process, but it’s no less spiritual for the artist who approaches their life and work as a Kingdom creative.  Being a vocational Kingdom artist is a beautiful collaboration with God in which the artist has the joyful opportunity to see and agree with Heaven, co-create their experience with the Holy Spirit and enjoy the benefits of the Kingdom in their life while expecting transformation to be the result of their life and work.  All along the way, they get to trust God completely for their provision, opportunities to sell their work and new creative ideas.
 
I’m one of these vocational artists who did what I do creatively now as a hobby for 15 years before it became my primary income source.  For me, this journey of becoming a full-time working artist has required so much more faith and connectedness with the Father than anything I’ve ever done.  I have opportunities each and every day to listen, trust and cooperate with the voice of the Holy Spirit not only as I create art but as I create a life and a business that God is using to bring finances into my family’s life. I love the adventure of being a vocational artist and can’t imagine doing anything else.

If you're interested in making a transition from hobbyist into art as your vocation, read this article about what I call "The Bridge" to seeing your dream come true. 
 
Enjoy Your Art
No matter where you are as an artist – creating for the love of the spiritual experience, doing it as a part of your ministry or as a vocation – realize that God’s joy over you is the simple fact that you’re doing what He created you to do.  As you grow and dream with Him, the ways you express and present your art will change. That’s ok!  Enjoy where you are and enjoy the growth process without putting undue pressure on yourself to be someone you’re not.  God has an incredible plan for your life and art whether you sell it for thousands of dollars around the world or offer it to Him as worship in the secret place.  Just enjoy the Father, create with Him and follow His lead.  You never know where things might lead!

All of us have a past; it's just a normal part of the human condition.  But have you ever wondered how to let go of the past so that you are free to do all the things God has called you to do in life? I'm going to share a really practical strategy for renewing your mind, right out of God's Word, that will enable you to let go of the past and truly begin to thrive in all God has for you.
 
How God Sees Your Past
 
All of us have done things and have had things done to us in the past that we want to forget.  We want to get rid of it, but the enemy loves to continually bring those things up over and over. He uses these images of the past to torment us in order to impede our walk with the Lord. It’s frustrating for many and for some, it can be downright paralyzing.
 
This may be your current reality, but it's not God’s best for you in the Kingdom! 

I'm so glad that Roman's teaches us that:

• "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:1

 
And that Paul, in 2nd Corinthians, builds on this verse when he wrote:

• "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2nd Corinthians 5:17

 
But as helpful as these two verses are, I love Scripture that gives us real practical strategy on how to walk out a Biblical principle here in the real world.  And Philippians 3:12 – 14 is such a passage. Here, Paul lays out a powerful strategy for walking in freedom from the condemnation of the past:  

• "Not that I have already obtained it or have become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I was also laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Brethren, I don't regard myself as having laid a hold of it yet, but one thing I do, here it is:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14 Emphasis Added

 
Forgetting What Is Behind Is A Process

That passage is such an excellent strategy for getting rid of, what I call stinkin' thinkin'. I love how this passage starts with, "Not that I have already obtained it or have become perfect, but I press on." Right at the beginning, Paul is letting you know this is a process, that he's still in process himself…

• I haven't laid hold of all of this yet. 
• I don't have it all down. 
• I have not made all of the right decisions.
• I don't have it all together.

If we're honest with ourselves, I think we all can relate.
 
But Paul doesn't camp out there. He continues with, "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I love how Paul forgets with intent.
 
As he is laying things down from his past, it's as if Paul is intentionally saying, "You know, these thoughts, fears, and anxieties over my past that keep playing over and over in my mind, I'm choosing to and take those thoughts captive and forget it!" But he doesn't stop there.

 Reaching Forward Is Key
 
What does Paul mention next? He exercises his faith, believing that God has so much more for him, and he leans into the process. Paul purposefully shifts his attention from the mistakes, hurts, junk from the past and begins to focus on:

• The good things God has for him
• His calling and purpose in the Kingdom
• His divine design
• Where God is taking him next

 
Many of us have spent years focusing on the things we have done wrong. It's too easy to be wrapped up in all the ways that we missed it and walk in condemnation over the weaknesses and temptations we've given into in the past.

“Your outer life is the fruit of your inner life.” - Matt Tommey

Yet, if you allow those past failings to define you and dominate your thought life, then your life is going to be a mess.  Why, you ask? It's because your outer life is the fruit of your inner life. That's why Paul talked so much about this in the New Testament.

Forget that junk!  Press Into ALL That God Has For You. 
 
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." Philippians 4:8
 
So, I want you to get this concept deep into your spirit today as you read this. If you've been having trouble letting go of the past, there is an easy place to start. Take a moment to reflect on one anxiety, fear, or regret from your past. When you have that thing in mind, find a few quiet minutes and take it to the Lord in prayer…

• Lord, would You take this memory from me? 
• Lord, would You take this pain from me? 
• Would you heal this place in my heart? 
• Father, would you give me fresh vision and hope for my calling in Christ?
• God, would You give me vision for this next phase of my life so that I can begin to meditate on that? 

​Listen, friend! That's how you let go of the past. You take those old thoughts captive, you throw them out, and you replace them with the truth of God's Word.  You make that vision, God's plan and purpose for your life, a reality by leaning into it. As you do, you'll begin to move forward.

I love how this verse so perfectly defines thriving in the Kingdom. This is the same way that I explain it to my Created to Thrive Mentoring Program members.
 
This verse begins by showing that prosperity in life and walking in divine health are both part of our inheritance in the Lord.  They are both meant to be a regular part of every believer's life.
 
Over the years, I've found it's easy to believe that God wants to abundantly bless His people with physical health, healing, and wholeness.  But the idea that God wants His people to "prosper in all things," financially, in the marketplace, and in life seems to be harder to accept for many people.

In His sermon on the mount, Jesus said this,

​​31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:31-33 Emphasis Added
 
Thriving in the Kingdom isn't a matter of working, sweating, figuring it all out on your own, and striving harder than everyone else around you. That's the world's way. That's operating out of the mammon system and John knew this when he first penned the letter that would become 3rd John.
 
John learned first-hand what Jesus taught on that mount; that true Kingdom prosperity begins when you:

• Put God first.
• Commit to doing life, art, and business God's way.
• Expect God to provide for all your needs.
• Believe that God wants to abundantly bless you in all areas of life.

 
That's normal in the Kingdom of God. God doesn't have favorites. God doesn't make some people sick and some people healthy. He doesn't prosper some and not prosper others just cause He's playing favorites. Nope, prosperity and health are your birthright; it's normal for every believer.
 
Helping Your Soul to Prosper
 
Have you ever taken a moment to think about what it means for your soul to prosper? And what does thriving internally have to do with prospering externally?
 
Everything that we do in the Kingdom is through faith. Meaning we see it, feel it, and believe it first, internally before we ever see those things manifest in our life, externally. That's just how God has set it up.  It’s not something God does to us but rather something He does with us through the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
 
I think that's why Jesus taught us in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." You see, prospering in your soul starts with renewing your mind and aligning your heart, will, and emotions with the truth of God's Kingdom. So when you pray, you pray like you already have the thing you’re asking for - from a place of gratitude - rather than begging God for what you need.
 
As you intentionally sow these Kingdom principles into your life, your thought life and belief systems begin to change.  And over time, the internal prospering begins to manifest externally.  Maybe that's why Proverbs 23:7 teaches us that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

Thanks again to all my artist friends who contributed to this list. Each one is creating great work, thriving as a professional artist and a joy to call friend! ​

As artists and Kingdom creatives, we hear, see and feel what others tend to miss not because we’ve got the super spiritual mojo, but mostly because we’ve learned to listen with the ears we’ve been given. This is the essence of prophetic art: learning to listen with the ears of your spirit via your imagination in order to release the Light and Life of God through the work you create.

The goal of this ability is never to exalt ourselves or our work, but rather to sense what’s going on in the Spirit realm through our natural and spiritual senses and translate that reality – the Kingdom - into the earth realm. That’s essentially what prophetic art is all about – God using an artist to bring transformation into a life or situation here in the earth realm through their art, their art process or the interaction with an artist.

Operating Prophetically in Our Art
Operating prophetically is at the heart of the creative process – seeing, hearing, feeling and sensing in the Spirit and co-laboring with your unique skillset and design to birth it into tangible form.

Luci Shaw, in her incredible book “Breath for the Bones” says of this moving back and forth between Spirit and flesh, heaven and earth: “Sometimes I have seen myself as an amphibian, like a frog, created for two elements. I dive beneath the lakes surface, my earthly home so that my skin doesn’t dry out and wither, but I need oxygen for my lungs and have to emerge from below the surface to breathe. I discover that I am made for both earth and heaven.

"Like Enoch, like Moses; unlike Adam, unlike most of us, these extraordinary individuals moved seamlessly from restricted terrestrial living into the presence of freedom and life in its optimum dimension in the presence of God.” She continues “Not only are we responsible as artists somehow to demonstrate that it is possible to bring heaven to earth by living the life of grace in an ungraceful place, by gluing together the seen and unseen, but we are required to be links with the unlinkable, with otherwise disparate entities.” (Luci Shaw, "Breath for the Bones," 2007 Thomas Nelson)

Because the nature of the creative process is the prophetic “glueing together the seen and unseen”, we should always be enlarging and sharpening our unique creative language in order to be able to hear and sense what God is saying in order to release Spirit-led Kingdom expression in ways that people can respond.


“Artists are the life-givers in culture.  We are a pivotal intersection point where the Kingdom of Heaven meets culture. It is there that we have the unique opportunity, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to translate the Kingdom of Heaven into a language that bypasses words and goes directly into the human spirit. When we collaborate with the Holy Spirit in this dance of Kingdom creativity, His power, His Life and His Light merge with our faith, creative thoughts, imaginations, desires and skill into art that carries the literal presence and power of God. It is in this context that our art, no matter the creative medium becomes prophetic.” - Matt Tommey, Creativity According to the Kingdom


Prophetic Art Calls Order Out of Chaos
Just like God did on the day of creation as recorded in Genesis 1, we are called to come into chaos, bringing order and transformation into them as we release of the creative nature of God.

In addition to bringing order and transformation to those things that are in chaos, our role as creative ones is also to be door keepers of the presence of God in the earth.

What does that mean?

It means we are called to release the presence of God in the earth through our creative expression and facilitate experiences where people can encounter the life and light of God as a part of their everyday existence.

This is the nature of the Kingdom!

Otherwise, what else are we supposed to be doing? When you reduce the Christian life to going to church and following a bunch of rules that you can never live up too, you embrace a dead form and deny the very power Jesus imparted to us through the cross, by the Spirit.

Your creative expression literally carries the life and light of God when you co-labor with the Spirit in your creative release. 

Prophetic Art is Light in the Darkness
Remember in John 1:1 God is light and life and everything that was created was created through the Word, Jesus. Then in Genesis 1 God released his nature – Light - into the chaotic darkness and transformation occurred.

Just as sons and daughters of the Creator God are made in his image, so our creative expression carries His transformative nature through our prophetic voice. That process happens like everything in the Kingdom happens, by faith because faith IS the substance or the tangible evidence that the things we’ve seen, felt and heard in the Spirit realm are actually real. Our role is to bring them into the earth realm and allow our creative expression to be a conduit for the mountain moving power of God to be released.

Now, the degree to which we get to do this in our life is not a matter of God playing favorites, but it’s based on stewarding well the gifting God has invested in us. The more you enlarge your capacity for his presence by becoming excellent at what you do, the more the father will entrust to you.

That’s how you grow in the Kingdom.

Prophetic Art is About Stewardship
Remember the Parable of the Talents and the guy who didn't do anything with his talents? It wasn't because of his lack of ability, but his lack of belief.  He told the master of the field "I knew you to be a hard man..."  In other words, I knew i couldn't live up to your standards, so I just didn't even try.

• My friend, your belief about what’s possible, who God is and who you are in relationship to all of those beliefs defines your reality.

Just like the men in the Parable of the Talents, you are I are responsible for the revelation God entrusts to us. It’s literally a Kingdom investment that the Father is putting inside of you, waiting to see what you do with it. That investment has the ability to grow, produce, multiply and expand when mixed with faith or it can just sit dormant. Remember, God’s Word says in Proverbs 25:2 NIV:

• “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.”

What Tools Are in Your Hands Right Now?
As you think about your own unique Kingdom design and how the Father has designed you for your Kingdom purpose, ask yourself what is in your hand right now? What is it that the Father has given you? Maybe it's:

• An idea
• A resource
• A tool
• A talent
• Or even a relationship

Take these things and begin to steward them!

Some of My Favorite Artists
Before we continue, let me take a moment to share some of my favorite artists who are creating incredible work while engaging the Holy Spirit in their creative process.  While each may not call themselves a "prophetic artist", God is certainly using their work to release transformation around the world. Click on the image to visit their website and purchase their work. (All copyright retained by the artist.)

How do you know if you're creating art with the Holy Spirit of if it's just you?
​
If you'd like to dive in a little deeper on creating with the Holy Spirit, this is an episode of 5-Minute Mentoring I did on the subject.

4. TRANSFORMATIONAL CREATIVITY
When your creation does come from that place of Spirit-birthed, skillfully produced incarnation, it literally becomes a conduit for transformation. Why? Not because of us, in and of our talent but because it’s carrying the very Light and Life – the very nature – of God. Just like the sacrament of communion, your art, like the simple bread and wine, becomes a means of grace whereby God can commune with his people.

Since Spirit-born creative expression is both prophetic and incarnational in nature our art has the capacity to speak and continue speaking to everyone who encounters it over time. It’s a lot like the stone cairns that you see throughout the Celtic landscape of Scotland that were created and placed there to show the way over time. These stacked stone monuments act as reminders that in the middle of what seems like nowhere, there is a trail. Our artwork and creative expression can be a cairn of sorts in the Spirit, declaring that there is a path that leads to life through the person of Jesus. Instead of just having a one-time encounters, we literally have the opportunity to set up these places of intersection in the Spirit for generations to come. Songs that would be sung for generations, buildings to be built that would declare the Glory of the Lord, even tangible objects used in daily life all acting as intersection points where God shows up and connects with His children.

​Art is a Table
Our artwork literally becomes, as in Psalm 23 a table prepared to nourish those who come and sit before the King in the presence of everything that seeks to kill, suppress and confuse them. Oh to think of it! That the overflow of your life! The very expression of your heart and hands would be used as a demonstration of the transforming love of God. You see my friend, art and beauty are not ornamental, as some out suppose. They are essential for all life because it is through them that we touch the very nature of the creator God.

Healthy relationships are vital to thriving in life. We were created to form life-giving, meaningful, and deep connections with other people. It's just how we are wired as human beings, and we all need these bonds to be our best. God said it best, "It is not good for man to be alone."

One of the things that the Lord showed me years ago was that the principle of sowing and reaping is not just a financial principle, it's a Kingdom principle. It's a universal law, just like gravity, and it works with every area of life, including relationships. 

If you're not actively sowing into relationships in your life, then I guarantee you're not reaping those healthy relationships and healthy interactions you need to thrive in life. We've got to intentionally cultivate the relationships we want in our life.  And so, I want to give you a few tips that I've learned over the years that have helped me grow in my relationship with God, with others, and in my life as a kingdom person. 
 
#1 – Speak to Their Design
God has a design and a purpose for every person on the planet, whether they're a believer yet or not, and whether they believe and embrace their divine design or not.  God loves to speak to His people's purpose, even when they aren't living up to their full potential. 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Let's face it; we tend to react to others based on what we see happening in their lives, what they are demonstrating. Brokenness, bad-habits, and unhealthy choices are easy to see and even easier to point out in others. But that's not the way of the Kingdom. We have to look at others through the eyes of the Spirit to see past their current situation and speak into destiny. 

In the verse above, God sent Jeremiah to speak life, destiny, and purpose to a group of isolated Israelites who were exiled because of a lifetime (actually several lifetimes) of brokenness. God's desired connection with His people, and in this example, He modeled one way to sow into relationships.

Here's What I Said On My Podcast About This:

#2 - Pull the Gold Out of Others

As we learn to see others from God's point of view, we begin to recognize their purpose and are in a position to bless their design. Think about where Gideon was when the Lord called him a "Mighty Warrior." Gideon couldn't see it at the time, but God acknowledged and blessed Gideon's divine design and purpose in that declaration.

Approaching relationships with the goal of seeing the best, or “the gold”, in others is a great place to start. But turning your attention towards and sowing into the best in others is vital to cultivate those healthy, authentic connections you're seeking.

#3 Don't Wait, Initiate

It's frustrating to be the one that always has to ask their friends out. Face it, we all love it when we get invited out to lunch after church or get asked to come over and hang out. It's an unspoken message that says, "Hey, you are someone I want to spend time with."

But what do you do when those invites aren't happening on a regular basis? Take a step. Ask the Holy Spirit:

• Who should I ask out for dinner after church?
• Who should I invite over for a day in the studio?
• Who can I bless?
• Whose life can I sow into God?

Here's the thing: If you always wait on others to sow into you, a lot of times you'll be waiting a long time. And the enemy will spin that into offense, isolation, and the lie that something is wrong with you.

As you step out of your shell and begin to initiate instead of wait, bless others according to their design, and actively pull the gold out of their lives, you'll start to see incredible fruit coming forth in your relationships.  By sowing into others, you'll become the person people want to be around. 

By speaking into the divine design of others, looking for the best in them and initiating relationships you become a beautiful conduit through which God will release His Kingdom, not only in the lives of others but in your life, too.  Remember, Proverbs 11:25 says”

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”

Thanks for reading! Comment below to let me know how you’re cultivating intimacy with others. Together, we can be used by God to change the culture around us for His Glory.

Have you ever wondered how to sell art online?  You have a website, you're on social media, and you've got the new collection ready to sell, but where do you start?  Whether you're new to the game or are already a seasoned pro, here are 5 keys that will unleash your online art sales this year and give you more understanding of how to be a successful artist.  
 
Key #1 – Artist, Know Thy Customer  
 
First things first.  Start by discovering your ideal client.  Who is the person most likely, out of everybody in the world, to buy your work and put it in their home or commercial space?  As artists, we'd like to think that the whole world is a potential client, but that's just not the case.
 
In my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, I teach artists how to create a client avatar, or what some call a buyer persona. This is a semi-fictional representation of your ideal client based on what you know about your existing customers and the research you do in your local and regional art marketplace.
 
Listen To What I Said On My Podcast About This:

Creating a client avatar (buyer persona) is easier than it sounds, and you're probably already doing it to some degree and don't realize it. It's just the process of paying attention to the interactions and conversations you're having with customers every time you sell a piece of art and collecting that data. Even if you've only ever sold one piece of art, you know something about the person who bought your art.
 
This is a process that really never ends because every piece you sell is another chance to interact with people from a client perspective, from a strategic partner perspective, from a gallery perspective, and a referral perspective. As you do this over time, you'll start to get a great picture of who these people are, what motivates them, what they're looking for, and where and with whom they hang out, which brings me to the second key. 
 
Key #2 – Go Where the Clients Are  
 
In a recent article about how to sell art if you live in a rural area, I said, "If you want to catch fish, you have to go to where the fish are." Makes sense, right? The same holds true with finding customers.  Once you understand who your ideal client is and what they are into, it's time to develop what I call intersection points. The goal here is simple, regularly getting in front of your ideal client using a variety of strategies.
 
Now that you are starting to understand who your ideal customer is, you want to be found by them. In the real world, you can do this through a variety of ways like exhibiting at the kind of art shows they frequent, volunteering for the non-profits they support, and speaking at social clubs they've joined. 
 
But don't let social distancing or physical separation keep you from being found. Advertise in the types of magazines they read, start collaborating with the interior designers they are using, and follow common social media interests. Again your goal is to cross paths with your ideal clients in as many natural non-salesy ways as you can so that they can find you. And this leads us to the next key.
  
Key#3 - Connect (Like Your Art Sales Depend Upon It)
 
The point of the first two keys is to get you talking with your ideal client. If you don't remember anything else I share, remember this:

No Connection, No Sale.

People buy from people that they know, like, and trust. Think about that for a second. As an artist, you have to build a connection with your client so that they feel connected to you, your aesthetic, and the work you're producing.  If you don't build those connections, you won't have many opportunities to make a sale.
 
So, again, these connections are built up over time, and they're developed along with those naturally occurring intersections points you're beginning to seek out intentionally. As the relationship grows with your ideal client, so will their interest in owning one of your pieces, which brings me to the next key.
 
Key #4 – Make the Offer Clear
 
The confused mind rarely buys. Now that you've got a potential client interested make it easy for them to shop.  In simple terms, let your clients know precisely what they get from you when they invest in one of your creations.  You should include details like:
 

• The name of the piece
• A good description  
• The dimensions of the piece
• The mediums and media used
• If delivery is available and included
• If framing is available and included
• Available payment options
• The price

 
Whatever it is that you're offering, make sure those details are available to a client browsing your website.  This holds true whether you're selling finished pieces, prints, or commissioned originals.

Create a clear, compelling offer

This brings me to the final key.
 
Key#5 – Keep Your Checkout Process Simple
 
Make it easy for people to give you money. I recently had an experience with a local merchant that drove this point home for me. Instead of a quick swipe, signature, and press of the yes key, I received a 10-minute lesson in loving my technologically challenged neighbor. 
 
It's so easy to accept credit cards, checks, wire transfers, and even cryptocurrencies online, over the phone, and in-person in today's world. There's really no excuse for making it hard for a customer to do business with you.
 
Don't know where to start?  Check out Square. They are great. I use them for accepting credit and debit cards both online and in person.
 
So, there you have it, my top 5 tips selling your art, online and otherwise. Remember the keys:
 

• Create Your Client Avatar
• Develop Those Intersection Points
• Cultivate Authentic Connections
• Create Clear Compelling Offers
• Keep the Checkout Process Simple

 
Got Questions? I'd Love to Answer Them
 
I sure hope this has been helpful. If you have a question for me, I'd love to answer it here in my blog and on a future episode of 5-Minute Mentoring.  Just stop by my podcast page and leave me a voicemail. Thanks for reading.