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How to Make a Living as an Artist

12/22/2020

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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.
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The Best Books for Christian Artists

12/22/2020

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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:
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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!
 
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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. 
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Breath for the Bones: Art, Imagination & Spirit by Luci Shaw
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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.

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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.
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The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus

The Most Important Work of Art Is the Life That We Create
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Book artwork and descriptions are from Amazon.com descriptions and are the sole property of the copyright holder.
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The Best Podcasts for Christian Artists

12/22/2020

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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:

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The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast with Matt Tommey
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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

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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

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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!
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​ Listen Now 

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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.

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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.  
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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.
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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.
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When Fear Overwhelms

12/17/2020

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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!

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Finding Your Unique Creative Voice

12/10/2020

2 Comments

 
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.

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Can My Art Become An Idol

12/3/2020

5 Comments

 
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
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    Matt Tommey is an artist, author and mentor who is passionate about empowering artists to thrive spiritually, artistically and in business.

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