You know, everybody wants a clear, focused, no drama kind of life, but very few people know how to actually get that done. In this article, I’m going to share with you a “lost art” that has supercharged the focus in my life, something I like to call the Art of Subtraction.
Having been an artist and a business owner for over 25 years, I have participated in and learned from one of the biggest misconceptions that keeps creatives from genuinely thriving in every area of life. That misconception, or lie, is the idea that if a few great things in life are beneficial, then adding a whole bunch more to your plate must be the way to grow and succeed in life and art. If this mindset sounds way too familiar, then let me dismantle this falsehood and give you some insights on how to move forward. As I was starting this thriving journey, I really wanted to have a clear, focused life. I wanted to avoid the drama-filled life and live a life that was pleasing to the Lord. Not knowing how to do this on my own, I dug in and started to read good books, take good classes, and seek out good ideas to help me grow in business and in life. And it WAS all good, and I was learning and growing, but before you know it, all this stuff started to pile up in my life. You see, my life became full of what I would say was GOOD stuff, but it really wasn’t full of the BEST stuff. I find that this happens a lot in the lives of people who are experiencing success in their life. Maybe you have been on the road to thriving for a while now. Perhaps you are starting to experience some success in your life as an artist, and you just think, “WOW! That works.” So you head off, and you do more of that. That course works, so you add three more. That show works, so you do one every month. You keep adding and adding and adding. Before long, though, what happens is you end up with a bunch of GOOD stuff, but not the BEST stuff in life. Know What You Are Called to Do in This Season of Life For me, it began back in Atlanta on the floor, crying out to God after I felt like I hit bottom in my professional life. It was from that time of being real and honest with God that He pointed me towards my life’s calling. If you know a bit of my story from then until now, the Lord has had me on a wild journey. From pulling up our roots in Georgia and settling in Asheville, to launching a world-wide Artist Mentoring Program. But several times during this journey, I’ve had to pull over in order to take stock of where I am in the journey towards fulfilling God’s plan for my life, my family, my art, and my business. I had to go back to that place of being real with God and ask Him to show me where I was on the “map” at that time. His answers always provided me with the context I needed to do what had to be done next. Evaluate and Eliminate I’ve actually been in this process for the last few years in my life and in my business. It’s a process of determining what the BEST things God has for me are, and what are just simply GOOD things. I’ve learned to evaluate each opportunity and open door by how it will potentially impede or expedite the things I’m called to do in this current season of life. The really crazy thing is that yesterday’s best often ends up being today’s good. Things that were life-giving and fruit-bearing in previous seasons of life are now just GOOD things keeping me from the BEST that God has for me today. Recently for me, yesterday’s best was teaching basketry classes. I did this for years, and it was a great source of income for me when I was starting my art business in Asheville. But as the Lord began to move me more towards mentoring other artists, this formerly great thing, teaching classes, morphed into something that ultimately needed to be eliminated. Say No to the Good and Yes to the Best This concept is the heart of the Art of Subtraction. Begin by taking a look at all the things you are currently doing in your life, business, and art. Then ask yourself the following questions about each of these things:
So listen, I don’t know where you are right now in life, or if this is even resonating with you at all, but if it is, I want to encourage you to go for it. Take some time with the Lord. Take a hard look at everything that you are doing in your life, in your business, and your art. Ask yourself the hard question, “Is this producing the fruit that I want, or is it not?” If it is not, then ask yourself, “What is producing fruit?” Then take the bold step to double-down on the things in your life that are actually producing the fruit and momentum in your life, your art, and your business. 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. Thanks for reading.
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Do you struggle with pricing your artwork? Do you often feel like you're underpricing, or maybe even undervaluing, your artwork? It's an all too common problem for artists. If you can relate, I have some good news and some surprising news for you. The good news is that this doesn't have to be your story. The surprising news is that we're going to have to address a mindset issue that's probably been holding you back.
Over the years, I've learned that if you are struggling with pricing as an artist, it rarely has anything to do with the value of your work, the quality of your work, or what people are willing to pay you. What I have found to be the case is that 99% of the time, the major roadblock when it comes to pricing is YOU, or more specifically, your MINDSET. No matter how talented you may be or what kind of local art market you live in, at the end of the day it all boils down to what you believe about yourself and your artwork. Don’t worry, I’ll explain more as we keep going, but first I want to start here. Let me challenge you to take a few minutes and do a little self-assessment. Be honest, even if you don't like your answers. The point of this little exercise is to find the root cause of why pricing your art is such a struggle. Mini-Assessment
Now, take a moment and ask God to show you the common thread that runs through all your answers. What is one thing that is most responsible for the problems you've had pricing your artwork? I know for me, when I started, it was a struggle to figure out how to price my artwork effectively so that I could make money as an artist. One thing that I did learn over the years was that if you don't value yourself and your art, then that same discounting of yourself and your artistic giftings will be reflected 100% of the time in the price that you put on your artwork. Take a moment to let that sink in while I share this story. After I moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and had become a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild (the second oldest and most prestigious fine craft guild in the country), I had an experience at one of my first shows with them that exposed my false thinking and highlighted the need to change my mindset. Being a new artist in a group in such a prestigious group, I decided to push my pricing to where I felt comfortable, to a price point I thought people would pay based on what I would pay. My mindset at the time was something like, "If I wouldn't pay more than this, then I won't price my work any higher than this." At the time, it made sense to me. Well, I had a beautiful sculptural piece there with me that weekend. And as I started working the crowd, and people are coming up and talking to me, this one guy came up and started circling that piece. I tried to hold my excitement back just knowing he was falling in love with the sculpture and that I was about to make a sale. Everything was going well until he looked at the $200 price I had on the piece. The guy finally engaged me and asked, "Well, are you the artist?" I said, "Yeah!" He said, "Well, this is a really beautiful piece, a really special piece." I said, "Well, thank you so much.” He said, "You know, people come to this kind of show because they are looking for something that is really, really special." Now in the back of my mind, I am thinking the whole time, "This guy is going to totally buy this piece! He is driving himself into the buyer's lane right now." I said, "Yeah! Yeah! People do come to this show because it is a beautiful show." He said, "Matt, can I be honest with you?" I said, "Sure! Sure!" He said, "You have been doing this a lot longer than I have; you have got a lot more experience than I do, but I'll be honest with you. $200 really doesn't say "special" to me." And then he walked away. I have a friend that had the same thing happen when she was selling a piece of pottery. She had priced her art at $150, but a prospective customer mistakenly thought that the piece was priced at $1,500 and was eager to take the piece home. As the customer took the piece up to the counter to check out, she was informed that it was only $150. Normally you'd think this would be a good thing, but the customer who was willing and ready to buy a $1500 piece of pottery refused to buy it now that it was only $150. Why do you think this happened in both of these cases? I believe it all boils down to perception. From the artists' point of view, we both priced our pieces based on what we perceived our value and the value of the piece to be. Again, this made perfect sense at the time. But to both potential buyers, their perception of our art, art that they wanted to buy, was damaged by what they perceived to be a cheap price. For me, this experience was an excellent opportunity to reach out to God and allow Him to challenge and change the mindsets I held around the pricing and valuing my work. As I grew in this area, I began to gain the confidence to start pricing my art in a way that set me apart. If this resonates with you, then I challenge you to take your own pricing and value mindsets to the God and ask, "Lord, am I charging for my art based out of fear, or am I charging for my art based on being a business person, being confident in what You have called me to, knowing that I need to make money and make a profit to sell?" 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. Thanks for reading. For a detailed explanation of pricing artwork, check out my guide to How to Price Your Art: The Definitive Guide for Pricing Artwork for Visual Artists.
There’s a fresh wind blowing through the arts right now, all over the world. Many have called it a New Renaissance of sorts and as an artist, that’s exciting!
For many artists, it's brought a new vitality, a resurgence of buyers and the opportunity to significantly grow their businesses through new tools and technology platforms, but is that it? Is that the end game? I believe there's much more on God's heart for artists. More than Marketers During this current resurgence of the arts, God is highlighting artists, our work and our creative process. It's an exciting time but God's not simply interested in raising up more talented artists and better marketers for our own sake. This move is not just about creating great art and making money as an end in itself (although both of those things can be the fruit of following Gods lead)! He’s actually waking up our hearts, drawing us into wholeness, transforming our minds and raising up an army of creative sons and daughters who know who they are and what they are called to in the Kingdom. This is definitely a God-inspired movement - a tidal wave of creativity in our generation - but to simply see it only as a renaissance is to miss the essence of what's going on. This move is very different and if we don’t recognize the differences, we will miss the central focus of what’s Gods really doing in this hour. Here’s why: 3 Philosophies of the Renaissance During (and as a result of) the Renaissance, three main philosophies emerged that have guided artists for generations since:
These three systems formed the basis of how most artists approach their work and business - Christian artists included - even today. It goes like this: pursue my artistic expression (because that’s who I am), make it all about my desires, my talent, my expression and then find others to support me through grants, donations and sales. For some that works, although not long term. For many, it doesn't work, resulting in a starving artist mentality on one side or a success-focused art marketer on the other. The ugly side of patronage during the Renaissance of the past was that the artist became dependent on and was at the mercy of the patron (rather than a healthy identity in the Lord), adding a complicated (to say the least) dynamic to their life and art. Today, being a slave to the market or latest marketing trend can yield the same frustration. More than an Arts Renaissance In this season, God is using this renaissance to lead us to revival and ultimately, thriving in His Kingdom. He's also raising up an army of artists who operate in three wholly different ways:
Lasting Success, Grace to Grow As an artist myself and one who’s had the great privilege of walking with thousands of artists over the years as a mentor, I know this: artists who seek the transformative power of God in the context of their life, art and business will always experience more lasting success than those who simply seek after the latest artistic fads and business trends. Further, artists who center their art and business in their relationship with God also have the grace to grow and mature over the long term, building what Proverbs calls “wealth without sorrow.” I want revival, not just renaissance. Revival starts in the heart - my heart - and flows out to others by the Spirit of God through my art, my business and my life. Revival awakens and empowers me from within. Revival centers my life, work and business in hearing Gods voice and following His lead. Revival calls me to community and lasting impact, for His glory. Sure, becoming a better artist and a better marketer is a part of this process for artists but it’s when God shows up that everything changes. That kind of lasting transformation will never happen as the result of my own effort. When God shows up, transformation is released. When God shows up, my life and art has meaning. When God shows up, then the world is changed. Pray this with me: Oh God, raise up an army of artists - sons and daughters - who know your voice, follow your lead and release the beauty of your Kingdom in the earth! Here I am, use me.
Enjoy this live video from a recent Facebook Live. We has some connectivity issues for a few moments early on... just scrub through them and keep going :)
Many artists have dreams of creating a business from their art. Even more have dreams of growing their current art business beyond a trickling side hustle into a real part-time or full-time business that can provide then the financial and time freedom they desire.
Well, if you're one of those artists and you're tired of spinning your wheels then I hope this article will be an encouragement to you! Harmonious Opposites For most artists, one of the first big hurdles to overcome is the concept of being both an entrepreneur and a creative. I know, I can hear you now "But Matt, I'm not good at all the business stuff... I just want to create!" If that's you, then wonderful! I'm happy for you. You, my friend, have a wonderful hobby you can enjoy for many years to come. But here's the truth: you can't have business results with hobby habits. Either you learn to embrace both parts of the journey, or you come to terms with the limitations of not doing so. There's no right or wrong answer, but you can't have it both ways. Entrepreneurship and creativity are what some have called "harmonious opposites". On the surface, they seem like they are the antithesis of each other but in realty, they actually fuel each other when held in a healthy tension. Living in and cultivating that tension is your job. Let me explain. Creative expression in and of itself is a wonderful pursuit for every person, regardless if they feel they are called to be an artist or not. However, for those who want to grow in their capacity, skill and function as an artist, a few things must happen, right? Mastery of skills, techniques, material usage, design, composition, the list goes on. Without these fundamentals, creating can become limited and boring. However, with this foundation artistic expression becomes and ever-expanding world of possibility. In essence, skill development is the runway for artistic freedom and I bet if you've been an artist for any length of time, you've probably experienced this reality in your life. The same is true with entrepreneurship and the fundamentals of business. Unless an artist embraces the fundamentals of marketing, sales and running a business they simply limit their capacity to thrive in this modern world as an artist. Gone are the days where an artist can rely on one gallery to sell their work. Buyers want interaction with the artist more than ever which requires artists not only to be makers, but to be great marketers as well. It's simply a required part of the package. Otherwise, you've got to be ok with creating art as a hobby with no predictable way of seeing sales. The Juggling Act Now that you're (hopefully) starting to embrace the harmonious tension between being both an entrepreneur and a creative, realize that functioning in that world is not a singular path. Rather, it is much like a juggler, who starting with a single item, then adds other items to their act and keeps them all in the air. Skill and experience make that easier as you grow. The big question for most artists is "what things should I be juggling and what things should I be leaving out?" That is, what are the really important things that I need to know - especially starting out - and what are the things I can grow into? Without knowing this, most artists will spend hours, days and months spinning their wheels doing things they think are important yet not having any data to confirm their suspicions. A Blueprint for Success Over the years as I've developed my own thriving art business and helped thousands of other Christian artists do the same, I've discovered there are some key elements you need to be focused on in order to start or grow your art business. They include things like: ✅ Having a simple, clear pathway for your purpose ✅ Knowing where to focus your time, attention and resources to accelerate growth ✅ Understanding what habits make success easier ✅ Clarifying God’s plan for your life and art ✅ Discovering why people aren't buying your art ✅ Transforming lookers into raving clients ✅ How to build a personal brand that attracts buyers both online and offline ✅ Knowing the key elements every artist website should have to start making sales ✅ Feeling confident in creating a simple artist marketing plan ✅ Knowing how to handle the business side of being an artist without being overwhelmed These key elements are the beginning of starting or growing your art business to the next level. Have you ever wondered what to focus on as a creative when you love to do so much? Often as creatives, we tend to be multi-focused and multi-interested most of the time. That is kind of a normal part of being wired for creativity. But while this is perfectly normal, this can hinder your ability to grow an artistic hobby into a part-time or full-time business or ministry. The key to finding artistic focus in your life lies in knowing what season of life you are in. The Bible teaches us there is a time and a season for everything under the sun. Over the years, I’ve continually returned to this truth in my own life asking, “Lord, what season am I in? How do I respond right now creatively, financially, and in business?” Discerning the Times and Seasons When I got out of college, I felt strongly that the Lord was calling me into a season of full-time ministry. And for several years, ministry was my primary focus. I served as a Worship Leader and did my baskets on the side as my hobby. I would sell my baskets at shows a few times a year, earning my Christmas money and that sort of thing. In that season of my life, my baskets really weren’t a big deal. I didn’t put a lot of expectation on making or selling, I enjoyed it as a pastime and that worked for me at that time. As I transitioned out of ministry a few years later, I moved into a season of serving the Lord in the marketplace. I loved doing marketing and graphic design, so I started a marketing company. And for a season, that was very successful. Again, I was still doing my baskets as a hobby and leading worship on the side as a volunteer at church, but those things were not my primary focus, especially in terms of generating dependable income for my family. Then in 2009, the seasons began to shift for me again. God called me to be a father to artists, to raise up an army of artists, and to do what I am doing right now. During that season, my focus began to shift again. I started writing books for the first time, and I started speaking on the whole idea of what it means to be a Kingdom Artist. But that wasn’t the only shift that happened. The Lord told me that He was going to start using my baskets. Yes, that creative escape I embraced during my college years and had evolved into a serious hobby over 15 years was now ready to become a significant focus in my life. The Lord began to open doors of favor that were incredible, using my baskets as both a source of income for my family and as well as a big part of what led us to move to Asheville, North Carolina. His plan for me in that new season was to bring me to a seat of influence in the arts (Asheville) and to a position of authority in the Kingdom (to raise up an army of artists). As I look back at my 25-year artistic journey, I’m genuinely amazed at what God did in each season of my life. Each season was uniquely focused on a passion the Lord had sown into me that grew into my main focus for a time. Again, for me, the key to knowing what to focus on in any given season of life has been a commitment to commune with God regularly. I challenge you to do the same. Get alone with God. Ask Him the questions,
Before I go, realize there are many other things I’ve shared over the years on creative focus, but two free resources I would love for you to check out are:
Thanks for reading! Christian artists around the world really struggle with this idea. We all want to honor the Lord with the creative gifts and talents He’s given us, but how do we do that if our creative pursuits seem better suited to the marketplace than the sanctuary. I’ve struggled with this myself, especially as an artist and a believer that primarily creates woven sculpture. No one has ever looked at my work and asked me, “Matt, are you creating Christian baskets?” (We’ll somebody did once, but that made for a really awkward conversation.) On the one hand, it’s kind of great not to have that pressure, but on the other hand, it has made me wonder from time to time if my pieces are having any impact in the Kingdom or the spiritual lives of my clients. And I know if I’ve struggled with this concept, then those of us whose works employ narratives, story, music, or imagery can oftentimes struggle with this even more. If that’s you, then let me encourage you with this: God cares more THAT you create than WHAT you create. Now, what does that mean? Well, for me, that means it is more vital for me as an artist to recognize and embrace the unique design God has on my life. Once I accepted this, then I was able to faithfully fulfill that design to the best of my ability using the gifts, talents, and skills He has given me. The same can be true for you as well. It’s the same principle Paul shares in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” This advice given to Christian servants working in Roman households didn’t just apply to work that was overtly spiritual in nature. It’s hard to make washing dishes or cleaning toilets seem Holy. Yet Paul’s admonition was EVERYTHING done using one’s full measure of skill and talent without reservation, without holding back, is, in fact, honoring to God in a way that advances the Kingdom. Chew on that for a minute. Now here’s how you can bring this principle to life in your creative practice. Get Creative with God in the Studio Get in your studio, invite the Holy Spirit into that space and begin to cultivate an atmosphere of His presence. Once you are in that place with the Lord, unleash your creativity and do the thing that is on your heart to do. Write, Sculpt, Paint, Mold, or Shape with wild abandon, creating art for an audience of One without fear of how others will view or judge your work out in the world. Don’t just do this once and decide it’s not for you, instead make this a regular part of your creative life. You’ll quickly find that the pieces that honor the Lord are often the very ones that speak to the depths of your soul as a creative. The finished work may be overtly spiritual, or it might just be beautiful with no other agenda. No matter the subject matter of your finished pieces, always remember that when you begin to fulfill God’s plans and purposes in your life, your art will have a profound impact on others. Be Being Filled and Skilled: Always remember your job as an artist is to be the best artist that you can be. I’ve encouraged tens of thousands of artists from around the world to embrace the concept of being both filled and skilled. By being continually filled with the power of God’s Light, Life, and His Presence in your life, you literally cultivate an atmosphere in your studio that invites the Power of Heaven into everything you do creatively. At the same time, you must be a good steward of the skills God has given you. Learn from masters in your field, enlarge your creative capacities, hone your skills. Wholeheartedly dive into your creative process and rise to be everything God has called you to be as an artist. The Results are up to God Now before you start getting worried or fixated on the impact your creative efforts may or may not have in the lives of others, always keep this in mind: the results are up to God. It’s too easy to start thinking transactionally in terms of the impact we want our artistic creations to have in the lives of others. “I’ll paint this so that she feels...” or “I’ll write this song that he will…” You get the picture. The Kingdom doesn’t work that way and approaching your art in that way borders on manipulation. But once you embrace the fullness of who God has created you to be and begin following His plans for your life and art, that’s when your art (and your life) becomes impactful in the Kingdom. It’s when you choose to live and embrace an abundant life of joy, beauty, peace, creativity, and love that your life and your art begin to prophesy the truths of the Kingdom of God to the world. As you do this, God is free to use everything you do and create to profoundly impact the world in ways that are far beyond anything you could have imagined or engineered on your own. 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. Thanks for reading!
As an established Christian artist, I'm often asked how do you take a hobby and turn it into a viable business; either part time or full time. Or to take it a step further, how do you take something you love to do, have God bless it and turn it into a source of income, allowing you the time, the freedom and the income you need to start focusing on what God has called you to do?
Over the years, I've learned that most artists are moved and motivated simply by the opportunity to create art. And the simple fact is, if you're making enough money through creating and selling your art, then you have more time to create. That's pretty awesome! When that is coupled with seeing your art being used by God to transform the lives of others, your joy and fulfillment cup in life really starts to overflow. While this is fun to think about, the real challenge for most Christian artists is figuring out how they get there; how they take that hobby, and go pro. I've touched on the concept of "Building the Bridge" in previous posts, but today we're going to map out exactly what that journey can look like for you. Make Great (and Unique) Art The foundation of this bridge is simply making great art. You have to develop your skill, your unique voice, and an aesthetic that is desirable in the marketplace. Otherwise, you’ve got nothing to share with the world. It's also essential to continue producing great work regularly for your style and your voice to develop. Without that, most artists find themselves stuck without a unique, recognizable voice or enough work to start really selling. Now, I know it's easy to become discouraged at this stage. It takes time for your unique voice to develop. It's going to take dedication, determination, and countless hours in the studio to develop your unique artistic voice, one that will set you apart in the marketplace. That’s normal and a glorious part of our journey both spiritually and artistically. No amount of marketing and business skill can make up for the lack of the time you spend creating. Remember, the same God that blessed you with talent and desire is the same God that will sustain and inspire you as you continue building your skill throughout your journey. Put Yourself Out There Proverb 16:9 says, "Man plans his way, but the Lord orders his steps." Your next step is to make your plan and get yourself out there into the marketplace. The most effective way I've found to establish long term success in marketing my art is what I like to call my Parthenon Marketing Plan. Think about the Parthenon, that ancient multi-pillared structure in Athens, Greece. Built thousands of years ago, the structure of the building is still largely intact due to the multiple pillars that were built to support the structure. Picture that building in your mind as we switch gears and focus on marketing your art. Instead of putting all of your "marketing eggs" in one basket, or on one "marketing pillar," begin diversifying your marketing efforts across a variety of different sales and marketing channels. Don’t just rely on art shows and craft fairs to sell your work, branch out and establish an online presence, too. Instead of just paying for Facebook ads, why not reach out to your local media outlets and let them know you're available for interviews and public interest stories! The possibilities are endless. The point is to build your marketing "house" by using a multi-pillared approach that employs a variety of different marketing tactics, all working simultaneously. That way, if one strategy fails, falls short, or, as we've seen with the Covid-19 Pandemic, is shut down, you still have a way to connect with clients, sell your art and pandemic-proof your business. Find YOUR Place….Are You Going to be Evian or Tap Water? So let's recap. First, you have to create great art while developing your unique artistic voice and style. Then you must begin reaching out and connecting with people so that they know you exist in the marketplace. Finally, it's also essential to know where to position yourself IN the market. Let's use water as an example. Now, there's tap water that basically costs you nothing and then there are bottles of water out there that can cost upwards of $100 (check out https://svalbardi.com/). How do they charge that much for water? It's all with how it's positioned in the marketplace. They've marketed it in such a way that makes it unique, special, and exclusive enough to offer a client the experience they're seeking. It’s the same way with art. Take my work, for example. I don't just create functional baskets you can find at any store. I create woven sculpture. I don't sell at common community craft shows. I've positioned myself in the marketplace in a way that highlights the value of my work as fine art. When my clients meet me, see my art, and get to know me, they begin to feel that one of my sculpted pieces just might be worthy of a place of honor in their home and the high prices my work commands. Do you have to be the best artist in the world to accomplish this? Absolutely not, but you do need to create something that is perceived as special, unique, and valuable. This approach continues to build on itself. Once you cultivate and build a reputation for being exclusive, unique, and desirable, you'll begin to find and attract your special niche of clients. By positioning myself as an artist, instead of “some guy who makes baskets” or “crafty”, I've been able to create a unique brand that is both high end and exclusive. And that's how you start to command the prices and respect in the art world. Where is God in all of this? My friend, He's in your studio and the work you create. He’s in your inspiration, and He’s definitely in the relationships you develop along the way. The Holy Spirit will guide you every step of the way both in your creative process and into those special relationships He has for you. Learn to invest in those key relationships the Lord points out to you and intentionally cultivate those relationships over time. It will pay off, I promise. Remember, the Lord is ready to walk with you in every artistic, business, and life decision you face. The same God who filled you with creativity and inspiration desires to guide you moment by moment as you step out in faith and use the gifts He's given you in the marketplace. And as you are faithful on your journey, the Lord will begin to open up doors for you to do the thing that's in your heart. 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. Thanks for reading! Back in March of this year, I had the honor and the privileged of hosting 500 artists at our first ever Thriving Christian Artists Conference here in North Carolina. One of the highlights of that event was having the audience pick our 2020 Created to Thrive Spokesperson of the Year from our four finalists that were present there with us that weekend. As a part of for being considered for this honor, everyone who entered this to submit a short video detailing why they should be chosen. While I can't share all the fantastic videos we did receive, I do want to share with you the following videos from our four finalists. Enjoy Lydia Crouch - FinalistRachel Painter - FinalistIrene Hassler - FinalistJan Tetsutani - Our 2020 Spokesperson of the YearHas this ever happened to you? You're on the journey of life, actively engaging with your local community of believers. And despite your best efforts, you find yourself stuck in a situation that's full of misunderstandings, hurt feelings, and broken relationships. The sad reality is that we've all been there, and despite the Father's intent, modern church life can sometimes be a magnet for these painful encounters. So the real question is, "what can you do about this?" First Things First It's easy to blame hurtful situations on others, especially if you believe they don't like you, they don't understand you, or worse, they are out to get you. While it's all too easy to jump to any one of these conclusions, the reality is that satan is a master at stirring the pot as he sprinkles in a few dashes of deception, division, and doubt. When you find yourself in a tense situation with others, take a moment to go to the Lord and ask for His perspective on the situation. It's incredible how many times that simply seeing a hurtful situation from God's point of view can kickstart a season of healing and reconciliation in your life. Align Your Expectations Often seeking the Father's wisdom when you are hurt reveals a simple confusion of expectations. Failing to communicate upfront what you and others are expecting in a given situation can often be where relationship difficulties begin. This can happen on every level and with any relationship you have. Confusion is out there, looking for its next opportunity to strike. And when it does, you find yourself expecting one thing to happen while the person you're dealing with is expecting something completely different. (Queue the difficulties and strife) Now, as depressing as this may seem, you don't have to let it get you down and out. Instead, take it to the Lord. First, ask Him, "Lord, here's the situation. What's the opportunity here for me to grow in relationship with You?" Then, take the time to listen and act upon what He tells you. Secondly, take the time to reflect on the conflict and ask yourself some essential questions:
Go Make It Right Matthew 18 is very clear on this matter. If you have something against your brother, go to him, deal with it. If you don't do that, it just festers under the skin. The more time that you allow to go by without dealing with the situation directly, the enemy will have a field day because he always deals in secrecy and fear. The Bible also tells us in Ephesians 4:3 that we need to "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." So what does that actually mean? That means if someone has offended you, or even if you have offended someone else, that it's on you to be the bigger person. Take that first step, reach out in love and say, "Hey, my friend, I'm so sorry. I know there's a situation with us. Can we talk about this because I don't want anything to come between us." The Bible is really clear where we dwell together in unity, and there the Lord has commanded the blessing. I don't know about you, but I do want blessings in my life. Get Some Help Now I'd like to tell you that this works 100% of the time, but unfortunately, it just doesn't. So when you find yourself still stuck in strife even after you've reached out in love to make things right, Matthew 18 again offers us the best guidance. Go back with a mediator, someone you both trust, and try again. Just know that even taking this step, your differences still may not be solved. Sometimes this presents us with the opportunity to set a boundary and move on. I know that's hard, but as soon as you can release people and your expectations of that situation, that's when the Lord can bring healing and reconciliation. You're not abandoning the relationship. You're allowing them space to process that thing and deal with it in a way that will honor the Lord. Finally, Forgive And one last thing, forgive. Forgiveness is not for them. Forgiveness doesn't mean they did everything right. Forgiveness doesn't mean you did everything right. Forgiveness just says, "I'm choosing to no longer punish you for the thing that I perceived that you did to me. I'm releasing you from that, and I'm going to learn from this situation. I'm going to go on in God's grace." When you learn to deal with hurt and difficulties in this way, your mindset begins to change. And when you face similar problems again in the future, you have a proven, trusted plan for dealing with them in a healthy, God-like way. 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. Thanks for reading! You did it. You’ve sent your artwork out into the world. And you didn’t get the response you thought you would. The likes aren’t stacking up on Instagram and no one’s following you on Facebook. So what happens next..heartache...frustration? Trust me, it doesn’t have to be that way! Today I’m tackling the common misunderstanding many Christian artists have regarding their identity and connecting it to what people think about their art. Listen, this is a very normal thing but that doesn’t make it healthy. It is however, something we must work through if you want to really thrive as the artist God created you to be. On the other hand, if you give in to these feelings of doubt, they can absolutely paralyze you. Constantly thinking about your performance and judging your worth by what others say about you is a real recipe for disaster. He’s After Your Heart Why? Because the enemy is always after your heart. He’s going to try to leverage any part of you that is performance-based. Anything that is not firmly grounded in the Lord’s identity. Anything based on what others think. And more than likely, he will if you don’t understand who God has made you to be, agree with it, and intentionally cultivate that truth regularly. It doesn’t matter who you are. Especially as a Christian artist, you’re never going to grow and develop unless you deal with that identity issue. It doesn’t matter how good of a marketer you are or how good of an artist you are if your identity is tied up in what others think of you. You are never going to see that sustained renewed growth, joy, freedom and authority in what you do. Matthew 18:19 says “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.” Now you can choose to agree with God’s will or you can choose to agree with the enemy, agreement is a powerful thing. So what are you going to agree with? Are you going to agree with “I’m only as good as they say I am.”? Or “I’m only as good as how many Instagram likes I have.”? Or even “I’m only as good as my church thinks I am?” That’s the mindset that sends you on a performance-driven, enemy filled cycle. Or are you going to agree with what God says about you? The Power of Community Community can be a powerful tool that God can use to encourage and support you. However, community should never be the thing you lean on in place of cultivating a healthy identity. When you’re doing both, actively cultivating a healthy identity inside a healthy community, that’s when things really start to change. When you have loving and supportive people who will speak into you the identity God has designed for you, you become the son instead of the slave. Your path deviates from your Facebook feed or your Instagram likes. When something goes wrong, instead of destroying you, it becomes a trigger for an opportunity. An Opportunity to Change An opportunity for what? To take control. For you to say ‘Lord, I am not defined by what I do. I am not defined by what others think. I am defined by who You say I am.’ The Bible says "Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” That means don’t do life as everybody else does it. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” As you begin to think about your life in terms of what God says about you as opposed to what the enemy says and as opposed to what circumstances may say, that's when your life will change. Listen, when your identity gets healed, when you begin to cultivate your identity in Christ, that's when the foundation is set for all the other growth. Everything else that you are building your art business on, your life as an artist, your skill; everything outside of an identity seated in Christ is shifting sand. 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. Thanks for reading! As Christian artists, it’s easy for us to say we’re not in it for the money label money as a hindrance; even evil. But in doing so, we’re simply using the fear of money as an excuse to justify our roadblocks. We get so caught up in worrying about finances, that it paralyzes us. Matthew 6:33 tells us: “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What that tells us is that provision is not something we must earn. God has designed us to walk with Him in the Kingdom as we pursue our unique design, embracing our position as sons and daughters. When we do that, then all things will come unto us. This is true, even when it comes to finances. So, do you think money evil? Of course not. Money is simply a tool that reveals the heart of it’s steward. Existing in this life requires money; making it, spending it, giving it and investing it. So today, I want to give you a simple three-step process to start thinking about your finances differently. Don’t let money paralyze you from being able to do that thing God has called you to do. Sow The first thing I want to encourage you to do is sow. As Galatians says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Too many times we are quick to give in to the excuses because of the fear and anxiety that comes along with money, . We tell ourselves we can’t afford something, have more important expenses, that we’re on a fixed income or maybe we will do it next year. Instead of sitting in that fear and never taking the chance, I invite you to sow. Sow into the Kingdom intentionally and by doing so, you are declaring in the face of the enemy that fear and anxiety don’t define you. Instead, you are planting a seed of purpose. Remember, you don’t plant a seed without expecting a harvest. When we sow in the face of fear, we are declaring God is our provider. If you are afraid to sow that seed, how will God entrust you with a harvest? Plant that seed in good soil in the Kingdom expecting to receive what God has for you. When you do this, putting your money into things won’t seem like such a waste. It won’t fill you with anxiety. Because you will know it’s been put in the right place. Look Next, you have to look for that harvest. What better place to start looking than in your own hand. Ask the Lord what is in your hand right now that could make a difference. Even if it’s small, find a win right now. Look for the fragments in your life. As told in the Gospel of John, a boy with just five loaves of bread and two fish fed thousands by bringing them to Jesus. Jesus then multiplied them to feed the masses. After the feast, the disciples picked up the fragments left behind; all that was forgotten and overlooked. So you ask the Lord what things in your own life are overlooked. This can be in your life but also in your finances. Is there a resource or asset you have forgotten about? Is there a recurring bill you forgot about and don’t utilize? Is your studio filled with artwork, even if they’re little sketches, that you could sell or make prints of? These little fragments could add up to something big. Lastly, when looking, I suggest looking for ideas. When you know something big is coming up, especially a large expense, stop thinking ‘oh I can’t afford that’. That immediately blocks the provision of God in your life through your lack of faith. It puts up a wall that says you are not ready to receive, that you aren’t in faith. Instead of thinking of all of the ways you can’t do something, ask the Lord for an idea. You can’t just ask God for money. God doesn’t pay in money. He pays in ideas. Make sure to listen for them. Be faithful with little and He will make you ruler over much. Go After all of that looking, I pray you have found something; an idea, a revelation, an opportunity. Now, what do you do with it? Well, you just have to go. Take that leap. Make a decision. When God gives you an idea, it has a lifespan. Opportunities are like waves. They come and they go. You have to take advantage of them when they are in season. Otherwise, you’ll miss them and have to wait on another. Many times, when I am talking about my passions and what God has called me to do, I hear stories of people who passed on opportunities five, ten, even twenty-five years ago. They chose to do nothing instead of choosing to go. And in not acting, they may have missed their window. So, in regards to provision and walking in the marketplace, when God shows you something, when He gives you that idea, go for it. Know that the idea is from the Lord, start walking in faith and just go. If you sow, look and then go, you will see God’s provision showing up in your life. You can start walking in faith and provision. As you do, you’ll learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and the flow of heaven into your life. It's God's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. It's God's good pleasure to pour out on you more than you can ask or imagine. It's God's good pleasure to put dreams in your heart and give you every ability that you need to be able to fund and walk in those things in the fullness of His design in your life. That is absolutely how the Kingdom works. 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. Thanks for reading! When I think about the frustrations I’ve had in my life, I realize most of those frustrations stem from limits that I have placed upon myself or upon God. Can you relate? I have even placed limits on other people. And, believe it or not, what is even possible in the Kingdom. It placed a roadblock in my life when it came to my personal life, my professional life and especially my spiritual life. Many times, the limits we put on ourselves, and on God come from baggage and unhealed wounds from issues in our lives. As a young man, I developed certain coping methods that stemmed from dealing with unhealthy patterns of living and negativity that spanned generations of rules and religion-based households. It skewed the way I began to see authority, and even how I saw God. Even years after I left the situation, I carried that baggage into every aspect of my life. From my marriage to my ministry. Everything was affected. It wasn’t until I took a good look around me that I realized that not everyone was living with the same limitations I was. They were having breakthroughs and I wanted mine. The Lies of the Enemy But the enemy lies to us. Suddenly, we’re thinking we’re not good enough or spiritual enough. We’re too big of a sinner. Sometimes we may even think God is blessing others because they led a different life than us. All of that doubt and baggage starts to eat away at our vision for what is possible. And instead of praying with gratitude and working to align ourselves with what God has for us, we end up being full of shame. Shame leads to fear. And fear to control. Before we know it, we’re trying to control everything, making sure that shame and fear don’t show. This way we aren’t rejected and found to be less than by our peers. Or, even worse, by God. Walking in Healing If we really want to stop perpetuating the illusion of limitations in our lives, the number one thing we all must do is to begin to walk with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to heal our wounded hearts. We need to take those ungodly beliefs from our past and allow God to lift them off of us. After all, these beliefs aren’t true; at least not according to God’s Word. They are only true because you’ve come to believe them as your own personal truths. They literally form a lense through which you see every situation and opportunity in life. When we allow the Holy Spirit to heal us, moment by moment, situation by situation, we begin to recognize the lies of the enemy. Then we can begin to replace them with God’s Word. Only then do the old patterns that were used to create limits on God, limits on ourselves, limits on others, become the very vehicle that God uses to bring freedom in our lives. How to Start Would you like this to be your story? One that shows for the goodness of God in and through your life? One where you’re walking in His purpose, abundant grace and provision? You can! I encourage you to use this quick 3-part strategy:
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. Thanks for reading! If you come from a similar childhood as me, you may find yourself asking the question, “Is every artist supposed to thrive and prosper in all that God has called them to do?” I grew up with a very rule and religion-based God. One with a lot of emotional and spiritual baggage. My relationship with God was built upon perfection. I was raised to do things the “right” way, coloring inside of the lines, so to speak. But then something amazing happened. I began healing. Jesus began to take all of those wounds and baggage off of me and I began to understand God’s plan for me. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” When I read the Bible, I see God as a Father. One who wants his sons and daughters to experience the fullness of life that He has provided for us. That is the reason that Jesus came. Not just to save you from Hell, but to restore you to the fullness of the Kingdom. A Different Perspective I find that perspective varies from the one a lot of people hold. Many people think the purpose of the Kingdom is only to get saved and to help other people get saved. And then they just have to “wait on Jesus” and then they are off to Heaven. Now, I don’t know about you, but I didn’t get saved by the blood of Jesus to not use this beautiful place of abundance and provision to reflect and reveal and release His nature. As Christian artists, we can do this uniquely through what God has called us to and how He's designed us. So, how do I know that God's called each of us to prosper as an artist? If God has made you an artist and put you in His Kingdom, how can you deny that? You have no choice but to embrace that in your life, and to prosper. He puts a unique investment into each one of us. The speed at which it grows, the size to which it develops, the breadth and depth to which it gets developed in your life is not up to God. That's up to you. Faithful With Little, Ruler Over Much I want you to think about Matthew 25, The Parable of Talents. The master put an investment into three different men. Two of them came back having doubled what was given to them, having put in the time and dedication for it to multiply. And, because they were faithful with little, they were made the ruler over much. The third man did not do this. He hid away the investment and did not work it. He returned it as it was given to him. In other words, the third man shirked his responsibility. He refused the investment that he had been entrusted with. Your ability to thrive and prosper is not all on the Lord. He’s given you the ability and the opportunity! However, really thriving requires your willingness to come into agreement with God’s plan for your life, day-by-day, moment-by-moment. What’s In Your Hand? One of the first things that I tell artists who want to thrive is this: If you want to start thriving in your life, take one basic, practical step. Ask the Lord. Ask Him, “What is it that you put in my hand?” What is it that He has invested inside of you that no one else has? And how can you begin to take a step in that direction to honor Him and to co-labor with Him in this unique design that He calls you to? As you do that with a heart filled with gratitude and expectation toward all the things that God has for you, you will begin to start feeling the momentum and the move of the Spirit in your life. You'll start experiencing the abundant life that Jesus promised 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. Thanks for reading! Proverbs 29:18 tells us that without a vision, people perish. This is true even in the creative world. As Christian artists, we spend our time enthralled in our artistic passions because that’s the way God designed us; spending countless hours “in the zone”. However, when we’re looking to take our art somewhere bigger, enlarge our skills and really use them to build a business, we must start with a vision. Big Vision, Bite-Sized Goals First, you need to get clear about what God has called you to do. As a Christian artist, you may already know what that is, but maybe you need help getting there. So set your target, that vision of where you see yourself headed. After all, if you don’t know where you’re going, you'll never know when you get there. Write down what that vision looks like to you. How does it feel? What level of income are you hoping for? Are you selling your work and if so, how much, where and to whom? How does your business fit into your overall life? Clarifying who you are, what you want to accomplish and the life you want to experience along the way becomes your guiding principle, the spot on the horizon you’re always moving towards as enabled by the Holy Spirit. Remember, the Bible says in Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” SMARTi Goals After you have your big goal, it’s time to start breaking it down into bite-sized pieces. I like to first break down the big goal into one-year goals. It needs to be aggressive enough to want to work towards, but also realistic. I call them SMARTi goals. These are goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, have a time frame and incentives when you accomplish your goals. I like to add a little incentive for achieving them. So, what do your big goals look like? How much money do you want your art business to bring in this year? Do you want to sell a specific number of pieces? What about learning a new skill, applying for a certain show or getting in a certain gallery? Do you want to record an album and get it out there on iTunes? Dream big, dream specifically and create your SMARTi goals. Paralyzed or Powerful As we all know, a big, lofty goal can sometimes put you in a state of confusion or paralyzation. We can get overwhelmed and that can lead to a lot of inaction. Instead, I invite you to shift your focus and allow that vision to become the fuel that encourages you to keep moving forward as enabled by the Holy Spirit! One way to take the fear out of big vision is by creating bite-sized objectives. Once you have your big yearly goals, simply break them down into 90-day goals that are much more manageable. This way, every quarter of the year is taking a little bite out of that big one-year goal and closer to your vision. And even if you don’t achieve every goal you set, you’re still a lot further down the road toward your big goal than you would have been simply floating along on autopilot like most people. Weekly Objectives Next, we’re going to break it down again. Every week, within your 90-day goals, set an objective. Now, you’ve created even smaller bites. To do this, I like to work in reverse and plot out everything that needs to be done for the big goal. Break it all down to little tasks and assign them as your weekly objectives. Accomplishing lots of small, daily and weekly goals takes you towards your 90-day goal one step at a time. And remember, every 90-day goal you accomplish is one step closer to the big, yearly goal. I know, from experience as a thriving artist, this will set you on the path to the vision that God has for you in your life. Do this and you’ll be amazed and the acceleration you experience. 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. Thanks for reading! You know sometimes as an artist, getting started can be the hardest thing to do. I recently got a question from one of my listeners, Ethan, who said, “Matt, I’ve got a goal, I’ve got a vision, but I never seem to get on track with either. It’s always been one step forward two steps back for me and I'm just not sure how to get started towards seeing some real progress being made in my life.” I can absolutely understand where Ethan is coming from because I've been through that same thing before in my life. I was sitting at church the other day after reading this question, and my Pastor gave a great example, right out of Genesis, of how God starts a project. Structure Is Not A Bad Thing He used the example of when God began to form Eve. He started with a bone He borrowed from Adam. And this is so significant because this bone was used to form a structure upon which the Father built Eve’s body. Think about it, all physical growth inside your body starts with structure. From the teeniest cell to the strongest bone, if you didn't have this foundational structure in your physical body, then just be a blob of ooze (I know… gross). A lot of times as artists we want to resist structure. Maybe it doesn’t feel artsy enough or maybe the idea of structure conflicts with what you feel about being Spirit-led. But the thing we have to realize is that EVERYTHING God has ever created was built within the framework of a Spirit-inspired structure. (Don’t believe me? Check out this YouTube video about the Fibonacci Sequence.) The Power of Connection After laying a foundation with the skeletal system, God used tendons to connect everything together. Whether you’re talking about your physical life, your spiritual life, or your artistic life, you can't sustain growth in your life without meaningful connections in your life. I think this is one reason I see so many creatives struggle. Somewhere along the way, they bought in the lie that they are the only one struggling to make it in life, in art, or in business. If this is you, then don’t let the loneliness, isolation, and fear of what others might think or say keep you trapped and hidden one moment longer. Be intentional. Seek out and connect with other like-minded artists and mentors right now. Your Strengths So, if you're looking to unleash transformation in your life, start with structure, pair that with authentic connection, and then combine that with your strengths. In your physical body, I’m talking about muscles, but in your life and art, your strength(s) are those unique gifts and talents God has sown into your life. Think about it. These gifts and talents were given to you by God so that they could be exercised, built up, and finally used by you as you step out and fulfill the plans and purposes that He has for you. As an artist, it’s your talents and skills that bring a unique perspective to the works you were created to make. Skin: What the World Sees So yes, it’s a weird point, but if you were just a bunch of muscles sitting there, you'd be kind of gross, right? So you need to have skin, or more precisely, you've got to learn how to present the thing that God is doing in your life and art out to the world. It’s about putting a face on what you do so that others can be drawn to it. If you find yourself struggling to show depth of your talent and the strength of your character through the connections you’re cultivating, then it might be time for a “face lift.” Ask the Father to show you what He says about you and your work, listen to what He says, receive it, then share that with others. And Finally, Breathe It All In I love the final point my pastor made, and it goes to the core of what I've taught for years about being filled and skilled out of Exodus 31. Once Adam had been completely formed, his skeleton, tendons, muscles, and skin all in place, God had one more step left on His “Create Mankind” action plan. Adam and Eve were just mounds of impressively arranged dust right until the moment God Breathed HIS life into their bodies. My friend, that's when life, true life, comes rushing in! Without the breath and life of the Holy Spirit moving through your creative process and guiding your steps as you grow your art business, you very well may end up striving, frustrated, and paralyzed. If you’re sitting there wondering why it feels like God has left you on the side of the road (and He’s not), may it’s time you took a “deep breath.” If you can relate to this, then I challenge you to invite the Creator of all Creatives to breathe His life into all that you are doing. I hope this has been a big encouragement to you and if it has been, then please take a moment to share it with a friend, ok? Thanks for reading! I get this question quite a bit, "what in the world does being an artist and creating art have to do with the Great Commission?” Or better yet, “What does art have to do with savin' souls and seein' people come to Jesus?” These sorts of questions always seem to highlight a lack of understanding about what it means to walk in the fullness of God’s Kingdom. Another way to approach this question would be like this, "Do we all have to look, act, and do Kingdom life in exactly the same way to be effective for God?" Well, I’m happy to say that the answer would be a resounding “no”. All of us are in this beautiful symbiotic relationship as the body of Christ. A relationship where each one of us brings a different and unique expression of God not only to each other but also to the marketplace, as well as to the whole world. It’s through our uniqueness, the way God created us, that God chooses to use us as He touches and interacts with people in beautiful and life-changing ways. This is the way the Kingdom was designed to work. We are not the ministers of a come-and-see gospel, but rather the ambassadors of a go-and-tell movement that God put inside of us by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus died, He didn't just die just for your sins; He died to restore you into the fullness of the Kingdom so that you could be everything that God designed you to be. And upon embracing that, God calls us to go forth to uniquely express His glory and His mercy and His love in the Earth. Maybe the real question needs to be, "What do I have to offer? What can I do uniquely in the Earth to reveal and release God's Kingdom so that other people who may never grace the door of a church, have a myriad of ways to experience the light and life and love of God?" Think about that for a second, because when everybody does that - business people and teachers, people in government and even artists - we ALL fulfill the Great Commission. And the best part is we’ll be doing it while embracing the unique design and gifting God has placed within each of us. That is what art has to do with both the Kingdom and with the Great Commission. It’s us - you and I -using our God-given creative vision and talents to do our part in seeing billions and billions of people come into the harvest in our generation. I hope this has been a big, big encouragement to you. Take a moment right now to say, "God, thank you for making me uniquely who I am so that You can be glorified through me." Also, if this article has been a blessing to you, take a moment to share it with a friend. Thanks for reading! Hey there, my friend, and welcome to my first blog post in 2020. Can you believe it? Oh my gosh. We made it. I'm really glad that you're here and I'm so excited about all that this year has for you, for me, for everybody that's walking in God's Kingdom. It's going to be an incredible year and I just wanted to start off this year with a little series. You're going to be noticing “a thread” moving through the blog posts and podcast this January. I’m really trying to help you get started, get on the right path and get on a focused on everything that God has for you. In this post, I really want to jump into this whole concept of taking yourself seriously as a Christian artist and asking yourself, “is this a year I’m finally going to do that thing I’ve been talking about or am I going to keep going around the same old bush, doing the same old thing, expecting different results?” You know, a lot of artists do just that… talk and hope but never act. I've done that in different seasons of my life too. I would wonder why I was getting the same results I'd been getting and yet my actions didn't change. It can be frustrating. I know you this to be the year that you start taking yourself seriously and really embracing everything God has for you as a Christian artist. So in this blog post, I've got a few tips I hope are going to be helpful in that regard. Think about it. If everybody wants different results and if everybody wants to take themselves seriously, living the life that God called them to live - that abundant, incredible creative flow, Kingdom-oriented, abundance, experiencing life - then why aren't they doing it? Why are they able to live that life, execute on those dreams and really take themselves seriously? Well, there are several reasons. This isn't an exhaustive list, but let's start with this one: Some artists just don't believe they can. Some Christian Artists Don’t Believe They CanMaybe they've been told their whole life, “you can't do it, you're not good enough, you're not this enough, you're not that enough.” They simply have a belief system - a core belief - that they can't do it. Maybe they have never done something significant in the past. Maybe they've tried things and failed. And maybe that failure has paralyzed them to the point where they're just unable to move forward. Maybe you can relate to that, too. I know a lot of Christian artists do. Some Artists Don’t Think They Are WorthyMany others struggle with another common roadblock, not believing they're worthy to succeed. Think about that for a second. Maybe it's the way they grew up, the relationships that they've had, or the experiences they've walked through in their life. Maybe they struggle with their thoughts about God and what humility, or even pride is supposed to look like as a Christian. It can be any number of things. Thoughts and fears like these can lead this person to reject taking any credit for anything in their life and worse yet, not wanting to enjoy anything in their lives either. Unfortunately, they have this underlying lie that's churning inside of them all the time saying, “You’re not worthy to succeed. You're not supposed to succeed. You're supposed to let everybody else go first.” Ultimately, the person who listens to and believes this lie ends up completely paralyzed emotionally, spiritually and creatively. Many Christians Don’t Understand How Change HappensThirdly, there's a lot of artists out there that believe a lie about how change is supposed to happen in their life. I teach a lot about this concept in my books and mentoring program and call it “mailbox mentality”. You know how this works. We wait, hope and beg (because that seems spiritual) and then just sit back and tell God, "Okay, you do it. I'm waiting on you." And when it doesn’t happen in our timing, we switch to another common strategy that includes working, sweating and striving on our own. You know what, my friend, that's not how the Kingdom works. We align with God’s Kingdom when we embrace who God's called us to be and step out in faith by cooperating and co-laboring with the Holy Spirit. If you have a fundamental misunderstanding about how change happens - that somehow it's all up to God and has nothing to do with you - then you're going to be waiting a long time and probably be very frustrated. It’s Not About You… It’s About the KingdomFinally, many Christian artists struggle with is the idea of taking themselves seriously and consequently are never able to make forward progress in their life. A lot of artists in this place feel completely alone in their church, in their family, and maybe even in their local area. They don't know anybody else that understands what it means to be an artist, much less be an artist who loves Jesus and is intent upon pursuing the power of the Kingdom in their life. That “aloneness” can feel overwhelming, stifling and paralyzing. But here’s the good news! Taking yourself seriously isn’t about you at all! It’s about what God’s put inside you! It’s about His Kingdom flowing through you. As you do that, your ability to accept yourself and God’s design on your life increases. You start to step into a divine flow! For many artists - maybe even you - that's why you're reading this post today. You want to take God’s call on your life seriously and you want that flow. Not only that, but you want to be a part of a community of other artists who really “get” you and understand what it means to be an artist, to love Jesus, and to pursue everything God has for you. The great news is that you’re in the right place and 2020 can be YOUR year! 2020 (and this new decade) can absolutely be the time that you start to take yourself seriously and pursue everything that God has for you. Regardless of what you’ve believed in the past, this is a new year! The very fact that you're reading this post right now proves that you want everything that God has for you as an artist and that is so exciting. I also believe it proves God set you up. How you might ask? You see, God's got something incredible for you. He ordered your steps to be reading this at this time, and you're here by divine appointment. The only thing you have to do is say “yes” and start walking. You Are Not Alone!Here's my promise to you.
If you'll walk with me this year, pursue God and pursue your calling as an artist this year I promise, you're going to start to see some incredible breakthrough in your life. Your story is going to change, big time! How do I know? Because I hear it all the time from artists who are in my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program or listen to the podcast or read my books. Artists that start taking life seriously. Artists who are no longer living on autopilot, but have really started pursuing the Kingdom and their calling as an artist. Make 2020 your breakthrough year! I’ll be here every step of the way and I can't wait to hear your story! Connect on our free Facebook Page, The Thriving Christian Artist. Listen to The Thriving Christian Artist Podcast I’ve encountered many artists over the years who really struggle with stepping into thriving because they don’t understand one foundational concept: convergence. Thriving isn’t simply doing one or two things well, but rather doing the right things well at the same time, over time. Although that might seem like a juggling act – and it can feel that way some times – it’s not as out of reach as you think. Here’s what typically happens with artists. They get two out of the three areas but forgetting that third, continue to struggle. For example, artists who are great artistically and have a strong spiritual connection end up having only a hobby or ministry because they don’t pursue the development of their art business. Artists who are great artistically and have a strong business sense often flourish in the marketplace with their sales but sometimes lack a deep spiritual connection and sense of life in their art practice. Then there’s artists who are deeply connected spiritually and have built a business but their artwork is lacking, leading to immature work and frustration. For artists who want to pursue their art in the marketplace in the context of their relationship with God, thriving happens when they are growing artistically, spiritually and in their businesses. Each feeds the other and provides momentum for the journey. This place of convergence is what I call your “sweet spot” and it should be a goal for every artist who wants to thrive spiritually, artistically and financially. This place of convergence is the focus of my artist mentoring program, Created to Thrive. Click here for more information on how to be a part. I was talking to a friend the other day who happens to be quite an accomplished artist and a real spiritual father to many creatives around the world. We were chatting about our mutual passion to help artists thrive and, knowing I work with many hobbyist and emerging artists, posed the following question: "How do you tell someone who is mediocre and not really called (or ready) to make his living with his art (simply because it will never sell) that perhaps God gave you the passion for art just to enjoy and glorify Him with, but it is not your calling to make it your financial sustenance?" It's a great question and I'm sure the reason no one talks much about it is because it can be a really sensitive issue for the artist... No one wants to have that hard conversation with an artist who's thinking they are ready to take on the world when in reality, they are still stumbling around with the basics. And then sometimes, there are those really hard cases that almost seem like the American Idol auditions where someone thinks they are God's gift to art when in reality, there's not much there but desire and belief. As I've thought about it, I hope these ideas will help you navigate your own artistic calling and season in that journey.
I can remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in a gallery demonstrating my work at an art walk in Waynesville, North Carolina... Just minding my own business, when all of a sudden this guy walks up to one of my pieces and said with a gasp "It's like the hands of God are reaching out to me saying I've got everything under control." I wondered to myself "What just happened?" and then all of a sudden it hit me. This guy just had an encounter with the living God through one of my baskets. I thought "Woo hoo, Jesus loves kudzu, too!!" Is that even possible? Absolutely! When you invite the Holy Spirit into your creative process, He will literally come move through the work of your hands. Your work becomes much more than just the sum of it's parts... it becomes an intersection point where God can show up and release the light and life of His presence! If you've never experienced this kind of demonstration of God's love through your work, there's no time like the present! The next time you create, invite the Holy Spirit to be present, in and through your work. Create with all your heart, listen for His voice and then respond. After you're done, watch what he does with the work of your hands. When God shows up, things change and He wants to use you to release that transformation. Has something like this ever happened to you? Share your story of transformation below and let's encourage one another! Since I have the great honor of working with hundreds of Christian artists in my artist mentorship program, I'm always getting questions. One of the most common questions I get from newbies is "what can I do right now to start thriving?" Here's 12 things you can do right now to start thriving as a Christian artist: 1. Just show up & do the work There’s just no substitute. It’s been said it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at your chosen artistic medium. So whether you’re a painter or metal artist, potter or basket maker you’re going to need to put in some serious studio time. The beautiful thing about it is that for the artist, the process of being in the studio can be the reward. Yes, we’re all after fantastic art that we can sell and make a living from, but for the artist, the magic of creativity happens long before the sale happens. It happens when we walk in the studio, turn on the music, prepare our materials and just get in the zone. 2. Push through the ugly Many Christian artists I’ve ever known, including myself goes through periods of creating crap. Sometimes its for a week, or months or a year or sometimes it’s in every piece. If you stop in the ugly phase, you’ll never get through to the place of creative resolve and resolution. Keep pressing, reworking, walking away and returning until you know that you know it is finished. 3. Encourage yourself and silence your inner critic The voice of the inner critic will never go away by itself or by wishing it would stop. The voice must be silenced by a greater voice; the darkness pierced by the purity of light. The dominant inner narrative in your soul can be guided, not by your emotions but by your choices. Who are you and what do you want? Practice some creative visualization, create a treasure map, journal your personal and creative affirmations daily and listen as the critic is silenced. 4. Take time to rest and renew It’s been said that creativity happens best on the edge of order and chaos. That being said, we can’t live 100% of the time in that tension. You need time to reflect, rest and renew your physical body and your inner life so that fresh ideas can clearly come to and through you. This is not a luxury for the artist, it is essential. 5. Fill your imagination When it’s time to create, artists create from the heart. And we go inside our imagination to draw upon the inspiration and understanding that lies within. If we’ve not invited the Holy Spirit into our creative process and intentionally filled our imagination with inspiration, then the work becomes mundane; studio time only makes us and our experience in creative bored and anxious. What exhilarates your spirit? What makes you stand in awe and wonder? Movies? Music? Sculpture? Great art or theatre? Whatever feeds your inner life should be on your regular menu." 6. Don’t eat seed Over the years I’ve found that emerging artists have one main question they are always asking: “How do I make money with my art?” The better question is how can I keep the money I’m making with my art. Becoming a successful Christian artist for most people is able building a bridge to a dream; transitioning from a 9 to 5 job or even beginning to sell your work to the public for the first time. Regardless, all of that takes money. I always encourage artists to take the money that’s coming in initially from selling or teaching and put it away in your business envelope. That way, when a big show, marketing need or other opportunity comes along and you need capital to invest, you have it. Money invested at the right time in your business can be valuable seed to produce the harvest of success you desire. 7. Create what you love We’ve all done it. You sell a couple of pieces that are similar and you start thinking “If I make 1000 of these, I’d be a gagillionaire... so I better get to work!” Only to find out that at the next show, you only sell a grand total of zero. While we must always keep an eye on what’s selling and what our clients are genuinely responding to at the end of the day, we must make what we love. Otherwise, we become robotic craftsmen just replicating patterns with wrote skill instead of creating out of the place of inspiration and passion. Create what you love and trust the money and opportunities to follow. Fulfill Your Calling as a Christian Artist! Connect with a Community of Thriving Artists MAKE THIS YEAR YOUR BREAKTHROUGH YEAR... Find out how here 8. Reach up and reach back None of us have gotten where we are in life without those special people God placed in our life at the right place and time to teach us, lead us, guide us and inspire us to go to the next level. No matter where you are in your creative journey, you can do the same for someone else by reaching out in genuine relationship. In addition, there’s always someone who’s further along than you are in whatever creative endeavor you find yourself. Continue to purposely reach up to them as well and become a river of inspiration; both receiving and giving the abundance that’s flowing through you. 9. Tell your story Art is not a commodity. No one buys great art or fine craft because it was the cheapest or it was on sale. People buy fine art and fine craft because they desire connection; connection with the maker, the process, the materials and ultimately their own human experience. Your personal creative story is a huge part of that because when people connect to you they connect to your work. It’s no longer just a basket, mug or painting, but rather a reflection of the story of the maker who poured their heart and soul into the piece. Art becomes like ancient cairns, pointing the way and commemorating significance in the journey. 10. Dream Your Dreams Most Christian artists I’ve met over the years are so completely overwhelmed with where they are right now – creatively, relationally, financially – that they’ve lost their ability to dream and imagine outside of their current life experience. What happened to the kid on the playground who believed he could climb to the top of the highest tree on the mountain? What happened to the little girl who wanted to be a famous fashion designer in New York City? I’ll tell you what happened. Life happened, they got bogged down in the details and lost their dreamer. Without dreaming and imagination, we become robotic manufactures of commodities. With dreams, desire and imagination become artists who allow all of life to converge in the studio where we create beautiful objects that help others to live with wonder. 11. Say No to the Wrong things and Yes to the Right You’re an artist, yes, but you’re also an entrepreneur, shipping department, marketing department and custodial staff in addition to whatever personal and civic obligations that may find their way into your life. If you say yes to everything, you allow everyone else’s emergencies, priorities and passions take precedence over yours. Design your life. Dream your dreams. Create what you love. Life a beautiful life with beautiful people and allow your priorities to be the measuring stick for everything else you allow into your life. That’s not selfish, it’s healthy. 12. Connect to Your Source If you’ve been an artist for very long, you realize that your creative gift is not your own or even the result of all your own hard work. Pure and simple it’s a gift from the Creator and we simply have the incredible opportunity to collaborate with that Creators process, inspiration and gifts in order to reflect His beauty. Without that connection we die creatively because we cut off the source of our inspiration. With that connection, we go further than we ever could on our own good ideas and hard work. With that connection, we simply lean into the process of creative collaboration that’s already been designed especially for us. With that connection, we always prosper because that’s the design of the Creator. Don't let another year go by without stepping into your creative calling! This year can be your breakthrough year! Find out how... Let me be honest. As much as I would love every artist to really start thriving in their life, art, finances and spiritual life, that's just not realistic for some... and it hurts me to say because I'm an eternal optimist and believe deeply in the divine calling of artists to do big things! It's not that I don't believe it's possible, I do! I completely, 100% believe breakthrough is possible in the life of every artist but what I know more than possibility is the fact that thriving as an artist and experiencing breakthrough into that life is a choice. A personal choice that can only be made by a the artist. Sometimes, I wish it wasn't the case but it is. You either choose to thrive or you choose to live life the way you've lived it and get what you've always gotten. As I think back on tons of emails and conversations with artists, I've heard these three reasons over and over and over from phrased a little differently for each person of course to fit their "unique" situation. As we say in the country, "You can't put lipstick on a pig". An excuse is an excuse and these are 3 of the biggest. Here we go:
Some of you may be reading this right now saying "Wow Matt, this just got real..." Yes, it did and I love you too much to sugarcoat things. God's invested too much in each one of us to let momentary troubles and pressures take our focus from the goal He's set before us. I also know this to be true: people always... ALWAYS do what they want to do. If you want something bad enough, you'll find a way to see it happen. The simple fact is many people like the idea of breakthrough and thriving but aren't willing to lean into the process. To those that do lean into the process, who keep going even when things get difficult and who prioritize their life the align with their dreams and design, the sweet feelings of knowing they held on, leaned into God's grace and trusted in the face of fear will usher them into reaping the rewards of the process. To them it will be said "Well done good and faithful servant. You've been faithful over little, not I will make you ruler over much." (PS... If that's you right now, the kind of artist that is willing to set a course and see it through in the context of community with other artists and me as your mentor (even if you've failed at this before), then I'd love for you to consider my Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program I can help you make this year be your breakthrough year. I can help you make this year the year of no more excuses... the year you start thriving!)
Artists can be some of the biggest procrastinators around. Believe me, I know! Because of some of our innate perfectionistic tendencies, we love to put things off indefinitely. We tell ourselves all sorts of things couched in what seems like wisdom when in reality, it's just just plan ole fear; fear of not "doing it right", fear of "not being good enough" even fear of succeeding. In my own life and as I have the great pleasure of mentoring hundreds of artists through my books, conferences and artist mentoring group I've found 3 really common and really paralyzing lies that most artists struggle with, especially as they are getting ready to breakthrough into their next season of growth! Here they are...
Once you begin to understand your identity in Christ, solidify a Kingdom-oriented vision for your life and begin pursuing your artistic expression without these limitations, you'll start to taste what the abundant life is all about. If you're a believer in Jesus, you already have everything you need to thrive living inside of you. It's called the Kingdom and it's active and available to you now. All you have to do is start aligning with His divine design for your life. Share your thoughts below! I'd love to hear where you are in your creative journey! Also, find out more about my Created To Thrive Artist Mentoring Program here. |
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AuthorMatt Tommey is an artist, author and mentor who is passionate about empowering artists to thrive spiritually, artistically and in business. |