• Overcoming Creative Block as a Christian Artist

    Overcoming Creative Block as a Christian Artist

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    ISSUE #034

    If you’ve ever walked into your studio, looked at your materials, and felt absolutely nothing, you’re not alone. Creative block hits every artist sooner or later. But not all creative block is the same. Sometimes it feels like fog. Sometimes panic. Sometimes shame. But no matter how it shows up, it’s never a sign that you’ve lost your gift or that God has somehow stepped out of the room. More often than not, it’s simply a sign that you’ve been drawing from the wrong source.

    The good news? Creative block isn’t a dead end—it’s a divine invitation. What the enemy tries to use as discouragement, the Holy Spirit can use as a reset, a reconnection, and a fresh infilling of creative flow.

    This week, we’re going to break down the three root causes of creative block and show you exactly how to move back into alignment with God’s creative Spirit. You’re about to discover that the river of creativity is still flowing inside you… all you have to do is reconnect.

    In His love and creativity,
    Matt Tommey

    PS – Don’t miss all the great artist mentoring resources we have available for you. Click here to find out more.

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    Featured Teaser

    This week’s Featured Artist is quilt-maker and gallery owner Pamela Loewen. Her story is a masterclass in persistence, faith, and the breathtaking ways God uses our creativity when we refuse to quit. From 17 years of “no” to a museum acquisition, from a 100-year-old building to a Spirit-filled gallery—Pamela’s journey will stir your faith and inspire your creative walk in a big way. READ MORE

    CONNECT

    Creative block almost always begins with spiritual disconnection. Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5, NKJV). That wasn’t a threat—it was an invitation. When we create without abiding, the well dries up. But when we slow down, breathe, and acknowledge His presence, something powerful happens: peace replaces pressure, clarity replaces chaos, and creativity begins to stir again.

    Prayer:
    Holy Spirit, thank You for being the well of life within me. I surrender every feeling of pressure, emptiness, and inadequacy. Reconnect my heart to Your presence. Refill me with Your peace, Your joy, and Your creative flow. Awaken my imagination again and align my spirit with Yours as I create. Amen.

    Action Step:
    Before you begin your next creative session, pause for 60 seconds. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Whisper, “Jesus, I reconnect with You right now.”
    Feel everything shift.

    CLARIFY

    Creativity thrives when your focus is clear and grounded in faith, not feelings. If you’re waiting to “feel inspired” before creating, you’ll stay stuck. Faith says, “I show up anyway because this is who I am.” Ask the Lord: What is the one step You’re inviting me to take this week in my creative practice?

    Action Step:
    Choose ONE clear, doable creative goal this week—something small enough to complete, but meaningful enough to move you forward. Write it down and commit to it before the Lord.

    CREATE

    Waiting on inspiration is the fastest path to stagnation. But showing up—even without clarity—primes the pump. Play is often the doorway back into flow. Sketch. Swatch colors. Make marks. Mix paint. Shape clay. Write a paragraph. Hum a melody. Stir the waters, and watch the Holy Spirit meet you in motion.

    Action Step:
    Begin each studio session this week with 10 minutes of pure play—no agenda, no pressure, no expectations. Just exploration. Creativity loves to wake up in a judgment-free zone.

    CULTIVATE

    Your collectors, followers, and community don’t need perfection—they need resonance. When you share your creative process, not just your polished results, people feel connected to you. Vulnerability builds trust, and trust builds relationships… the kind that lead to impact and income.

    Action Step:
    Share a behind-the-scenes moment this week—your sketchbook, your messy table, your warmup marks, or even your honest struggle with creative block and how God is meeting you in it.

    The Core4 Focus Planner™

    A 90-Day Undated Planner to Help You Stay Focused, Grow Spiritually, and Make Measurable Progress in Your Art

    “This planner is my “tool of intentionality” and sits next to my Bible and journal. It’s also the perfect size to hang on to as a way to go back and celebrate the work that I’ve done. Thanks so much!” – Debby

    Get Your Core4 Focus Planner Now

    WATCH & LISTEN

    Episode: 3 Powerful Ways to Overcome Creative Block

    LISTEN ON APPLEPODCAST

    LISTEN ON SPOTIFY

    This week’s episode dives deep into the three roots of creative block—disconnection, empty imagination, and passive creativity—and shows you how to reconnect with Jesus, create by faith, and cultivate inspiration on purpose. Whether you’re feeling stuck or simply wanting to strengthen your daily creative rhythm, this conversation will help you step back into confidence, clarity, and creative flow with the Holy Spirit.

    ART TIP FOR THRIVING

    The 3-Minute Mindful Entrance Ritual

    This week’s “tech” is actually an art-studio mindfulness tool—perfect for busting creative block.

    Before starting your creative session:

    1. Step into the studio and pause at the doorway.
      Let your body arrive before your mind races ahead.
    2. Notice three things you see.
      Color. Light. A tool. A piece of unfinished work. Let gratitude rise.
    3. Notice three things you hear.
      Ambient sound, worship music, silence—whatever is present.
    4. Lay your hand on your table or materials and say:
      “Holy Spirit, I create with You today.”

    This slows your nervous system, centers your spirit, awakens your imagination, and shifts you into alignment with God’s presence. It’s simple, but I promise—you’ll feel the difference.

    Try it this week and watch the fog lift.

    WORSHIP

    This week, I want to invite you into a song that beautifully mirrors the heart of moving through creative block: “Make Room.” It’s a simple, powerful declaration of surrender—laying down our striving, pressure, and self-reliance so the Holy Spirit can breathe fresh life into our creativity.

    As artists, we can so easily slip into performance mode, trying to force inspiration or muscle our way through dryness. This song pulls you right back to the center—into abiding, yielding, and reconnecting with the Source of all creativity.

    Turn it on as you enter your creative space this week. Let the atmosphere shift. Let your heart settle. Let the river of the Spirit begin to flow again.

    Apply to Be a Featured Artist

    Would you like to be considered for one of our artist features? We love sharing the work from our friends around the world who create unique, beautiful and inspired art, regardless of creative medium. And just a reminder, your work does NOT have to be overtly faith-based to be considered. Interested? Just complete this application: https://forms.gle/vmtyk6wg3hSuUAhi9

    Resources for Christian Artists

    If you’re ready to grow as an artist in your faith, art and even business, then check out these affordable resources for artists just like you.

  • Overcoming Creative Roadblocks through Guided Artist Mentorship

    Overcoming Creative Roadblocks through Guided Artist Mentorship

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    A young woman artist rests her chin in hand, holding a paintbrush amid art supplies.

    Breaking Through the Barriers That Hold Your Art Captive

    My friend, we’ve all been there—staring at a blank canvas, feeling the weight of creative paralysis, wondering if the inspiration will ever return. Creative blocks aren’t just frustrating; they’re a spiritual battle that can rob you of the joy and purpose God intended for your artistic journey.

    These moments of creative drought aren’t a sign that you’ve lost your calling or that you lack talent. Often, they’re simply evidence that you need fresh perspective, renewed vision, and guided wisdom to break through to the other side.

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” – 2 Timothy 1:7

    The Root Causes of Creative Blocks

    Before we can overcome creative blocks, we need to understand what’s really happening beneath the surface. Through years of mentoring thousands of artists, I’ve discovered that most creative blocks stem from one of these core issues:

    1. Mindset Barriers

    • Fear of failure or judgment
    • Perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
    • Comparison to other artists
    • Self-sabotaging beliefs about your identity or worth

    2. Spiritual Disconnection

    • Creating from striving rather than Spirit-led flow
    • Misalignment with your divine design
    • Wounds and lies that block your creative voice
    • Confusion about your purpose and calling

    3. Technical Limitations

    • Skill gaps creating frustration
    • Lack of knowledge about materials or processes
    • Uncertainty about the next developmental step
    • Getting stuck in comfortable but limiting patterns

    4. Practical Obstacles

    • Overwhelm from too many ideas or directions
    • Lack of structure, routine, or creative discipline
    • Isolation without supportive community
    • Environmental factors that disrupt creative flow

    The good news? Each of these blocks can be overcome with the right guidance, community, and proven frameworks.

    How Mentorship Dismantles Creative Blocks

    Inside the Created to Thrive Artist Mentorship Program, we don’t just offer vague encouragement or quick fixes. We provide specific, proven pathways to move through creative barriers and into sustainable creative flow.

    1. Renewing Your Mind for Creative Freedom

    Creative blocks often begin in the mind. That’s why we start with heart and mind renewal:

    • Biblical affirmations that replace lies with truth about your creative identity
    • Practical exercises to overcome perfectionism and fear
    • Spirit-led meditation and reflection practices that unlock creative flow
    • Transformational teaching on developing a Kingdom mindset

    As Julie Bagamary, one of our fiber artist members, discovered: “I found the strength to overcome the lies that kept me from embracing my call to be a thriving fiber artist in God’s Kingdom.”

    2. Spirit-Led Creation Practices

    When your creative practice becomes disconnected from divine inspiration, blocks naturally follow. Our mentorship program helps you:

    • Establish a rhythm of Spirit-led creation that maintains inspiration using our Create5 Method
    • Develop practices for hearing God’s voice in your creative process
    • Learn to create from rest rather than striving
    • Tap into the flow of divine creativity that never runs dry

    Jan Tetsutani, a painter and muralist in our program, shares: “I pushed past my fear and self-sabotage to walk into my calling as a thriving full-time artist.”

    3. Tactical Skill Development

    Sometimes blocks occur because you simply don’t have the technical tools to express what’s inside you. Our mentorship provides:

    • Recommendations for specific skill-building resources across various mediums
    • Expert Artist feedback during weekly Expert Hour to identify and overcome technical hurdles
    • Strategic pathway to overcome limitations that build mastery rather than scattered development
    • Clear developmental pathways to keep you growing technically

    4. Structural Support Systems

    Creative blocks often dissolve when the right structures are in place. We help you establish:

    • Sustainable creative rhythms and routines
    • Goal-setting frameworks that maintain momentum
    • Accountability through community and regular check-ins
    • Environmental optimizations for creative flow

    As Toni Wesner, one of our members, experienced: “Your mentoring group is the first real community I’ve experienced… I’m deeply humbled by it and realize the incredible amount of love and work you put into it.”

    Breaking Through Together: The Community Factor

    Perhaps the most powerful aspect of overcoming creative blocks through mentorship is the realization that you’re not alone. Inside Created to Thrive, you’ll find:

    • Weekly live Q&A sessions where we address specific blocks you’re facing
    • Weekly Expert Hour coaching that provides technical solutions to creative challenges
    • A private community grop where members help each other through stuck points
    • Case studies and Backstage Pass interviews revealing how others overcame similar obstacles

    As Wendy Marett, an artist and teacher in our program, shares: “Created to Thrive Mentoring group has been solid, spirit-led teaching about thriving as a Christian artist. There are artists at all levels of their journey and situation.”

    From Block to Breakthrough: Your Path Forward

    Imagine waking up each day with a clear sense of direction for your art—no more paralysis, no more wondering if the creativity will come back, no more isolation in your struggles.

    Imagine having access to a proven roadmap that guides you from wherever you’re stuck to where God is calling you to go creatively.

    Imagine being part of a community that understands exactly what you’re going through because they’ve been there too—and have found their way through.

    This transformative experience isn’t just possible—it’s exactly what the Created to Thrive Artist Mentorship Program was designed to provide.

    As Rachel, who was once rejected from art school, discovered: “After being rejected from art school and thinking my dream of being an artist might never come true, my life was transformed through the mentoring program. My growth accelerated & life transformed.”

    Your Breakthrough Is Waiting

    My friend, creative blocks aren’t permanent sentences—they’re temporary challenges that can become powerful turning points in your artistic journey with the right guidance.

    Whether you’re facing mindset barriers, spiritual disconnection, technical limitations, or practical obstacles, there’s a pathway forward that leads to greater creative freedom and expression than you’ve ever known.

    The question is: Are you ready to move from stuck to thriving? From blocked to breakthrough? From frustration to fulfillment?

    Your next step is waiting. Your breakthrough is possible. And a community of fellow artists is ready to welcome you on the journey.

    [Get Started Today for Just $14!]

    I’m cheering you on as you break through to new levels of creative freedom!

    Matt Tommey

    Frequently Asked Questions About Creative Blocks

    How do I know if what I’m experiencing is a creative block or something else? Creative blocks typically manifest as a persistent inability to create despite the desire to do so. You might feel stuck, uninspired, or dissatisfied with everything you create. You may experience frustration, avoidance of your art practice, or even dread when thinking about creating. What distinguishes a block from a simple rest period is the accompanying distress and the sense that something is preventing you from expressing what’s inside you, rather than a peaceful, intentional creative pause.

    How long does it typically take to break through a creative block with mentorship? While every artist’s journey is unique, many members begin experiencing shifts within the first few weeks of joining our program. Often, the initial breakthrough happens at the mindset level—as you begin to identify and replace limiting beliefs with truth. Technical blocks may take longer to resolve as you develop new skills, but most artists report significant improvements within 2-3 months of consistent engagement with the program resources and community.

    What if my creative block is related to a specific technique or medium? The Created to Thrive program addresses both mindset/spiritual blocks and technical challenges. For technique-specific blocks, our Expert Hour sessions provide access to coaches specializing in various mediums who can help identify your specific technical hurdles. Additionally, our community includes artists working in virtually every medium, so you’ll likely connect with others who have overcome similar technical challenges and can share their insights.

    Is it normal to experience repeated creative blocks throughout an artistic career? Yes, even the most successful artists encounter blocks at various points in their journey. However, with the right tools and community support, these blocks become less frequent, less intense, and easier to move through. Many seasoned artists in our program share that while they still experience occasional obstacles, they now have effective strategies to navigate them quickly rather than remaining stuck for extended periods.

    Explore More About Artist Mentorship Benefits