ISSUE #007
Have you ever felt like your creative rhythm is just off? Like you want to be in the flow with God, with your art, and with your business… but something’s just not syncing up? I’ve been there too. In my early years as an artist, I was all over the place—starting things I didn’t finish, getting inspired but never building momentum, and wondering why I always felt stuck.
What I discovered is that breakthrough isn’t about doing more—it’s about developing rhythms and habits that actually work for you, not against you.
This week, I want to share 4 simple habits that can totally transform your life as an artist. These aren’t magic bullets, but they are proven pathways. When you cultivate a rhythm—spiritually, creatively, and practically—you create space for God to meet you in the everyday and accelerate what He’s already put in you. Let’s get you back in sync, steady on the path, and thriving right where you are.
I’m cheering you on always!
In His love and creativity,
Matt Tommey
Finally, a 90-Day Planner for Spirit-Led Artists!
The Core4 Focus Planner™ is more than just a to-do list. It’s a spiritual and strategic companion for Christian artists who are ready to step into creative confidence, align with God’s purpose, and make meaningful progress every day.
This 90-day planner weaves together spiritual alignment and practical planning using the Core4 Focus Framework™—Connect, Clarify, Create, and Cultivate. Inside, you’ll discover a simple rhythm of envisioning your year, setting 90-day goals, reviewing your week, and executing each day with focus and peace.
(If you’ve not already, click the button to subscribe for free to The Weekly and get an email reminder every Wednesday so you never miss an issue.
CONNECT
Proverbs 21:5 (NLT): “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”
In a world that glorifies hustle and overnight success, God invites us into something much deeper and truer: the slow, steady rhythm of diligence rooted in trust. As artists, our spiritual health is our foundation. Before the art, the marketing, the money… comes presence. Daily connection with the Lord aligns us, anchors us, and tunes our hearts to the divine rhythm He’s designed for our lives.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being a God of order, peace, and purpose. Help me to resist the temptation of quick fixes and instead embrace the daily rhythm of walking with You. Remind me that You’re not in a rush and neither should I be. Let my creativity flow from Your presence. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Spiritual Action Step:
Set aside the first 10 minutes of your studio time each day this week to invite the Holy Spirit in. No agenda—just presence.
CLARIFY
Intentionality fuels momentum. And momentum comes from consistent choices, not scattered inspiration. If you’ve been spinning your wheels, maybe it’s time to pause and realign. What does a thriving week look like for you in this season? What do you sense the Lord is highlighting? Write it down. Pray it through. Then make a plan—with margin.
Reflection Prompt:
What are 3 things I can commit to doing this week that align with my God-given assignment as an artist?
Clarity Action Step:
Block out a 30-minute planning session and use that time to set 3 meaningful goals for the week in your creative life, personal life, and business.
CREATE
If you want to grow as an artist, you can’t just create when you “feel it.” You’ve got to cultivate the habit of showing up. A creative rhythm doesn’t restrict you—it liberates you to build skill, confidence, and breakthrough over time. Daily sketching, 15-minute warmups, prayer walks, or material experiments—whatever gets you moving—do that!
Studio Action Step:
Commit to 30 minutes of uninterrupted creative time each day this week. Put it on the calendar. Guard it like gold.
CULTIVATE
Your art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s meant to impact others. But that only happens when you nurture connection. Cultivating relationships with collectors, followers, and potential partners doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It just has to be consistent. A weekly post, a personal message, a “thank you” note—those little seeds grow into a harvest of favor, sales, and influence.
Marketing Action Step:
Pick 3 people—past collectors, supporters, or fans—and reach out this week with a personal note of appreciation and an update on what you’re working on.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Platform: Notion
Topic: Build Your Artist “Studio Dashboard”
Notion is a flexible, all-in-one digital workspace that helps you organize your creative world in one place. From daily routines to business goals, this tool keeps everything visible, editable, and connected.
Try This:
Create a “Studio Dashboard” in Notion with three tabs:
- Art Projects – Track progress, deadlines, and inspiration.
- Scripture Inspiration – Record weekly verses and God moments.
- Business To-Dos – Stay on top of marketing, emails, and sales tasks.
LISTEN
Podcast Episode: From Dabbling to Thriving: 4 Habits That Transform Christian Artists
Are you an ENT artist—Creating Every Now and Then—only when inspiration strikes? You’re not alone. But if you’ve been longing for more consistency, momentum, and breakthrough in your creative life, this episode is for you.
After mentoring thousands of artists, I’ve learned that it’s not talent that separates thriving artists from those stuck in frustration—it’s intentional habits. In this episode, I break down the Core4 Focus Framework™—Connect, Clarify, Create, and Cultivate—and how these four daily rhythms can radically transform your walk with God, your studio time, and your impact in the world.
Key takeaway: When you partner with the Holy Spirit through intentional habits, your creativity becomes a highway for Kingdom impact—and your potential finally gets the room it needs to flourish.
Click here to listen and discover how to move from dabbling to thriving.
WATCH
If you’ve been craving a fresh move of the Holy Spirit in your life and creative journey, this powerful worship moment will stir your heart. “Rest on Us” is a passionate invitation for the Spirit of God to dwell, move, and ignite something new within us. As artists, we need more than inspiration—we need presence. Let this song become your prayer this week as you create from a place of intimacy and surrender.
FEATURED ARTIST: Trevor McCauley
Journaling the Journey, Co-Creating with Christ
📍 Website | 📱 Instagram
For Trevor McCauley, creativity is more than just making art—it’s an act of worship, a form of prayer, and a lifelong dialogue with God.
Currently journeying through The Foundations Course, Trevor has found new strength in knowing he’s not alone. “Knowing that other people of faith are on similar journeys and have a hunger for God is something that has been essential to my growth as an artist in Christ,” he shares.
Trevor’s artistic practice is expansive and multi-disciplinary. He’s currently working on:
- A two-panel abstract acrylic painting inspired by Isaiah 61:3
- A collection of faith-based poetry centered on identity and transformation
- A long-term musical project—The Storm, a symphony rooted in contemporary classical music that’s been in progress since 2005
Whether painting, composing, or writing, Trevor sees art as a way to experience the tangible presence of God.
“It’s how I see prayers manifested. It’s tangible. It’s spiritual. It’s relational. It’s how I know God is with me and co-creates with me.”
One of Trevor’s most profound spiritual habits is middle-of-the-night journaling. While his daytime writing is often reflective, his late-night sessions take on a completely different nature—words that flow as if God is speaking directly to the reader. “The writing becomes more like God directly to the reader… I’m just a conduit.”
A deeply personal project that reflects his love for detail and meaning was a two-year Christmas gift for his wife: a scratchboard rendering of 17 flowering plants still growing on her grandmother’s property—an heirloom of beauty, history, and legacy. “It was part science, but mostly about art and a connection that only my wife could truly appreciate. Our kids helped, and it was a complete surprise. An amazing gift.”
Trevor’s creative path began with journaling as an act of faith, long before he claimed the title “artist.” It taught him to quiet his heart, observe his world, and discover his inner voice. Today, that habit continues to shape his direction and keep him grounded.
His encouragement to fellow artists?
🌿 “Sometimes it’s how we are changed through the journey of producing art that matters—not the product itself.”
Trevor’s website has become a cornerstone for sharing his work and amplifying his message. And while the road includes missed expectations, flopped book signings, and delayed dreams, he’s learning that relational trust with God—built in the unseen moments—is what makes the creative life so deeply fulfilling.
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.