ISSUE #036
Hey my friend, welcome to this week’s issue of The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly! I’ve been thinking a lot about how the Lord calls artists—not someday when we finally “feel ready,” but right in the middle of our ordinary, imperfect lives. If you’ve been sensing a stirring lately… that quiet nudge that your creativity carries something sacred… you’re not imagining things. That’s the Holy Spirit awakening something deep and beautiful inside of you.
This week’s focus comes straight out of one of my favorite passages in Scripture—the story of Bezalel in Exodus 31. Believe it or not, the very first person God ever filled with His Spirit wasn’t a king, priest, or prophet… it was an artist. And my friend, the same Spirit that filled Bezalel is stirring in you today. I pray this week’s teaching, encouragement, and action steps help you lean in with a fresh yes to God’s calling on your creative life.
I’m cheering you on always!
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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God Met Her in the Studio…
This week, meet oil painter Lina Ferrara — a 40-year professional whose entire creative life was transformed when she discovered that God actually wanted to meet her in the studio. Her journey from doubt to confidence, from striving to partnership with the Holy Spirit, is one of the most powerful artist testimonies you’ll read this year. READ MORE
CONNECT
Your Calling Begins With His Voice
Scripture: “See, I have called by name Bezalel…” — Exodus 31:2 (NKJV)
Before Bezalel ever touched a tool, God called him by name. His identity as an artist wasn’t something he earned—it was something he received. That same truth applies to you. The call of God is deeply personal, quietly persistent, and always rooted in His desire to partner with you. When your creativity begins to awaken, when ideas stir and your heart longs to create… that’s not random. That’s the Spirit highlighting the very place where heaven wants to meet earth through your hands.
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, thank You for calling me by name. Awaken my heart to recognize Your voice and Your invitation in my creativity. Remove fear, comparison, and striving, and help me receive Your calling with joy and confidence. Let my art become a place where Your glory rests. Amen.
Action Step:
Set aside 10 quiet minutes today. Ask the Lord: “Where are You calling me as an artist right now?” Write down the first impressions, words, or images He brings to your heart.
CLARIFY
Notice the Stirring—It’s Not Random
One of the clearest indicators of God’s calling is internal stirring. Just like Exodus 35 says, “everyone whose heart was stirred came to do the work.” When you feel drawn toward creativity—when you don’t feel fully alive unless you’re making—it’s the Holy Spirit tugging you lovingly forward. Instead of dismissing it as “just a hobby,” start treating that stirring as a divine signal light.
Action Step:
Choose one creative desire you’ve been putting off because of fear or uncertainty. Write it down, acknowledge it before the Lord, and make it your focus for the week. Let it align your schedule, energy, and attention.
CREATE
You Are Already Filled for the Work
Exodus 31 tells us plainly: God filled Bezalel with the Spirit for the purpose of creating beauty, meaning, and craftsmanship. That filling wasn’t an accident—and neither is yours. When ideas begin flowing or you feel God’s pleasure in your studio, that is evidence of the Spirit’s empowerment, not your imagination.
Action Step:
Before you begin creating this week, pause for 30 seconds and pray: “Holy Spirit, fill me afresh for the work of my hands.” Then enter your creative time with expectation rather than pressure.
CULTIVATE
Let Others Confirm What God Has Started
Calling is personal, but confirmation is communal. Bezalel didn’t proclaim himself; Moses recognized the anointing on his life and affirmed it publicly. So often, God uses others to echo what He’s already whispering inside of you. When someone says, “Your work moves me,” or “I see something special in you,” don’t brush it off. That’s confirmation.
Action Step:
Reach out to three people who have affirmed your art in the past. Send a simple thank-you, share what you’re creating now, and invite them to follow along this season. This builds connection and opens relational doors for future impact.
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
WATCH & LISTEN
This week on the podcast, I walk through the powerful story of Bezalel—the very first artist God ever called by name in Scripture—and how his journey becomes a blueprint for your own. I share five specific signs the Holy Spirit uses to awaken the creative calling in your life, from that deep inner stirring to the external confirmations that show up through community.
Big takeaway:
If your creativity has been awakening, stirring, or drawing attention… it’s not random. It’s the Holy Spirit inviting you into your Kingdom assignment as an artist.
TECH TIP FOR THRIVING
Tool: Pinterest — Building a Visual Trail of Your Calling
Pinterest is one of the most powerful platforms for artists because it operates like a long-term visual search engine. Instead of posts disappearing in hours, your pins can generate traffic and exposure for years.
This week’s tip:
Create a “Portfolio Board” and pin 10–15 of your best artworks with clear titles and keywords (e.g., “prophetic landscape painting,” “mixed media floral art,” “Christian artist abstract”). This helps new collectors, followers, and opportunities find you organically.
Link: https://www.pinterest.com
WORSHIP
If this week is all about recognizing God’s call on your life as an artist, “Available (Live)” by Elevation Worship is a beautiful companion in the studio. The whole song is a simple, powerful yes to the Lord: “I hear You call, I am available.” Let it be your heart-cry as you paint, sculpt, weave, draw, or design—offering your creativity back to the One who called you by name.
FEATURED ARTIST: Lina Ferrara
@linaferraraart • www.Lina-Ferrara.com
Some breakthroughs arrive suddenly. Others unfold slowly, over decades—quietly gathering strength until one day the Holy Spirit whispers, “Now.”
For Lina Ferrara, that whisper changed everything.
After more than 40 years as a professional painter, Lina had the résumé many artists dream of—gallery shows, steady sales, ongoing commissions. But beneath the surface, she wrestled with something far more personal: doubt.
“Nearly every week I convinced myself it was time to get a ‘real job,’” she admits. “I didn’t believe my art was truly worthwhile. I never imagined God would have anything to do with my creative process.”
But when she joined the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program, the ground shifted under her feet.
“For the first time in my life, I felt permission — and encouragement — to see my art as valuable, purposeful, and part of who God created me to be.”
Instead of separating her life into “spiritual” and “creative,” Lina discovered that God had been patiently waiting to meet her in the studio all along.
Painting became partnership.
Her easel became a place of presence rather than pressure.
And joy—deep, integrated, Spirit-given joy—returned.
Practically, she began to thrive as well. The business training and mindset tools in the mentoring program helped her take bold steps she once believed were “out of reach.” She is now represented by two galleries, regularly sells work at art festivals, and shows up with confidence rather than fear.
But as she beautifully says:
“Even those accomplishments don’t compare to the inner transformation.”
Lina works primarily in oil on canvas, capturing realistic images of animals, birds, landscapes, still life, and lovingly observed moments in nature. Painting allows her to slow down and see—really see—the beauty of God’s world. Teaching others to see it too has become one of her great joys.
One moment she’ll never forget happened at her first solo show. A woman stood transfixed before a painting of a lake—soft pink hues shimmering across the water. She later shared that this lake was her personal place of healing and that the colors captured a memory deeply sacred to her.
“She said it felt like the painting was created just for her,” Lina recalls.
It was a holy encounter through art—one that left both women in awe of God’s tenderness.
Today, Lina treats the studio like a sacred sanctuary. She prays on the way in, listens to worship as she paints, pauses for Scripture, and continually invites God to use her hands for His purposes.
“Even small daily steps matter,” she says. “Consistency grows both your faith and your craft.”
That consistency is bearing fruit—improved technique, growing engagement, steady sales, and a renewed sense of calling.
But the greatest miracle?
She finally believes she was made for this.
God delights in her.
And her art is part of His beautiful plan.
Apply to Be a Featured Artist
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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.