• Joyful Experimentation: Embrace New Creative Paths, Share Your Portfolio, and Build Community

    Joyful Experimentation: Embrace New Creative Paths, Share Your Portfolio, and Build Community

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    ISSUE #012

    One of the greatest joys we have as artists walking with the Lord is the freedom to explore, play, and experiment in our creativity without fear. As Isaiah 43:19 reminds us, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” This isn’t just a poetic verse—it’s a personal invitation from God to open your eyes to new pathways, fresh ideas, and Spirit-led surprises. You don’t have to have everything figured out before you begin. You just have to be willing to say yes and take the next step in faith.

    This week, I want to encourage you to lean into joyful experimentation—not just in your art, but in the way you show up in the world. What if that new technique you’ve been considering, that collaboration you’ve been postponing, or even that organizational tool you’ve avoided could be the key to a creative breakthrough? Try something new. Share it. Celebrate what God is birthing in you. The world doesn’t need your perfection—it needs your presence, your process, and your willingness to keep showing up.

    May this week be filled with intentional reflection, creative breakthroughs, and meaningful connection with the Creator who put that beautiful imagination inside you.

    In His love and creativity,
    Matt Tommey

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    CONNECT

    Scripture: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” – Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

    When God speaks of doing something new, He’s not just talking about external change—He’s talking about inner transformation and Spirit-led vision. As artists, we are often the first to sense the stirring of something fresh on the horizon. But sensing is not the same as seeing. To perceive the “new thing,” we must stay spiritually alert, rooted in God’s presence, and willing to release the old.

    Prayer:
    Father, thank You for being the God of new beginnings. Help me to see where You’re moving in my life and art. Give me eyes to perceive, ears to hear, and a heart that responds in faith. I want to walk with You in joyful obedience as You lead me into the new. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

    Spiritual Action Step:
    Spend 10 minutes today asking the Lord: “What new thing are You doing in me this season?” Journal your impressions and pray into them daily this week.

    CLARIFY

    When we talk about joyful experimentation, it’s easy to think that means chaotic play. But Spirit-led experimentation is purposeful. It involves aligning with what God is doing and giving yourself grace to explore, test, and iterate—without judgment or pressure to get it all right. You don’t need a full map—just a willingness to follow God’s whispers one step at a time.

    Take a moment to ask yourself: “Where is God inviting me to explore something new this week?” It could be a creative idea, a relationship, or a way of organizing your workflow. The goal is to stay open while still being intentional.

    Action Step:
    Write down 3 small “experiments” you could try this week in your creative life or business. Pick one and take action on it today.

    CREATE

    As artists, we sometimes get stuck in routines that feel safe but stale. Joyful experimentation invites us to reawaken curiosity and risk in our creative process. That doesn’t mean abandoning skill or excellence—it means opening ourselves to being surprised again by the creative Spirit of God. Whether it’s a new material, color palette, or theme, experimentation is where growth lives.

    Isaiah 43:19 reminds us that God is always moving forward—creating streams in wastelands and making ways in the wilderness. That same forward-moving Spirit lives in you. Your art doesn’t have to stay stuck in yesterday’s expression. The new thing is here. Step into it.

    Studio Action Step:
    Choose one unfamiliar medium, technique, or tool and spend 30 minutes creating something just for the joy of discovery. No pressure—just play.

    CULTIVATE

    Joyful experimentation doesn’t just apply to your studio—it applies to how you connect with others, too. This is the perfect week to try something new in how you build relationships with your audience or collaborators. Maybe it’s sharing a behind-the-scenes video, asking for feedback, or starting a new conversation with a fellow artist.

    People connect to authenticity and joy far more than polished perfection. As you courageously try new ways to engage, you not only build trust but invite others to journey alongside you. That kind of vulnerability builds community—and ultimately, that’s what sells art and makes a lasting Kingdom impact.

    Outreach Action Step:
    Share one piece of your current creative “experiment” on social media or with your email list. Ask your audience: “What do you see in this?” You might be surprised how it sparks connection.

    TECH TIP FOR THRIVING

    Tool: Google Drive
    Tip: Simplify and showcase your portfolio

    Google Drive is more than just cloud storage—it’s your virtual art studio assistant. One of the most effective ways to keep your art life organized is to curate your portfolio in a clean, easily shareable way. This is especially helpful when applying to shows, seeking commissions, or collaborating.

    Try This:
    Create a folder labeled “Art Portfolio.” Upload 10 high-quality images of your best work, name each file clearly, and include a short description or title in a Google Doc. Share the folder link with a trusted friend, coach, or client for feedback.

    🔗 Use Google Drive

    INSPIRE

    Transforming a Corner of D.C. into a Canvas of Hope

    In Southeast Washington, muralists Dietrich Williams and Mark Garrett are doing more than painting walls—they’re restoring a community. What began as a forgotten laundromat has become a beacon of color and connection through the Capital Hill Boys Club. Their latest achievement? The Anacostia Mural Festival, featuring over 70 artists honoring cultural icons and uplifting local voices.

    This is what faith-filled art can do: beautify brokenness, elevate stories, and build bridges of hope. Their story is your call to action—what corner of your community is waiting for the beauty only you can bring?

    Read the Full Story

    LISTEN

    Podcast Episode: Unleashing Creativity through Play

    Ever felt a twinge of guilt for “just playing around” in the studio while deadlines loom or commissions wait? This week’s episode is a deep dive into why those moments of unstructured, joyful experimentation are not a waste of time—but a vital part of both your creative growth and spiritual journey.

    I share personal stories from my own practice—like discovering new materials while gardening or exploring encaustic wax techniques—that completely reshaped my artistic voice. What started as playful curiosity became Holy Spirit-led breakthroughs that defined my work. Creative play taps into the childlike wonder Jesus spoke about in Matthew 18:3 and echoes Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing!”

    Key Takeaway: God’s not disappointed when we experiment—He delights in it. Those playful studio moments might just be the birthplace of your next creative breakthrough.

    Listen Now

    WATCH

    This week’s song, New Wine, speaks deeply to the process of God creating something new within us. It’s about surrender, renewal, and allowing the pressure of the season to bring forth fresh oil, fresh fire, and fresh wine. If you’re in a season of experimentation or stretching, this is your anthem.

    Put it on in your studio or during your quiet time and let the Spirit renew you.

    FEATURED ARTIST: Aubrie Galey

    Following the Spirit Through Shape, Color, and the Doors God Opens
    📍 Website | 📱 Instagram

    For Aubrie Galey, abstract art isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a soul-level exploration of emotion, divine imagery, and creative surrender.

    Aubrie works intuitively with ink and acrylic on paper, beginning each piece with spontaneous ink marks and allowing the process to unfold from there. Her work is a visual language of color and shape, constantly seeking to give form to elusive emotional experiences that words can’t quite touch.

    “When I’m creating, it’s the only time my mind completely shuts off,” she shares. “I feel myself being led rather than consciously making decisions. It’s peaceful, quiet, and deeply spiritual.”

    As an artist and believer, Aubrie often receives guidance from God through dreams and visionary imagery. One particularly powerful moment came when she was overwhelmed by a vivid inner image: a jungle made entirely of glass. “It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I sensed it was a glimpse of what my soul looks like. My art practice became the place to explore what that image meant.”

    Aubrie also serves as an Activities Director at a health and rehab center, where she shares her creative passion with residents through art-making experiences. “It’s created a sense of community and joy for them,” she says, “and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness creativity come alive in that setting.”

    Her spiritual rhythm includes daily prayer walks with her dog—a grounding habit that helps her surrender worry, receive insight, and return home filled with gratitude and clarity. “I often do my best thinking while I’m moving and praying,” she says. “I jot down the insights in a journal as soon as I get back.”

    Aubrie’s creative journey hasn’t been a straight line. She’s held other jobs for financial stability, but art has always called her back. Now, she’s courageously stepping into art as a career—trusting God with the open doors and divine timing.

    🎨 “It’s not just about hard work—it’s about following the path God opens. Detours don’t disqualify us. God uses them for our good.”

    Recently, Aubrie’s art has been accepted into several local art shops, and while breaking into the Asheville gallery scene has been challenging, she’s staying alert to new opportunities and walking through each door God opens with faith.

    Whether on paper or through prayer, Aubrie’s life is a living canvas of trust, beauty, and bold surrender—reminding us all that God can take even the most uncertain path and shape it into something full of meaning and light.

    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.

  • Joyful Experimentation: Unlocking the New Thing God Is Doing in Your Art

    Joyful Experimentation: Unlocking the New Thing God Is Doing in Your Art

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    Have you ever felt stuck creatively, like you’re just repeating yourself in the studio? Maybe you’ve found a style that works or a product that sells, but deep down, there’s a part of you longing for something fresh, something new. If that’s you, I’ve got a word for you today: experiment—joyfully.

    Yes, experiment. Not with pressure, not to “get it right,” but with joy and curiosity. Because one of the most powerful ways we cultivate our creative voice is by giving ourselves permission to play.

    God Is Always Doing Something New

    In Isaiah 43:19, the Lord says:

    “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?”

    God is always at work, birthing new things in and through us as artists. But we don’t always perceive it—not because He’s not speaking, but because we’re not making space to listen. Joyful experimentation is one of the ways we create that space. It’s how we tune our hearts to the fresh movement of the Holy Spirit in our creative life.

    My Journey into Play

    Years ago, I felt led to explore some new materials in my studio—not because I had a plan, but simply because I was curious. I started fiddling with paperclay, encaustic wax, cold wax, and even bits of metal and bark I found in nature. No pressure, no expectations—just play.

    I didn’t know it at the time, but those quiet moments of experimentation would eventually shape my entire artistic voice. What started as a fun diversion became a core part of my sculptural work. Today, those materials are some of the most recognizable and meaningful elements of what I create.

    It didn’t happen because I chased a trend or followed a formula. It happened because I made space to explore—and God met me there.

    When We Play, We Discover

    There’s something deeply spiritual about playful exploration. It loosens the grip of perfectionism. It invites the Holy Spirit into the process. And it often awakens parts of our creative voice that were lying dormant.

    In fact, I believe some of the most mature, meaningful artistic expressions emerge not from pressure, but from permission—permission to play, to wonder, to experiment.

    Cultivating a Lifestyle of Exploration

    If you’ve been feeling dry or stuck creatively, I want to encourage you to try something new this week. Not for a result. Not for a product. Just to explore.

    • Pick up a new medium.
    • Try a different texture or subject.
    • Combine tools or materials you normally wouldn’t.
    • Rearrange your studio to invite movement and inspiration.

    Even 30 minutes of curiosity-led creativity can reawaken something powerful in your spirit. You never know what God will breathe on until you show up and play.

    Final Thought

    Friend, joyful experimentation isn’t a waste of time—it’s a vital part of the creative journey. It’s how we cultivate growth. It’s how we discover the new thing God is doing in us. And sometimes, those playful little moments in the studio become the very expression He uses to transform not only our art—but our lives.

    Want to hear more and dive deeper into this conversation? Listen to the full podcast episode here: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/podcast

  • Finding Your Unique Artistic Voice: The Essential Design Elements That Define Your Creative Identity

    Finding Your Unique Artistic Voice: The Essential Design Elements That Define Your Creative Identity

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    In a world saturated with creative content, developing a distinctive artistic voice isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. But here’s the thing: your unique voice isn’t some mystical quality that either strikes like lightning or remains forever elusive. It’s built through intentional design choices that become your creative DNA.

    Beyond the “Squishy and Ethereal”: Making Voice Tangible

    Too often, we talk about artistic voice in vague terms—”balance,” “harmony,” “style.” But these concepts only become powerful when we can identify the specific, replicable elements that create them. When you can look at ten pieces of your work lined up and see not only consistency within each piece but also consistency between pieces, that’s when you know you’re developing a true artistic voice.

    The Five Pillars of Distinctive Design

    1. Intentional Repetition: Your Visual Vocabulary

    Repetition isn’t about being boring—it’s about creating a visual language that speaks fluently about who you are as an artist. This means:

    • Consistent use of specific elements (textures, shapes, forms)
    • Repeated compositional approaches that feel natural to you
    • Signature techniques that appear across multiple works

    The key is making these repetitions feel organic, not forced. When elements naturally echo throughout your work, viewers begin to recognize your “handwriting” before they even see your signature.

    2. Cohesive Color Relationships: Your Emotional Palette

    Many distinctive artists work within deliberately limited color palettes. This isn’t a restriction—it’s a superpower. A cohesive color approach:

    • Creates immediate visual unity across your body of work
    • Allows you to master subtle variations within familiar territory
    • Builds emotional consistency that viewers can connect with
    • Makes your work instantly recognizable in any setting

    Consider how your color choices reflect your personality, your environment, or your emotional response to the world.

    3. Strategic Contrast: The Art of Visual Hierarchy

    Effective contrast isn’t just about light versus dark—it’s about creating intentional focal points that guide the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it to go. This includes:

    • Value contrast (light against dark)
    • Textural contrast (smooth against rough)
    • Scale contrast (large elements supporting smaller details)
    • Conceptual contrast (simple backgrounds supporting complex focal points)

    The magic happens when your contrast choices become predictable in the best way—viewers learn to trust that you’ll take them on a visual journey.

    4. Compositional Flow: Your Unique Movement Language

    Every artist develops a particular way of moving the eye through their work. This might be:

    • Circular movements that bring viewers back to center
    • Linear progressions that create narrative flow
    • Radial patterns that explode outward from focal points
    • Layered depths that invite extended exploration

    Your compositional preferences reveal how you see and experience the world—and become part of your artistic signature.

    5. Textural Consistency: The Physical Language of Your Materials

    Whether you work in paint, clay, fiber, or mixed media, you likely have instinctive preferences for:

    • Surface qualities (smooth, rough, layered, weathered)
    • Tool marks and application methods
    • Levels of detail versus simplicity
    • Ways of building up or carving away

    These physical choices become as distinctive as handwriting, creating tactile recognition even in photographs of your work.

    The Development Process: From Intuition to Intention

    Here’s what many artists don’t realize: you probably already have the beginnings of a unique voice—you just haven’t recognized and refined it yet. The development process involves:

    Step 1: Recognition Look at your last 10-20 pieces. What elements keep showing up? What color combinations do you gravitate toward? What compositional approaches feel most natural?

    Step 2: Intentional Repetition Once you identify your natural tendencies, begin using them more deliberately. If you naturally create circular compositions, explore that fully rather than fighting it.

    Step 3: Systematic Refinement Treat each new piece as an opportunity to refine your visual vocabulary. Ask: “How can this piece strengthen the consistent elements that make my work recognizable?”

    Beyond Copying: The Difference Between Influence and Imitation

    Developing your voice doesn’t mean working in isolation. The goal isn’t to create something never seen before—it’s to filter everything through your unique perspective and preferences. When you see work that resonates with you, ask:

    • What specific design elements create that effect?
    • How could I achieve something similar using my own visual vocabulary?
    • What would this approach look like filtered through my color preferences, my compositional style, my material choices?

    The Long Game: Building Recognition Over Time

    A distinctive artistic voice isn’t built overnight. It emerges through:

    • Consistent practice within your chosen parameters
    • Gradual refinement of your signature elements
    • Confident commitment to your natural preferences
    • Thoughtful evolution rather than constant reinvention

    Your Voice as Your Competitive Advantage

    In our connected world, technical skill alone isn’t enough. Viewers are drawn to work that feels authentic, consistent, and emotionally resonant. When your artistic voice is strong and clear:

    • Collectors know what to expect from you
    • Your work becomes more memorable and shareable
    • You can command higher prices for your unique perspective
    • You build genuine connection with your ideal audience

    The Permission to Be Yourself

    Perhaps the most important element of developing your artistic voice is giving yourself permission to embrace what comes naturally. Your voice isn’t hiding somewhere “out there”—it’s already emerging in the choices you make instinctively.

    The question isn’t “What should my artistic voice be?” It’s “What is my artistic voice trying to become, and how can I support that development?”

    Your artistic voice is your creative fingerprint—unique, valuable, and entirely yours. By paying attention to the specific design elements that feel most authentic to you and developing them with intention, you create work that doesn’t just look good—it looks unmistakably like you.

    Ready to Develop Your Voice AND Build a Thriving Art Business?

    Finding your artistic voice is just the beginning. What if you could also learn how to:

    • Turn your unique creative gifts into sustainable income
    • Build genuine relationships with collectors who love your work
    • Develop the business systems that support your art (without compromising your creativity)
    • Connect with other Kingdom artists who are serious about their calling
    • Get practical, proven strategies for commissions, galleries, and online sales

    The Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program provides the complete roadmap for artists who want to flourish both creatively and financially. You’ll get access to:

    • Step-by-step business training specifically designed for artists
    • A supportive community of like-minded creatives
    • Regular coaching calls and expert guidance
    • Proven systems for everything from pricing to client relationships
    • Resources for growing in your creative calling as an artist in the Kingdom

    This isn’t just about making money from your art—it’s about stewarding your gifts well and building the life and business that allows your creativity to thrive.

    Ready to take the next step in your artistic journey?

    Join the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program and discover how to develop both your unique voice and a business that supports your creative calling.

    Your artistic voice is already emerging. Now let’s help you build a thriving art business around it.