The Thriving Christian Artist

Latest Episodes:

376 | 5-Minute Mentoring: Nobody Cares About Your Artistic Skill Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

Do you feel like you've really mastered your chosen art medium? Have you sunk time, money, and effort into your goal to be the best artist you can be?

Does it frustrate you that somehow your mastery of your craft hasn't translated into increased sales?

There's more to thriving in the art business than being a great artist.

The hard truth is that the artists who are really succeeding aren't necessarily the ones who have taken all the classes, honed their techniques, and trained to be the best around.

The really successful artists are the ones who have developed a uniqueness in their work and have mastered marketing, promotion, networking, and all of the aspects of the business that connect them to their audiences.

Is that something you can do? Of course it is! In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I'll get you up to speed on the skills that pay the bills in the art biz.

Ready to build a business that helps you thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially? Here are 4 ways I can help:

1️⃣ Join Us in November - Every artist was created by God to create with Him to both experience and release His Light and Life through their creative expression. Join us for a powerful 3-day healing event for artists called the “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist Experience” where you can do just that! Click here to learn more ➡️ https://matttommeymentoring.mykajabi.com/unlocking-2022

2️⃣ Read the Book: Check out my book “How to Price Your Art: Pricing with Confidence for Sales & Profit” on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XBP733

3️⃣ Create Art and Profit: Discover how to create the art you love while still providing for yourself financially in my “How to Price Your Art” workshop. Get more details here ➡️ https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/how-to-price-your-art-evergreen

4️⃣ Ready to truly thrive? Join the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program to discover how to build your art business and live the abundant life Jesus promised you as an artist in His Kingdom! Click here for details and to enroll! ➡️ https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/artmentor.html

Connect with me online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly and receive powerful, faith-filled content every week—designed to encourage your heart, spark your creativity, and equip you to walk boldly in your God-given calling as an artist.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

375 - Jesus Healed Her PTSD Through Art: A Conversation with Lynnette Horn Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

We all feel heavy burdens in our lives from time to time. It can come in many forms, and from many places. It can be disruptive to your life and your pursuit of happiness. In these times, we all feel a need for healing that’s hard to come by.

Lynnette Horn, my guest on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, has felt that burden weighing her down in a really disruptive way. After a tornado destroyed her home - but miraculously not Lynnette - she found her normal, creative life torn to pieces, just like her house.

Lynnette went from painting daily and enjoying her creativity to being unable to pick up a brush. She suffered through four years of being emotionally disconnected from everything that she formerly thrived on, including her art. But God had more in store for her.

I encourage you to listen to Lynnette tell her heartbreaking and uplifting story. If you are going through something like Lynnette was, her story may be just the encouragement you need to get through it.

To see how God is moving in Lynnette’s life today, you can check out her website and the website for the Southern Missouri Arts Center organization she's involved with.

www.lynnettehorn.com
https://www.smac-art.org/

When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 4 other ways I can help:

2️⃣ Unlock Your Heart: Are you ready to begin a journey of healing and wholeness that will yield deeper Spirit-led creativity and personal fulfillment? I’ll show you how in the 10th anniversary revised edition of “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist!” Grab the book, ebook, or audio on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1460930258

3️⃣ Connect with God: Discover how to connect with the Lord and discover His intention for you and your art in His Kingdom in my course, How to Connect with God to Create & Sell Your Art. Get more details here ➡️ https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/how-to-connect

Thanks for listening! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/matttommeymentoring. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Connect with Matt online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

374 5-Minute Mentoring: Why Dabbling In Art Can Be Dangerous Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

Painting with acrylics…wood-carving…clay sculptures…oil painting…making baskets…cake decorating. There are so many awesome art media that it can be hard to just pick one!

We have so many ways to express ourselves creatively that it can be hard to "settle" for one creative outlet when you are excited about so many others.

And that's great when you're just kinda "doing your thing" as an artist. But it may not be so great if you're trying to be a professional artist with a steady stream of income that comes from your art.

But as the old saying goes, “Jack of all trades, master of none.”

In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I'll tell you how to know if you're doing too much dabbling, and how you can make a conscious move towards being a decisive artist. Check it out!

Ready to build a business that helps you thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially? Here are 4 ways I can help:

2️⃣ Read the Book: Check out my book “How to Price Your Art: Pricing with Confidence for Sales & Profit” on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XBP733

Connect with me online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

373 - What Artists Need To Know About NFTs: A Conversation with Bonnie Brooks Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

New trends, techniques, and technology have always had an effect on how art is created. We’ve gone from painting on the walls of caves to painting the ceilings of cathedrals. From canvas and oils to all-digital masterpieces.

Progress marches on, and art marches right along with it.

On this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, my guest, Bonnie Brooks, going to tell us all about a new avenue for creating and selling art we have available to us here and now - NFTs.

You’ve probably heard of NFTs (we did another podcast on NFTs earlier this year - check it out!). You may have a vague notion of them being related to cryptocurrency. You may have heard the term “blockchain.” You may have seen a bunch of weird cartoon monkeys that people claim are worth millions.

If it all seems too “out there” for you, or seems like something that’s just for people who are younger or more tech-savvy than you, don’t worry.

Just listen to my conversation with Bonnie, and you’ll have a much better understanding of just what’s going on with this new opportunity for today’s artists. You’ll also learn how she and other like-minded folks are carving out a space in the Metaverse for Christian Artists like us. (Don’t know what a “Metaverse'' is? Listen to this podcast!)

And be sure to check out Bonnie’s website and socials for more on her art, her mission, and her NFTs.

https://www.brooksgallery.com/

====================

When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 4 other ways I can help:

Thanks for listening! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/matttommeymentoring. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

===========

Connect with Matt online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

372 5-Minute Mentoring: 7 Reasons Why Artists Fail Aug 05, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

“Making it” in the art business isn’t easy. Every day, somebody decides that they’re going to make a go of living off of their art, and every day somebody else gives up on their dream. For every artist who “makes it,” there are probably ten more who don’t.

I don’t say that to discourage you - because it doesn’t have to be that way!

So what’s the difference between those who succeed and those who fail?

There could be a bunch of factors for why some artists fail while others succeed, but I’ve identified seven reasons why artists fail, and that’s what we’re talking about on this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring.

Listen in as I break these reasons down for you so you can make sure to avoid these stumbling blocks in your own art business. If you can avoid them, you’re sure to become the thriving artist God’s calling you to be.

Ready to build a business that helps you thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially? Here are 4 ways I can help:

2️⃣ Read the Book: Check out my book “How to Price Your Art: Pricing with Confidence for Sales & Profit” on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XBP733

Connect with me online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

371 - Finding Your Identity As A Christian Artist: A Conversation with Amy Rylander Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

What would you do if the Lord told you to get up in the middle of the night and paint the Holy Spirit?

No pressure, right? 😬

In 2004, Amy Rylander, my guest on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist, decided to paint just a little something for herself as an outlet and release for her creativity. She got some paints and canvases for Mother's Day, and she was excited to get started.

But she wasn’t expecting for her inspiration to come from the Father himself!

She felt the Lord showing her how to paint the Holy Spirit in two dimensions. And from then on, she put her paintings in God's hands, painting what He calls her to paint.

Now Amy and her husband Donald lead a church in Jackson, Mississippi, called We Are One. Amy has put her trust in the Lord to guide her art, her ministry, and her business, and she's continuing to branch out to different avenues like writing.

Amy is not only an incredible artist, but a leader in the body of Christ. And she has a real heart - like I do - for healing, and identity, and wholeness, and just walking in who Jesus created you to be.

You're going to want to listen to this episode of the podcast to learn how Amy has followed where the Lord has led her. You'll also learn about the challenge of putting honor and value on your own art, and on accepting your identity as a prophetic artist, something I know a lot of you are struggling with from time to time. Don't miss out!

Learn more about Amy and her work here:

Unlocked: 30 Days to Discover Your Identity Through Prophetic Art
https://www.amyrylander.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amyrylanderart
https://www.instagram.com/amyrylanderart/

When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 3 other ways I can help:

Grab the book, ebook, or audio on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1460930258

3️⃣ Ready to truly thrive? Join the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program to discover how to build your art business and live the abundant life Jesus promised you as an artist in His Kingdom! Click here for details and to enroll! ➡️ https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/artmentor.html

Thanks for listening! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/matttommeymentoring. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

===========

Connect with Matt online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

370 5-Minute Mentoring: Seeking God’s Direction For Your Life Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

Change is never easy. And the bigger the change, the tougher it can be. 😬

Whether you're moving to a new place, starting a new relationship, or quitting that desk job so you can be a full-time artist, you’re bound to feel uncomfortable with the uncertainty ahead.

If you're like me, you're probably asking God to show you the exact right steps to take. But more often than not, God isn't going to tell you to take a step to the left, then a right, then ten steps forward and a quarter-turn back to the left... He's just going to tell you to take your own steps in faith, and He'll walk with you.

In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I'm going to give you some practical advice that can help you take those bold, faithful steps forward as you go through times of change. I’m sure you’ll find them helpful in whatever transitions you’re going through.

Ready to build a business that helps you thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially? Here are 4 ways I can help:

2️⃣ Read the Book: Check out my book “How to Price Your Art: Pricing with Confidence for Sales & Profit” on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XBP733

Connect with me online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

369 - Where To Find Buyers For Your Art: A Conversation with Rei Llazani Jul 26, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

One of the biggest challenges any artist faces is getting their art out in front of the people so they can get paid for their work. Galleries and exhibitions are hard to come by, especially for artists who may live outside of the big cities. Promoting your work on your own website or Instagram can lead to sales, but you have to put in a lot of work to get noticed.

A lot of artists take commissions as a large source of their income, but even at that, your customers have to be able to find you to commission you for work.

Rei Llazani, my guest on this episode of The Thriving Christian Artist podcast, has come up with a very clever solution to match artists with customers looking to commission high-quality art.

Rei has created MadeMay.com, a freelance platform that enables expert artists, artisans, and creatives to connect with clients looking for custom, made-to-order masterpieces.

If you’re a painter, sculptor, designer, voiceover artist, or any other type of creative who is exploring the possibilities of doing commission work, you’ll want to listen to my conversation with Rei.

(And if you’re looking to commission art yourself, MadeMay.com should be your first stop!)

To find out more, visit:
https://www.mademay.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mademayusa/
https://www.instagram.com/reillazani/

====================

When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 4 other ways I can help:

Thanks for listening! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/matttommeymentoring. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Connect with Matt online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

368 5-Minute Mentoring: What Should You Name Your Art Business? Jul 22, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

When we were expecting our son, Cameron, we went through every baby name book out there, trying to figure out the perfect name for our little bundle of joy. It felt like such a HUGE decision, and we didn’t want to mess it up!

Naming your business feels kind of like that. It’s not just a name - it’s a brand, a representation of what you and your art bring to the world.

The name of your art business needs to be memorable, unique, and authentic to you and your art. It needs to be searchable, easy to spell, and allow you to be consistent across social media. Oh, and being catchy and clever wouldn’t hurt.

So if you’re trying to figure out what to name your art business, check out this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, where I’ll share exactly how to figure out the perfect name for your art business! Don’t miss it!

Ready to build a business that helps you thrive spiritually, artistically, and financially? Here are 4 ways I can help:

2️⃣ Read the Book: Check out my book “How to Price Your Art: Pricing with Confidence for Sales & Profit” on Amazon ➡️ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097XBP733

3️⃣ Create Art and Profit: Discover how to create the art you love while still providing for yourself financially in my “How to Price Your Art” workshop.
Get more details here ➡️ https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/how-to-price-your-art-evergreen

Connect with me online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

367 - Sharing God's Word Through Authentic Worship: A Conversation with Mary Elizabeth Kolsrud Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

Send us Fan Mail

On my first trip to Africa 20+ years ago, one of the things I looked forward to most was entering into the sounds of the real Africa - to learn from them, to feel the culture and rhythms of an ancient people.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. 😕

They had adopted almost exclusively U.S.-based worship music. The sound of their culture in worship was but a memory…overshadowed by what they saw as “the best way” rather than uncovering their own sound and expression in worship.

Mary Elizabeth Kolsrud is a singer, songwriter, author, and worship leader from Iowa who has found her way to Norway as a “musicianary.” She’s reaching the hearts of people in Norway and all over Europe with her music and worship, and with her online and in-person worship school.

And Mary Elizabeth has made it a point to show respect to the culture, incorporating traditional Norwegian instruments and language in everything she does.

That’s what’s so great about using art and music in worship. There’s no one way to bring the Kingdom to the people. God can use all forms and genres and languages to spread the message of salvation.

Take a listen to discover how Mary Elizabeth followed God’s call to Norway and the inspiring work she’s doing there.

Also, be sure to check out her new book, Worshipers Rising: A Biblical Guide to Releasing Authentic Worship in Your Nation, and learn more about her worship school, music, books, and courses on her website at https://www.disciplesofworship.com/

When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 4 other ways I can help:

Thanks for listening! You can also watch this podcast on YouTube at youtube.com/matttommeymentoring. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!

Connect with Matt online: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/stay-connected

Support the show

Fuel Your Creative Calling with Weekly Encouragement
Join thousands of Christian artists who are growing in faith, creativity, and purpose.

👉 Click here. It’s free. It’s faith-filled. And it’s just for you.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Thriving Christian Artist

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected