The Thriving Christian Artist

Latest Episodes:

366 5-Minute Mentoring: Overcoming Fear of Sharing Your Artwork Jul 15, 2022

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Sharing your creative work can be a very daunting task. What people are going to say? Will they like it? Is your art “good enough?” If they don’t like it, does that mean you’re not a "real artist?"

If this sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Everybody feels some trepidation about sharing their work from time to time.

It's a normal reaction to putting yourself in a vulnerable position.

It would be easy to shut our art away in a closet or in our studio, protected from criticism and other people’s opinions.

But art is meant to be shared! Don’t hide it under a bushel - let it shine! ⭐

So what can you do to conquer this fear and put your art out there?

In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I share some advice that will help you push through whatever fears are holding you back and share your gifts with the world. I call it the Five Rs - Recognize, Repent, Replace, Reinforce, Rejoice. Check it out!

Struggling with fear of rejection? Here are a couple of books for further reading:

“Unlocking the Heart of the Artist” by Matt Tommey: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZLW4H2/

“Exposing the Rejection Mindset” by Mark DeJesus: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product//B07B9QCGYG/

(Psssttt…want to hear from Mark and me live and in person? Be sure to pre-register for Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, November 1-3, in Ridgecrest, NC! Get all the details and pre-register here! https://matttommeymentoring.mykajabi.com/unlocking-2022 )

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.

365 - Sharing Your Spiritual Gifts To Glorify The Lord: A Conversation with Theresa Harvard Johnson Jul 12, 2022

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In the entertainment world, someone who can sing, dance, and act is referred to as a “triple threat.”

Scribes were the triple threats of Bible times. They were artists, writers, historians, and archivists. They were a bit of everything under the sun - polymaths in the truest sense of the word.

That’s why I love that my guest on the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, Theresa Harvard Johnson, is a triple threat for sure!

Theresa doesn’t fit neatly into one box or label - she’s not a writer OR an artist OR a historian. She’s all of the above! All of the roles of a traditional scribe are within Theresa, and they are all a part of her life every day.

In this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist, you’re going to hear about all the ways Theresa is sharing her scribal gifts with the world - teaching, mentoring, illustrating, writing and performing poetry, spoken word pieces, and more. She just loves using her creativity, being around other creatives, and bringing her guidance to the creative community.

If you feel like you’re being called to use your gifts in a million different ways at once, listen to Theresa. She’ll show you how it’s done.

Feeling called to be a modern-day scribe, or just want to see more of what Theresa’s all about? Check out The School of the Scribe at https://courses.schoolofthescribe.org/.

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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.

364 - 5-Minute Mentoring: Why Good Marketing Is Not Enough Jul 08, 2022

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There are people out there, especially on the internet, who will tell you that they can show you how to quadruple your art sales and make millions of dollars from selling your art...if you will just follow their super-special marketing techniques.

But here's the truth: I don’t care how great of a marketer you are. If your art isn’t up to snuff, it ain’t gonna sell.

Marketing isn’t the secret foolproof key to unlocking success in the art world.

There are three aspects of your life that have to be in alignment in order to thrive as an artist: your faith, your art, and your business.

These three work together to get the results that you want to get. If any of these are out of tune, you are bound to hit roadblocks and experience a lot of frustration.

I call it The Trinity Effect, and I am going to tell you all about it on this episode of Five-Minute Mentoring. 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

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.

363 - Living Beautifully In Christ: A Conversation with Jonathan & Sarah Howe Jul 05, 2022

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I don’t believe that the Lord wants us to live lives of misery, scraping by and struggling. Instead, He wants us to live abundantly and beautifully in this world He has created for us.

That’s why it’s great to see a couple like Jonathan and Sarah Howe, living that life together as a prime example of God’s kingdom here on Earth.

Jonathan and Sarah have been full-time artists since they got married over a decade ago, making their living and thriving on their art - even with the ups and downs of the world around them.

They homeschool their two daughters, so every day their house is filled with family, art, creativity, love, and God’s presence in abundance.

If you aren’t sure that your art can support your family, or you’re afraid of stepping out as an entrepreneur, or you feel like you don’t know how to adjust your business to get through the turmoil the world can throw at you, listen to Jonathan and Sarah in this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast. Let their example of living beautifully put your heart and mind at ease.

Want to see what Jonathan and Sarah are doing with their art? You can see what they’re up to here:

https://www.jonathanhowefineart.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jonathanhowefineart/
https://www.instagram.com/sarahdhowe/

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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!

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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.

362 5-Minute Mentoring: Do You Know Your Business's Numbers? Jul 01, 2022

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Quick question - what’s your number?

No, I don’t mean your phone number. ☎️

I mean that specific dollar amount it would take for you to achieve your goals as an artist who’s selling your work in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, there’s not a magic number that I can share that applies to everyone.

Everybody has different goals, and everybody has different situations, so everybody has different numbers.

But it’s imperative that you determine your number for yourself so you can set measurable, achievable goals for your art business.

But how do you do this? And how do you translate it into goal-setting? I’ll tell you all about the hows and whys of determining your number in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring. Let’s go!

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.

361 - Building An Art Ministry: A Conversation with Greg & Susan Card Jun 28, 2022

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Building up the role of art ministries in the church is a very big task. In fact, it sure seems like it’s too big for one person to handle. It’s a good thing that my guests on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artists podcast, Greg and Susan Card, have each other to lean on.

Greg and Susan have been creating art their whole lives. When they met, they bonded over their love for art and their love for the Lord, they got married, and they went about the work of bringing art into the church.

Back in the 80s, there wasn’t much of a position for art in the way churches ministered to the people, so Greg and Susan had their work cut out for them.

But they’ve stayed at it, keeping their ears to the Spirit, maintaining a flow with creating their own art, and being in the ministry as the Lord directed them.

Together, they’ve learned to patiently work on the Lord’s timetable, not their own. And they’ve always been there for each other. Their story is really inspiring, and I’m honored to share it with you on the podcast.

If you want to see what Greg and Susan are up to these days, connect with them through their websites.

https://www.susancardfineart.com/
https://www.gregcard2.com/

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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

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.

360 5-Minute Mentoring: Why You Should Incorporate Your Art Business Jun 24, 2022

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It’s a question that almost every business owner has to face - should you incorporate your business?

It feels so…official. Adult. 😬

But if you’ve hesitated because you fear that incorporating your art business will take away from your creativity or make you "corporate" (in the sense of being dull and milquetoast), don’t!

You still get to be you, and your art still is yours alone.

Actually, incorporating your art business is an investment in your business that shows you are professional, protects you against legal issues, and can help you save money - and earn more, too!

In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I'm going to share five good reasons why you should consider taking this step for your art business, plus some pointers on how to go about making it happen.

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.

359 - The Lie We Believe About Creativity: A Conversations with Dan McCollam Jun 21, 2022

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One of the biggest struggles that creatives have is finding the time in our lives to be creative. With all the pressures of the day, we’re lucky if we can let our creative energies flow for an hour on any given day.

Dan McCollam, my guest on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, has heard this from people all around the world, but he’s not buying it.

Instead, Dan will tell you that you need to make your creative time a priority as a part of seeking God’s kingdom. Don’t wait for inspiration to drop on you. If you want inspiration, get in the studio and get to work, and you’ll find it.

See, one of Dan’s passions (along with playing music, leading worship, and helping people in every nation create their own “sound” for worship music) is to help people hear the voice of God in their lives. That’s why he co-founded “Prophetic Company,” an organization that helps people recognize God’s voice so they can respond to it and live with greater clarity and purpose.

God is already speaking to you - you just have to find the way you are best suited to connect and receive His word, be open to what He is saying, and activate the gifts that are already inside you.

All this and more are on tap in my interview with Dan on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist!

Look for Dan’s work at: https://www.propheticcompany.com/
https://www.propheticcompanyacademy.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Dan-McCollam/e/B00IZPL3E4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1654615497&sr=8-3

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

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.

358 - 5-Minute Mentoring: The Key To Becoming A Full-Time Artist Jun 17, 2022

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What’s the one question I hear most frequently? (Other than “Would you like fries with that?” What can I say - we’ve been traveling a lot lately! 😆)

It’s probably some form of: "How do you go from being a hobby or part-time artist to being able to do art full-time?"

This can definitely feel like a massive leap, especially for folks who are currently working a more traditional 40 hour/week job.

So how artists make this transition, you ask? The answer is simple: regulated cash flow.

Regulated cash flow is a consistent, predictable, monthly stream (or streams!) of revenue from your art business that allows you to pay the bills, pay yourself, grow your business, and do the thing that God is calling you to do…

…without having to worry all the time about whether you're making money.

But how exactly do you leverage your art to create regulated cash flow? Check out this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring and I’ll tell you!

And when you’re 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

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.

357 - When You’ve Been Brushed By The Spirit: A Conversation with Jeanette Sthamann Jun 14, 2022

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What it is like to go from feeling like you’ve lost your creativity and giving up on art, to creating art that moves and inspires everyone who sees it?

Ask Jeanette Sthamann.

Jeanette didn’t grow up a Christian, but she did grow up loving art. That is…until a short-sighted art teacher discouraged her art and made her think she wasn’t creative. It was enough to make her cast aside art for years.

After some dark and heavy years as a teen and young adult, she found herself at the end of her rope and cried out to God.

And He responded, telling her to start drawing.

As she did, she felt God’s peace as a gift to her. In time, she decided to add painting to her repertoire, so she took lessons from an art teacher who happened to be the wife of a pastor. Before long, she had unburdened herself of the darkness that was on her and gave her life to Jesus, right in the art studio.

If you’re hearing God telling you how your art is important and you should use it to spread his message to others, you need to listen to Jeanette’s story on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast.

And while you’re at it, visit Jeanette’s website, Facebook, and Instagram for more of her inspiring art.

https://www.brushedbythespirit.com/
https://www.facebook.com/brushedbythespirit
https://www.instagram.com/brushedbythespirit/

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When you’re ready to stop striving and start thriving, here are 4 other 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

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.