The Thriving Christian Artist

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

It’s a question that almost every business owner has to face - should you incorporate your business?It feels so…official.  Adult. 

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 y

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!

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

When you come to a roadblock while driving, what do you do?  You backtrack, pull out the GPS, and navigate around it to get back on course.  But what about when you hit a creative roadblock in your artistic life?  It’s something we all experience from time to time, and it can feel very daunting.  And unfortunately, your GPS won’t be of much help.  You’re going to have to seek out directions to get around the roadblock.  And the first direction I would advise you to take is to… … listen to this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring!  I’m sharing the three keys to overcoming a creative roadblock that I’ve developed in my journey as a Christian artist.  Just follow the keys I talk about in this episode and you’ll find yourself deftly navigating that roadblock and getting back on the right path.  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 exp

Sometimes, as a Christian, it’s hard to know exactly what God is telling you.For my friend Tan-Yah Jackson, the messages she was receiving from God were really confusing…God’s voice was telling her to not quit creating art because that’s who she is meant to be…and yet He was also telling her to quit art for Him.  So how did she know which voice to follow?  She didn’t - so she followed both!  I’m excited for you to meet Tan-Yah on this episode of The Thriving Christian Artist podcast.  You’ll love her inspiring story about yielding to God’s will and being receptive to the changes He wants you to go through - even if it means giving up something you love for something He wants for you.   To learn more about Tan-Yah, her art, and her “prophetic perfumes,” you can visit these websites:  https://tanyah.art/  https://www.unveiledessence.com/====================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 crea

If I told you I could teach you how to grow your art business with 5 simple tips, would you believe me? I know…sounds like it’s too good be true, doesn’t it?Well, in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I really am going to teach you how to grow your business with 5 simple tips……but just because something is simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. These concepts are simple - but following the tips and making them work for your art business requires work, discipline, and faith on your part.  You’re going to have to learn how business works, how to get your art in the marketplace, and how to treat your own business like a BUSINESS.  You’re going to have to search inside to find what success looks like for you.  You’re going to have to put aside your pride and ask for help with the things you’re not good at.  You’re going to have to spend some money.  God has big plans for you, my friend.  Growing an art business may not be easy…but you can absolutely do it! And when you’re ready to build a business that helps you thrive

They say that change doesn’t happen overnight…but my friend Anne Ashton would respectfully disagree!  Anne’s introduction to the art world is unlike almost anybody else’s I’ve ever encountered. No spoilers…but let’s just say that the Lord transformed her into an artist basically overnight!  Everything in Anne’s artistic life comes from following what the Lord is guiding her to do.  Learning how to paint, moving from realism to abstract art, getting her paintings in shows and shops nearby… all at God’s instruction.  Now she’s following God’s lead to teach painting to everybody from corporate groups to vulnerable members of society like unwed teen mothers.  And some of her most amazing stories come from her art ministry to prisoners, encouraging them to express themselves in media from graffiti to finger paints.  Her outreach is really making a difference in people’s lives in all walks of life, and I think her story may very well inspire you to do the same.  You can see more about Anne on her website, Instagram

I have a confession to make.When I first started building my art business, I had no idea what I was doing at first.

One of my favorite things about this podcast is connecting with amazing people doing amazing things, and it’s so much fun to check back in with previous guests to see what they’ve been up to and to see how God is moving in their lives today.My guest on this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast is Rebecca Friedlander, who joined me way back in episode 141 to talk about her film project, The Thin Places, and boy, has she been busy since then!Rebecca is an artistic polymath (isn’t that an awesome word?), meaning she makes art in many different media and categories and is always moving from project to project nonstop.  She’s a film producer, graphic designer, fine artist, worship leader, author, speaker...you name it, and Rebecca is into it!Rebecca actually started out with a desire to be a singer and even wrote hundreds of songs before she finished high school.  But God had other plans for her future in art and ministry.  So we’re talking about the challenges and rewards of following God’s plan - eve

I remember how I felt when I first started thinking about turning my art into a business.  Excited, nervous, scared, hopeful…  All the emotions were fighting for space in my mind and it was hard to concentrate on anything else.  And maybe that’s what you’re feeling right now.  When you start any kind of business, there’s so much to consider and weigh out, and that goes double when your business is going to live or die by your creative output.  So is it worth that kind of headache?  Especially in the uncertain economy we’re in right now, you may be thinking that now’s not the right time to “turn pro” in the art game...  I’m here to tell you, there is never a perfect time to make a big change.  No matter when you start your business, you’re always going to have to overcome uncertainty and doubt.  But I believe you should absolutely start up an art business, and in this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, I’m excited to tell you all about why that is.   Check it out!  And when you’re ready to build a business that he

You know those people who are so busy and prolific that you wonder how on earth they manage to get everything done?  That’s my friend, Joshua Mills.  Joshua and his wife, Janet, have been in ministry for 25 years, sharing their personal compassion and message of the hope, healing and restoration of Jesus Christ to countless people worldwide through their organization, New Wine International Ministries.Joshua has traveled the world speaking to audiences, writing dozens of books (dozens!), and recording and releasing albums ranging from praise and worship music to relaxing spa music.  I’m honored to chat with him about, among other things, his brand-new book, “Creative Glory.”    I loved talking with Joshua about his outlook on creativity in the Kingdom of God and how God provides for those who do what He’s calling them to do.  You’re going to really get inspired when you hear this message, too.   For more on what is keeping Joshua busy, be sure to check out his website at joshuamills.com, and as he says, you c

Profit and loss statements.  Shipping and insurance.  Website updates. Taxes.  Marketing strategies.

Have you ever experienced a tug-of-war between your art and other aspects of your life - as if the two can’t exist simultaneously?  Chad Atkins had art inside him from a very early age.  He grew up in a family of artists, and he never let a day of his childhood go by without drawing.  But he also had a strong desire to live his life for the Lord.  His artistic nature and his faith began to clash when he encountered the teachings of Smith Wigglesworth and other revivalists.  And in an effort to remove anything that hindered him from God’s presence… out went the art.  After years of inner turmoil and outer sickness, Chad realized that while his heart was in the right place, when he denied his inner artist, he was denying God’s plan for his life.  Now Chad is re-discovering the artist inside, painting every night, and even selling some of his works.  He’s not trying to have too rigid a view of the future - just doing what God has put inside him to do and living the Kingdom life. Meet my friend Chad and hear his

Whether you’re just starting out in your art business or you’ve been at it awhile, chances are once the excitement of stepping out in faith wears off, you are going to start wondering…How do I actually make this work? 

Truth time: God doesn’t want you to be comfortable. He isn’t a La-Z-Boy salesman.   If you’re too comfortable, you’re not moving forward…and God’s going to start poking you until  you do.  Allen Paul found that out in his life when he was secure in his jobs as a teacher and at a church…but God wouldn’t stop poking him.  Allen had financial security, but he just knew he wasn’t doing what God was calling him to do.  The only solution was to leave that security behind and trust God to show him the way forward.  Now, after experiencing the ups and downs of finding his way in the gig economy, Allen has his love of music, teaching, and ministering all working together, the way God intended.  And he’s using his experience to help other musicians and artists learn the things Allen wished he had known when he was starting out, through his multi-platform ministry, God And Gigs.  Listen to Allen’s story of how he has walked THROUGH the valleys in his life, and kept on walking, trusting God to light the way, on this epis

Back in the day, when I was working on staff at churches, I was the “creative guy” - which meant that I was the default graphic designer of the group!Now, truth be told, this was NOT my area of expertise, but I dove into Adobe Photoshop and slogged my way through it.  Let’s just say that it was…a challenge.

Have you ever met somebody whose art is so fascinating and who is so enthusiastic about it that it makes you want to immediately run out and try it yourself?  That’s exactly what happens when you talk to my friend Frances Syverson!Frances uses techniques from beading to metal-smithing to create jewelry that is just fabulous!And while she does sell her jewelry, the real joy she gets with her art is in the making - and in teaching others how to make it themselves.  Whether it’s friends and family, church members, or kids at the school where she works as a media specialist, she is always happy to pass along this skill that brings her so much happiness.  That’s why I’m so excited that Frances will be teaching at this year’s Gathering of Artisans.  She’s teaching sessions on metal stamping and making copper earrings - including using flame to create a patina and other exciting techniques. No experience is needed - but her classes are filling up fast!  Expanding our artistic horizons by trying new media and techniq

Remember a few months ago when Facebook and Instagram went down for a full day?  Panic ensued!While some users were upset they couldn’t share their Wordle results, others - especially business owners - suddenly realized that even though they may have a lot of followers on social media, their ability to communicate with those followers was out of their hands…and that made them feel really uncomfortable.Social media is great, but the key to building a solid, reliable marketing strategy is to build your email list.  The truth is, email is king.  When you have someone’s email address, you have the ability to develop a relationship with them.  You control your ability to communicate with them - it’s not in the hands of Facebook or Instagram.And to build your email list, you need to have an opt-in form on your website.  Full stop.In this episode of 5-Minute Mentoring, we’re talking about how to use an opt-in form to build your email list…and how I turned a $1600 investment in my email list into a $25,000+ launch of