Send us a text Have you ever wondered what truly sets apart artists who thrive in both their creative practice and business? It's not extraordinary talent, prolific output, or insider connections. The real differentiator is their ability to create intentional invitations – opportunities for meaningful connection through their art, process, story, and values. When artists begin creating with connection deliberately in mind, a beautiful transformation occurs. This isn't just clever marketing; it's...
Jul 08, 2025•18 min
Send us a text Gone are the days when artists could simply post pretty pictures and wait for sales to flow in. As we navigate 2025's social media landscape, one truth stands above all: authentic connection trumps content every time. The secret to transforming casual followers into passionate collectors lies not in algorithm hacks or perfect photos, but in genuine, heart-level connection. Today's art buyers crave more than beautiful creations – they want to know the person behind the art, to glim...
Jul 01, 2025•20 min
Send us a text The moment your art leaves your studio, something remarkable happens. Beyond metrics and transactions, a supernatural exchange takes place—one that transforms atmospheres, touches hearts, and creates ripples in the spiritual realm. As we explore Matthew 5:14-16, we discover Jesus wasn't speaking metaphorically when He called us "the light of the world." For kingdom artists, this becomes a powerful commissioning: your creative expression isn't meant to be hidden away but strategica...
Jun 24, 2025•15 min
Send us a text Ever felt guilty for "just playing around" in your studio when there are commissions to complete and deadlines to meet? What if those moments of joyful experimentation are actually essential to your artistic growth and spiritual journey? Drawing from my own artistic evolution, I share how seemingly random creative play—from fiddling with natural materials found while gardening to trying encaustic wax techniques—has repeatedly transformed my work in unexpected ways. These weren't c...
Jun 17, 2025•15 min
Send us a text The frustrating wall of creative emptiness hits every artist at some point - that moment when you walk into your studio excited to create, only to find nothing comes. But what if these creative blocks aren't random? What if they're signaling something deeper happening within you? Drawing from over three decades of artistic experience and mentoring countless creatives, Matt Tommey unpacks the three primary sources of creative blocks: spiritual issues, internal mental clutter, and p...
Jun 10, 2025•16 min
Send us a text Daydreaming gets a bad rap, especially among creatives striving for focus and productivity. But what if that wandering mind could actually become your greatest creative asset? Science reveals our minds naturally wander nearly half our waking hours. For artists, this can feel like a frustrating distraction—yet there's a profound difference between harmful mind-wandering and intentional, holy imagination. This episode explores how shifting your daydreaming from anxious rumination to...
Jun 03, 2025•16 min
Send us a text Have you ever wondered why singing worship songs or praying aloud makes you feel physically better? There's a fascinating neurological reason behind it, and it's all part of God's incredible design for your well-being. The vagus nerve—running from your brainstem through your face, vocal cords, heart, lungs, and digestive system—is your body's built-in peace activator. Research shows that singing and praying aloud are two of the most powerful ways to stimulate this nerve, releasing...
May 27, 2025•17 min
Send us a text Ever felt that creative spark and wondered where it truly comes from? Your studio isn't just a workspace—it's potentially sacred ground where divine partnership happens. The concept of sacred creative spaces has deep biblical roots. In Exodus, we see artisans Bezalel and Oholiab filled with God's Spirit to create objects that would transmit His presence throughout their community. Like them, you've been gifted with creativity that flows directly from the Creator Himself. Whether y...
May 20, 2025•19 min
Send us a text Are you an ENT artist—creating Every Now and Then whenever inspiration strikes? You're not alone. After mentoring artists for over 16 years, I've discovered the critical difference between those who merely dabble and those who truly thrive isn't talent—it's consistent, intentional habits. The Core4 Focus Framework™ has transformed thousands of artists' lives, and today I'm breaking it down for you. First, Connect with God daily—not as a spiritual checkbox, but as the wellspring of...
May 13, 2025•21 min
Send us a text Your story matters—every bit of it. Not just the polished highlight reels we share on social media, but the beautiful parts, the broken moments, the victories, and even the chapters we'd rather erase. God intentionally crafted you as His masterpiece, designed with purpose and a unique story He delights in. When David wrote "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" in Psalm 139, he wasn't simply acknowledging basic human design. He was expressing awe at how intimately and intricately G...
May 06, 2025•17 min
Send us a text The paralyzing fear of sharing your artwork might be the very thing keeping you from walking in your divine calling. Whether you've felt that rush of pride when completing a piece only to immediately want to hide it away, or you've struggled with thoughts like "I'm not ready yet" or "It's not perfect," you're experiencing what countless artists battle. But what if this fear isn't actually wisdom at all? Fear often wears the disguise of prudence, whispering seemingly reasonable hes...
Apr 29, 2025•17 min
Send us a text Comparison is perhaps the most pervasive challenge facing artists today, silently eroding confidence and stealing joy from the creative process. This episode tackles this universal struggle head-on, offering both spiritual wisdom and practical strategies to break free from the comparison trap. Drawing from Galatians 6:4-5, we explore the biblical perspective on comparison and discover a powerful truth: God has custom-designed your artistic journey unlike anyone else's. When we fal...
Apr 22, 2025•17 min
Send us a text Ever wonder if your artistic struggles mean you've missed God's calling? When marketing feels overwhelming, business challenges mount, and self-doubt creeps in, it's easy to question everything. I've walked this path myself—the last two years brought some of my biggest professional challenges as shifting markets and changing landscapes left me wondering if my trajectory had changed. These tactical troubles—marketing confusion, business overwhelm, inconsistent studio time, pricing ...
Apr 15, 2025•17 min
Send us a text The creative process isn't just something artists do on the side—it's the fundamental mechanism through which the kingdom of God operates. In this profound exploration of prophetic creativity, Matt Tommey shares revelatory insights from his 30+ years as both a professional artist and worship leader. Matt unpacks a transformative understanding of creativity as "seeing and agreeing"—perceiving what God is doing through the Holy Spirit and aligning our hearts with that movement. This...
Apr 08, 2025•36 min
Send us a text Fear can paralyze Christian artists, trapping them in a destructive pendulum swing between two extremes: the fear that God won't provide financially on one side, and the fear that success will breed pride and damage their relationship with God on the other. This powerful episode tackles this common struggle head-on, offering liberating truth for creatives caught in this cycle. Drawing from a thoughtful question submitted by a Foundations Course participant, Matt reveals how the en...
Apr 01, 2025•10 min
Send us a text What's holding you back as a Christian artist? For many believers, the greatest barrier isn't lack of skill or opportunity—it's an internal battle between what Matt Tommey calls "sin consciousness" and "sonship consciousness." Drawing from the transformative work happening in the Foundations course, Matt explores how our internal focus shapes everything in our lives. When we fixate on our failures, shortcomings, and perceived inadequacies, we create a world of limitation. But when...
Mar 25, 2025•16 min
Send us a text What if your greatest artistic and business breakthroughs aren't hiding in the latest marketing strategy but in the secret place with God? This paradigm-shifting episode reveals a powerful truth I received during an exclusive marketing mastermind event that completely recalibrated my approach to creative success. The divine whisper was clear: "Be focused on pulling on my glory, not pulling on the levers of business systems." This counterintuitive wisdom unlocks the supernatural pa...
Mar 18, 2025•12 min
Send us a text Do you find yourself growing impatient with God's timing in your artistic journey? You're not alone. That frustration—wanting success now, progress immediately, recognition instantly—is something almost every artist battles. Through personal studio revelations and spiritual insights, this episode explores how God uses the textured, broken places in our lives to create the most beautiful aspects of our art and testimony. Just as a painter uses texture to hold color and create depth...
Mar 11, 2025•12 min
Send us a text Can pursuing your dreams as an artist coexist with the biblical principle of laying down your life for the sake of the Kingdom? Join me as we explore this profound question through the heartfelt inquiry of Janie, a student grappling with her artistic calling and faith. Uncover the powerful realization that your unique talents and creative passions are not only compatible with your spiritual journey but are essential expressions of God's kingdom. By embracing our identities as belo...
Mar 04, 2025•16 min
Send us a text This episode explores the transformative process of renewing your mind and what that truly means for believers and artists. We dissect common misconceptions about renewal, emphasizing that it's an active partnership with the Holy Spirit rather than a passive occurrence. • Addressing misconceptions about renewing your mind • The importance of cooperation with God in the renewal process • Understanding renewal as a pathway to aligning with God's will If you’re looking to deepen this...
Mar 04, 2025•14 min
Send us a text Facing life's challenges with humility can transform not just our circumstances, but also the very fabric of our hearts. Join me as I recount how difficult seasons in my life uncovered deep-rooted fears and hangups, leading to profound growth and maturity. By embracing humility over pride or self-pity, and drawing on biblical wisdom from James 4, we align with God's grace and unlock a path toward personal healing. We’ll discuss the pitfalls of victimhood and explore how faith, tru...
Feb 25, 2025•11 min
Send us a text Feeling overwhelmed is a reality many artists face, and it's one that we tackle head-on in this episode of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast. After decades of navigating the artistic journey, I’ve found that balancing faith with the pressures of creativity, finances, and personal expectations requires a conscious choice to trust God's timing. Join us as we explore a listener's story from the Created to Thrive Foundations course, where she bravely shares her struggle with anxie...
Feb 18, 2025•13 min
Send us a text Can disappointment be the invisible barrier that's preventing you from fully embracing your creative potential and spiritual growth? Discover how unacknowledged disappointment can act like hardened soil, blocking the seeds of inspiration and revelation that God intends for you. Join us on the Thriving Christian Artist podcast as we explore the profound impact of disappointment and how it can lead to bitterness, cynicism, and a disengagement from faith. Inspired by Jesus' parables ...
Feb 13, 2025•13 min
Send us a text Have you ever thought about the deeper purpose behind your art? This week on the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, I explore the profound intersection of creativity and spirituality inspired by a question from a student grappling with finding meaning in their artistic journey. Drawing from my 30-plus years of crafting baskets from natural materials, I share how the simple act of creating can be a form of glorifying God. Join me, Matt Tommey, as we reflect on the role and process ...
Feb 04, 2025•13 min
Send us a text Unlock the secrets to transforming your artistic journey by embracing the lessons from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. What if the key to fulfilling your God-given dreams lies in responding swiftly to His call and believing in your potential to achieve what He has planned? Join me, Matt Tama, as we uncover how the story of the man with five talents can inspire artists to take immediate action and trust in divine guidance, overcoming self-doubt and procrastination. Step i...
Jan 28, 2025•12 min
Send us a text Unlock the divine potential within your artistry by embracing God's presence in every brushstroke and melody. What if the presence of God isn't confined to traditional sanctuaries, but rather fills your creative spaces with divine inspiration? Journey with me as we explore the profound truth that God desires to be intimately involved in our creative processes, transforming them into acts of worship. Using insights from scriptures like Matthew 1:23 and 1 Corinthians 3:16, I'll reve...
Jan 21, 2025•14 min
Send us a text Ever found yourself struggling with the balance between creative passion and practical pursuits? Join me, Matt Tommey, as we embark on a journey of artistic transformation, inspired by my recent adventure in Asheville, North Carolina. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to Christian artists everywhere, offering strategies to harness your creativity and align it with your God-given purpose. Let’s tackle the hurdles of self-doubt, fear, and perfectionism together, while setting c...
Jan 07, 2025•14 min
Send us a text Ever found yourself at a crossroads in your creative journey, only to discover that the unexpected detour led to a masterpiece? Join me, Matt Tommey, as I invite you into my studio for a candid glimpse into my latest project—a series of nature-inspired reliquaries. While working on these intricate pieces, designed to inspire serenity and peace, I encountered a creative snag that transformed into a serendipitous opportunity for growth. What began as a botched glaze coat turned into...
Dec 31, 2024•13 min
Send us a text This episode explores the transformative journey that artists undergo by emphasizing the importance of internal growth and spiritual connection over external measures of success. By outlining five core principles—Connect, Vision, Thought, Belief, and Cultivate—listeners are encouraged to deepen their relationship with God and embrace ongoing transformation. • Emphasis on the internal process of transformation • The significance of connecting deeply with God • Understanding the cla...
Dec 23, 2024•16 min
Send us a text After experiencing the loss of a loved one, how do you find the strength to keep your creative passion alive? Join me, Matt Tommey, as I share personal stories of navigating grief and life’s toughest seasons, inspired by a touching journey from our Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. A participant faced the heartbreaking loss of her husband, echoing my own experiences with my mother's illness and passing. Through these stories, we highlight the crucial need to embrace chan...
Dec 17, 2024•22 min
