The Thriving Christian Artist
The Thriving Christian Artist
6 Common Roadblocks for Artists 45-70+
Have you ever felt stuck in the relentless hustle, wondering how to rekindle your creative spirit? Join me, Matt Tommey, as I share my personal journey of stepping back from the chaos to embrace a season of rest and renewal in the studio. Together, we'll uncover the secret to sparking successful art projects by prioritizing play and experimentation inspired by nature.
This episode is a heartfelt exploration of common struggles faced by artists aged 45 to 70-plus, focusing on the art of balancing creativity with life's many responsibilities and the importance of aligning with divine guidance during these pivotal times.
We'll also tackle the critical elements of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care to amplify your creativity and well-being. Discover how adapting your workflow, seeking community support, and redefining success can empower you to thrive artistically, spiritually, and in business, even amidst the evolving challenges of technology and entrepreneurship.
With reflections and guidance from the Created to Thrive program, this conversation offers a roadmap to help you celebrate your artistic journey, stay open to new expressions of creativity, and find fulfillment by trusting in a higher plan for your unique path forward.
If you've not already, join us inside the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring program at http://www.matttommeymentoring.com/artmentor
To read and comment on a full article on this subject, visit https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/blog/most-common-roadblocks-for-artists-approaching-or-in-retirement-and-want-to-start-an-art-business
Welcome to the Thriving Christian Artist, the podcast, where we hope you connect with God to bust through the roadblocks that have held you back for years, create the work you love and really live the life you know. God created you to live as an artist in His kingdom. I'm Matt Tommy, your host. Let's get started. Well, hey, friends, it's Matt, and I hope you have been asking yourself where is Matt Tommy? Where has he been? I see him on Facebook or Instagram every now and then, but he's not as active as he used to be on social media. I'm not hearing as many podcasts as I used to hear and I'm glad I hope you're saying that If you're not, but you may realize if you've been a longtime listener to the podcast.
Speaker 1:My last episode was all about embracing the fallow seasons of life and doing nothing and kind of getting back to your roots and that sort of thing and honestly, this year that's really what I've been doing and focused on and I think, for the first time in a long time, I am getting more and more filled up creatively. In a long time I am getting more and more filled up creatively. I'm seeing and sensing and exploring new directions in my, in my work, which is awesome. You know, sometimes when we're busy and just doing all the things that we've always done, we we forget to play in the studio, which I'm always talking about in the mentoring program and experimentation and that sort of thing. But you know, when things are working, sometimes you forget that, and so, anyway, I've just been really taking this year and serving primarily the people in our mentoring program and spending day after day after day and most hours of the day in the studio and creating new work. Maybe you've seen some on Facebook or on my website or on Instagram. I've been doing what I'm calling these nature-inspired reliquaries, which are just kind of sanctuary scenes, if you will, just sort of these moments that you can reflect on the Lord and reflect on nature and the beauty that he provides us in all of that through my work and through Cold wax paintings and and sculptural elements and that sort of thing. But I listen, I am having a ball and, to top it all off, it's selling well, which is great. You know me, you know I love that as well, and so I'm just, I'm really really having a great time and really just I've spent a lot of time, I guess these last couple of years, um, since we moved to Texas, really just cutting out things that were good but that were not, now, that were not the season that we're in, and you know that can be scary, I think, for a lot of people I know it can be for me when you, um, you know you quit doing as much as you were doing or you realize that, even though you don't understand everything that's going on, the Lord is kind of taking you into a new season of recalibration, and I think that's really where where we've been.
Speaker 1:And so, instead of you know what many of us do, who especially those of us that are sort of type a get it done, you know, productivity oriented kind us that are sort of type A get it done, productivity-oriented kind of people instead of bucking against that, I've really just decided maybe I've given up and decided to really just kind of flow with the Lord in this season and be in the studio and be serving the people that he has for us in the mentoring program, without being on this treadmill of content production and that sort of thing, because I mean, let's be honest, the whole social media world and podcast world and that sort of thing is really just I don't know it feels like this empty hole, this abyss, sometimes that you're just pouring great content down. You're like, is anybody listening? Is anybody, you know? And so we've just chosen in this season to focus on the mentoring program more and uh, but I have some things to say that that I want to get out on the podcast, especially as we enter into um 2025, somebody at church yesterday, uh, said something about thrive in 2025. And I was like, oh yeah, I received that in every area.
Speaker 1:But you know, you know I'm noticing that so many artists that have listened to the podcast over the years or that are in the mentoring program, or I just see around, you know, in our area or on Facebook they really are having a difficult time in this season trying to figure out what is the next thing that the Lord has for you know them to do. And specifically, you know, for whatever reason, the Lord has given us a great opportunity of speaking to a lot of people that are kind of my age, that are in the I'm 51, you know, we, we speak to a lot of people and serve a lot of people in our programs and retreats and conferences and all that that are in that I would say, you know, 45 to 70 plus range. We have a lot of plus actually, that that listen to us and follow us and that sort of thing, and that's awesome. But there are some really common roadblocks that I'm seeing and have seen for a long time in this group of people who are, you know, maybe you've kind of lived your life, you're coming back to your creativity after the kids are gone or or whatever, and it's just kind of a time that you're finally like, finally I can, you know, really lean into what God's got for me in my creativity. And yet there are some things that it seems, no matter how hard you try or how good your intentions are, they just, you know, hanging you up and stopping you, and so, after decades maybe of trying to balance a career and family responsibilities and all this kind of stuff, you may be excited about pursuing your art but at the same time, there are these things that that really hold you up and I want to address some of those today because I think that I've got a little bit of insight after not only my own life in this season, but also in really helping the thousands and thousands of artists that have come through, you know, the mentoring program over the years and that sort of thing. And so I want to give you six maybe uncover six roadblocks today and also give you maybe six things to think about when you're trying to move through these roadblocks in your own life so that you can start walking in everything that God's got for you in the season of life that you're in.
Speaker 1:You know, one of the first things that I see which is a joy, you know, for all of us, but it's a real barrier sometimes for people in this season to step into their art fully is family obligations. You know, our family obligations at this age start to take up our time. We've got a lot more unexpected things that that come up. Oftentimes we end up taking on the role of, maybe, caregiver for our aging parents. Or maybe you're supporting your adult children. You know Cameron now is is living out of town from us. He's 20, going to be 21 in September, and a friend of ours the other day said whoo, you know, you thought you were done in, uh, in the middle of you know, when they were little. But uh, parenting adult children is a whole different thing, you know. Or maybe you're raising grandkids or being a part of that, but that can really really have an impact and especially the unexpectedness of some of those things um can really limit the time and energy and availability you have to focus on not only pursuing your art but in, you know, even growing a business, if that's what God's got for you.
Speaker 1:And so one of the things that I try to do in my life and we teach a lot in the mentoring program is how to set boundaries and how to also really prioritize self-care, really prioritize self-care, because if you're not carving out dedicated time for your creative work if you're like me, you become a worse person. You know, jane just told me for years listen, if you're not in the studio, well, you just need to be in the studio. You know I've become a better person. You probably become a better person when you're doing that thing that God has called you to do and really prioritizing that and times for rest and relaxation in your life. Why? So that you have the energy to be able to focus on not only your family, which obviously is a huge blessing but but not at the expense of what God's called you to do. And I know for a lot of us that have family, and I know especially for women, that can be a really, really, really big issue of you know, you feel like maybe you've laid down your life for your family, your whole life, and you've never felt okay about prioritizing yourself. Well, listen, god's the one that gave you this gift. God's the one that wants to express himself in and through your life, but you're the one, and I'm the one, that have to make room for that in our life.
Speaker 1:You know, the second thing I see a lot is health problems. You know people you know unexpectedly get sick, their family members unexpectedly get sick. And you know, for artists that are trying to do shows or build a business or think, hey, I'm going to do this. You know this art thing is a part of my retirement income and that sort of thing, cause I wasn't able to, or just didn't, uh, or you know, save enough for retirement or or things you know just didn't happen the way I thought that can really be a big disruption of of your plans. And you know the issues that you're you're trying to do as you grow a business maybe a sudden health crisis, or maybe you've got a chronic pain condition or just other family members. That can be really, really frustrating when you're trying to get that consistent, creative routine in your business and meet the demands of what it really takes to be an entrepreneur.
Speaker 1:And you know the thing I've found over the years for myself, having dealt with some things in our family and and then also you know, looking at others, that we've helped through the years learning to adapt your workflow to a rhythm that works for you and not feel bad about that and not beat yourself up about that. Listen, that is huge, because if you're constantly beating yourself up about I can't do this, I can't do that, listen, that is huge, because if you're constantly beating yourself up about I can't do this, I can't do that, well, what can you do? You know what. How can you make your your creative time in your studio area? You know more accessible and more you know able to adapt to the flow that you have in your life and then reach out, you know, to others for support during those times. That's one of the things I've loved over the years in the mentoring program. You know we've been doing that since 2016 now and, man, some deep, deep relationships have happened, not only online, but you know, locally for people as they've met others that are in the same season of life and trying to do this thing called growing an art business and loving Jesus and walking in the kingdom of life.
Speaker 1:And trying to do this thing called growing an art business and loving Jesus and walking in the kingdom. It's amazing how others can reach out and support each other during these times where health and frustrations can become an issue. So staying connected with that again, being intentional with that, not beating yourself up about those sort of health issues, but learning to walk through those with the Lord and with others is just huge. You know, probably one of the biggest things I hear from people at this season of life, and really from any season of life, but especially for folks that are kind of in the age that I am and older, I hear people all the time saying, oh my gosh, the tech challenges. You know, as soon as I learned something, they changed the platform or this, that, and it's like social media is changing and the e-commerce platforms are changing and the website platforms are changing. It's like, oh, and maybe, maybe you weren't somebody that was really techie all your life or involved in all of that. You know, uh, in in business or whatever, and so that can really really be a big frustration.
Speaker 1:I think it's one of the things we've done the best over the years in the mentoring program is help people learn those things that are you know how to do the basics of growing your website, getting traffic to it, making your first sale. You know how to begin to post on social media, do videos. I find that learning those basics like that, one at a time, as opposed to trying to do everything at once, really allows you to start getting comfortable, as opposed to feeling like you're, you know, just getting washed away by the tsunami of technology that wants to. You know overwhelm you and you know if you need help and you can do that. You know getting a professional to help you in areas that you know overwhelm you and you know if you need help and you can do that. You know getting a professional to help you in areas that you can. That's huge. I think, again, that's been one of the great things about folks in the mentoring program is that we've got, you know, not only me but our team of experts that help people in technology and search engine optimization and websites and email marketing and video and all the stuff, so you're not trying to do it by yourself, which is absolutely huge.
Speaker 1:The fourth thing I think that's a big roadblock for a lot of people at this age and season of life is just the change I won't say lack of, but the change in energy and focus that it really takes to grow a business energy and focus that it really takes to grow a business. I'm thinking about things in my life now differently than I did 15, 20 years ago. I'm thinking about not only what's the potential of this, but how much am I going to be required to give to this in this season? And is, as a friend of mine used to say, is the juice worth the squeeze? Is the thing that is required of me actually worth the benefit that's potentially there?
Speaker 1:And I think for all of us, as we grow older and change and that sort of thing, obviously we want to prioritize, you know, our health and getting sleep and all of that. But learning realistically for you, you know how much energy, time, focus do I have and do I want to have to put on growing this business? And what am I willing to? You know, farm out, what am I willing to give up in order to have a rhythm of life that works for me, where I'm not making myself feel bad all the time for underperforming. Listen, that is absolutely huge, because a lot of people have the passion and even the skill to go and run a business.
Speaker 1:But I think, a lot of times, as you're in this season of life and trying to, you know, move into something new and you're aging at the same time, you can find it difficult to maintain the drive that's required to handle the marketing, the sales, the sales, the production and shows, and you know all the different business aspects. And so, again, not that you give up, certainly not but you, you learn to. And this is one of the things I love helping people do is learn to tailor your dreams to the season of life you're in. And that's number five, I think, is that can be a real roadblock for people is this difficulty of knowing how big a business and how big a creative practice do they want to have in this season of life.
Speaker 1:You know a lot of people that are, you know, pre-retirement, thinking about retirement, in retirement, and been there for a while. Maybe you had these huge dreams earlier of having a big teaching center or galleries, or going all over the world for shows or in museums or whatever it was, having this huge studio or whatever. But your current season of life that you're in may not just in a real way be able to support those ambitions due to things that you're in, may not just in a real way be able to support those ambitions due to things that have changed in your your schedule, your family, your health, your financial resources, all the stuff. Now, listen, that doesn't mean God has done with you. That doesn't mean that you've missed it. It just means that things have changed and you have to figure out with the Lord and usually with the help of a mentor. That's why we love doing this and created to thrive, because we love helping you figure out how to scale and grow your business in a way that fits the profitability that you want in the and also the realistic timeframes and energy frames that you have, without having a bunch of frustration in your life.
Speaker 1:You know, for for me, right now I'm looking, my work is. I've got this new season of work that I'm doing. I love it. I'm having a great time. Galleries have been showing interest. People are asking me hey, are you going to be doing shows again? All this kind of stuff? I'll be honest, we've been to a lot of great art shows here in Dallas, in the East Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth area and even other places. But I told Tanya the other day I said, man, I love an art show. I mean, I really do. I love being out there, but I don't know if I'm ready to schlep around a white tent in the Texas heat. I mean, I don't know. I don't know that I'm ready to do that, but I am willing to, uh, and I am doing things that are really ramped up online. I'm interested in talking to galleries and and doing things like that.
Speaker 1:Again, that work for the season of life that I'm in. I'm having to look at realistically, how much work do I want to be producing in light of all the artists that we have in the mentoring program and in the mastery program and the other things that I'm doing. But I'm putting together a life just like we all are. That that works for the season of life that we're in. And the last thing I would say is this, which is again kind of all encompassing learning to balance yesterday's dreams and today's dreams with today's reality is often a really, really big and painful place that a lot of artists struggle with. Um, and I've just find, instead of Instead of letting those old dreams become sources of frustration or allowing the enemy to use that as a place of torment for you, celebrate honestly where you've been, the things that God's done in and through your life, but begin to look for ways that you can have new dreams and those dreams that you've had.
Speaker 1:Maybe they take on a new environment, a new way, a new expression in your life. I think the key for me is always to be flexible and open-minded and open-handed as I'm trying to listen to the Lord, listen to my own body and life and heart and mind and spirit and creative flow, and find ways to bring who I am and what God's put in me into the season of life that I'm in. Listen, don't let the frustrations of trying to figure these logistical things out be something that stops you from stepping into the thing that God's called you to do as an artist. Just because you don't have a huge gallery, just because you're not running around doing shows all over the country, just because you're not making multi-six figures with your art, does not mean that you're a failure, that you're not a real artist, that God's done with you Just because you weren't able to do the things that were on your heart 20 years ago doesn't mean you're a failure.
Speaker 1:It means you're where you are right now, that God loves you, that he's got a calling and a purpose for your life just as much today, if not more, than he did 10, 20, 30 years ago in your life, and it's learning to walk with him with an open hand, letting down the expectations of what it's got to look like in order to be successful, and trusting him for a beautiful expression for your life in this season. That's what I think really thriving as an artist in this season of life can look like for all of us. Listen, that's my prayer for you today is that you would take some time with the Lord, maybe some journaling time, maybe some talking with a friend and um, and really just come to terms with where am I? What do I really want? What would success and fulfillment look like for me in this season of life? What did it look like for me to really fulfill God's purposes and plans for my life in the season of life I'm in, and push everything off to the side that that is different from that, and just begin to pursue the simplicity of those things. My friend, I promise you, if you'll do that, there'll be joy, there'll be fulfillment, there'll be provision, there'll be favor, There'll be open doors for you in ways that you never experienced before.
Speaker 1:And listen if we can help you with that. That's why we started Created to Thrive. It's so that we could give you a simple roadmap to thriving in everything that God's called you to spiritually, artistically and in business. Of course, you can always click the link that's right here on the podcast, as well as any of our resources, go to our website and become a part of Created to Thrive. And, as somebody said at church again on Sunday, let's thrive in 2025. I love that and I believe that we can have a big, big part of helping you do the things and be the person that God's called you to be in the kingdom as an artist.
Speaker 1:My friend, I love you and I look forward to walking with you this next year, whether it's here on the podcast, inside the mentoring program or wherever it is, and however it is that we can help you step into everything that God's got for you. I love you, my friend, so next time, remember you were created to thrive. Bye, hey. Thanks so much for spending a few minutes with me today on the podcast. Listen. I hope it's been a huge encouragement to you on your journey as an artist. Hey, also, before you leave, make sure to hit the subscribe button so you don't miss any of the other episodes of the Thriving Christian Artist podcast, and also be sure to connect with me on Facebook, instagram or at my website, which is matttommymentoringcom. Until next time, remember you were created to thrive. Bye-bye, thank you.