The Thriving Christian Artist
The Thriving Christian Artist
Unlocking Creative Partnerships
Creative breakthrough isn't just about what happens in your studio—it's about who surrounds you on the journey. For artists conditioned to figure everything out alone, this revelation can transform both your creative practice and your business.
The most profound artistic growth emerges when we recognize that God designed us for connection. As Ecclesiastes reminds us, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor." This ancient wisdom applies powerfully to our modern creative pursuits.
When we talk about collaboration, many immediately think of joint projects or shared canvases. But the deepest transformations come through relationship-based collaborations—critique groups, mastermind circles, and authentic friendships with fellow creatives who speak truth into your journey. These trusted companions see opportunities in your work that remain invisible to you, challenge you to go deeper, and remind you of your calling when doubt creeps in.
Building these relationships requires intentional effort—starting critique groups, hosting creative gatherings, joining mentoring communities, or pursuing strategic partnerships. The most successful collaborations typically begin not with calculated networking but with genuine connection, recognizing divine appointments and having the courage to extend an invitation.
Don't let introversion become an excuse for isolation. Take the initiative rather than waiting for someone else to make the first move. As you open yourself to deeper creative community, you'll discover that the breakthrough you've been seeking might not be found in solitude but in the rich tapestry of relationships God is weaving around you. Subscribe now to join a community of artists who understand that in the kingdom, we were created to thrive together, not alone.
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You know, as artists, it's super easy to have this idea that you've got to figure out everything on your own and all that, all this pressure, and that's kind of how we're wired right as artists. It's our studio, our voice, our creativity, our artwork, our business, all this kind of stuff. But I've just really found in my life that breakthrough and real momentum in my life and in my art business and, of course, in my art, comes not just from what's going on in me but also what's happening around me with the people that God's bringing into my life. Today I want to jump into on the podcast this idea of collaboration and partnership, not just in projects but also in relationships and getting feedback and building creative community, because this is one of the most important things that you need to understand as you're learning to thrive as an artist. We're going to talk about it today here on the Thriving Christian Artist podcast. 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 Tommey, your host. Let's get started. Well, hey, my friend, it's Matt, super glad that you're here with me again on the podcast.
Speaker 1:Listen, this whole idea of collaboration and partnerships, I think is one of the biggest overlooked things and really opportunities that artists forget about sometimes, and yet it's one of the biggest ways that God can bless our life and help us grow into maturity. Now, before we get into this today, I want to just you know full disclosure. I'm not really one of those artists who, like gets into doing joint art projects and shared canvases and paint parties with each other and all that kind of stuff. Like that's just not my jam, right. I mean, some of you are like I love that man, that's so fun, or I did that at a conference, or I did that with an artist recently and listen, that is awesome. And if you love that, go for it. But what's made a really huge difference in my life are collaborative relationships that I've built along the way, not only with other artists, friends of mine and that sort of thing, but also mentors and just general business and life friends that have challenged me and inspired me and helped me grow in ways that I never really could on my own.
Speaker 1:I love that verse in verses, a couple of verses actually in Ecclesiastes 4, verses 9 and 10. It says this two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, the other can help or one can help the other up. And I love that right Because it just reinforces this idea that we see all throughout the New Testament, that this idea that we're not alone is not just about our personal life, it's about our calling and how we're walking and showing up in the world. It's about really how you're walking in the thing that God's told you to do.
Speaker 1:Now a lot of people hear this word collaboration. I think most people, like I said just a minute ago, kind of think of this idea of working on a single art project together or doing a mural together, writing a book together, launching a I don't know like a joint collection or something like that. But that that is really just one form of collaboration that we can walk in as artists and, honestly, the deepest sort of transformation and impact that's happened in my life has been through collaborative relationships that are not necessarily artistic but they're more like critique groups and mastermind circles and, you know, just deep friendships with other artists that I trust, where we gather not just to create the same thing or, you know, working on a project together, but where we're really speaking into each other's journey. I remember for years in Asheville I hosted a Monday night group. You may have heard me talk about this before If you've read any of my books or been in the mentoring program or anything like that.
Speaker 1:It was a season of life for me where I was really wanting to develop meaningful relationships with other artists, not just to help them grow but also help me grow. And every week we would bring in the things that we're working on. We'd, you know, thoughtfully give critique and feedback to each other, we'd pray for each other, we'd hear the things that are going great, the things that are being challenged inside of us, all the stuff right, and when you can really build a community around you. That is the kind of relationships where you can show your work to people that you really trust and you allow them to be able to see things in you, creatively and in business and in just kind of your design and God um, that you can't see. I mean that is huge right, because all of a sudden they're helping to be a conduit of the Holy Spirit to say, hey, there's something going on in your artistic uh, you know expression here, or something that's going on in your life, something that may be an opportunity in your business that you don't see yet, and I just want to call that out so that it brings that thing to your attention.
Speaker 1:And this, you know, this challenge, I think, for all of us to open ourself up to, that is is just that a challenge, right? None of us like to to feel like, oh, I'm kind of putting myself out there or whatever. But listen, when you build a group of friends in your life and colleagues that you can really trust and you can challenge each other to go deeper and, um, that's just really, really, really a super big, valuable part, I think, of being an artist and being able to grow in the things that God has for you, and it really allows you to be sharpened, to find the gold that's in your side, you know, inside your life, and also, I think, to hone what God's doing in you creatively and in your business. Because I don't know about you, but sometimes, you know, there are things that I may be doing or perspectives that I have that I just kind of take for granted. But when other people see that and they go, man, like that's a really big deal, like what you're doing is unique, like that's special, like nobody else is doing that, sometimes we just need other people to be able to speak that to us.
Speaker 1:And I just find that when we're intentional about developing those sorts of relationships and those sorts of opportunities, if you will, to get together with other people for that to happen, it's just really, really, really can be life-giving. You know I say this all the time, but you know we're not designed to do life in the kingdom as artists alone. We need each other for encouragement. You know, when we feel stuck to give feedback, when we feel like, you know, our mind is just tearing us down or maybe other people would feel like are tearing us down, or whatever, we need people to share resources and experiences that they've had to be able to say, hey, I know you're going through something really difficult right now, but I've been through that too and you're going to get through it. And we need I just really believe we need people to pray for us and believe in our calling and speak life into us and, again, this is the kind of collaboration and partnership.
Speaker 1:That doesn't just strengthen our art, it strengthens our identity, because when you walk with others, you really get it right. You get who you are, how you're showing up in the world, what God's called you to, that are also, you know, on the same creative journey, also trying to tune into what the Holy Spirit is saying in their life. It reminds you, you know you're not alone, you're not crazy, you're actually called. You're actually just on a journey, and I think for all of us, we need people in our life to remind us of who we are and where we're going in the world. But how many of you know that does not happen on autopilot. That's something that we have to intentionally make room for in our life every day. Now, listen, that doesn't require this huge like overhaul of like I've got to totally change everything I'm doing to make room for all this collaboration.
Speaker 1:No, you can do simple things right, like starting a, maybe a critique group with some friends, either online or in person. Do like I did, maybe in your studio or at your home or at your church. Start a creative group, you know, where you meet once a week or maybe a few times a month, just to kind of share what's going on. Maybe you go through a book together. We've had so many people. Still, every day we're getting emails from people that, hey, we're doing Unlocking the Heart of the Artist as a group, or we're doing God's Plan for Living, or Created to Thrive, or whatever it might be. We're taking this and we're using it as what I've called an excuse to get together. Right, that can be a huge opportunity just to begin to have conversation.
Speaker 1:Maybe you're thinking about getting a studio and it's maybe a big you know a big leap to do that by yourself, but you may want to get that together with two or three other artists and going together. Or maybe you're thinking about teaching a class, but you don't want to do that by yourself. Maybe you want to get a couple of other artists to go in with you and teach that class. I'm doing that right now, actually, with a friend who's been a part of the Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. He's an incredible artist. We kind of have some overlap in what we do. She invited me to do a joint class and we're doing it. We're joint marketing it. We're each kind of bringing what we bring to the table and it's going to be a huge amount of fun. I'm going to learn something, she's going to learn something. Our students are going to get a lot out of it as well and it's going to be a great, great opportunity.
Speaker 1:Also, you know communities like our Created to Thrive Artist Mentoring Program. I mean, we've been really the flagship mentoring program for artists who love Jesus and want to grow spiritually, artistically and in business since 2016. I mean, I'm just going to say not a lot of people have been around that long and we've been seeing real, measurable transformation in people's lives for a long, long time and, primarily, one of the big reasons that happens is not just because of the great teaching that you get in the mentoring program, but also because of the meaningful connections. People just get in there and make friends for life. They find people that are in their area. They find people that they want to get together with outside of. You know what we're doing in the mentoring program and so you know those kind of relationships that you can connect with people that are on the same journey of you and really allow them to come into your life and speak into you and you speak into them. Listen. That's how you grow and listen for those of you that are building your art business, you know, and trying to grow that side of things.
Speaker 1:Marketing partnerships and collaborations are a huge way. I've done a lot of podcasts and a lot of teaching about the idea of strategic partnerships and you know doing either marketing opportunities, sales opportunities, just kind of general promotion with other people that are in front of the same ideal client that you are but don't directly compete. So you know, for artists, a lot of times that can be other artists or you know interior designers or galleries or builders or any kind of local business that might be out there that's already doing business in front and with you know your ideal client, but that's not, again, the only place that you're seeking connection, right, you. I think for me, when I look back at the biggest, most successful strategic partnerships that I've built over the years that have that have yielded the most sales and the most fulfillment for me, they started not with me trying to get something from that person, but me just really liking that person and God opening the door and me kind of recognizing hey, god's doing something like this is kind of an opportunity, right, I'm going to step through that door and so, listen, I just want to encourage you this week to have this on your mind and challenge you to maybe it's just reaching out to one person that's kind of in your creative world, right Ask a question or ask for some feedback, or maybe invite them to lunch or invite them to over to the studio just to give you some feedback on what you're doing, or just say, hey, I'd love to connect with you and so-and-so on a regular basis and just wanted to see if y'all wanted to get together on a regular basis to talk about the Lord, pray for each other, encourage each other in our art or you know, just whatever God might be doing that he puts on your heart. You just never, ever, ever know what God's going to do.
Speaker 1:When you take the initiative to open the door with others to deeper connection, take the initiative to open the door with others to deeper connection, you know so many times and we're all guilty of this so many times we all just are like, well, you know God, just open the door, just bring somebody to me, and you know what. I just find that when we're looking for that, it's most helpful if we'll be that person for somebody else. Be the person that does the thing that you want somebody to do to you. If you want somebody to be a friend, start being a friend. If you want somebody to go to lunch with you or to hang out with you in the studio, invite somebody. Be the person that invites somebody and takes the first step. That's how relationships grow. And please don't get on this thing of I'm just an introvert and I just don't do people. Yeah, listen, introverts are some of the best relationship builders out there. You just got to go to that. Get over that fear of of what might happen or how they might think you're crazy If you ask them to lunch or whatever. Listen, you just got to put that old, you know, as Zig Ziglar used to say stinking thinking. You got to put that out of your mind, right, and get that to the side so that you can really understand the thing that God wants to do in and through your life in the context of relationships. And I'm just telling you, when you do that, you'll be amazed at how the Lord opens the door to deeper connection and deeper growth in your life in a whole variety of different areas.
Speaker 1:Jesus, I thank you that you didn't design us to walk this journey alone in the kingdom. God. You said that each one of us are a part of your body. Each one of us is designed uniquely. We carry something uniquely of your image, the spark of life, this part of your nature, lord, that's in us and through us. And, lord, I thank you that when we operate in that and we link arms with others that are doing the same Lord, we get to grow in fullness and in measure in the things that you have for us. We not only get to receive life, but also get to give life for others, and we thank you for that opportunity. God, thank you for allowing us to walk fully fulfilled, fully empowered and fully knowing that you are leading us in every part of our kingdom journey. Thank you for that, lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Speaker 1:You continuing to listen, making sure that you're subscribed and then also taking a moment and sharing the podcast with others so that they can know about all the incredible resources that are here absolutely free on our podcast Over 500 now episodes that are going to not only equip you but also inspire you to be everything that God's called you to be in the kingdom.
Speaker 1:I love you, my friend. Be sure to do all the things and show up. Next week I'll have another great message for you here on the podcast and until next time, remember you were created to thrive. Bye, hey, my friend. Before you go, make sure that you're signed up for the thriving Christian artists. Weekly it's my free newsletter, full of spiritual encouragement, creative inspiration and practical tips to help you thrive in everything that God's called you to do as an artist in his kingdom. Every issue is absolutely free and it includes the latest podcast episode, featured artist spotlights, a worship song of the week and, again, tons of tips and encouragement and inspiration for you to keep you inspired and encouraged in everything that God's got for you as an artist in the kingdom. You can click the link right here in the show notes to join us, and it's a great way to stay connected. All right, love you, bye, thank you.