God Showed Me a Better Way to Sell My Art

One sentence can dismantle years of hustle. After pouring time and money into a major art show that barely broke even, Matt Tommy finds himself driving home frustrated and confused, then hears a clear instruction that changes how he sells his art: “Go home and get your studio ready to sell.” What follows isn’t a new gimmick or a better funnel, but a deeper, steadier way to build an art business as a Christian artist.

We talk through three principles that have guided Matt for more than 30 years as a professional artist and mentor. First, God’s strategy for your creative calling is personal. Instead of copying the latest plan for Instagram, Etsy, galleries, email marketing, or art festivals, we’re invited to ask what God is actually assigning in this season. That mindset shift moves us from chasing trends to building a life that fits who we are and what we create.

Next, we unpack why relationships grow an art business more reliably than raw reach. Marketing tools matter, but they are not the source. Real collectors, referrals, and long-term trust often come through introductions we could never “plan” on our own, and those relationships compound even when algorithms change. Finally, we separate tactics from timeless kingdom principles, showing how obedience, stewardship, excellence, and hearing God’s voice create longevity while still leaving room for smart, practical strategy.

If you’re tired of trying to sell your work by borrowing someone else’s blueprint, this conversation will help you reset around clarity, confidence, and a path you can sustain. Subscribe for more, share this with an artist friend who feels overwhelmed, and leave a review with the principle you’re choosing to build on next.

Thursday, July 30th at 12pm - 2pm ET 

Registration is free, but required at https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/intensive

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:55

You know, one conversation with God completely changed the way I sell my art. And surprisingly, it had very little to do with marketing. So today I want to share with you the three principles that he taught me that have guided me for more than 30 years as a professional artist and helped thousands of artists that I've mentored stop chasing everybody else's strategy and start discovering God's strategy for their own creative journey. So let's jump in. Well, hey, friend, I'm Matt Tommy. And you know, over the years, one of the most surprising things I've discovered about this art journey for all of us is this the artists who thrive aren't always the best marketers or even the most talented artists. You know, they're almost never the ones that are chasing the latest trend. They're actually the artists who learn to build their creative lives on kingdom principles and then apply practical tactics that fit the unique way that God has called them to create. And unfortunately, I didn't know that for a lot of years when I was starting out. I mean, I made baskets as a hobby for years. And then back in 2009, the Lord showed me that my basketry was the next creative focus that he had for my life. And it sounded incredible, but there was just one problem. I didn't know what that looked like. And nobody had ever taught me really how to build an art business God's way. And so I did what most artists do, right? I just kind of looked around at everybody else and I applied to all the big art festivals that I knew and I pursued some galleries. I said yes to every opportunity that looked like it might have any kind of success. And honestly, you know, it did work for a while. I mean,

A Conversation That Changed Selling

SPEAKER_00 2:23

I got into some great shows and, you know, people bought some of my work and a few doors opened. And, you know, after a couple of years though, of doing that, same thing everybody else was doing, I just realized something wasn't right. Like it, it didn't, it didn't feel like me. I felt like I was spending more and more time just trying to sell my art rather than actually making art and enjoying the life that God had called me to live. And you know, it was like the business thing was kind of working, but my spirit was just not thriving, was not connecting. And and I knew in that moment that something had to change. I don't know, maybe maybe you felt that way as well. Maybe it's not, you know, art festivals necessarily, but maybe it's trying to keep up with Instagram and all the social media or feeling like you got to master all the tech or all the email marketing stuff or whatever's coming next. I mean, it really can be exhausting when all that's on your shoulders. But for me, there was

When Success Stops Feeling Right

SPEAKER_00 3:17

a moment that changed everything. And it was kind of one of those perfect storm moments, if you will, where everything that I thought was gonna turn out one way, I realized God had a whole other plan. See, I had invested thousands of dollars uh in exhibiting this huge show up in Baltimore years ago. And I'd traveled up there and made a ton of work. I mean, I was I was convinced, right, that it was gonna be this incredible breakthrough show for my business. But instead, after the whole weekend was over, did my best, I barely ended up covering my expenses. And by the time it was over, I was really, really confused. And so on the drive home, I was not happy. I was super frustrated. I was like, God, you call me into this? Like, what in the world is going on? And that's when in that moment, the Holy Spirit just reminded me of something that he had spoken to me a lot of years earlier. And he said, Matt, remember when I gave you the studio that you're in? I said, Yes, Lord, I remember how you did that. And he said, remember I told you that it was supposed to be your home base for doing all that you're doing creatively? Yes, yes. And and remember, Matt, that when I called you to speak to artists and travel for ministry, you could do that and not have to travel to sell your baskets. I was like, Yes. And then listen, he he said one thing that completely changed how I thought about selling art. He said, Well, then I want you to go home and I want you to get your studio ready to sell art. Now, honestly, at that moment, I had no idea what that meant. But over time, he started showing me, and I'll share more about that with you in a moment, but that one sentence, you know, go back and get your studio ready to sell, that that really became the foundation for everything

The Costly Show That Flopped

SPEAKER_00 4:56

that God taught me about building an art business. And it'll make sense in a minute because kind of leads me to this first principle that he started showing me, which is God's strategy for your art business is as unique as you are and as unique as the art that he's called you to create. And for years, I thought that success meant finding, you know, what everybody else was doing, that finding artists that were getting the results I wanted and just doing whatever they were doing. I mean, we've we've all probably been guilty of that at one time or another, right? I mean, one artist says, oh, Instagram's the answer. Another one says, no, you got to be on Etsy. And another one's like, no, you got to get into this gallery or or that festival or that show. And listen, before long, you're just running around with the chicken with your head cut off, you know, trying to build somebody else's business instead of discovering God's assignment for your life and your art. But see, here's the thing that I learned the issue isn't whether a tactic will work or not, a marketing tactic, a sales tactic. The issue is whether God is asking you to do that or not in the season that you're in. So, you know, back to this old Baltimore story, you know, I ended up going home and for a couple

Turning A Studio Into A Gallery

SPEAKER_00 6:02

of weeks, I did my best to transform the studio by, you know, what the Lord was showing me with better lights and pedestals and just trying to really create a gallery atmosphere as opposed to just having a workspace. And so I did all that as faithfully as I could. I opened the doors on a Saturday. I had no idea what would happen. And of course, wouldn't you know it, later that afternoon, a couple walked in and they said, Matt, you know, we were actually planning on coming to Baltimore a couple of weeks ago to buy one of your pieces of work and we couldn't make it. So we just decided we'd drive up here from Atlanta, which was a couple hours. You know, we just drive up here instead. And long story short, that afternoon they ended up commissioning a $2,000 piece of my work, which is my most expensive piece at that point. I was absolutely blown away. And listen, the sale wasn't even a miracle. See, for me, the miracle in that moment was realizing that obedience creates the environment where God's provision flows. And I'm gonna say that again because I really want you to get it. Obedience creates the environment where God's provision flows. See, I didn't manufacture that opportunity. I simply obeyed what God asked me to do in the moment, even though I didn't understand it. And that lesson is one I never have forgotten, one that I built my life on. See, grace follows God's assignment for you, not for somebody else. You know, that's that really is at the heart of why I created the Thriving Christian Artist Pathway, because most artists think they need another marketing course or more tactics, right? But what they really need is a kingdom framework that helps them hear God's voice and renew the way they think, change it, right? Renew their mind and start applying practical strategies that they need in this season that fit their unique calling. And that's exactly what we help artists do every day through the pathway in the coaching community. Listen, there's a link down here in the description if you'd like to learn more. And if you're serious about becoming the artist that God really created you to be, I know 100% we can help you get there. Now, once I realized God's strategy for my business was as unique as I was, he started teaching me something else that, again, changed everything. It changed everything about what I was thinking about, about art and marketing and the way to get it out there. And it's this He showed me that He grows our business through relationships, not just reach. Now, don't misunderstand me. Marketing 100% matters for artists, right? I mean, we got to use websites and email and YouTube and social media, all the stuff. I mean, I'm using those every day. Those are 100% valuable tools. But listen, none of those are the source of my business or your business. And they were never designed to be the source of our business. They're simply tools that support what God is wanting to do in and through our life and art. And one of the biggest ways that he does that, the way he uses those tactics in our life, is through relationships. See, years ago, one of my collectors introduced me to a woman who owned a beautiful furniture store in one of the wealthiest communities in Western North Carolina where I lived. And listen, she loved my work. And over time we became friends. God just opened that door. And not long after that, she started inviting me to host a show during the summer at her store. And listen, that that one relationship over years absolutely changed everything for me because she started introducing me to collectors, and collectors introduced me to builders, and those builders started introducing me to their interior designers, and then interior designers would start introducing me to their, you know, clients

Growing Through Relationships Not Reach

SPEAKER_00 9:30

and other homeowners, and homeowners would introduce me to friends. It was just this avalanche effect. And before long, God had woven together this beautiful network of relationships that I could have never planned myself out of one relationship. And you know, then something else happened that was so cool. Garden clubs started inviting me to speak, which may sound completely weird, but let me explain. Because if you'd asked me when I started my career, you know, 30 plus years ago whether, you know, garden clubs were in my marketing strategy, I guarantee you that would have never made the list. But guess guess what? God had a plan. And guess who attends garden clubs? Well, people who own luxury, beautiful mountain homes, who were my ideal clients, who appreciate craftsmanship, who love to buy original art. And again, this didn't work because it was Matt's brilliant marketing strategy or because I saw it in a magazine or on a website. It worked because I kept saying yes to the relationships that God was putting in front of me. And see, it works for my students as well every day who lean into this kind of thing in their own business. And listen, looking back after more than 30 years of doing this, I can honestly tell you, almost every major breakthrough that I've seen in my career, and I can say this for my students too, they they can all be traced back to a relationship that God orchestrated. Not an algorithm, not a hack, but a relationship. And that's why I believe we as believers and as artists have such an unfair advantage because we're not just building audiences, we're building relationships. We're we're serving people, not just collecting followers. And over time, those relationships become the very channels that God uses to bring favor and opportunity and provision and impact in and through our lives. Because listen, relationships compound. Sure, you know, algorithms change, right? Trends change, tactics change, but trust and favor compound over time. Now, listen, that leads me to this third principle because if you've been listening carefully, you may have noticed something. None of these stories that I'm sharing today were really about marketing necessarily. They were all about learning to partner with the Holy Spirit. And that's why this last principle is so important, because it's one that's guided every decision that I've made over the last 30 years once I started learning this. And is this tactics are for a season, but kingdom principles are for a lifetime. You know, one of the biggest mistakes that artists make is confusing tactics with principles. I mean, think about how much marketing has changed over the last 30 years, right? I don't know when you started being an artist, but when I started, there was no Instagram, there was no YouTube, there was no Etsy, there was no Facebook marketplace, no AI. I mean, none of that. Back then, uh, I mean, you had an art show and you had some galleries to go to, and that was just about all that an artist had to rely on to build their business. But today, listen, so many of my students, so many artists uh never do a single show and are making a great living from their art. But you know why? It's because the tactics have changed, but they're not relying on tactics. They're relying on principles that never changed. See, some people ask me all the time, you know, Matt, you know, what's the best way to sell my work? I need to make money right now, all this kind of stuff. And honestly, listen, I I could share with you a ton of tactics that are working right now. We do every day inside our coaching community, but at the end of the day,

Principles Last Longer Than Tactics

SPEAKER_00 12:52

I think an artist is asking that is ultimately asking the wrong question. See, see, the better question is, Lord, what principles are you wanting to teach me and asking me to build my life on? What is your vision for my life and art? What are the strategies that you have for me that fit the season that I'm called to right now? Because listen, throughout scripture, God's principles never change, right? Things like hearing his voice, knowing his word, walking in obedience, uh, serving people with excellence, laying down our life, stewarding what's in our hand right now, building meaningful relationships, trusting him as our source, gaining the, of course, the knowledge and wisdom and understanding that we need of what's working right now and being able to pivot with him by the Spirit, you know, when things change. Listen, those principles worked 30 years ago, they're gonna work 30 years from now, and I guarantee you they're working today. And guess what? That is the way we build thriving art businesses. The tactics, those are gonna 100% change. They're gonna keep changing. And that's why I never build my life and my art business around tactics. I build my life on kingdom principles and let the Holy Spirit show me which tactics are fitting in the season that I'm in right now. And truth be told, that's probably one of the biggest reasons why my work is still selling regularly over 30 years after starting this journey. And why the same thing's true for my students every day. And listen, that's not just me, that's not just them, it can absolutely be true for you as well. Remember what Jesus said in John, John uh 10, he said, My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. And I promise you, that is one of the greatest advantages that we'll ever have as Christian artists. Not because we ignore marketing, right? Not because we're just looking for the next hack, not because we're refusing to learn the things we need to learn in business. No, we got to know those things. We absolutely need to learn and grow and pursue excellence and be students of what's going on right now. But while everybody else is chasing formulas, we are learning to follow a shepherd. And we're listening for his voice and we're being faithful to our creative calling. And trust me, that changes everything. It gives you longevity and a solid foundation in your life. Hey, listen, if today's video is really resonating with you, I'd love to invite you to join us inside the Thriving Christian Artist Pathway and coaching community because everything I've shared today is exactly what the pathway is built on. You know, you can either try to keep cobbling a plan together yourself based on your best guess, based on 10,000 YouTube videos, or you can start walking this pathway where we'll teach you how to hear God's voice more clearly, renew your mind, build your creative life on biblical principles, and at the same time learn the practical marketing and business strategies that you need that'll work right now to help you sell your work so you can become the artist that God created you to be. Listen, I've watched thousands of artists over the years experience incredible transformation in our community, not because they found the magic formula, but because they stopped chasing everybody else's path and started walking faithfully on their own path. Listen, if you're ready for that kind of clarity and confidence and momentum in your own life and creative journey, I would love to help you. And I know our community would love to see you inside. So there's a link again in the description right here. And I really, really hope we see you there. All right. Hey, thanks very much for spending some time with you today. Of course, make sure to subscribe, comment, do all the stuff. Let me let me know which one of these three principles is is challenging you or encouraging you today. And of course, uh, if you know another artist out there who's feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure out how to make this thing work on their own, be sure to share this video with them as well. All right. It just might

Join The Pathway And Reflect

SPEAKER_00 16:35

be the very encouragement that they've been looking for. All right. I love you, friend. Thanks for being with me. And again, remember till next time, you were created to thrive. Bye.