Archives For Artist Stories

The Importance of Spiritual & Artistic Community

February 7, 2013 — 1 Comment

Do you belong to a vibrant spiritual and artistic community? I recently wrote that artists are one of the most misunderstood tribes on the planet, which is one reason why belonging to a thriving spiritual community of artists is essential to thriving as an artist. Today, I want to share with you a wonderful essay from Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith. It’s written by Karen Covell, founder of the Hollywood Prayer Network. Karen delivers an important reminder why spiritual community is so important among artists. You can download the entire PDF essay for free. I hope you’ll be encouraged and share it with friends. Read on…

importanceofspiritualandartisticcommunity The Importance of Spiritual & Artistic Community

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I Love Artists Who Go For It!

January 25, 2013 — 5 Comments

I love artists who go for it. Artists who go for it are people like Brian Swerdfeger, who overwhelmed me with inspiration today. Brian’s got guts and I want more of what he’s got. You see, Brian just doesn’t say he is an artist. He is practicing his artistry in a radical and bold way. He’s an inspiration for other artists to get out of their comfort zones and reach for challenging goals. Brian’s going for it in a big way. A professional musician, he was also the head of marketing at Taylor Guitar for many years. I ran into him at the NAMM show today in Anaheim and was so inspired by his story, I had to share it with you. Read on…

Brianswerfeger toneloungeguitar 225x300 I Love Artists Who Go For It!

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3 Creative Focus Questions for 2013

January 4, 2013 — 5 Comments

For the past several years, focus has been a key theme in my life. In juggling several large writing projects and running The Grove Center for the Arts & Media (a non-profit ministry for artists), I’ve often struggled with where to focus my best energies during the day. In 2013, I am asking myself, “What is my creative focus for 2013?” (You can read my answer in the Comment Section below.)

As you move into these first few weeks of 2013, I have three simple questions that I believe will make a tremendous difference in your creative life. Asking these questions and regularly revisiting them will lead to a more fulfilling, meaningful and productive year. I recently read a Steve Jobs interview where he talked about the importance of focus… Read on…

3creativefocusquestionsfor20131 3 Creative Focus Questions for 2013

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Saying Yes to Art: Artist Interview with Sculptor Karen Schmidt

October 19, 2012 — 2 Comments

In this Art, Life & Faith video interview with sculptor Karen Schmidt, she offered these profound words of wisdom: When you say “yes” to your art, you will face a thousand “no’s”. She is so right. Karen Schmidt is an amazing sculptor, wife, mother and grandmother. She is also one of the most prayerful, disciplined and seasoned artists I know. Karen was a guest blogger earlier this year on Art, Life & Faith with her insightful thoughts on When Creativity Runs Dry. In this Art, LIfe & Faith interview, we talked about how she became a sculptor, her early influences, how she spends her day creating, how she cultivates her spiritual life, the current state of art in the Church and how struggling artists can find help in their work and life. Read on…

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Recklessly Abandon Yourself to God’s Good Care: Artist Interview with Shane Tucker

August 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

I love Shane Tucker’s challenge for artists to “recklessly abandon themselves to God’s good care.” Wow…and that was just in the first three minutes of my conversation with him. Shane Tucker is an artist and pastor who serves other artists and creatives in the Nashville area. In this Art, Life & Faith artist interview, I think you’ll be encouraged by what Shane has to say about spiritual identity, artistry, creativity, ministry, the Church and culture. Shane is a part of an innovative mission in Franklin, Tennessee named Wind Farm Cafe. Shane has a strong heart for pastoring people in the arts, so naturally we have a lot of wonderful things in common about art, life, ministry and faith. Our conversation flowed along the lines of our mutual passion for seeing artists thrive in their relationship with God, in their work and in the communities where they live.

A few highlights include…one of Shane’s favorite quotes…

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Can Artists Project the Goodness of God through Art?

July 12, 2012 — 5 Comments

Steve Kasyanenko from EightM recently interviewed me about how artists can project the goodness of God through art. On EightM, Stephen interviews Christian businessmen and women, actors, musicians, educators, artists, athletes and entertainers from around the world. As one of my goals here on Art, Life & Faith is to help artists pursue their creative calling, EightM is eager to help you find your destiny, call and purpose in life. EightM offers compelling video interviews and stories to teach you how to achieve greatness to radically influence and change the world around you.

In this two-minute excerpt, Stephen and I had a great conversation. We talked about a number of key issues regarding the role of art in the Church and in our culture. Here’s a few questions we explored…


Click this link to watch the entire conversation. By joining EightM,
The Grove Center for the Arts & Media will receive 50% of every membership sold.

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When Creativity Runs Dry

June 28, 2012 — 5 Comments
This is a guest post on creativity by sculptor, Karen Schmidt. Karen is a skilled artist, a personal friend, an incredible sculptor and longtime friend of The Grove Center for the Arts & Media. Karen is one of those rare artists whose commitment to professional excellence flows out of a deep relationship with God. She is a woman of prayer, great depth and personal warmth. It’s my privilege to introduce you to her and her insightful thoughts on spiritual formation, creativity and the creative process.

No matter how skilled an artist is, there are times when the source of creativity is dry. I know that during hectic seasons of life or demanding deadlines in the studio, the joy of creating art goes away and I struggle to find inspiration. The correlation between busyness and lack of creativity is no accident. Read on…

 

“The Holy Family” by Karen Schmidt
This is a powerful, must-watch video!

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Introducing Sound of A Spine: Poetry & Performance of Nick Macedo

June 27, 2012 — 1 Comment

I am so pleased to announce a new video poetry ebook called Sound of A Spine: Poetry & Performance of Nick Macedo published by The Grove Center for the Arts & Media. Nick Macedo is an incredible twenty-five year old slam poet (one of Hollywood’s best) with an incredible grasp for ideas, language, symbol and the spoken word. When I saw Nick perform just over a year ago, I said to myself, “This guy’s phenomenal…I have to meet him.” At the time, I didn’t know how we’d work together, but I knew God had put us together for a special reason.

Now, it’s my pleasure for me to introduce you to Nick’s videos, written poems and performance photos.  If you’re looking for a really cool ebook gift idea or if you have a love for poetry, Sound of A Spine is a wonderful ebook experience optimized for the iPad, Kindle & Nook. Below, I recently interviewed Nick about his poetry and life as an artist. In the introduction to Sound of A Spine, I also tell the story of how Nick and I first met. If you’re open to the artistry and serendipity of God, you never know who you’re going to meet…read on…

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Introducing Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith for the iPad, Kindle & Nook

June 19, 2012 — 1 Comment

After two and a half years of working with 21 artists, I’m very happy to announce the official launch of our dynamic new video ebook optimized for the iPad, Kindle & Nook. It’s called Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith. Create offers essays, artwork and video from 21 artists. Yes, 21 artistic points of view. My design team and I think it’s a compelling product worth your attention. If you have a love for story, art and a desire to see the arts flourish in the Church for this world, I think you’re really going to enjoy Create. For many years, I had this idea stuck in the back of my head, “How could we help and inspire artists who were struggling in their creative lives by offering hope and perspective through the stories of other artists? As artists, how could all of us better learn to integrate our art, life and faith? What if there was a good book or tool just to nudge us all a bit further down the path?”  So after six REJECTIONS from publishers, I could have easily thrown in the towel and said to myself…

CreateTransformingstoriesofartlifefaith Introducing Create: Transforming Stories of Art, Life & Faith for the iPad, Kindle & Nook

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Finding Divine Inspiration: Artist Interview with Scott McElroy

May 29, 2012 — 4 Comments

If you’re looking to find divine inspiration in your life, art and creative work, you just may want to check out Scott McElroy’s excellent book, Finding Divine Inspiration: Working with the Holy Spirit in Your Creativity. Scott and I recently had a video conversation about his book, art in the Church and the upcoming Creative Church Conferences that he is hosting June 15-17 in Indianapolis, Indiana and July 13-15 in Boise, Idaho. Scott has a deep passion for God and seeing the arts thrive in the Church. I hope you enjoy this conversation we had and that you share it with your friends. Scott and I talked about a number of important things for seeing both artists and art flourish in the Church…

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