July 2023 Art Update - Purposelessness in the Midst of “Living the Dream”
July 2023 Art Update
I sat across my friend at dinner and tried to offer a word of encouragement. A few years out of college, he was struggling with the gnawing feeling that his life had no purpose. I could see it wasn’t just the soul-sucking job he was in, but a deeper longing to know why God had put him here. A feeling I know pretty well.
In the face of the constant messaging to “pursue your passion” and “follow your dreams”, I’ve always considered myself a big dreamer. This is actually the one year mark of going all in on my dreams to be a full time artist! As exciting as this landmark is, “living the dream” has not been as fulfilling as I thought it would be. It’s not just all the “non-painting” work I have to do to stay afloat. It’s the mistake we all make when we try to find fulfillment in something other than God. An emptiness.
This conversation with my friend sparked my own questioning and I’ve been asking God to reveal what His mission for me is…beneath the art. Why is it important for me to do this? So far, this is what He has revealed in my heart:
I want to find Jesus, obtain Him, and bring as many people along with me as possible.
This is the cool thing - I could fulfill this purpose by doing any job in the world. But because God has designed me to be an artist, this is the primary way I can live it out.
There’s a great quote I heard recently: “Your calling is where your greatest joy intersects with the world’s greatest need”. So that means we need to understand ourselves (what is my greatest joy?) and the world (what is the greatest need?). Who better to ask than the One who created us?
This past year of full time artistry, God has been showing me again and again that this world truly does need the beauty I can bring. On Instagram, a common comment is “I cried when I saw this” and “I was not expecting to be moved like that today”. And I still haven’t gotten used to seeing people pray with the triptychs at church. Somehow my greatest joy of creating beauty, taking on challenging projects, knowing people deeply, and playing is meeting the the world’s greatest need of loneliness, purposelessness, mediocrity, and confusion.
There is much to discover about this mission God has called me on. And there is much for you to discover the mission God has called you on. But know that He is calling you. Like Lucy in the wardrobe, you are called to a wonderful adventure. You only need to ask Him.
Art Updates
This project has been TOP SECRET since it was commissioned for one of my followers (and dear friends). But I can now finally reveal one of my favorite paintings to date! Ali prays often with an image of a lion so her husband Sam commissioned a piece that would speak to this place in her heart. As a huge Narnia fan myself, I was so excited about this idea and it couldn’t have been more easy to do.
Sam presented it to her on her birthday this weekend and it was even blessed by a priest friend! What shall I name it? Maybe “Defenses Down”.
It was such a delight finally delivering this painting for Everett. He was mostly speechless, but got out the words “If only she could see this - she’d ask me how much it cost!”
I took a weeklong leadership training retreat with Desert Stream Ministries. During the breaks, I worked on this study of Rose Datoc Dall’s Pieta.
Some exciting projects on the bench for next month! Two live wedding paintings, two city murals, and a bicentennial collage for St. Mary’s church in Independence!
I put together a full blog post detailing the process of the triptychs! You can also see this process in my Instagram reels. Enjoy!
50% off my Etsy store!
To celebrate my 1 year of being a full time artist, I’m giving away 50% discounts on my entire print shop! Use the code BENOTAFRAID for 50% off (through the rest of the month)!
I just added the Lion and Girl print to the shop, as well!
Thank You!!
I couldn’t have done this year without you all. I am so grateful to not live up to the “starving artist” trope and to be serving God and His people through my art. I can’t wait to see what year 2 brings!
God Bless You!
-Mattie
