Restless? Unclear Creative Direction? Could Your Art Be Under a CURSE?

What if that restless, wandering unproductive spirit that has you “creating for creativity’s sake” is actually a curse? What if your struggle with being a “starving artist” is because you’re a direct descendant of Caine?

First in his book Unlocking the Heart of the Artist, and now at his live workshops of the same name, friend, author

Artist, author, musician, Matt Tommey

and fellow artist Matt Tommey helps artists break the curse during his weekend event the “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist Weekend”

I caught up with Matt to ask for real world help for a friend:

TONY:  I have a young visual artist friend who is incredibly talented. This person is a believer  but lately is frustrated because although they know that God does speak, they’re not hearing Him. My friend knows they are at a crossroads in what to do next with their talent, but they’re stumped.

TONY: Has the “Unlocking the Heart of the Artist Weekend” been able to help others facing the same frustration? If so, how?

MATT: One of the quotes we got last year from Unlocking the Heart of the Artist was from someone who said ‘The level of love and healing was beyond my wildest dreams! I came broken and left whole!’
The environment at Unlocking the Heart of the Artist weekend is one of love, acceptance, community and freedom.  Our heart is to create a safe environment where artists of every creative media can tangibly sense the presence of God, gain clarity about their unique calling in the Kingdom and in the context of community work through any roadblocks that the enemy may have set up for them.   For many, it’s the first time in their life that someone has connected their creativity and their relationship with God.  The sense of purpose and freedom is simply overwhelming.

TONY: What led you to launching the Unlocking the Heart of the Artist Weekend in the first place?

MATT: Over the years, I’ve encountered many artisans, musicians, craftsmen and other creative ones who have, for one reason or another, become stuck. The “stuckness” originates from many different places – woundedness, fear, control, unbelief, religious barriers – and creates a frustration in their life that becomes unbearable. Many artists, unable to understand what’s really going on either run headlong into “creativity for creativity’s sake” or turn to unhealthy alternatives in order to numb or overcome the pain they are feeling. Many more simply give up, hide the gift by stuffing it down under ‘Christian work ethic’ and just try to gone on with life as usual.  Our desire in launching Unlocking the Heart of the Artist weekends was to give creative people a safe place to explore the roadblocks they may be experiencing in their life and begin the journey to wholeness and abundant creativity in the Kingdom.

TONY: What was the biggest move of God that you know of that occurred in the life of someone that attended?

MATT: Many times we don’t hear all that God does in the lives of those that attend.  However, we have testimonies

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of people who have experienced physical, emotional and creative healing during the weekends which enabled them to go to new levels in God and their creative expression.  Many artists have repressed deep fear, shame and anxiety about past woundedness and this weekend has been a major catalyst for freedom in their life.

TONY: What do you cover during the weekend that speaks to ” The Starving Artist”?

MATT: The term Starving Artist is based in a curse found in Genesis 4 within the story of Cain.  Cain was the great, great, great, great, great grandfather of all musicians and craftsmen and one of the repercussions of his disobedience to God was Genesis 4:12 where God says “When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”  This restless, wandering, unproductive spirit that is often termed “the artist personality’ is nothing more than a curse.  During the weekend, we talk a lot about God’s plan for thriving as an artist in the Kingdom and how to be a prospering artist.

Now you can join Matt Tommey at the “Unlocking The Heart Of The Artist” weekend event: Friday, March 23, 2012 at 7:00 PM – Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 9:00 PM (EST) Kennesaw, GA

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR CREATIVITY COULD BE CURSED? Sound off and share your voice by posting a comment below: