Lord…thanks.

I don’t take you for granted.

These people could have gone anywhere on the web, and yet you let them take a little time out to hang out on my little site…
…and I’m thankful for that.

Thank you for letting them help me in 2011. Here’s what I mean:
•    Increased our website traffic to more than 3,000 people per month.
•    …with those people downloading close to 30,000 pages per month.
•    Launching Art Slam Live™, with three shows in just a year and now an emerging brand.
•    Connecting us with a local college; creating a course based on Art Slam Live™ that they now wish to offer annually.
•    Letting us help two of those students acquire an internship with a leading local marketing firm.
•    A creative coaching practice, helping creative people turn their hobbies into a business.
•    Getting new coaching clients and launching workshops that help ALFG now pay for itself.

And just letting us help creative people discover their purpose one weekly post at a time…

Lord…thanks…

…for these people. Let me honor YOU by being a Blessing to THEM in the new year.

Tony-

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"Soul Stirrer"- Click to Enlarge

One of the things you MUST have on your list for starting a new year off right is to have a fresh sketchpad.

There’s nothing that says the sky’s the limit for fresh concepts and ideas like the blank pages of a sketchpad or journal.

Here’s an example of a totally unexpected drawing that came from listening to a little music. To make it interesting, I chose a sound that I don’t necessarily listen to daily.

Click the image to see a larger version.

Click the video below to witness the actual creative process (be sure to crank your speakers UP!):

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"Real Heroes" by Rob Joseph

Fantasy illustrator, graphic novelist and Full Sail University grad Rob Joseph shows his gratitude for our nation’s military with this latest digital painting “Real Heroes“.

I asked Rob what inspired him to create “Real Heroes” and here’s what he had to say:
“I have 3 or 4 members who served in the military and when Vets day rolled around, I was stunned as I realized wow, I had never before honored my family members who were in the military and all the other military heroes with my gift before. That’s when I put my other projects on hold and made a decision to do this piece.”

Get a copy for yourself or for someone YOU wish to honor (framed or unframed) by going to Rob’s online gallery now: http://rob-joseph.imagekind.com/store/Images.aspx/bca72629-d7f5-4549-a1ab-bdaeb8a21af5/Illustrations

Illustrator, Author ROB JOSEPH

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Is your work “meaningless” because it’s not “Christian”?

Is the work that we create that does not have pictures of the cross, a fish or the gospel message within it of less value than work that contains these things?

“…is all art by Christians what many recognize as ‘Christian Art’?”

It’s the crossroads that many of us as Christian creatives face. Now that we have given our lives over to Christ, and now that we have given Him access to our talent, how will we see this relationship reflected in our work? Many immediately expect comic books that tell bible stories and graphic designs for Christian t-shirts…but is all art by Christians what many recognize as “Christian Art”?

Obviously we would see some expression of our faith in what we create the same way we hear it in our verbal expression. But do we quote scripture in every conversation?

I don’t want to lead the conversation on this, but I want to hear what YOU have experienced in the matter:

1. Leave a comment below on your take on this.
2. Forward this to 3 friends and ask them to post their thoughts and experiences as well.

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But, to unpack this concept, let’s start at the root:

What is a “calling” in the first place?

Dictionaries define it as a vocation, profession or trade.

Further discovery shows us that being “called” within biblical history (as seen in Matthew 22:14) means to be “invited’ or “summoned”. It is an action that takes place outside of you; one based on a predetermined plan.

Your creative calling can be further clarified this way:

Although it can be seen within the job that you do, your creative calling is not one specific job.

It is the unique talents, gifts and abilities that you bring TO a job, coupled with your passion.

Your passion is those things you love, are compelled by or drawn to. It may even be the things you hate. As an example, I hate to see talented people ruin their lives and let their talent go to waste. I use my creative gifts and talents of communicating and illustrating to help prevent that thing that I hate from happening through my digital magazine, from my coaching.

So, finding work that uses your gifts about 75% to 100% of the time is work that lines up with your calling.

This Is Where Many Miss Their Creative Calling

Your creative calling is revealed, not something that you decide upon. It is based on a predetermined plan that “calls” for you to play a strategic part.

Because of it being something revealed and being predetermined, it takes patience, quiet and introspection to uncover your true creative calling.

…and those are things that are hard to come by in our current age.

With external messages bombarding us more than ever before, it’s quite difficult getting used to having a dedicated moment alone with God, His thoughts to ours, His Spirit to our spirit.

So, many of us forfeit taking time out to hear the voice of God and the calling He’s place on our creativity.

Share Your Voice On This One:

Do you know what YOUR calling is? How did you discover it… or are you still not too sure what it is?

Post your thoughts/questions in the “Comments” section.

_________________________________________________________________________________

“How to Clarify Your Creative Vision and Earn a Profit as Well”

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