“Maybe I should just forget about this pipe dream of being an artist, and get a regular job again!”
That’s what I told my wife in the summer of 2009.
Earlier that year, I decided to go “all-in,” full-time as an artist…after losing my job as a service technician trainer at Filterqueen, a vacuum/filtration company. My job was downsized because of the Great Recession. After an insightful (and uncomfortable) conversation with my mother-in-law, I decided to not look for a job, but rather pursue my dream of being a professional artist.
I had wanted to for years. “What is it that you think God has called you to do?” she asked. She noticed that I didn’t like my current job, and was almost always on the road—never home for my wife and young children.
“I’ve always wanted to be a full-time artist,” I said.
“Well, why aren’t you doing it, then?” she probed.
“Um, because I’m afraid my bills won’t get paid,” I replied reluctantly.
“What?! You can trust God to meet your needs?”
It was like a dagger to the heart.
This conversation took place PRIOR to my boss deciding to let me go. So, even though I didn’t see that coming, I knew I had a green light to pursue my career as an artist. I went all in!
Immediately, after letting people know that this was my new path in life, I was commissioned to do a painting for a friend at church. He wanted an illustration of the “Greatest Commandment” (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor as yourself.) This is what I painted for him. Here is that painting, a 24″ x 30,” acrylic on canvas.
It was like God was confirming, YES, this is my path for you. Roll with it!
Things went well for a few months. I got more commissions. It looked like it was only up from here.
But then…
…the “brook dried up.” Kind of like Elijah, in the way God provided for Him, and then, there was nothing. He was thirsty. He was in need.
I felt like that. No commissions, no income. Now what?
Soon, I got a call from my landlord. I hadn’t paid rent that month.
“When will you be sending the rent money?” he asked. Not an unreasonable question.
I had a pit in my stomach like a stone. What would I do? My family was counting on me. I had a wife and two young children.
Clearly, I remember it. My wife and I had a conversation up in my little 9″ x 13″ bedroom—my studio. And that’s when I told Leah, I was thinking of quitting being a full-time artist. And getting a job again.
She looked me right in the eyes. “Matt, I don’t care if we struggle financially. But if you don’t do what God has called you to do, then I’ll be mad at you!”
“What do we do, then?” I replied back. “Rent is overdue, and we don’t have it. Not even close.”
“We need to pray,” she said, “and fast.”
“How long?”
“As long as it takes!” My wife doesn’t mince words.
So we did. We prayed and sought God like never before. We had no one else to turn to. As I prayed—in our kitchen—I had this very clear thought:
“Matt, what would you do if you had the rent money in your hands, right now?”
I felt that it was God speaking to me.
“Well, I would be really happy. I would be thanking You. I would be praising You!” I said.
“Do that right now, then.”
Okay.
“Thank you, Lord, for the rent money.” I lifted up my hands.
And as I said that, I felt as if I literally DID have the rent money in my hands! I felt this download of joy, right from heaven.
“Leah, we’re done praying. God has answered us. We have the rent money.”
Later that week at church, a guy came up to me out of the blue. He said, “Matt, I’d like to commission you to do some artwork for me. I don’t know for sure what I want done yet, I’ll have to give you a picture later, but here’s a check to get you started.”
Wow! With that, and some other provision, we had the rent money in just a couple of days!
It was enough to keep me going on the path as a full-time artist.
I thank God for my wife, Leah. We’ve been married for 20 years. She’s put up with a lot. She wouldn’t let me quit as an artist, even when I wanted to so many times.
And so it is my delight to paint a portrait of her again.
I launched my first online painting class in 2017. Since that time, hundreds of students have taken that course, and so many have painted their own beautiful portrait, even with little experience! I feel like it’s time to do it again–new and improved. I’ll be launching this new version of “Paint Your First Amazing Acrylic Portrait” very soon.
Whatever your goal is as an artist, I’d like to encourage you too, just like my wife did for me. Maybe you don’t want to do art full time, but rather as a side hobby to paint beautiful portraits of those you love.
I’d like to cheer you on. And say, despite any voices to the contrary, YOU CAN DO IT.
I’ll be here to help you every step of the way, as much as I possibly can.
Blessings,
Matt
P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts below. Have you ever felt like quitting? What did you do? If you found this post, encouraging, please share it with a friend!
In this video, I share some thoughts I had while praying on our large swing in the backyard, and combined it with images of paintings I did. May God bless you richly this Easter and every day as you think about Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith!
All the best,
P.S. Did you find this post helpful or encouraging? If so, send it on ahead! Let others know with the share buttons below. I’d love to hear your comments. Thank you so much! Also, do you have a question on acrylic portrait painting you’d like answered? Let me know, and I’d be happy to help!
It was a pleasure to be able to paint this custom portrait for the customer. I thank God that I am able to paint portraits full-time now, and that after years of struggle my business is doing better than ever. If you would like a portrait painted, just let me know!
I just finished a 16 x 20 acrylic on canvas portrait of three beautiful children, a commissioned project. I’d like to show that to you.
Realistic acrylic portrait of three children, 16 x 20, acrylic on canvas, by Matt Philleo
Here is a video showing how I started the portrait…
If you are looking to have a portrait done, contact me. I’d love to do that for you.
Have a blessed day,
Matt
Share Your Thoughts!
If you have any comments or questions about what I wrote, please leave me your feedback below! I will personally get back to you. Can you help me spread the word? Please share this post with your family and friends by using the social media links on the side or below. Thank you!
“”Where do you run for help? When you are in trouble, what is your first instinct? Do you run to others or to God? Is it usually the counsel of another rather than the counsel found in waiting upon God in prayer? Why is this the way it is? Why do we run to man before we run to God?”- Kay Arthur
Where will you go?
I don’t think there’s anything wrong in getting advice from trusted friends or counselors, because God can speak to us in various ways, but your first and primary source should be God, direct. Think for a moment, in your own life.
When things go south, where do you go first for help?
I’ll admit, when I have a deep question about something, I all too often visit Google first!
You may find some temporary relief in these other sources, but it will only be temporary. There is only one place to turn to for true, permanent relief, and that is in the pages of the Bible. There, you will discover the author of those pages longing to heal your hurts and fill you with a joy you never thought possible. But, before that can happen, you need to seek Him. Now that’s a prescription that cannot fail. It may take some time, though.
For sure, it’s much easier to read an article out of the O! magazine and glean some helpful tidbits on living a better life, than to turn to the God of the universe, sincerely seek Him, and wait for the reply.
The real cure is worth the wait, however.
Do you feel like a 3…or a 7?
Let’s use the doctor’s office metaphor again. You’re in mild to severe (but probably not excruciating) pain, and finally after the annoyingly long wait, you’re taken by the nurse into the doctor’s room. She asks you a few cursory questions, you answer her quickly, glancing at your cellphone, noticing the time and how much you have to get done yet today.
“Just give me the flipping prescription!” you think to yourself.
She finishes her questions and then…another wait.
Finally, the doctor bursts in, looking much more rushed for time than the nurse. He asks you some of the same exact questions the nurse just did. You’re thinking, “Don’t you people even communicate with each other?”
You’re tempted just to answer briefly so you can get out of there and still make it to the next meeting on time.
But hold on.Don’t do that.
What you tell the doctor is an integral part of getting the correct diagnosis–and treatment. If you tell the doctor your pain is a “three” when it’s actually a “seven”, and it hurts in your back, when actually your back and your abdomen is in pain, the doctor may not be able accurately locate your source of discomfort.
During your trial, it’s the same thing. Don’t rush this part. Take some time, and talk to God. I’m going to assume you have some sort of relationship with God. But if you don’t, you can, through Jesus Christ. (I’ll talk about that more in Chapter 7)
You may find some temporary relief in other sources, but it will only be temporary. There is only one place to turn to for true, permanent relief, and that is in the pages of the Bible.
Be real with God. Share your feelings–He can handle them. However there is a caveat: as you get to know God and His character through praying, reading the Bible, and living the life He wants you to, you would not be wise to accuse Him of wrongdoing as you vent your frustrations!
In other words, share your heart, but do it with an attitude of respect. With all that you say, keep in mind that God is good and perfect in everything He does. If He seems to be harsh, unloving, aloof, or mistaken in His dealings with you, He’s not.
That’s just the way you feel.
But our feelings often are not in sync with reality. The Bible says, “Let God be true and every man be a liar.” If we think God is wrong, we are the ones who are wrong. Getting this correct perspective about the infallibility of God will help you receive the encouragement He longs to give you.
“Why should I talk to God about my problems?” you ask. “Doesn’t he already know?”
Of course He does. But he longs for us to communicate to Him. You often know when your child wants something, but don’t you like to hear them ask for it? Also, as we pour our hearts out before the Lord, we can often recognize something about ourselves that we wouldn’t have otherwise. We can even speak things that are like a sermon to ourselves (especially if it’s based on scripture) and it will bring encouragement to us as if it were from the very mouth of God!
Have a blessed day,
Share Your Thoughts!
If you have any comments or questions about what I wrote, please leave me your feedback below at the very bottom of the page! I will personally get back to you.
Can you help me spread the word? Please share this post with your family and friends by using the social media links on the side or at the bottom of this page. Thank you!
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