8 Reasons Why Artists and Creative Professionals Need a Coach or Mentor

Artists of faith begin their creative journey armed with a passion for honoring God, a desire for excellence and the desire to share their art with the world. Yet, while talent and dedication are essential components of artistic success, there’s another crucial element that often goes overlooked: mentorship or coaching.

Our need for direction and mentorship in the creative and business aspects of our creative life mirrors our need for discipleship in our spiritual life. Christ called us to be disciples. He says in John 13:34-35(NIV):

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We are to learn from Him how to love, learn from Him how to do life. We are not self-made, solo Christ followers. Our growth and learning come in the context of relationship with Him. We need support and leadership in all aspects of our lives. So it’s no surprise why artists need a mentor or coach to help them succeed in their art business. And it’s no surprise how expert guidance can shape not just their careers but their lives as well.
So let’s discover the 8 reasons why artist and creative professionals need a coach or mentor:

1. Navigating the Ever-Changing Artistic Landscape

The art world and entertainment industry have drastically changed from before the pandemic. It can be a labyrinth of relationships, pitfalls, spiritual graveyards, temptation factories, platforms for growth, and doorways to success. And the opportunities are constantly morphing and expanding in new areas.

For emerging artists, finding their way can be daunting. A mentor or coach can act as a guide, helping artists understand the nuances of the industry, decode complex relational dynamics, and navigate the intricacies of representation and marketing or branding. Christian creative coaches can also help engage the questions of compromise, faithful presence and how to honor God in an environment hostile to your faith.

For veteran creatives, navigating the “new” scene full of digital platforms, AI, new languages for marketing and increased expectation and workload to market yourself, makes having a mentor or coach a necessity.

For either group of artists they provide a roadmap for real progress, helping artists avoid common pitfalls and make wise decisions all while growing spiritually in your faith.

2. Goal Setting and Accountability

Healthy accountability is essential to success in both your spiritual life and creative career. Setting clear goals is crucial for a creative in art, entertainment or media. Whether it’s completing a series of artworks, securing a gallery exhibition, financing your production, leveling up your marketing, reaching your audiences or reaching a specific income level, mentors can assist artists in defining their objectives. Moreover, they provide the necessary accountability to ensure artists stay on track. Regular check-ins and goal assessments help artists measure progress and make pivots when needed.

3. Developing and Discovering New Artistic Skills

Artistic growth is a never-ending journey. Coaches and mentors provide encouragement and constructive feedback and guidance. They challenge artists to push their creative boundaries, encouraging experimentation and growth. With the right mentorship, artists and creative professionals can refine their skills and evolve their artistic style, making them more appealing to not only their collectors, galleries, producers, distributors, but also to potential collaborators and colleagues.

4. Building a Professional Network

Success often hinges on who you know as much as what you create. Mentors and coaches help creatives learn how to establish networks within the art world and entertainment industry. They enjoy connecting artists with the resources they need and connecting them to other artists for the sake of building a healthy community.

An example of this is the amazing community we have here at AEM. We have countless collaborations between the artists here in our ministry- from graphic designers helping design artwork for musician’s new song releases to filmmakers collaborating to visual artists referring and recommending each other for various gallery shows. We are blessed to have such a generous community! And you can be a part of that too if you haven’t signed up yet for our news HERE.

And once you have healthy, supportive connections, doors open to opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden. Building a strong professional network is essential to grow your career.

5. Overcoming Unbelief and Mental Blocks

Artists frequently grapple with self-doubt, creative blocks, imposter syndrome, the fear of rejection or fear of failure. Not to mention massive issues of unbelief related to their art, themselves and their faith. Now a mentor or coach is no replacement for a professional Christian counselor or therapist if artists are in a dire mental health crisis. But they can help artists overcome some of these mental barriers and faith crises. They offer encouragement, spiritual guidance, share their own experiences, and teach practical strategies for dealing with the emotional roller coaster of the art world and the entertainment industry. This support is invaluable in maintaining mental well-being, spiritual health and staying committed to one’s artistic journey.

6. Strategic Marketing and Promotion

Creating excellent art is only half the battle; the other half is effectively marketing and promoting it. Coaches and mentors help artists develop marketing strategies, define their audiences, and create compelling narratives around their work. They provide insights into social media, branding, and public relations, helping artists gain visibility in a crowded marketplace without being salesy and slimy.

Marketing with integrity and honesty is paramount. In our Catalyst Program we devote an entire week to how to market your work by sharing and showing how you and your work add value. It’s an important mindset shift to understand and implement right away.

7. Trusting God in Difficulty

As an artist of faith we know your journey in the arts can feel difficult and lonely. And it’s great to have a mentor who walks with you through that journey. From spiritual encouragement to sound business advice, a mentor directs you toward the Lord, to trust in the Lord’s very character and strength. The journey as an artist of faith is a marathon not a sprint. And when lean financial times arrive, hard knocks from the critics come, and questioning your calling as an artists hits—it’s those very difficulties that can draw us closer to the Lord. And they are the very opportunities God has given us to grow deeper in our dependance of Him. As Romans 8:28(ESV) says:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

God is always faithful to show up for us. He is our strength, our shelter from the storm and our provision. It’s helpful in those difficult times to have a mentor praying for you, with you and reminding you of the very promises of our gracious Father in heaven.

8. Being a Faithful Presence

It’s ultimately a privilege to be an artist or creative. To fully connect with God in the creative process is an experience like no other. And to know we are deeply known by Him as creators is precious. So we are called to not only be excellent as creators but to faithfully be salt and light wherever we work in the art world or entertainment industry. And navigating the landmines of political agendas, social agendas and power struggles while maintaining your integrity and submission to God’s laws can be daunting. A mentor stands with you, advising you how to traverse the landscape in a respectful way without compromising your faith.

Conclusion

The journey of an artist of faith is exciting, challenging and unpredictable. While talent is undoubtedly a crucial component of success, it’s not the only one. Artists need a coach or mentor to guide them through the complexities of the art and entertainment industries, giving practical advice and encouraging their spiritual development and growth.

In the end, artists who embrace the guidance of a mentor or coach are better equipped to overcome obstacles, achieve their goals, and ultimately thrive in the world of art and entertainment. With the right mentorship, artists can turn their passion into a fulfilling, successful and God honoring career.

And right now we are excited to connect you with our career mentoring program: Catalyst. Next week we are hosting our Arts & Entrepreneurship Summit where we introduce artists and creative professionals to our Catalyst Program. This FREE 4 day summit tackles the four key strategies for real traction in your creative career- all based from a Christian worldview and biblical principles. At the end of the summit we open enrollment for our Catalyst Program where we coach and mentor artists in a comprehensive training to take their career to the next level.

We’d love to have join us! Just CLICK HERE for all the details and to save your spot!

And be sure to tell us in the comments below which of the 8 reasons resonated with you.

Want to take your creative career to the NEXT LEVEL? Come to our Arts & Entrepreneurship Summit REGISTER HERE

To take our FREE Masterclass on An Artists’s Calling CLICK HERE

To get our FREE weekly devotion for artists and receive our weekly e-news CLICK HERE

Copyright © 2023 Joel & Michelle Pelsue. All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.