What if creativity is far more than a hobby?

What if God intentionally designed creativity to help renew our minds, restore joy, regulate our nervous systems, and draw us closer to Him? In this inspiring conversation, artist, teacher, and creative encourager Ali Brown shares how creativity impacts both the brain and the soul.

Together we explore the connection between creativity, neuroplasticity, healing, gratitude, beauty, and God's loving design for human flourishing. From visual journaling and color to neuroscience and spiritual transformation, this conversation reveals how creativity can become a sacred pathway to peace, healing, and deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Whether you're an artist, journaler, photographer, maker, or simply longing for more joy and renewal, you'll discover why your brain and soul were made for this.

If you loved this episode, please like, share, and subscribe to our channels. :)

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About Ali:

Ali Brown is a Christian artist, creative educator, worship leader, and the founder and coach of The Joy Revival. She believes creativity is one of God's greatest gifts to us...and that it's never too late to pick up a paintbrush, tell your story, or find your way back to joy.

Connect with Ali:

Website: https://alibrowncreative.com/

The Joy Revival: https://alibrowncreative.com/joy-revival

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@alibrownie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alibrownie/

FREE CLASS: https://alibrowncreative.com/moms-hearts

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Connect with Melanie:

Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@UCJmRqPVTNmzXVxEcUE2ARZw

Instagram: www.instagram.com/@melaniefaganart

FREE CLASSES & LIBRARY: www.melaniefaganart.com/free-library

When God Gives You Something You Love, Invite Him In

What if the very thing you love doing could become a sacred place to meet with God?

In this heartfelt conversation, Kim Pepper shares her journey from depression, unexpected life transitions, and heartbreak to a vibrant creative faith community that helps women connect with God through art, prayer, and creativity.

Kim opens up about the power of inviting God into the activities we already love, whether that's painting, journaling, baking, gathering people, gardening, or simply noticing beauty in the world around us.

Together we explore:

• How creativity became a pathway to healing and intimacy with God

• The surprising connection between art journaling and prayer

• Why creativity doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful

• Moving beyond scarcity and embracing collaboration in ministry

• The role of prayer in everyday life

• Learning to linger, savor, and notice God's beauty in the details

• Why your creativity matters, even if you never sell it, teach it, or share it

One of Kim's most powerful insights is this: "God loves me so much that He gives me something I love and asks me to invite Him there."

Whether you consider yourself artistic or not, this conversation will encourage you to see creativity as an invitation to draw closer to Jesus and experience His presence in everyday life.

Kim has a FREE OFFERING just for you! https://www.kimpepper.com/paperworkshop

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a comment/review, and share it with a friend.

Connect with Kim:

Website: https://www.kimpepper.com/

Creative Club: https://www.kimpepper.com/the-creative-faith-club

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimpeppercreative/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimpeppercreative/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KimPepperCreative

Connect with Melanie:

Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefagaart

Instagram: www.instagram.com/melaniefaganart

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/melaniefagancreativecommunity

FREE OFFRINGS: https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-library

What if creativity could become a sacred space for healing, prayer, and transformation? In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with therapist, artist, and workshop facilitator Hyatt Fields to explore the powerful connection between faith, creativity, and emotional healing. Hyatt shares her journey from clinical depression to renewed joy and purpose, and how art journaling became a prayer language through which God met her in profound ways.

Together we discuss intuitive art, art journaling, gathering community, finding beauty in suffering, and how God faithfully brings beauty from ashes. Hyatt also shares how she incorporates creativity into her counseling work and offers practical ways anyone can begin using creativity as a tool for healing and connection with God.

Whether you're an artist, journaler, creative soul, or simply walking through a difficult season, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and gentle reminders that God is present in the process.

In this episode:

• Hyatt's journey from depression to healing

• Art journaling as a form of prayer

• The connection between creativity and emotional healing

• Trusting God's process through difficult seasons

• Gathering others through workshops and creative community

• Finding God's beauty in nature and everyday life

• Simple creative practices to deepen your faith

Hiatt has a gift just for you!

Download Hiatt's Journaling Guide - Awaken to Beauty here:

https://delightful-field-82730.myflodesk.com/wzn5qsyaea

Connect with Hiatt:

Website: www.beautifulbecoming.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.beautiful.becoming/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiattfields

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiattFieldsArt

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Connect with Melanie:

Website: www.melaniefaganat.com

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefagaart

Free Library of Classes and Resources: www.melaniefaganart/free-library

In this heartfelt conversation, I sit down with art journaler and teacher Casey Turner of Express Your Artsy Soul to explore how creativity can become a pathway to healing, prayer, and deeper trust in the Lord.

Casey shares how art journaling became a lifeline during her mother's battle with early-onset Alzheimer's, helping her process grief, pour out prayers, and discover God's presence in unexpected ways. She also shares the remarkable story of how God guided her family through a season of waiting, through faith, surrender, and divine orchestration.

Together we talk about:

• Art journaling as a spiritual practice
• Creativity as a way to process grief and difficult seasons
• Trusting God when the path ahead is unclear
• Childlike faith, messy creativity, and letting go of perfection
• Finding rest, peace, and renewal through creative time with God

If you've ever wondered whether creativity has a place in your faith journey, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that God meets us right in the middle of our paint, paper, prayers, and everyday lives.

Casey has a special offering for listeners: Join her in making a sweet art journal page that anyone can make! Have fun with collage, inks, and paint. July First Tutorial

Connect with Casey:

https://linktr.ee/Expressyourartsysoul

/ expressyourartsysoul

/ expressyourartsysoul

/ @expressyourartsysoul

--- Connect with Melanie

Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart

Free Online Library of Goodies: https://www.melaniefaganart.com/free-...

In this inspiring and deeply honest episode of the Creating with Beauty Podcast, I sit down with artist, teacher, and soulful writer Stephanie Lee for an insightful conversation about gratitude, creativity, faith, healing, and learning to embrace life with intention and authenticity fully.

Together we explore how beauty awakens us, how gratitude renews us, and how creativity becomes a sacred practice that helps us reconnect with ourselves, with God, and with the life we are living right now.

Stephanie shares wisdom on:

- Living with gratitude and presence

- Creativity as spiritual practice

- Journaling as conversation with God

- Striving vs. surrender

- Trusting your creative voice

- Creating messy, authentic art

- Healing through gratitude, beauty and intention

- Loving yourself as God’s creation

- Letting go of perfection and fear

- Finding joy in everyday moments

We also touch on how gratitude can sustain us through difficult seasons and help us continue seeing beauty even when life feels heavy. This conversation is filled with heartfelt encouragement, honest reflections, laughter, wisdom, and reminders that we do not have to wait for life to be perfect before we begin to live and create fully.

“If you only do those things and you never actively choose gratitude in the moment, all of them pale in comparison to mindfully being grateful.” — Stephanie Lee

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who may need hope and inspiration today.

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CONNECT WITH STEPHANIE LEE

About Stephanie:

Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach."

Website: www.stephanieleeart.com

Instagram: @stephanieleemaker

YouTube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee

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Connect with Melanie:

Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart

Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd

In this beautiful and reflective episode, Stephanie Lee shares her journey as an artist, teacher, gardener, storyteller, and creative encourager. Through stories about family, art-making, curiosity, and self-discovery, Stephanie offers wisdom for anyone longing to create more honestly and courageously.

Together we discuss:

• How curiosity is at the heart of creativity
• The connection between creativity, family, and identity
• Vintage photographs as storytelling and emotional memory
• Gardening as “dirt medicine” and creative restoration
• Midlife creativity and continuing to evolve as an artist
• Authenticity versus trying to be “unique”
• The role of courage in the creative process
• Facing the inner critic with truth and logic
• Why comparison doesn’t define your worth as an artist
• Creating as an act of healing, honesty, and invitation

Memorable Quotes

“I wasn’t striving to be unique. I was striving to be authentic.”

“What do I need to do to be brave and bold in life?”

“The biggest gifts we can give are to cultivate authenticity.”

“Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

“You can do this. Look, I’m doing it. You can do it too.”

About Stephanie:

Bio - "I believe our creative power is meant to shape not only art, but the life around it. Through plaster, gesso, mixed media, and encaustic, I create luminous, tactile work that invites others to trust their creative instincts and make something—anything—of their own. My online courses and eBooks guide artists through metalsmithing, sculptural plaster, and encaustic with a practical, liberating, & rule-bending approach."

Website: stephanieleeart.com

Instagram: @stephanieleemaker

Youtube: Make & Grow with Stephanie Lee

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Connect with Melanie:

Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/melaniefaganart

Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd

In this beautiful and honest conversation, I’m joined by mixed media and landscape artist Colleen Kastner to explore the healing power of beauty, creativity, and faith.

Together, we reflect on the ways in which God meets us in our right where we are in life and how creativity can become a sacred pathway toward restoration. From mixed media art, landscape-inspired wonder, and claiming your figurative resilience, this episode is filled with encouragement for anyone longing to create from a place of peace, healing, and hope.

We discuss:

• What resilience looks like in the creative life
• How God brings beauty out hard seasons
• How creating can become a form of prayer and healing
• The connection between art, faith, and restoration
• Trusting God’s call through every season
• Creating with honesty, softness, and hope

This episode is an invitation to remember that you do not need to have everything figured out to begin again. God is still creating beauty within your story.

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Connect with Colleen in the links below through her art, online classes, and creative offerings. Free Class in her Art As Healing Series - Sketching Meditations: https://tinyurl.com/yf98k2n2

Also, go read her bio on her website!! ;) https://colleenkastnerart.com/new-about-colleen/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@colleenkastnerart⁩

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenkastner/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Colleenkastnerartist

Website: https://colleenkastnerart.com/

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Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: / melaniefaganart

Free Collage Class: Unfolding Joy on the Path of a Beauty Seeker https://tinyurl.com/mrh4mxtd

In this final episode of my conversation with artist Jodie, we reflect on what it means to live with our eyes wide open to the beauty and sacredness woven into everyday life.

Together, we explore creativity, curiosity, simple joys, meaningful rhythms, and the ways God gently meets us through ordinary moments. This conversation is filled with encouragement to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover wonder in the life already surrounding you.

Jodie shares insights from her creative journey and reminds us that beauty is not reserved for extraordinary moments — it is often found right in the middle of daily life.

In this episode, we discuss: • Living with greater awareness and wonder • Finding beauty in ordinary moments • Creativity as a way of noticing and savoring • Curiosity, inspiration, and joyful living • The sacredness of everyday rhythms • Slowing down to experience life more fully

This episode is Part Three of a special three-part series:

• Part One — Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be

• Part Two — This Is the Stuff of Life

• Part Three — Living with Eyes Wide Open

Jodi also shares where you can connect with her art, online classes, and creative offerings.

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yc7tf922

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4eernume - @jodene.s

Facebook: /jodene.shaw

Website: https://www.whiteowlwings.com/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JodeneShaw

Newsletter: Love Notes From The Gravel Road is available by subscribing on her website at the bottom of her home page.

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Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com Patreon: / melaniefaganart Free Guide: Finally, merge your faith and creativity with passion and purpose! Download the Ask, Seek, & Knock Guide to Creating with Beauty. https://tinyurl.com/548zm6ns

Episode Title: How God Loves Us Into Purpose and Joy — Part Two Subtitle: This Is The Stuff Of Life

In Part Two of this special three-part conversation, artist Jodie and I continue talking about the beauty of living awake to the sacredness of everyday life.

This episode is a gentle invitation to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover wonder in the ordinary moments we often overlook. Together, we explore creativity, curiosity, beauty, daily rhythms, and the ways God lovingly speaks through simple things.

Jodie shares insights from her creative life and reminds us that beauty is not something reserved for extraordinary moments — it’s woven into the life we’re already living.

In this episode, we discuss: • Living with greater awareness and wonder • Finding beauty in ordinary daily life • Creativity as a way of noticing and savoring • Curiosity, inspiration, and joyful living • The sacredness of simple moments • Sharing beauty and encouragement online

This episode is Part Two of a special three-part series:

• Part One — Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be

• Part Two — This is the Stuff of Life

• Part Three — Living with Eyes Wide Open

Connect with Jodie:

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yc7tf922

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4eernume - @jodene.s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodene.shaw

Website: https://www.whiteowlwings.com/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JodeneShaw

Newsletter: Love Notes From The Gravel Road is available by subscribing on her website at the bottom of her home page.

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Connect with Melanie Website: www.melaniefaganart.com Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/melaniefaganart Free Guide: Finally, merge your faith and creativity with passion and purpose! Download the Ask, Seek, & Knock Guide to Creating with Beauty. https://tinyurl.com/548zm6ns

In this beautiful first installment of a three-part conversation, I sit down with artist and creative soul Jodi Shaw to talk about becoming who we were always meant to be.

Together, we explore how God lovingly shapes our lives through beauty, creativity, curiosity, everyday moments, and even difficult seasons. Jodi shares pieces of her story, her creative journey, and the precious wisdom she’s gathered along the way.

This conversation is filled with encouragement for anyone longing to live more fully awake to beauty, purpose, and the presence of God in ordinary life.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Becoming who God created you to be

• Creativity as a sacred and healing practice

• Paying attention to beauty in everyday life

• Living with curiosity and wonder

• The connection between joy, purpose, and presence

• Finding encouragement through simple moments

This episode is Part One of a special three-part series:

• Part One — Becoming Who You’re Meant to Be

• Part Two — This is the Stuff of Life

• Part Three — Living with Eyes Wide Open

Connect with Jodie:

YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/yc7tf922

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/4eernume - @jodene.s

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodene.shaw

Website: https://www.whiteowlwings.com/

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JodeneShaw

Newsletter: Love Notes From The Gravel Road is available by subscribing on her website at the bottom of her home page.

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Connect with Melanie

Website: www.melaniefaganart.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/cw/melaniefaganart

Download My Free Guide: Finally, merge your faith and creativity with passion and purpose! Download the Ask, Seek, & Knock Guide to Creating with Beauty.

https://tinyurl.com/548zm6ns