November 21, 2025 • 34 mins
In this episode, I sit down with Nancy Thygesen, a cold wax and oil painter whose atmospheric landscapes and new ventures into equine art reflect a deep connection with God’s creation.
From the rugged beauty of British Columbia to her experiences as an art therapist, Nancy shares how her creative journey has been intertwined with personal healing, spiritual growth, and a desire to reveal God’s presence through her work.
We talk about the courage it takes to evolve artistically, the balance between sharing your faith and letting it speak naturally through your art, and the beauty of hearing God’s voice in nature. Nancy’s story is a powerful reminder that creativity can be a sacred pathway to both personal restoration and inspiring others.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How God’s creation inspires and shapes Nancy’s art
- The transition from encaustic and acrylic to cold wax and oil painting
- Insights from her background in art therapy and personal healing
- Finding balance in expressing faith through visual art
- The joy and freedom of exploring new creative directions
🌟 Favorite Quotes from This Episode:
“He is present and willing to speak if we just have eyes to see and ears to hear what He has to say.” — Nancy Thygesen
“Your art becomes a window for others to see the heart of God.” — Matt Tommey
🌐 Connect with Nancy Thygesen:
http://www.nancythygesen.com
✅ Stay Connected & Grow as a Thriving Christian Artist:
- 📬 Subscribe to The Thriving Christian Artist Weekly: https://thrive.matttommeymentoring.com/tca-weekly
- 📚 Find My Best-Selling Books: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/resources
- 🎓 Explore Artist Mentoring Programs: https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/mentoring
Find out more about The Created to Thrive Foundations Course
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All over the world, artists are awakening.
Painters and potters, writersand weavers, poets and dancers
not chasing followers or fame,but sons and daughters called
for such a time as this,transformed from the inside out,
creating with purpose,releasing the glory of God and
living in the power of thekingdom.
Right now, this is the ThrivingChristian Artist.
(00:21):
Well, hey, friends, welcomeback to the podcast.
Super glad that you're here.
I'm really honored to have afriend of mine and a member of
our Created to Thrive ArtistMentoring Program, Nancy
Thigason, who is not only agreat artist, she's also
somebody that really loves theLord and loves healing and loves
to see creativity and healingand all that kind of stuff work
(00:43):
together in a transformationalprocess to help people really be
everything God's called them tobe.
So, Nancy, I'm super gladyou're here.
Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, thanks so much for having me, Matt.
This is a real honor and aprivilege.
Oh me too, me, too, me too.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
We were just talking about where you live in the
world, which is one of thosegorgeous spots that everybody's
envious of.
But for those folks that arejust getting to know, you kind
of let them know what you docreatively and where you are in
the world, and all that sort ofthing.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Okay, well, I'm a cold wax and oil artist,
atmospheric landscapes, and justrecently the Lord, it felt
giving me a new connection toequine art, which kind of brings
me back to a childhood dream,but we can talk about that later
.
So I'm incorporating the equine, I'm equa artist, along with
(01:33):
the landscape art and we're outhere right now in Harrison Mills
, bc, which is just about twohours east of Vancouver.
So if you orient yourselfaround Vancouver, british
Columbia, far West province,it's a West coast, west coast
area, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Love it, love it.
And that area I mean we weretalking before is just so full
of of creative inspiration.
I mean, does that, does thatlandscape speak to you?
I know it like the rocks andthe water and the trees and just
the verdant landscape, likeit's just, oh, just take me
there and leave me in the woods.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, absolutely Matt , and I think the Lord has
always been working on me andhow we get to know Him through
His creation, and whether it'sin BC or the East Coast or Texas
or the North Pole, he is there,he is present and willing to
speak, if we just have eyes tosee and ears to hear what he has
(02:33):
to say.
And he reveals himself throughhis creation.
And that's initially what gotme where I was going with my art
and my art therapy as well.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That's so cool.
Now, just on the creative sideof things, have you always done
cold wax and oil, or is thatwhat's kind of been your
artistic development?
Where'd you start and how'd youend up in cold wax and oil?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Ah well, that's an interesting process.
So if I just take from when westarted and created to thrive, I
felt like the Lord was givingme photo encaustic because I was
following some artists onlineand I thought, oh wow, I like
that and I had all thisabundance of photography in my
toolbox and how great to useencaustic with that process.
(03:15):
And after a while, though, Ifound the encaustic didn't
really challenge my artisticgrowth or using that process, so
I went on.
I found Cold Wax and Oil and Iknow you've had Grace Carol
Bomer on your show Found her.
Found actually, she's fromBarhead, alberta, where I live
(03:38):
in Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
right, yeah, she's a great friend.
For many years Our studios wereclose together in the River
Arts District.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Oh my gosh.
And what I loved about Grace'swork is the Emmanuel God with us
.
She showed her worldview loudand clear in her art, and that
is always my heart's desire, youknow, to find that balance
between sharing your worldviewand hitting people over the head
(04:04):
with the Bible.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So the cold wax and oil came and initially, when I
started this was back in arttherapy days was acrylic and
that was fun because I have adegree in art.
But that was years ago fromcollege and hadn't really
developed that, didn't reallyknow a lot.
(04:29):
But the freedom of just playingwith paint just opened up my
artistic self to move on into.
And when I was doing the arttherapy you do everything on
yourself that you're doing withyour clients.
So it's also was God's way ofhealing me, like in my own
(04:50):
self-awareness and my ownhealing.
And I didn't realize it at thetime.
A lot of things I did was likeokay, yeah, that's going to be
great when.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I work with somebody else, right?
We think they're just on theside, right, or something just
extra to the story, right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, yeah.
So the acrylics was there, butI found the cold wax and oil
gave you that layering abilitythat the acrylics I I mean I've
seen work that you can achieveit, but I just love the richness
of the oils and the actuallythe process that we use in that
atmospheric landscape you uselike a squeegee and you know
(05:25):
it's very I don't want to saymeditative, but it requires
patience.
It's not.
It's not like boom, boom, boomon a canvas and you got your
painting in an hour and that waswhoa.
I got to slow down.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, layers have to dry.
I mean I love it.
You know I work in cold wax andoil too, but it I love it
because I can.
I guess just my life is kind ofcrazy and I'm not always in the
studio anymore like on aregular basis and so I could do
something in cold wax and let itsit for a few days and it's the
drying time and I can scratchin it and add layers and glazes
and it just really serves mekind of for what I'm in and it's
(06:01):
, it's been this.
I don't know everybody that Iknow that uses cold wax.
It like is this chameleon, youknow it like it does different
things with different people'sprocesses and I just I love your
work.
Of course you know that, but Iit's just wonderful that it's a.
It's such a rich metaphor forlife too, right?
All the layers and the and thetech textures and all the stuff,
right.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, and all the scratching back.
I love that and sometimes Godin his goodness and mercy, which
we don't know at the time he'sgot to put us back right and
have a little bench time beforehe moves you to the next level.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So yeah, Well, I want to jump into some of your
backstory because I know thatyou described kind of your
journey as feeling like you know, pulling of ropes and that sort
of thing and stopping seasons,going seasons.
Feeling like the Lord is, youknow, leading you and guiding
you all along.
But talk about how you begin tosee the Lord directing your
(06:57):
path, as you're an artist butyou're also a person.
We don't live these separatelives right.
We're doing all of thistogether at the same time and
God can use our life to informour art, or uses our art to
inform our life, and so kind ofwalk us through your story and
how the Lord began to lead youthrough all the seasons of your
life.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Well, thank you for that.
That's a great question, matt.
As an art therapist, I justwant to go back to your little,
your comment on the ropes.
Yeah, often in the art therapywhat, as an art therapist, I
help support people to lead themgently to discover their own
personal metaphors.
So you're always on the lookoutin their language and in like,
(07:41):
if we do collage work as anentry point of the photos and so
on that they choose.
Well, back in the day well,this was around the time I met
my before I met my husband Ifound a picture of a horse and
this horse was like I don't knowif it was a wild horse, but
there were three guys with arope tied to this ropes on this
(08:02):
horse.
And this horse was like youcould see the whites of his eyes
because he was so terrified.
And I resonated with thatmetaphor because that was how,
in many ways, I was sorebellious when, I was younger
and I needed and even in myjourney in the dating world
after my, my divorce, I was likeyou know, men was going to tie
(08:27):
me down, yeah, and that I had tolet the Lord heal me and,
through a lot of personal work,heal my heart that I could
understand and recognize when agodly man came into my life.
Yeah and recognize when a godlyman came into my life so to
(08:51):
understand that a man is your,he's my leader, rick, had a
better word for it.
We were talking about that theother day.
But to submit to a man in thebiblical sense, that was a big
learning for me.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah to do that, a mutual submission and love.
That's such a beautiful,beautiful relationship.
I, you know, as you're sayingthat, I think about my mom.
My mom and dad were marriedprobably 22 years, I think, and
then had a big blow up, nastydivorce Mama called it the
Holocaust and all this kind ofthing and and she was shut down
for so many years you and, andshe was shut down for so many
(09:24):
years.
You know, as a lot of people aretrauma, woundedness, fear,
anxieties, all the stuff youknow that hurt that that went on
with that and and she alwayssaid she always said, I'm not
getting married again unlesshe's old, rich and sick.
You know, like I'm not, I'm notinterested, I'm not interested
in this.
But and so it was interestingbecause she never really let
(09:45):
herself see even the possibilityof relationships in her life.
And I remember there was oneday that the Lord just opened up
a time with us talking aboutthis and she was telling me
about how she was still prayingfor my daddy every day and I
told her, I said, mama, I feellike the Lord wants you to stop
praying for daddy, like you needto let him go and to him, you
(10:05):
know, to the Lord and you startpraying for you and you start
praying for what's next in yourlife.
Well, that opened up this doorof of healing in her life and
and wholeness and it was socrazy.
I mean, like two or threemonths after she started doing
this work and really workingthrough a lot of the hurt, all
of a sudden mama's dating, allof a sudden mama's meeting
people and going out and havingfun and all this kind of stuff,
(10:26):
and it's just.
It just brings up the fact, Ithink in your story and in her
story, I'm just thinking thatunless we do the work of healing
in our heart and really getreal with the Lord in that and
sometimes our art's a part ofthat right Unless we do that, we
really leave our ourselvesblocked from being able to see
(10:47):
the good things that God has forus next in our life.
And I'm just so glad that youwere willing to do that and now
you're leading other people indoing that same sort of work.
It's just so important, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, absolutely, matt, and I think you just
nailed it.
Because, really, what is thepurpose of this whole journey?
It's to help, using your pain,all that, like in the art
therapy world they'd say, makeyour mess your message, but
using that to lead othersthrough the desert and to serve
(11:22):
other people.
Ultimately, that's what it'sabout.
And even to tie this back intothis, you know we're artists
here.
It's created to thrive, but howimportant we're body, mind and
spirit.
And we are created to be inrelationship and I know not all
relationships are great, not allrelationships support each
(11:43):
other in their you know,god-given purpose or creativity,
and I know that can be achallenge for many people.
But just to pray.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Instead of praying to change that person, pray to
change your heart.
But what God has reallyimpacted on me is the power of
prayer lately.
Like, don't try to fix it, Iwas all about controlling the
result.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I'm going to control this outcome.
I'm picking you, buddy, andyou're coming with me.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
That's right, that's funny.
It's so easy to look back onour life and kind of see what
God has done, but when you're inthe middle of it, you know and
he's working on you in themiddle of it, sometimes we can't
see the greater plan.
I know that you've talked about.
Your life is kind of feelinglike you're on a train journey
to the promised land and as youkind of look back over your
(12:38):
journey, not only as an artistbut now art therapist and just a
person, what are some of those,I guess, kind of key stops
along your journey to where youare now that God used those
times to kind of bring you to arealization or heal a place in
your heart that was key to youbeing able to go on to the next
thing that you're doing?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think that's such an important question for
anybody when you're looking backon your life.
It was actually a really superprofound moment just preparing
for this interview because youstart reflecting on all these
past experiences.
But I would have to say some ofthe defining moments, which we
(13:20):
can be traumatic or wonderful is, I think, was my divorce.
So in 1987, I'll just talkabout myself in this case but
that was how God got myattention.
He'll use like I was on not thebest trajectory in our marriage
(13:40):
and the Lord got me on a.
He got my attention and at thetime I'd say I was.
What would I say I was?
I was a church Christian.
I'd go to church.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yeah, culturally.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Christian.
Yeah, I get it, I was acultural Christian and even that
, you know, was not primary inmy life at that time.
But God had to show me like Ithought okay, this is going to
be resolved in about three tosix months when the next guy is
going to fix everything.
(14:14):
I mean, this is like a greenacorn when I think back on those
times.
But God distinctly spoke to me.
He gave me Psalm and I wrote itdown so I wouldn't forget it
here.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Psalm 3418,.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
that are crushed in spirit.
And it was like a divine touch,an angelic touch.
But I thought again the timeframe was my time frame.
If somebody would have told methen that I would be married in
19 or 2013,.
(14:52):
So it would be.
It was 25 years.
Wow, I would say, jesus, takeme now.
Because I thought I?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
That was not the plan to wait that long, huh oh no,
again my timing.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I was just beginning to understand God's timing and I
was a hot mess and I didn'tknow it.
But I just want to speak tothis and it connects to even
with your mom's story about thegrieving.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Like the grieving process in all these things is
essential to go through and wetalk about in the Caring for the
Wounded Heart, which is atrauma healing program that I'm
a facilitator part of, we talkabout the neighborhoods of grief
.
So you've got the event andthen you have the denial and the
(15:41):
anger and the area of no hopeand then you go to new
beginnings.
But the problem is when peoplejump to the neighborhood of new
beginnings without doing thework.
It's called a false bridge.
And I took that false bridge.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, because you think that's the shortcut.
If I can just get over there,everything will be fine.
Right, yeah, right, but it'snot.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Not fine.
So then, the Lord in that knowit's condensing a lot of
storytelling, but he broughtpeople into my life and programs
using art and movement.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Wow.
In my healing because he knewwhat I needed because you're
(18:02):
just as passionate about healthand wholeness in your body as
you are about in your mind andspirit and in your art.
So you've kind of even createda little beautiful niche there,
that where you kind of combineall that right in your work.
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
I was trying yeah, I was trying that.
I think it's probably a littlebit more delineated now, but
this was something I didn't.
I wanted to share that.
In 19, I also was a MiddleEastern dance artist, aka belly
dancer.
Wow, this was for 25 years.
I started when my son was ababy and at that time in my life
(18:36):
I use that to fill the big holein my heart.
My life I use that to fill thebig hole in my heart, and that's
a that's a caution to anybodythat's listening is who's on the
throne of your heart?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Wow, yeah, and even like there's.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
no, there's no love seats, right, it's one seat and
that's Jesus.
Yeah, cause it's so easy in.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
it's so easy to put good things right Nothing wrong
with dance, nothing wrong withart, nothing wrong with these
things in general but when werun to them as our solution or
as the thing that's going tomake us feel better in and of
itself, that does take Jesus offthe throne right and puts that
thing or even that person right.
Unhealthy relationships If Ican just be with this person or
(19:22):
have that relationship, theneverything will be great, and
that's just.
It's a mirage, isn't it?
It just it keeps us looking inthe wrong places.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Absolutely, matt, and I just think of the apple.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
The apple looks so good, and you know I ate, drank
and slept, belly dancing, andyou know.
I ate, drank and slept bellydancing and I guess it was a
passion.
But when your passion becomesan obsession, that is
problematic.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
But how do you know the difference?
How would you say what's thedifference in passion versus
obsession?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
When you start sacrificing certain
relationships and other thingsthat should be priority.
Now did I ask the Lord should Igo into belly dancing?
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
But long story short, he did even redeem that I
danced and performed for 25years.
I took a hiatus after thedivorce but I started teaching
and I was able to mentor someother young girls, young gals,
to take over Like there's awhole, you know in in the
(20:33):
performance zone anyway, thatthey, I I felt the best when I
was teaching and giving back andit applies to the movement, the
Pilates, the art.
But the coolest thing about thebelly dance was and this was in
2000, and I remember I startedconnecting with worship dance
(20:56):
and I have a dance backgroundand the Lord was saying.
I heard that so clearly.
Now I want you to praise mewith your gifts.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Wow, wow, isn't that beautiful.
The Lord is always aboutredemption.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, is he ever.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
He's always like.
I mean, I think about thoseverses in 2 Peter, 1, 3, and 4
that talk about we've alreadybeen given everything we need
for life and godliness.
They come through His preciouspromises and when we do that
then we can enter into thedivine life.
Right, this kingdom, lifethrough the promises of God.
And it says that we wouldescape the world and the lust of
(21:36):
the world.
And I think you know what islust.
Lust is oftentimes having avalid desire but pointing it in
the wrong direction.
Right, and I think it.
And that just the humancondition, right, we have these
natural desires as people,passions and dreams and all this
, but we don't point them in thedirection of the Lord.
(21:58):
We don't point them in thedirection of his plan for our
life.
We go and try to get it ourselfand I think for you, like God
created you right as somebodythat loves dance and movement
and exercise and health and allthat kind of stuff.
But the enemy says, no, don'tlook at the Lord, look over here
in this way, see if you canfulfill it this way.
But the Lord, I just love itthat you're talking about.
(22:18):
You know when God began to healyour heart, draw you back to
him and all that.
It's not like he says you'renever going to dance again.
He's like, no, now you're goingto do it the way I designed you
to do it.
Now you're going to do it withme on the throne of your heart.
I mean, I just love that.
It's just so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Oh man, when I reflect back on that, he gave me
the vision like in bellydancing there's veil movements
which are it's not just waving acloth around right.
It's very it's.
There's a lot of technique tothe dance and how in worship
dance.
He gave me the choreography touse the veil in worship dance
(23:03):
choreography to use the veil inworship dance and I taught
choreographies to you know someChristian music and taught women
how to use the veil and some ofthe movements to carry over
into worship dance.
So he redeemed it.
He gave me choreographies and Iused to listen to people like
hearing that they got achoreography from the Lord.
I'm thinking how does that work?
Speaker 1 (23:20):
How does that even work?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yeah, and I did.
I remember doing a workshop andgetting a choreography.
I was on flying to Vancouverand it the whole picture came
into my head which was liketotally God, yeah, Totally God.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
I just love it.
I love it.
It didn't need out.
At every, at every point in ourjourney or, as you talk about
this train ride to the promisedland, every stop, the Lord is
bringing exactly what we need.
He's letting us walk throughseasons that sometimes are fun,
sometimes are more challengingand difficult, but at each one
of those places, he does exactlywhat we need.
(23:57):
I love that.
Now you're doing what we're alldesigned to do, which is take
this, like you said, turn yourmess into a message.
You're using the teachingmoments of your life, all these
stops on the journey, if youwill, and really allowing the
Lord to heal others, to use yourlife and your story to be, you
know, a healing place for otherpeople.
(24:18):
Well, you know, I know this ismaybe not a fair question, but
as you look at all the peopleyou you work with now as an art
therapist and in movement andall that kind of stuff, what
would you say?
Is there one kind of main thingthat you see, boy, when people,
when people enter into thiskind of creative process like
this is what happens.
This is one of the big ahamoments that I see people get
(24:41):
every time, like what, what's?
What's a big breakthrough thatyou see with people.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Number one is reduction of anxiety.
Wow, people come stressed out,and I mean I worked in
addictions, which is afragmented brain.
People, the, the ladies.
It was a Christian residentialtreatment center Very blessed to
(25:05):
be able to work withinChristian environment with that,
but across the board, releaseof anxiety and discovering their
creativity.
And it's wow.
I never thought I could do this, and I think those are the two
and what is revealed in the art.
It's when words are not enough.
(25:29):
And we talk about, I mean thesubconscious mind.
But what comes out in the art,people in their logical minds
often are not even aware of.
And that's the other beautifulpart.
It's helping people discoverthat deeper meaning through the
art.
So that's what I would say isthe differentiation of art
(25:50):
therapy and art as therapeutic.
Art is therapeutic, but whenyou're working with an art
therapist, they're skilled inthe use of materials, the
invitations, and also mining themeaning of the art, because
often your art is a reflectionof self.
So when you abandon the art toosoon, it's like that
(26:16):
self-abandonment.
So okay, let's.
But you also work with the, the, the person and where they're
at like.
Not everybody's ready to godeep, right, you know, they have
their own journeys.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
So yeah, so I'm going to put you on the spot then.
All this, all this journey thatyou've had and all this you
know artistically, and all thetransformation with the Lord.
When you look at your art rightnow and you make the statement,
art is often a reflection ofself.
What are you seeing in your artright now that reflects all of
(26:52):
the journey that you've been onall these years.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Oh, okay, you know, I think honestly it's the
metaphor of the horse and whatgot me back?
I'm doing equine art.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
And does discover the people connect with the horse
because of their strength andfreedom, I mean, but the horse
is also a herd animal.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
And they do best in herds and they're also very
fearful.
Like they're fearful, you knowI'm, you know I'm not a horse
expert yet, but it also connectsback, so I'm.
I think it's a reflection ofmyself.
But the freedom, but the realpiece that got me was what are
(27:39):
we going to be riding when wecome back with Jesus?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Come on, a white horse Might as well.
Get used to it now, right?
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Not a sheep, not a pig.
So wow that and all that.
You can do a deep dive inbiblically what the metaphor is
around the horse, but I wouldhave to.
I'm, I'm that horse.
And there was a new enervationin my art when I started doing
like this has only been a coupleof months, but when I started
(28:07):
doing the, this art and oh, it'sjust an infinite variety and
and I found it really resonatedwith people.
Like when I talk to people, oh,you know, you discover that they
found the horse very meaningfulin their own life, which I was
astounded.
How many found that?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Wow, it's just such a beautiful metaphor how the Lord
speaks to you and then uses thesame thing to speak to others,
and he'll use the same thing butspeak to other people in
different ways, right?
And that's the mystery of whatwe do as artists, and I just
love that.
It's such a beautiful story,nancy, how God's used your art
all through your life to notonly be a place of expression
but a place of connection, aplace of healing, and now it's
(28:52):
an invitation for others even toexperience that.
I just I wonder, as we end ourtime together, what you might
say to artists that are maybeout there and maybe they're on
one of these stops on the trainto the promised land.
They're like Lord, this ain'tthe promised land, this is
somewhere in the middle and themessy middle, right, and I'm not
sure what's going on.
(29:13):
I'm a creative, but I feel mostconnected when I'm with you in
my art, but I don't know what'sgoing on in my life right now.
How could they use thisbeautiful process of creativity
that God's given them in thattherapeutic way to really
connect with the Lord and maybeallow the Lord to mind those
places in their own heart tobring them to a place of deeper
(29:35):
freedom and healing.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
That's such a great leaving to give to people, but
just to stay in that time withthe Lord and not rush out of it.
Sometimes we, as I'veillustrated already, I want to
get on the next stop.
This is taking way too long andwe don't.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Come on with it.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
And even to be in prayer for those small moments.
And that's in the latest, thislast part of the journey like
it's not.
Maybe it's not the thousandpeople that see my art in a
gallery, Maybe it's one person,One person maybe that I'll be
able to talk to, that will needhope and encouragement because
(30:26):
ultimately, it's about servingothers.
That's our transformation,isn't about only for us and, as
a way of encouragement,everything that we're doing
right now I mean this could be awhole other conversation, but
God's, it's going to, he's usingit now.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
What do you think we're going to be doing in the
millennial kingdom?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's right For all eternity.
Right, it's so beautiful tothink about because everybody
thinks, oh, we're going to besitting there playing harps and
singing.
Like no, that's a, that's not afull understanding of what this
millennial kingdom is going tobe like.
We're going to be here on earthwith the lord, like doing all
this incredible stuff probablythe things we're doing now and
even even more and just like,wow, that's, that's so
(31:08):
incredible.
This is all rehearsal.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Right for right for what's coming and what you know,
this is my husband, so I'm notgoing to lay claim to it.
But he says you know, really,this is a long weekend that
we're here for, compared toeternity, wow, it's a long
weekend.
It may seem like you're in thisplace this season forever, but
(31:31):
just drill down to the Lord andinvite him in, invite the Holy
Spirit to show you, and he will.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Yeah, and I really appreciate you talking about art
as process because you know, Imean, you know me I love
business, coaching, helpingartists make a living and all
the stuff.
But I think, especially intoday's world, in this kind of
mammon spirit that wants to, youknow, influence everybody,
there can be this real rush tomake everything a product right
(32:00):
and to monetize everything.
And I think I really thinkartists that are going through
difficulty in their life, andespecially emerging artists not
that they're always goingthrough difficulty, but as we're
, as we're starting our artjourney we do ourself a
disservice if we immediatelyrush to monetization as opposed
to just really letting the Lordwork through us and in us in our
(32:21):
art process.
And that's where unique voicecomes from, that's where
authenticity comes from as anartist.
And I'm always like you know, ifGod's got the thousand people
for you to see you in a gallery,if he's got art therapy or
becoming an influencer orwhatever it is, he'll do that,
as you're faithful, with alittle, but you can't rush ahead
and try to make it happen inyour own strength.
(32:43):
And I just I love thisperspective and just the example
that you're setting, nancy, oftrust the Lord in the process
and at the right time, god willbring forth the fruit and the
exposure that you need to dowhat he's called you to do, and
don't worry about comparingyourself to everybody else and
thinking, well, if I don't do itthat way, I'm not going to be
successful.
(33:03):
Like that's not life in thekingdom.
That's a recipe for strivingand anxiety.
That's what gets you coming tosee an art therapist, right.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
That's right More business for me.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Exactly Well, nancy, it's a joy to be with you today.
I know that people are going towant to find out about your
website and on social.
Your website is great, by theway.
It's got just such a beautifuldisplay of all the stuff that
you do.
So where can they find youonline and how can they connect
with you?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well, nancy, nancy Thigasoncom is my website, I'm
nancytcreative on Instagram andI have my Facebook pages with
Nancy Thigason and Nancy Oltheus.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Awesome, awesome, well, nancy, what a joy.
Thank you for sharing yourjourney.
It's, I know, been aninspiration to a lot of people
out there today.
Guys, if you're watching thisor listening to this and you
want to connect with Nancy, youcan do so in the show notes or
the podcast description andclick over and go to her website
or visit her on social mediaand just continue the journey.
(34:07):
But, nancy, thanks so much fortaking some time and sharing
your story today.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
This has been so great, thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Hey, my friend, thanks for having me, matt.
This has been so great, thankyou.
Usually free and it includesthe latest podcast episode,
featured artist spotlights, aworship song of the week and,
again, tons of tips andencouragement and inspiration
for you.
To keep you inspired andencouraged in everything that
God's got for you as an artistin the kingdom, you can click
the link right here in the shownotes to join us, and it's a
(34:46):
great way to stay connected.
All right, love you, bye.
All over the world, artists are awakening.
Painters and potters, writersand weavers, poets and dancers
not chasing followers or fame,but sons and daughters called
for such a time as this,transformed from the inside out,
creating with purpose,releasing the glory of God and
living in the power of thekingdom.
Right now, this is the ThrivingChristian Artist.
(00:21):
Well, hey, friends, welcomeback to the podcast.
Super glad that you're here.
I'm really honored to have afriend of mine and a member of
our Created to Thrive ArtistMentoring Program, Nancy
Thigason, who is not only agreat artist, she's also
somebody that really loves theLord and loves healing and loves
to see creativity and healingand all that kind of stuff work
(00:43):
together in a transformationalprocess to help people really be
everything God's called them tobe.
So, Nancy, I'm super gladyou're here.
Welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, thanks so much for having me, Matt.
This is a real honor and aprivilege.
Oh me too, me, too, me too.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
We were just talking about where you live in the
world, which is one of thosegorgeous spots that everybody's
envious of.
But for those folks that arejust getting to know, you kind
of let them know what you docreatively and where you are in
the world, and all that sort ofthing.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
Okay, well, I'm a cold wax and oil artist,
atmospheric landscapes, and justrecently the Lord, it felt
giving me a new connection toequine art, which kind of brings
me back to a childhood dream,but we can talk about that later
.
So I'm incorporating the equine, I'm equa artist, along with
(01:33):
the landscape art and we're outhere right now in Harrison Mills
, bc, which is just about twohours east of Vancouver.
So if you orient yourselfaround Vancouver, british
Columbia, far West province,it's a West coast, west coast
area, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Love it, love it.
And that area I mean we weretalking before is just so full
of of creative inspiration.
I mean, does that, does thatlandscape speak to you?
I know it like the rocks andthe water and the trees and just
the verdant landscape, likeit's just, oh, just take me
there and leave me in the woods.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Yeah, absolutely Matt , and I think the Lord has
always been working on me andhow we get to know Him through
His creation, and whether it'sin BC or the East Coast or Texas
or the North Pole, he is there,he is present and willing to
speak, if we just have eyes tosee and ears to hear what he has
(02:33):
to say.
And he reveals himself throughhis creation.
And that's initially what gotme where I was going with my art
and my art therapy as well.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
That's so cool.
Now, just on the creative sideof things, have you always done
cold wax and oil, or is thatwhat's kind of been your
artistic development?
Where'd you start and how'd youend up in cold wax and oil?
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Ah well, that's an interesting process.
So if I just take from when westarted and created to thrive, I
felt like the Lord was givingme photo encaustic because I was
following some artists onlineand I thought, oh wow, I like
that and I had all thisabundance of photography in my
toolbox and how great to useencaustic with that process.
(03:15):
And after a while, though, Ifound the encaustic didn't
really challenge my artisticgrowth or using that process, so
I went on.
I found Cold Wax and Oil and Iknow you've had Grace Carol
Bomer on your show Found her.
Found actually, she's fromBarhead, alberta, where I live
(03:38):
in Edmonton.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
right, yeah, she's a great friend.
For many years Our studios wereclose together in the River
Arts District.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Oh my gosh.
And what I loved about Grace'swork is the Emmanuel God with us
.
She showed her worldview loudand clear in her art, and that
is always my heart's desire, youknow, to find that balance
between sharing your worldviewand hitting people over the head
(04:04):
with the Bible.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Yeah, yeah yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
So the cold wax and oil came and initially, when I
started this was back in arttherapy days was acrylic and
that was fun because I have adegree in art.
But that was years ago fromcollege and hadn't really
developed that, didn't reallyknow a lot.
(04:29):
But the freedom of just playingwith paint just opened up my
artistic self to move on into.
And when I was doing the arttherapy you do everything on
yourself that you're doing withyour clients.
So it's also was God's way ofhealing me, like in my own
(04:50):
self-awareness and my ownhealing.
And I didn't realize it at thetime.
A lot of things I did was likeokay, yeah, that's going to be
great when.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I work with somebody else, right?
We think they're just on theside, right, or something just
extra to the story, right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
Yeah, yeah.
So the acrylics was there, butI found the cold wax and oil
gave you that layering abilitythat the acrylics I I mean I've
seen work that you can achieveit, but I just love the richness
of the oils and the actuallythe process that we use in that
atmospheric landscape you uselike a squeegee and you know
(05:25):
it's very I don't want to saymeditative, but it requires
patience.
It's not.
It's not like boom, boom, boomon a canvas and you got your
painting in an hour and that waswhoa.
I got to slow down.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, layers have to dry.
I mean I love it.
You know I work in cold wax andoil too, but it I love it
because I can.
I guess just my life is kind ofcrazy and I'm not always in the
studio anymore like on aregular basis and so I could do
something in cold wax and let itsit for a few days and it's the
drying time and I can scratchin it and add layers and glazes
and it just really serves mekind of for what I'm in and it's
(06:01):
, it's been this.
I don't know everybody that Iknow that uses cold wax.
It like is this chameleon, youknow it like it does different
things with different people'sprocesses and I just I love your
work.
Of course you know that, but Iit's just wonderful that it's a.
It's such a rich metaphor forlife too, right?
All the layers and the and thetech textures and all the stuff,
right.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, and all the scratching back.
I love that and sometimes Godin his goodness and mercy, which
we don't know at the time he'sgot to put us back right and
have a little bench time beforehe moves you to the next level.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
So yeah, Well, I want to jump into some of your
backstory because I know thatyou described kind of your
journey as feeling like you know, pulling of ropes and that sort
of thing and stopping seasons,going seasons.
Feeling like the Lord is, youknow, leading you and guiding
you all along.
But talk about how you begin tosee the Lord directing your
(06:57):
path, as you're an artist butyou're also a person.
We don't live these separatelives right.
We're doing all of thistogether at the same time and
God can use our life to informour art, or uses our art to
inform our life, and so kind ofwalk us through your story and
how the Lord began to lead youthrough all the seasons of your
life.
Speaker 2 (07:17):
Well, thank you for that.
That's a great question, matt.
As an art therapist, I justwant to go back to your little,
your comment on the ropes.
Yeah, often in the art therapywhat, as an art therapist, I
help support people to lead themgently to discover their own
personal metaphors.
So you're always on the lookoutin their language and in like,
(07:41):
if we do collage work as anentry point of the photos and so
on that they choose.
Well, back in the day well,this was around the time I met
my before I met my husband Ifound a picture of a horse and
this horse was like I don't knowif it was a wild horse, but
there were three guys with arope tied to this ropes on this
(08:02):
horse.
And this horse was like youcould see the whites of his eyes
because he was so terrified.
And I resonated with thatmetaphor because that was how,
in many ways, I was sorebellious when, I was younger
and I needed and even in myjourney in the dating world
after my, my divorce, I was likeyou know, men was going to tie
(08:27):
me down, yeah, and that I had tolet the Lord heal me and,
through a lot of personal work,heal my heart that I could
understand and recognize when agodly man came into my life.
Yeah and recognize when a godlyman came into my life so to
(08:51):
understand that a man is your,he's my leader, rick, had a
better word for it.
We were talking about that theother day.
But to submit to a man in thebiblical sense, that was a big
learning for me.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Yeah to do that, a mutual submission and love.
That's such a beautiful,beautiful relationship.
I, you know, as you're sayingthat, I think about my mom.
My mom and dad were marriedprobably 22 years, I think, and
then had a big blow up, nastydivorce Mama called it the
Holocaust and all this kind ofthing and and she was shut down
for so many years you and, andshe was shut down for so many
(09:24):
years.
You know, as a lot of people aretrauma, woundedness, fear,
anxieties, all the stuff youknow that hurt that that went on
with that and and she alwayssaid she always said, I'm not
getting married again unlesshe's old, rich and sick.
You know, like I'm not, I'm notinterested, I'm not interested
in this.
But and so it was interestingbecause she never really let
(09:45):
herself see even the possibilityof relationships in her life.
And I remember there was oneday that the Lord just opened up
a time with us talking aboutthis and she was telling me
about how she was still prayingfor my daddy every day and I
told her, I said, mama, I feellike the Lord wants you to stop
praying for daddy, like you needto let him go and to him, you
(10:05):
know, to the Lord and you startpraying for you and you start
praying for what's next in yourlife.
Well, that opened up this doorof of healing in her life and
and wholeness and it was socrazy.
I mean, like two or threemonths after she started doing
this work and really workingthrough a lot of the hurt, all
of a sudden mama's dating, allof a sudden mama's meeting
people and going out and havingfun and all this kind of stuff,
(10:26):
and it's just.
It just brings up the fact, Ithink in your story and in her
story, I'm just thinking thatunless we do the work of healing
in our heart and really getreal with the Lord in that and
sometimes our art's a part ofthat right Unless we do that, we
really leave our ourselvesblocked from being able to see
(10:47):
the good things that God has forus next in our life.
And I'm just so glad that youwere willing to do that and now
you're leading other people indoing that same sort of work.
It's just so important, isn'tit?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yeah, absolutely, matt, and I think you just
nailed it.
Because, really, what is thepurpose of this whole journey?
It's to help, using your pain,all that, like in the art
therapy world they'd say, makeyour mess your message, but
using that to lead othersthrough the desert and to serve
(11:22):
other people.
Ultimately, that's what it'sabout.
And even to tie this back intothis, you know we're artists
here.
It's created to thrive, but howimportant we're body, mind and
spirit.
And we are created to be inrelationship and I know not all
relationships are great, not allrelationships support each
(11:43):
other in their you know,god-given purpose or creativity,
and I know that can be achallenge for many people.
But just to pray.
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Instead of praying to change that person, pray to
change your heart.
But what God has reallyimpacted on me is the power of
prayer lately.
Like, don't try to fix it, Iwas all about controlling the
result.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
I'm going to control this outcome.
I'm picking you, buddy, andyou're coming with me.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
That's right, that's funny.
It's so easy to look back onour life and kind of see what
God has done, but when you're inthe middle of it, you know and
he's working on you in themiddle of it, sometimes we can't
see the greater plan.
I know that you've talked about.
Your life is kind of feelinglike you're on a train journey
to the promised land and as youkind of look back over your
(12:38):
journey, not only as an artistbut now art therapist and just a
person, what are some of those,I guess, kind of key stops
along your journey to where youare now that God used those
times to kind of bring you to arealization or heal a place in
your heart that was key to youbeing able to go on to the next
thing that you're doing?
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I think that's such an important question for
anybody when you're looking backon your life.
It was actually a really superprofound moment just preparing
for this interview because youstart reflecting on all these
past experiences.
But I would have to say some ofthe defining moments, which we
(13:20):
can be traumatic or wonderful is, I think, was my divorce.
So in 1987, I'll just talkabout myself in this case but
that was how God got myattention.
He'll use like I was on not thebest trajectory in our marriage
(13:40):
and the Lord got me on a.
He got my attention and at thetime I'd say I was.
What would I say I was?
I was a church Christian.
I'd go to church.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Yeah, culturally.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Christian.
Yeah, I get it, I was acultural Christian and even that
, you know, was not primary inmy life at that time.
But God had to show me like Ithought okay, this is going to
be resolved in about three tosix months when the next guy is
going to fix everything.
(14:14):
I mean, this is like a greenacorn when I think back on those
times.
But God distinctly spoke to me.
He gave me Psalm and I wrote itdown so I wouldn't forget it
here.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Psalm 3418,.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those
that are crushed in spirit.
And it was like a divine touch,an angelic touch.
But I thought again the timeframe was my time frame.
If somebody would have told methen that I would be married in
19 or 2013,.
(14:52):
So it would be.
It was 25 years.
Wow, I would say, jesus, takeme now.
Because I thought I?
Speaker 1 (14:59):
That was not the plan to wait that long, huh oh no,
again my timing.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I was just beginning to understand God's timing and I
was a hot mess and I didn'tknow it.
But I just want to speak tothis and it connects to even
with your mom's story about thegrieving.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Like the grieving process in all these things is
essential to go through and wetalk about in the Caring for the
Wounded Heart, which is atrauma healing program that I'm
a facilitator part of, we talkabout the neighborhoods of grief
.
So you've got the event andthen you have the denial and the
(15:41):
anger and the area of no hopeand then you go to new
beginnings.
But the problem is when peoplejump to the neighborhood of new
beginnings without doing thework.
It's called a false bridge.
And I took that false bridge.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, because you think that's the shortcut.
If I can just get over there,everything will be fine.
Right, yeah, right, but it'snot.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Not fine.
So then, the Lord in that knowit's condensing a lot of
storytelling, but he broughtpeople into my life and programs
using art and movement.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Wow.
In my healing because he knewwhat I needed because you're
(18:02):
just as passionate about healthand wholeness in your body as
you are about in your mind andspirit and in your art.
So you've kind of even createda little beautiful niche there,
that where you kind of combineall that right in your work.
Now.
Speaker 2 (18:11):
I was trying yeah, I was trying that.
I think it's probably a littlebit more delineated now, but
this was something I didn't.
I wanted to share that.
In 19, I also was a MiddleEastern dance artist, aka belly
dancer.
Wow, this was for 25 years.
I started when my son was ababy and at that time in my life
(18:36):
I use that to fill the big holein my heart.
My life I use that to fill thebig hole in my heart, and that's
a that's a caution to anybodythat's listening is who's on the
throne of your heart?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Wow, yeah, and even like there's.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
no, there's no love seats, right, it's one seat and
that's Jesus.
Yeah, cause it's so easy in.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
it's so easy to put good things right Nothing wrong
with dance, nothing wrong withart, nothing wrong with these
things in general but when werun to them as our solution or
as the thing that's going tomake us feel better in and of
itself, that does take Jesus offthe throne right and puts that
thing or even that person right.
Unhealthy relationships If Ican just be with this person or
(19:22):
have that relationship, theneverything will be great, and
that's just.
It's a mirage, isn't it?
It just it keeps us looking inthe wrong places.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Absolutely, matt, and I just think of the apple.
Speaker 1 (19:32):
Yeah, right.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
The apple looks so good, and you know I ate, drank
and slept, belly dancing, andyou know.
I ate, drank and slept bellydancing and I guess it was a
passion.
But when your passion becomesan obsession, that is
problematic.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
But how do you know the difference?
How would you say what's thedifference in passion versus
obsession?
Speaker 2 (20:02):
When you start sacrificing certain
relationships and other thingsthat should be priority.
Now did I ask the Lord should Igo into belly dancing?
No, I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Right right.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
But long story short, he did even redeem that I
danced and performed for 25years.
I took a hiatus after thedivorce but I started teaching
and I was able to mentor someother young girls, young gals,
to take over Like there's awhole, you know in in the
(20:33):
performance zone anyway, thatthey, I I felt the best when I
was teaching and giving back andit applies to the movement, the
Pilates, the art.
But the coolest thing about thebelly dance was and this was in
2000, and I remember I startedconnecting with worship dance
(20:56):
and I have a dance backgroundand the Lord was saying.
I heard that so clearly.
Now I want you to praise mewith your gifts.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
Wow, wow, isn't that beautiful.
The Lord is always aboutredemption.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, is he ever.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
He's always like.
I mean, I think about thoseverses in 2 Peter, 1, 3, and 4
that talk about we've alreadybeen given everything we need
for life and godliness.
They come through His preciouspromises and when we do that
then we can enter into thedivine life.
Right, this kingdom, lifethrough the promises of God.
And it says that we wouldescape the world and the lust of
(21:36):
the world.
And I think you know what islust.
Lust is oftentimes having avalid desire but pointing it in
the wrong direction.
Right, and I think it.
And that just the humancondition, right, we have these
natural desires as people,passions and dreams and all this
, but we don't point them in thedirection of the Lord.
(21:58):
We don't point them in thedirection of his plan for our
life.
We go and try to get it ourselfand I think for you, like God
created you right as somebodythat loves dance and movement
and exercise and health and allthat kind of stuff.
But the enemy says, no, don'tlook at the Lord, look over here
in this way, see if you canfulfill it this way.
But the Lord, I just love itthat you're talking about.
(22:18):
You know when God began to healyour heart, draw you back to
him and all that.
It's not like he says you'renever going to dance again.
He's like, no, now you're goingto do it the way I designed you
to do it.
Now you're going to do it withme on the throne of your heart.
I mean, I just love that.
It's just so beautiful.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Oh man, when I reflect back on that, he gave me
the vision like in bellydancing there's veil movements
which are it's not just waving acloth around right.
It's very it's.
There's a lot of technique tothe dance and how in worship
dance.
He gave me the choreography touse the veil in worship dance
(23:03):
choreography to use the veil inworship dance and I taught
choreographies to you know someChristian music and taught women
how to use the veil and some ofthe movements to carry over
into worship dance.
So he redeemed it.
He gave me choreographies and Iused to listen to people like
hearing that they got achoreography from the Lord.
I'm thinking how does that work?
Speaker 1 (23:20):
How does that even work?
Speaker 2 (23:21):
Yeah, and I did.
I remember doing a workshop andgetting a choreography.
I was on flying to Vancouverand it the whole picture came
into my head which was liketotally God, yeah, Totally God.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
I just love it.
I love it.
It didn't need out.
At every, at every point in ourjourney or, as you talk about
this train ride to the promisedland, every stop, the Lord is
bringing exactly what we need.
He's letting us walk throughseasons that sometimes are fun,
sometimes are more challengingand difficult, but at each one
of those places, he does exactlywhat we need.
(23:57):
I love that.
Now you're doing what we're alldesigned to do, which is take
this, like you said, turn yourmess into a message.
You're using the teachingmoments of your life, all these
stops on the journey, if youwill, and really allowing the
Lord to heal others, to use yourlife and your story to be, you
know, a healing place for otherpeople.
(24:18):
Well, you know, I know this ismaybe not a fair question, but
as you look at all the peopleyou you work with now as an art
therapist and in movement andall that kind of stuff, what
would you say?
Is there one kind of main thingthat you see, boy, when people,
when people enter into thiskind of creative process like
this is what happens.
This is one of the big ahamoments that I see people get
(24:41):
every time, like what, what's?
What's a big breakthrough thatyou see with people.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
Number one is reduction of anxiety.
Wow, people come stressed out,and I mean I worked in
addictions, which is afragmented brain.
People, the, the ladies.
It was a Christian residentialtreatment center Very blessed to
(25:05):
be able to work withinChristian environment with that,
but across the board, releaseof anxiety and discovering their
creativity.
And it's wow.
I never thought I could do this, and I think those are the two
and what is revealed in the art.
It's when words are not enough.
(25:29):
And we talk about, I mean thesubconscious mind.
But what comes out in the art,people in their logical minds
often are not even aware of.
And that's the other beautifulpart.
It's helping people discoverthat deeper meaning through the
art.
So that's what I would say isthe differentiation of art
(25:50):
therapy and art as therapeutic.
Art is therapeutic, but whenyou're working with an art
therapist, they're skilled inthe use of materials, the
invitations, and also mining themeaning of the art, because
often your art is a reflectionof self.
So when you abandon the art toosoon, it's like that
(26:16):
self-abandonment.
So okay, let's.
But you also work with the, the, the person and where they're
at like.
Not everybody's ready to godeep, right, you know, they have
their own journeys.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
So yeah, so I'm going to put you on the spot then.
All this, all this journey thatyou've had and all this you
know artistically, and all thetransformation with the Lord.
When you look at your art rightnow and you make the statement,
art is often a reflection ofself.
What are you seeing in your artright now that reflects all of
(26:52):
the journey that you've been onall these years.
Speaker 2 (26:57):
Oh, okay, you know, I think honestly it's the
metaphor of the horse and whatgot me back?
I'm doing equine art.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
And does discover the people connect with the horse
because of their strength andfreedom, I mean, but the horse
is also a herd animal.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
And they do best in herds and they're also very
fearful.
Like they're fearful, you knowI'm, you know I'm not a horse
expert yet, but it also connectsback, so I'm.
I think it's a reflection ofmyself.
But the freedom, but the realpiece that got me was what are
(27:39):
we going to be riding when wecome back with Jesus?
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Come on, a white horse Might as well.
Get used to it now, right?
Speaker 2 (27:47):
Not a sheep, not a pig.
So wow that and all that.
You can do a deep dive inbiblically what the metaphor is
around the horse, but I wouldhave to.
I'm, I'm that horse.
And there was a new enervationin my art when I started doing
like this has only been a coupleof months, but when I started
(28:07):
doing the, this art and oh, it'sjust an infinite variety and
and I found it really resonatedwith people.
Like when I talk to people, oh,you know, you discover that they
found the horse very meaningfulin their own life, which I was
astounded.
How many found that?
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Wow, it's just such a beautiful metaphor how the Lord
speaks to you and then uses thesame thing to speak to others,
and he'll use the same thing butspeak to other people in
different ways, right?
And that's the mystery of whatwe do as artists, and I just
love that.
It's such a beautiful story,nancy, how God's used your art
all through your life to notonly be a place of expression
but a place of connection, aplace of healing, and now it's
(28:52):
an invitation for others even toexperience that.
I just I wonder, as we end ourtime together, what you might
say to artists that are maybeout there and maybe they're on
one of these stops on the trainto the promised land.
They're like Lord, this ain'tthe promised land, this is
somewhere in the middle and themessy middle, right, and I'm not
sure what's going on.
(29:13):
I'm a creative, but I feel mostconnected when I'm with you in
my art, but I don't know what'sgoing on in my life right now.
How could they use thisbeautiful process of creativity
that God's given them in thattherapeutic way to really
connect with the Lord and maybeallow the Lord to mind those
places in their own heart tobring them to a place of deeper
(29:35):
freedom and healing.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
That's such a great leaving to give to people, but
just to stay in that time withthe Lord and not rush out of it.
Sometimes we, as I'veillustrated already, I want to
get on the next stop.
This is taking way too long andwe don't.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Come on with it.
Speaker 2 (30:01):
And even to be in prayer for those small moments.
And that's in the latest, thislast part of the journey like
it's not.
Maybe it's not the thousandpeople that see my art in a
gallery, Maybe it's one person,One person maybe that I'll be
able to talk to, that will needhope and encouragement because
(30:26):
ultimately, it's about servingothers.
That's our transformation,isn't about only for us and, as
a way of encouragement,everything that we're doing
right now I mean this could be awhole other conversation, but
God's, it's going to, he's usingit now.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (30:43):
What do you think we're going to be doing in the
millennial kingdom?
Speaker 1 (30:46):
That's right For all eternity.
Right, it's so beautiful tothink about because everybody
thinks, oh, we're going to besitting there playing harps and
singing.
Like no, that's a, that's not afull understanding of what this
millennial kingdom is going tobe like.
We're going to be here on earthwith the lord, like doing all
this incredible stuff probablythe things we're doing now and
even even more and just like,wow, that's, that's so
(31:08):
incredible.
This is all rehearsal.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
Right for right for what's coming and what you know,
this is my husband, so I'm notgoing to lay claim to it.
But he says you know, really,this is a long weekend that
we're here for, compared toeternity, wow, it's a long
weekend.
It may seem like you're in thisplace this season forever, but
(31:31):
just drill down to the Lord andinvite him in, invite the Holy
Spirit to show you, and he will.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
Yeah, and I really appreciate you talking about art
as process because you know, Imean, you know me I love
business, coaching, helpingartists make a living and all
the stuff.
But I think, especially intoday's world, in this kind of
mammon spirit that wants to, youknow, influence everybody,
there can be this real rush tomake everything a product right
(32:00):
and to monetize everything.
And I think I really thinkartists that are going through
difficulty in their life, andespecially emerging artists not
that they're always goingthrough difficulty, but as we're
, as we're starting our artjourney we do ourself a
disservice if we immediatelyrush to monetization as opposed
to just really letting the Lordwork through us and in us in our
(32:21):
art process.
And that's where unique voicecomes from, that's where
authenticity comes from as anartist.
And I'm always like you know, ifGod's got the thousand people
for you to see you in a gallery,if he's got art therapy or
becoming an influencer orwhatever it is, he'll do that,
as you're faithful, with alittle, but you can't rush ahead
and try to make it happen inyour own strength.
(32:43):
And I just I love thisperspective and just the example
that you're setting, nancy, oftrust the Lord in the process
and at the right time, god willbring forth the fruit and the
exposure that you need to dowhat he's called you to do, and
don't worry about comparingyourself to everybody else and
thinking, well, if I don't do itthat way, I'm not going to be
successful.
(33:03):
Like that's not life in thekingdom.
That's a recipe for strivingand anxiety.
That's what gets you coming tosee an art therapist, right.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
That's right More business for me.
Speaker 1 (33:14):
Exactly Well, nancy, it's a joy to be with you today.
I know that people are going towant to find out about your
website and on social.
Your website is great, by theway.
It's got just such a beautifuldisplay of all the stuff that
you do.
So where can they find youonline and how can they connect
with you?
Speaker 2 (33:31):
Well, nancy, nancy Thigasoncom is my website, I'm
nancytcreative on Instagram andI have my Facebook pages with
Nancy Thigason and Nancy Oltheus.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
Awesome, awesome, well, nancy, what a joy.
Thank you for sharing yourjourney.
It's, I know, been aninspiration to a lot of people
out there today.
Guys, if you're watching thisor listening to this and you
want to connect with Nancy, youcan do so in the show notes or
the podcast description andclick over and go to her website
or visit her on social mediaand just continue the journey.
(34:07):
But, nancy, thanks so much fortaking some time and sharing
your story today.
Speaker 2 (34:11):
This has been so great, thank you.
Speaker 1 (34:25):
Hey, my friend, thanks for having me, matt.
This has been so great, thankyou.
Usually free and it includesthe latest podcast episode,
featured artist spotlights, aworship song of the week and,
again, tons of tips andencouragement and inspiration
for you.
To keep you inspired andencouraged in everything that
God's got for you as an artistin the kingdom, you can click
the link right here in the shownotes to join us, and it's a
(34:46):
great way to stay connected.
All right, love you, bye.
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