Life After Art: What You Forgot About Life and Faith Since You Left the Art Room
Life After Art will help you recover what was lost or  stolen from your childhood throughout the arduous journey of life. Reclaim the untainted  creativity, imagination, and optimism of your youth-and discover the very person  you were meant to be.Ben Arment, Creator of STORY conference  and Dream YearHow many years has it been since you  were covered in paint in your elementary school's art room? After reading Life  After Art, you may want to go back. Matt takes readers on a journey to  the art room to discover our purpose in life which can be found in our God-given  ability to create beauty for the world to see.Anne Jackson, Speaker  and author of Permission to Speak Freely: Essays & Art on Fear,  Confession & Grace and Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the  Burnout Epidemic As someone who is trying to be an artist,  this book spoke to me. As a dad of two creative daughters, this spoke to me. As  a Christian, this spoke to me. The bottom line is that Matt's written a book that  communicates an important hope. And it will speak to you too.Jon  Acuff, Speaker and Wall Street Journal bestselling author  of Quitter and Stuff Christians LikeMatt  has written the book I always wanted to write. He's taken art and made it grace.  He's taken creativity and made it humanity. He's taken adults and made them children,  again. With thoughtful questions, humorous anecdotes, and crisp story-telling, Matt  paints a picture of what heaven can look like on earth. In the same way I frame  my paintings, I wish I could frame the message of Life After Art and  hang it on my walls, for all the world to see. This book has been a long time coming  and it will make artists out of all of us.Emily Wierenga, Award-winning  journalist, artist, and author of Save My Children and Chasing  SilhouettesOur time-obsessed culture of productivity has piled  so much upon our adult lives that we've let slip the things that truly enhance our  spiritual, emotional, and even physical well-being. Matt Appling's call to return  to the timeless joy of making beautiful things is powerful. More art. More  creating. More mess. As a visual artist and a grown-up overcome with responsibilities,  this is a message I needed to hear.Jason Boyett, Author of O  Me of Little Faith and Pocket Guide to the AfterlifeWhat  I love about this book is it's commitment to call out the best in each of us. All  of us want to live the extraordinary life Jesus promises, but many miss out on it  because of hurt, failure or disappointment. Life After Art commissions  us to recapture God's vision for our life and pursue it with passion.Justin  Davis, Co-founder of RefineUs Ministries and co-author of Beyond Ordinary:  When a Good Marriage Just Isn't Good EnoughWhen we were kids  we were told we were artists, but over time we forgot how to be artists. Matt reminds  us that being an artist and making a life filled with beauty should no longer be  relegated to our kindergarten classes. In my humble opinion, being an artist means  changing the world and Matt's book will help you do exactly that.Blaine  Hogan, Creative Director, actor, artist and author of UNTITLED: Thoughts  on the Creative ProcessRelearn what you have been taught to  forget.  Allow the art of your life to greater speak so others can see what  they cannot hear.  Journey with Matt and explore life and faith through one  of the most powerful mediums on the face of the earth today, the arts.Eric  Samuel Timm, Communicator, artist, founder of No One Underground and Painting  HopeMatt Appling's voice is charismatic, enthusiastic, and refreshing  honest. He addresses a host of issues including creativity, postmodernism, failure  and beauty with earnestness, simplicity and a keen sense of humor. However, what  is truly unique about this book is the Christian worldview he applies through story  to inspire you as a creator.G. James Daichendt, Ed.D., Professor  at Azusa Pacific University and Author of Artist-Teacher: A Philosophy  for Creating and TeachingI wish I could go back to kindergarten  and be in Mr. Appling's art class. But reading Matt's book, I kind of can. Life  After Art is a simple and compelling message, reminding my grown  up self that I have everything I need to create beauty in the world with my work,  my faith, and my life - an insightful and encouraging read.Emily  P. Freeman, Speaker and author of Grace for the Good Girl: Letting  Go of the Try-Hard Life