Hey guys!

Last week, I turn 40. Besides it being "over the hill," this age marks a really special occasion for me. It will be 20 years of following Christ. Given this, I thought I'd spend several weeks highlighting some takeaways about God's work in me as a Christian and as an artist. Check out the Ages 21-25, Ages 26-30, and Ages 31-35. Below is the next 5-year segment (age 36-40, or 2022-2026):

---

💥 INSPIRED BY

Age 36 (2022)

This year I learned about and focused on building systems (theological, creative, and household). Systems make our art and mission efforts sustainable, which shaped my ideas about family and legacy. Started seeing the slogan, "your fruit grows on other people's trees" in real life through mission and church. This five year window started with returning to art-as-play once again. ​​

---

Age 37 (2023)

While finishing my degree work and writing my Thesis, I developed a personal taxonomy of all kinds of projects I want to work on. Officially launched Taylor Makes website. Began annual family summits. This year, I realized my primary role is as a cultivator of others through the raw material of life, not just an artist.

---

Age 38 (2024)

Officially launched (tested) a freelance business (shut it down at the end of the year). Began the Yellow Ochre community and newsletter. This year taught me about becoming a resilient architect. I enjoy being an architect of creative environments where others can find Christ and their own voices. Regarding art and mission, I learned that "Make Disciples means creating the context for discipleship," and art is a primary tool for building that context.

---

Age 39 (2025)

I stopped thinking of creative pursuits as a unrelated strip mall storefronts and instead thought of them more like a skyscraper. To do so, I asked what is my one singular vision as a creative and how does each creative "floor" contribute to that? 2025 began with lots of turmoil in both life and work, but Winter became Spring by the end of the year. Our family spent over 30 days of 2025 not living anywhere due to lots of travel as well as a move across the country!

---

Age 40 (2026)

Now that I've looked back, I'm eager about the future. I recently wrote in my journal:

"Age 40: manage home, invest in marriage, make 20 years worth of projects. Ages 40-60 will be for building stuff. Age 60 will be for influence."

---

🛠️ EQUIPPED BY

From Artisan to Architect (Takeaways from 2022-2026)

The theme of this 5-year era was the create systems that will multiple. A close second would be to create a corpus of art and artifacts. I heard John Williams share something on the Imagination Redeemed podcast that really resonated with me, "Artists are missionaries to future generations" (John Williams). I believe in this batch of years, I transitioned from an artist seeking permission into a leader who creates the conditions for others to thrive (or at least, I'm just scratching the surface of what this means). I'm entering my 40s not guessing who I was as an artist. These last 5 years refined this quite a bit for me.

---

🎨 WHAT I MADE THIS WEEK

For my birthday, my mom got my this new watercolor paint set. It was only fitting then that I start trying it out with the kiddos after a few dinners this week.

What did you make this last week? (email me and I'll share it with in my next newsletter)

---

🚀 SENT WITH

John Williams

-Matt

---