We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Naomi Ghani a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Naomi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

My mom reminds me from time to time that as a child, I would draw in church, and I have absolutely no memory of that. I’ve come to realize that God has a beautiful way of leading and directing our path towards what we were always destined to become. I didn’t discover art as my God-given purpose until the age of 30 when I decided to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I had just gotten into the core work at the university I was attending, and I kept failing chemistry. I had come from an advanced academic background and had never failed a class in the past. I also knew that this was just the first level of many levels of chemistry I had ahead of me. I asked God to reveal why this was happening. He showed me that I wasn’t trusting Him to lead my life and my career according to His will. I was instead leaning into the fear of not making enough to have a secure future. I thought that art could only be a hobby for me, and as I reflect on that now, I know God had bigger plans. I switched my program to Studio Art and excelled in every class. Multiple students in my classes were purchasing the art I had completed for homework! I had a professor tell me that my art is good enough to be in magazines. The memories of these experiences still humble me. My own thinking was holding me back from doors and opportunities God was moving to provide. I’ve only had to trust Him and follow His voice.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

God1st Art was established in May 2024 after I graduated from the University of Central Florida. It was birthed out of my love for God, and a deep-rooted passion to see people live lives full of the purpose, love, peace, joy, and wisdom that can only be provided through a relationship with Him. I work with a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpting and illustration. My art is presented to reveal God in the human experience through connecting our daily encounters with the lessons, direction and healing God exposes through them. What sets me apart is that every canvas is prayed over as I seek God’s input for every project I touch. God1st Art exists to solve the problem that everyone needs God, but not everyone has had a personal revelation of Him. I am most proud that God has trusted me with this gift and the desire to humbly lead new believers to Christ. I hope that through my art, many will see God working in everything they experience.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ve grown to understand that purpose requires a new level of obedience. With every opportunity, including this wonderful interview with Canvas Rebel, there is focus, time management, discipline and self-control that must be brought as we venture into every new space. I must make the daily decision to do what is uncomfortable and necessary instead of what is easy and useless. Where I once struggled to find purpose, I now work every day to uphold the ambition, integrity and clarity required to maintain it. The moment we step away from the fruits of the Spirit of God, we begin to lose the blessings He’s given us. In 1 year, God has blessed me with the opportunity to establish new relationships and complete illustration work on a children’s book, show my work in a faith-based gallery showcase, present my business in front of a group of peers, design logos for a clothing line brand and an organic health supplement brand as well as launch my website, www.god1start.com. He turned what I never thought I would do into something I desire to do for the rest of my life. Although I don’t know all God has for the future of my business, I can be sure that resilience and prayer is a major part of the journey.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to bear witness to God through bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the art space. I am committed to being a representation of Christ through the opportunities I create and pursue. The driving force behind God1st Art are my service standards of integrity, humility, transparency, wisdom and compassion while displaying Christ-like character, speech, thought and actions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.god1start.com
• Instagram: @god1st.art

Image Credits

Naomi G.