How Faith-Based Art Became Her Life's Purpose

Sometimes I feel like you have to think completely outside the box of the norm in order to truly be successful.

I had a fear of putting it out there and I decided, you know what, I can care less. What other people think, yeah, if you see a need for something because you may have experienced something or your trials and tribulations that got you to this point, just know you're not the only one. Crystal Blue Stanley is the CEO of Art for his glory LLC. A faith-based art business creating personalized pieces designed to encourage people through

scripture, creativity, and purpose. Sometimes when you go through trials and tribulations, at least for me, it's really hard to open up a Bible. It's just that block that I just can't open a Bible, but I can look at my wall and read a scripture easily.

Yeah. What if people have art that has scriptures on it? And so that's kind of what this is what I need it to do. If you can work a nine to five and you can make somebody else money, believe that you can do that same for yourself.

I myself, I have a whole project plan for my life.

I know that sounds crazy, but if I can do this for a multi-million dollar corporation,

why cannot not do this for myself. It spans the globe, like a super high school, internet Elvis, ready to fire from here. Today, Apple is going to reinvent for fall. It's our over, I'm telling how we're living your legacy podcast for those who live a legacy.

Hello, welcome back to another episode. We're here today with Crystal. We're going to dive into her life, her mission, her story and how she's on a mission to impact the world. Crystal, welcome to the show.

Thank you, Rudy. Thank you for having me. That's a pleasure. That's your hair. Just let's start for everyone watching if they don't know who you are, they don't follow

you maybe.

“Do you mind giving a minute, summary about who you are and what you do?”

Yeah, so I am Crystal Blue Stanley. I am a biography artist and my niche is based on faith, and so on my artwork is faith based. And my slogan is "To Inspire Divine Connection." I like that. And what got you into all this?

So I like creating personalized gifts instead of buying gifts, I think it just has more meaning to it. And as I was creating pieces for the holidays, my youngest son, who is on autism spectrum, said, "Hey, I want one too." So I couldn't figure out what to make for him.

And so once I went into an art store and I found this big letter, his name is Dorian. So it was a D. And I was like, "Oh, we're Marvel people. I want to put Marvel all over it." But as I sat down to create it, the Holy Spirit was like, "No, ma'am, I need you to

put me on it. I need him to understand that I'm present in his life. I want to be inspiring because my son loves to be in church, he loves scriptures." And that's where I started. And so I began just putting scriptures on it just things that he could fill inspired

by, because I've scriptures all over my walls for myself, you know, to keep me encouraged. And so I felt like this was the way to go.

“And so that's how I kind of became, that's how I started and everything.”

So, and just if, you know, obviously someone's listening, they can't see visually, can you describe a piece of art you might do now or a piece of your work? Yeah, so it could be anything from a wall hanging to a coaster that may have an inspiring image, some scriptures on it, or scripture reference on it, mostly to encourage people to live people up.

Now, a lot of my pieces are customized, so people say, "Hey, this is my favorite scripture." So I would put their scripture on it and then find images, at least in my mind, that kind of connect with it. I tend to pray before I make every piece to make sure that, you know, I'm inspired by God to understand what is that this individual really needs, and then that's what goes

on the piece. So, depending on whether it's a coaster, a wall hanging, and cutting board, as you could report, it's like you name it, it's a piece of wood, I'm going to engrave it. That's great. And let's talk about that entrepreneur, Jenny.

You know, I love featuring those stories of like this idea that was a gift or was it going to be a hobby or something you did for yourself, right? And obviously, in your case, you know, for your son, what, what, how did that cascade into a business? Let's talk about that, Jenny.

Yeah, and so I would go to the art store and buy all this wood, all different kind of pieces of wood, and people were looking at me like, "What do you need all this wood for?" And I would pop up my phone and say, "Look, let me show you what I do." And I was at physical therapy and same thing with my physical therapist and she's like, "Well, do you take a mission work?"

I said, "You know, have any yet, but I would love to, that's my goal."

She said, "Well, I would like to commission your first piece."

I won an A, a letter A from my mom, and I was like, "Okay, great." Any specific scripture.

“She's like, "No, whatever comes to your heart, that's what I would like on it."”

And I remember sitting there designing it, and it called purple and blue.

And I was like, "Well, I'm not quite sure what her colors are, what if they're not purple

and blue?" And so my next physical therapy appointment said, "Hey, what are your mom favorite colors?" She says, "Purple and blue." And I was like, "Wow, okay, so I'm listening clearly."

“So I designed the piece, I gave it to her, and I was like, "You know what?”

I need to be doing this. This is what I feel like I need to do. I feel good about it. I want to inspire other people. I want people to be remembered or have a beautiful art piece on the wall."

Because sometimes when you go through trials and tribulations, at least for me, it's really hard to open up the Bible. It's just that block that I just can't open a Bible. But I can look at my wall and read a scripture easily.

Inside just, you know, what if people have art that has scriptures on it?

Not only the beautiful piece of art piece, they have a scripture to go with that I keep them encouraged. I mean, it's just hanging on their wall. And so that's kind of what this is what I need it to do. Now don't give me wrong and it came with doubt, right?

It's faith-based art. It's not very well known. It's not very well received. So once I launched the business, I had this really heavy doubt. And I remember at launch December 25th, 2024, Christmas Day.

And here I am questioning every bit about it. And she gave this gift to her mom on Christmas Day and sent me a video. In the emotions that her mom expressed to me, the tears that came, the joy with those tears. I was like, this is what I'm into doing. And that's how I just continue.

“So how's it been, you know, sat here now the last year or so, how's that?”

How's it expanded from your first piece?

What are you doing now? Yes, so I expanded. I do other mediums. It's not just wood. So I engraved t-shirts, I engraved glass, I engraved metal.

As far as sales goes, it's been kind of slower. My son is having a lot of mental health challenges right now. So my real focus has really been on him and trying to get him well. I have taken since I've taken my website down, just because I knew I wasn't going to be able to keep up with production in orders and have decided I'm going to go more of the traditional

route because it's so unique and it's a really small niche, is to go on at CR Amazon. And so I might now building those stores out and have decided instead of only doing customized pieces because how people are going to find me, it's only custom that I'm just going to put out pieces and then just let people know, hey, if you want customized, it's available. But at least have these stores filled with just the things that come to my heart in my mind

or things I've done in the past that I can replicate. And so that's kind of the avenue that I'm taking now. So I've made it just an executive decision to take it to from power, then just the traditional website.

“Yeah, I think, you know, I at seeing those stores can be super great for those custom, you”

know, custom. I'm not custom, but more unique pieces, right, which is what you do. And what would you say, you know, has been the highlights and the not so great moments of that entrepreneurial journey so so far, right? It sounds like the video on Christmas days, definitely highlights like that.

But we love to show here that, you know, the ups and downs and real life stories of entrepreneurs and the highs and the lows. Yep. So I'll start with the low and end with the highs. Yeah.

So the low is finding the customer base, obviously, because it's such a small niche in my opinion, there's not a lot of faith-based art, even though I am in the south, it's quite challenging. And of course, I question myself a lot, right, because it's, it's on my faith. And then there's people who's like, you know, I, everyone has a different image of Jesus or God, right?

And so it's not going to fit everybody and that's okay, right? I feel like I'm going to reach whoever I'm going to reach who needs this. And I'm going to accept it that it took me a minute to be okay with that, but I'm okay with that. I think the other challenges, people request and things that don't align with what my vision

is, I've just purely making faith-based art, right? They love the engraving, they want other things, which is great. There's nothing wrong with that. But it doesn't align with what my slogan is and what my purpose is in my business. I think the other challenge is making a sales, getting out there, getting promoted, and that's

the reason why I made the executive decision, you know what, having a website, it's not for me right now, because no one knows who I am, so how do I get out there and finding those ways? The highlights is, just as you mentioned, Christmas Day, getting that video, and this was a much senior person, I had a similar reaction from my god daughter, who's four.

Noah? I made something from her for her and she started crying, we're like, "Well, what's wrong? Did I offend you in any form away?" And she goes, "No, she's like, I'm just so happy." And so it really reminded me that no matter how old you are, having a scripture presented

to you in an in a piece of an art form, can be so impactful and so meaningful, that it's something that I feel like I just need to continue to do. Yeah, I mean, yeah, connecting the art form and the uniqueness of it, right?

you do find them, you have plenty more reactions like you've got so far. Right. So I wanted to ask, "What did it feel like making that decision of going from a hobby to a business?" Right?

You know, you've talked a little about it and now I've heard some stuff, but you know, what we're talking through that, like, when did you kind of know it was real? Was it the physio moment? Yeah, it was a semi-tuff decision, but I believed on my faith, and I feel that we are gifted with gifts to help other people in one way or another.

And I'm just so happy to be an artist and a writer.

And when I got my first commission piece, was the moment where I said, "Okay, this needs

to be a business because there's a need for this in people homes." Because I can't be the only one struggling when I go through trials and tribulations that I cannot read my word, and I read my word daily. So when you have that block, and I have it now my wall, I can look at my wall and say, "Okay,

“I remember who you are, God, I remember that this is what I need."”

And I wanted that for others. And I think the real turning point, and again, was my God daughter, right, knowing that I can reach generations, not just as not just a group of people, as generations of folks, that are so desperately wanting this in their own way that I feel like this is my purpose. I like that, and I would look to ask people out there listening their inspired by this.

They have this hobby or this thing they're doing on the side, they're in a job, they don't enjoy or not filled.

What would you say to them, have what advice to transition maybe, would you give them?

Yeah, I think when you get to the point where you're comfortable, and what you're doing, and you're income is comfortable, and what you're doing, because I'm still working full time as well. Right? And so I sat a two-year plan in two years.

This is my goal. I want to make either the same amount of money that I make today at my day-to-day job, or exceed that, but that also means I have to put them long hours, right? And so it's just understanding, you're going to have your ups, you're going to have your downs, but if you stay consistent, I reevaluate my plan every few months, right?

Is this working? Is it not? What do I need to look into? What can I do? And be open to change.

“I mean, you have to continuously have a solutionized in order to be able to be progressive”

in your business, and then understanding your market. And so I know I have a small niche, but I know it's very well-needed. And so finding ways for me, I was like, okay, real estate. Yep. I'm going into real estate, right?

There's people that want to give their clients gifts, but also make it clear to say, hey, even though it's the gift, please know it's faith-based, and I don't want to change from that. So if you're open to that, then let's work together, same thing with a wedding industry. And so understanding what markets you can get into without losing your purpose, and what your value is in morals based on how you design your business, because that to me was a

biggest fear. Yeah, I really like that reoccurring theme that you've shared, is like, you could make these, you know, it's a cool style, so you could expand out, not like, be easier, but you're really focused and aligned on, does it fit your model and the faith-based side, and stay

“in true to that. I think a lot of people drift. They don't do that. And, you know, I've”

done the same in my business that's been lots of times, because I'm very known for marketing and all these things people ask, oh, can you do this, you know, celebrities or Remy, Rudy? Can you help me with this brand, and it's so exciting, but then you're like, no, no, no, because I have this mission. And I think it's hard as an entrepreneur, especially when there's

money behind it, and all these are the ways to expand, to stay true to it, but it always

pays dividends in the long run. And I wanted to ask you in my next question was going to be what's next. You talk about the two-year plan, so I don't have to dive into, how do you see this expanding and rolling out? Yeah, so my goal in two years is to like, this be my full time, right? To be connected with real estate aid is to be connected with running planners, and that, of course, still continue to commission pieces. But then let that generate my income,

in five years, I would like to have a warehouse with multiple people working. And so the deal in ten years is that I get the travel life, but it works. Yeah, one day, one day, one day. But just really, you know, I would love to see my art piece of millions of people's homes, whether it's a simple coaster, to a wall hanging, to a cutting board, just whatever just a piece, to where they know, hey, I'm having a hard time. I can be my kitchen cooking. And I see a

beautiful cutting board that just reminds me who my Lord is, or I have a coaster, I might, you know, kitchen table or my living room, and just be reminded. I think it's so important when, you know,

away that there is a great of being there. I like that a lot. I like the, you know, I like the,

the two year plan a lot of people have, but I like that you got the five year and then the ten year and travel in the warehouse. So that's really cool. And I think it's, you know, when you start out, I go with saying, you just focus on making money, right? I'm like obviously selling a few products to pay the bills, but I think it's so great to have that vision of where can this go, right? And keep working towards that. And I think that helps you, you know, keep, keep the side rails up and stay

true to your mission and purpose and that that's awesome. So just as we get to the end of the

day, I'd love to, I always ask people, you know, what tips do you have, right? You're on a mission

having packed and growing a business and entrepreneur. Someone listening, they want to start their own thing or venture into this, what tips do you have mindset or business tips? Yeah, what I will say is,

“you know, if you're not thinking crazy, it's not a business. Like, sometimes I feel like you have to”

think completely outside the box at the norm in order to truly be successful. When I walked in this, of course, there's may sayers, right? It's never going to go anywhere. It's never going to sell. But I can't listen to that, right? Because for me, it's like one and brings me joy. What I do is what I love. And so if you're doing something that you love, put it out there. I had a fear of putting it out there and I decided, you know what? I can care less. What other people think? Right? I have to do this.

I have to do this not just for myself, but there's so many people out there who really need this, because know that you're not the only one. If you see a need for something because you may have experienced something or your trials and tribulations have gotten you to this point, just know you're not the only one. There's going to be somebody else out there who's going to need exactly what you need and probably millions of people that are going to need that. So put it out there and just watch the

response and understand you're going to hear nose. But also know that those doors aren't for you to open. And then there's other doors that are going to be open. But keep putting yourself out there, keep trying.

“I think I speak a lot to resilience. Even in my own life, if you, you know, value your life”

and imagine how resilient you are, just in general, apply it to your business. If you can work a nine to five and you can make somebody else money, believe that you can do that same for yourself. I myself, I have a whole project plan for my life. I know that sounds crazy. But if I can do this for

a multi-million dollar corporation, why cannot not do this for myself? And so just know apply your

soft skills to your own business and just build that out of it. Yeah, great. And last question, I've been burning to ask you the whole time. Where do people see the product? I'm going to see this. Yeah. So right now, I, as I mentioned earlier, I made an executive decision to take my website down. And so right now, I am building my Etsy store. I am building my Amazon store. So that will be coming in the next couple of weeks. And what will they search when this is live to find find?

They can either search for Crystal Stanley or art for his glory. That's my business name. I'm under Crystal Ballon TikTok. I have work on there as well. I'm still building up my Instagram. I'm not a big social media person. So that's something I'm venturing into. But I am out there in that way. Or you can email me. Crystal Ballon at art for his glory.com. I can then give you the

“information that, you know, whether it wants to side to up and run in. But that's how people”

can find me at this point. Love it. Crystal been a pleasure. I have everyone listening. We've got some inspiration. You know, learn from your lesson of jumping in the deep and believing in yourself. And I think like I said, staying true to your vision and mission. That's so admirable. And I love the work you're doing. You know, I have a paper on checks it out. And I think Etsy and stuff's going to be so great for you. So excited to see how you do. Thank you. Guys,

obviously check out the social media at sea every time this is live. I'm sure you'll be live and kick it on Etsy. I will see you soon. Keep working hard. Have impact. Have legacy. Take care.