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Bob Bartow - Bartow Creative Images
Personal
How it started: Bob was raised in Pullman Washington and grew up with a passion for photography; inherited from his grandfather and father. His father was an accountant and Bob pursued a career as a pharmacist and for 15 years owned his own pharmacy. Photography was his first love but he felt he needed a real degree and occupation to maintain his hobby. He accumulated pictures throughout his life.
Bob was raised in church and loved the prophetic movement which began in the 80’s. In 2000 he coupled digital photography and computer software to create images he saw prophetically. One of his first pictures matched a vision a visiting minister (Shawn Boltz) shared in a conference setting. Shawn personally encouraged Bob to pursue his love for the arts with his prophetic gift. Bob continues to photograph and create images that capture the theme of the Holy Spirit and thus his art has an anointing and a message that is has a unique impact.
Bob combined his business skills and artistic talents in "Bartow Images." He has transitioned into his new business over a period of five years by working as a pharmacist on a part time basis to supplement his income. Bob is traveling to prophetic conferences and marketing his products live, through book stores, through his web site, and has established an affiliate relationship with Pat King, The Healing rooms, and Steve Shultz (Elijah List) such that they market his art through their web sites for a portion of the profits. It works because they share Bob's vision for prophetic art and emphasize it in their ministries. A number of ministries have used Bob's art on book covers, tapes and web sites.
Personal Passion: One of Bob’s passions is to reclaim the arts for the Kingdom. His own experience of being encouraged to pursue his dream left him with a desire to help other artistic Christians find a business angle to do the same thing. The emotion of leaving a secure and lucrative career to pursue His first love and his real destiny was agonizing and thrilling at the same time. Looking back on the decision he is very thankful that he took the plunge when he did.
Personal Benefit: Bob has great satisfaction in translating a prophetic sense or picture into a graphic that can be shared with others to communicate his own heart. It’s gratifying to see the impact on ministries and people that resonate with his work. Bob has a great love for travel and has been all over the US, Canada, and Israel attending conferences and displaying his work.
Value to others: Prophetic art is a relatively new concept in the modern world; yet older that Michelangelo from God’s perspective. There is a large demand for art with an anointing and a message. Bob’s affiliate relationship with other ministries generate income to support their Kingdom work as well as his own.
Business Potential (upside): The internet marketing potential for Bob’s art is huge. His affiliate relationships to sell material at a wholesale level is also very attractive. His business creates a passive income that doesn’t require “manning the store.” His web site “sells” 24 hours a day around the world.
Complexities, failures (downside): It has taken several years to build the web site side of his business. Bob also fills his orders personal with help from family members. His art is often sold matted and framed which implies some labor for assembly and mailing.
Vision for the Kingdom: Bob’s vision is to see Christian artists assume their role in the marketplace to communicate the good news of the gospel. His own life’s message is “go for it.”
Impact from Releasing Kings: Releasing Kings solidified a desire in Bob’s heart to minister outside the church in the marketplace. Those we want to reach live in the secular world and art is an important media to speak their language.
How Bob Can Help You – Bob’s background in business is what makes his ministry in art work. He understands the value of a business plan, the need for marketing, and how to price his work to return a profit. The financial foundation is the reason his art and ministry can function. In fact, the business aspect is what allows his ministry to expand around the world. Thus he’s a great resource with a great heart for helping young artists… even old ones. Feel free to contact him and watch for future sessions at conferences on "Releasing Artistic Kings."
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