Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

  • Welcome
    • Prayer Cycle
      • Introduction to the Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle
      • Day 1 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Cathedral
      • Day 2 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Scriptures
      • Day 3 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Saints
      • Day 4 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Spiritual Directors
      • Day 5 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Icon
      • Day 6 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Sacrament
      • Day 7 Morning & Evening Prayer:
        Earth as the Original Liturgy
      • Prayer Cycle Leader Resources
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    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
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  • Books
    • Sacred Time:
      Embracing an Intentional Way of Life
    • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: Poems
    • Earth, Our Original Monastery:
      Cultivating Wonder and Gratitude through Intimacy with Nature
    • Dreaming of Stones: Poems
    • The Soul's Slow Ripening:
      12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred
    • The Wisdom of the Body:
      A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women
    • Illuminating the Way:
      Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics
    • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
      Eight Practices for the Journey Within
    • Eyes of the Heart:
      Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice
    • The Artist's Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom
    • Desert Mothers and Fathers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Annotated & Explained
    • Lectio Divina–The Sacred Art: Transforming Words and Images into Heart-Centered Prayer
    • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements
    • Awakening the Creative Spirit:
      Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction
    • Lectio Divina: Contemplative Awakening & Awareness
  • Poetry | Art | Music
    • Music + DVD
    • Poetry by Christine Valters Paintner
    • Poetry Videos
    • Dancing Monk Icons
    • Other Art Collaborations
      • Monk in the World art series by Kristin Noelle
      • Saints & Animals art series by David Hollington
      • Sacred Time art series by Alexi Francis
      • Mary block print art series by Kreg Yingst
  • Programs
    • Live Programs: Pilgrimage & Retreats
      • Monk in the World (Ireland)
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Vienna Monk in the World (Austria)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color
      • The Way of the Hermit:
        A Spiritual Survival Guide for Dark Times
        with Kayleen Asbo, PhD
      • The Spiral Way:
        Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
      • Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers (Lent 2021)
      • Dancing with Fear in Troubled Times
      • Novena for Times of Unraveling
      • The Two HT’s-Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman-on Being Free
      • Writing Into Bloom
        with Christine Valters Paintner
      • Sacred Time: Embracing an Intentional Way of Life (Spring 2021)
      • Poetry and the Sacred Garden of the World:
        An Online Writing Retreat
    • Self-Study Online Spiritual Retreats
      • Creative Flourishing in the Heart of the Desert:
        An Online Retreat with St. Hildegard of Bingen
      • Dreaming of the Sea:
        A women’s discernment journey through the story of the Selkie
      • Earth, Our Original Monastery
        A Companion Retreat to the Book (SELF-STUDY)
      • Exile and Coming Home:
        An Archetypal Journey through the Scriptures
      • Eyes of the Heart:
        Photography as Contemplative Practice
        (Companion retreat to the book)
      • Honoring Saints and Ancestors:
        Online Retreat for the Season of Remembrance
      • Lectio Divina:
        The Sacred Art of Reading the World
      • A Midwinter God:
        Making a Conscious Underworld Journey
      • Sacred Rhythms of Sky, Sun, Sea & Stone:
        A Creative Retreat with the Elements (SELF-STUDY)
      • Sacred Seasons:
        A Yearlong Journey through the Celtic Wheel of the Year
      • The Soul of a Pilgrim:
        Eight Practices for the Journey Within
        (a companion retreat to the book)
      • The Soul's Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seekers of the Sacred (a companion retreat to the book)
      • Water, Wind, Earth & Fire
      • Watershed Moments
        in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures
      • Way of the Monk, Path of the Artist:
        A 12-Week Companion Retreat to The Artist's Rule
      • The Wisdom of the Body:
        A 10-Week Online Companion Retreat to the Book
      • The Wisdom of Mary and the Sacred Feminine
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
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Sacred Artist Interview

Sacred Artist Interview: Marcy Hall

I first encountered Marcy Hall's work through her partner's blog blisschick who comments here very thoughtfully from time to time.  I was delighted to follow the links that landed me at Marcy's website because I discovered an artist with a wonderful sense of playfulness to her work, while at the same time exploring very sacred themes.

I also adore her use of animals in her imagery that speak to me of the sacred power our connections to creatures have.  Each animal in her work seems to occupy its own world of peace and play, while also inviting the person gazing upon the work into this world, to participate in it. 

I am so pleased that Marcy agreed to particiate in my Sacred Artist Interview series:

*****

Are you rooted in a particular faith tradition?

Not so much.  I was raised as a Methodist, but it didn't really stick.  I think I am pretty rooted in Christianity as a whole, though I tried for years not to be.  I like to try to stay open minded (for example, I wasn't raised Catholic but there's a lot there that attracts me and the same for Buddhism), but I am, at this point in my life, actively seeking a path that is more definite and concrete.  I think that having a path helps to focus and direct your life in a way that nothing else can.  Cafeteria style is fine but at some point you have to decide what to put on your tray, which is only so big.

What is your primary art medium?

My primary art medium is acrylic on canvas, though I like to explore.  Recently, I've branched out to painting on wood panels.  I have a real drive to do more multi-media work or to incorporate sculpture in some way.  But I haven't figured out how or even why to do so.  I know I have to just wait and eventually it will come to me.

How do you experience the connection between spirituality and creativity?

I think they are one and the same, which is why I think I've had a hard time settling on a particular faith tradition — because I feel like too often the religions I've experienced try to separate the two by creating set-in-stone methods that are supposed to work the same way for everyone.  I think our spirituality and our personal way to God is as unique as the creativity we all possess. 

What role does spiritual practice have in your art-making?

Even though I don't have a particular faith tradition (for the moment!), I do believe in one basic principle, which I try to use as the guiding principle of my life:  Everything is divine in some way, in some respect.  I may not know how or why, but that's not important, because most things are beyond my ability to see.  I try to represent this principle through my art in my own way, through the subjects I choose, the colors I use, the elements I incorporate, the words I write.  My goal is to make art that celebrates life's inherent divinity and specialness.

What sparked your spiritual journey and your artistic journey?

Both my spiritual and artistic journeys are constantly sparked by each other, and both are constantly sparked by a million other things.  I like to think, though I am building on what came before in both cases, that I am starting over new and fresh each day.  Anything can happen.  In that way, each day is an opportunity for something new to happen, big or small.  Both my spiritual and creative journies are also equally sparked by trying to find my place in the world and by trying to better understand how I can contribute to the world around me.  I can't contribute much if I'm not spiritually grounded (or at least seeking to become so) or if I'm not practicing my artistic gifts, which are spiritually inspired.  They go hand in hand.

Do you have a particular process you use when entering into your creative work? 

I do have a process that I normally follow.  On the wall behind my easel and painting paraphernalia, I have an altar of sorts (just a shelf mounted on the wall) that holds a couple of candles, some pictures of loved ones (cats and people), and some other miscellaneous items of importance to me.  Before I begin painting, I light my candles and remind myself not to over-analyze and not to try too hard, but to just let the images and color choices come naturally and spontaneously.  I remind myself to trust my instincts and to not second guess myself.  My painting room is also where my rabbit, Zoe, resides, so my creative process also involves taking a lot of snuggle breaks.

How does your art-making shape your image of God?

I've always had a favorable impression of God, and painting and living more artistically and creatively has only enhanced that impression.  My art doesn't so much shape an image of God for me as much as it solidifies my connection to God.  Though I've lived a long time without adhering to one particular tradition, I've never doubted God, and I think that's because I've always been creative or artistic in some way over my lifetime.  Creativity and art-making show me personally that though I may not totally "get it" in the religion department, that's not ultimately what matters.  What ultimately matters is that I try to do the best I can every day with whatever skills, talents, and passions I possess.  I think that God is Love and Love is God, and every day is an opportunity to see the world from that perspective.  For me, art is what reminds me of that when I lose my way.

*****

Thank you so much to Marcy for sharing her insights here with us.  As always, in the process of reading through the interview I found much that resonated and stirred me.  Today I am especially moved by her statement of making art "that celebrates life’s inherent divinity and specialness", that each day offers to us an abundance of new possibilities, and I of course love that her creative process involves snuggle breaks with her bunny.  The Abbess Petunia is often my muse as well as my reminder of the delights of love which then infuses my work. I also love Marcy's image of art-making as a way of deepening her connection to the sacred.

Make sure to visit her website to see more of her absoltuely delightful images.  Also visit her Cafe Press store called Animal Dreams where you can order some of her whimsical animal art on t-shirts, cards, totes, and more.

(Images from top to bottom: Meditation, Bird Goddess, Tiger Tiger, Bridge Cat, Cherry Blossoms)

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4 Comments June 25, 2008

Upcoming Programs

The Spiral Way:
Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination

Hosted by the Rowe Center
February 1-21, 2021
with Christine Valters Paintner, PhD

Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers
Retreat for Lent 2021

February 17-April 1, 2021
with Christine & John Valters Paintner and Betsey Beckman

Recent Reflections

  • Celtic Spirituality and the Spiral Way ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 3: Ní heolas go haontíos ~ by John Valters Paintner
  • Humility + Join us today for live prayer! ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Hildy Tales 2: Tús maith leath na hoibre – by John Valters Paintner
  • New Book Club for 2021: Lift Every Voice ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess

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