Abbey of the Arts

Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

  • Welcome
    • Prayer Cycle
    • About the Abbey
    • About Christine Valters Paintner
    • About John Valters Paintner
    • About the Wisdom Council
    • Monk Manifesto
    • Join the Holy Disorder of Dancing Monks
    • Subscribe to Our Love Notes
    • Website privacy notice
  • Books
    • Breath Prayer:
      An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
    • 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
    • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color Book Club
    • Community Online Retreats
      • Harriet Tubman and Howard Thurman-on Being Free
      • Writing Into Bloom
        with Christine Valters Paintner
      • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
      • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: A Weekend Retreat Online
      • The Spiral Way:
        Celtic Spirituality and the Creative Imagination
      • Sacred Balance:
        Aligning Body and Spirit Through
        Yoga and the Benedictine Way
    • 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)
      • Journey with the Desert Mothers and Fathers
        (SELF-STUDY)
      • 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 (SELF-STUDY)
      • 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
    • Live Programs: Pilgrimage & Retreats
      • Writing on the Wild Edges (Ireland)
      • Hildegard of Bingen (Germany)
      • Awakening the Creative Spirit: Experiential Education for Spiritual Directors in the Expressive Arts (Northwest)
  • Calendar
  • Reflections
  • Contact

Sacred Artist Interview

Sacred Artist Interview: Shiloh Sophia McCloud

I am not certain how I first discovered Shiloh Sophia McCloud's work, I am just grateful that I did.  I find her art inspiring, invigorating, captivating, whimsical, and utterly delightful.  She describes her art below as "images of what is possible for our lives" — and I say amen!
On her website it says that Shiloh has been working with people and as a full time Artist for over ten years in an arena she calls "the sacred arts movement" which is dedicated to exploring the tri-fold relationship between intention-based arts, meaningful life-work and the path of personal transformation.
Sounds just like my kind of integration.  I am so grateful to Shiloh for sharing her wisdom here, so read on!

Are you rooted in a particular faith tradition?

I have been a Christian who also honors the Divine Mother for over fourteen years. Previously I was Protestant – but continually longing for deeper ritual and knowing there had to be more available. Right now I am studying to be Orthodox (American) – which is a part of my roots as my great Grandfather founded a Russian Orthodox Church 100 years ago in Pennsylvania. I met Jesus when I was just a kid – and I have been walking with Him ever since.

What is your primary art medium?

My primary art form is arcylic on canvas. They may also be sprinkled with gold leaf, glitter, milagros, prayers and holy cards. My paintings are mostly of women, couples, families, and Madonnas. 

How do you experience the connection between spirituality and creativity?

For me, painting is a huge part of my spiritual practice – a time when I am in a golden wordless dialogue with the Divine. A place when bliss is a state of being. It is through the very act of creation and the disappearing of the ordinary – that I am transported into the sacred. It happens suddenly and lasts for long periods – I am transported to a space that feels beyond time – and where I am the most myself. Intentional creativity is a form of spirituality – because we bring our heart into the work. When I create, my paintings are prayers for the world.

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

I make a living doing my art, and so in a wonderful way I get to practice on a consistent basis. There are several factors I believe that makes art making a spiritual practice for me 

1. time consistency to the practice.

2. commitment to the process and intention setting.

3. ritual bracketing the time itself.

4. a prayer for revelation.

These are the four components that bring art making into a the realm of practice for me – and this is also what I teach in my workshop, the Awakened Heart, Painting as Creative Practice. I invite women to CHOOSE and learn to use painting as a
practice.

What sparked your spiritual journey?

I have thought of myself as somewhat of a mystic for a long time -continually seeking the unseen realms and how it might inform my journey and the journeys of the lives I touch. Teaching painting and the principles of living that are in my workshops is my ministry, my lifework, my offering to the world.

This came about as a wonderful encounter I had with the Virgin Mary after asking Father God and Jesus where my mother was. It is too long of a story to tell here – but let's just say that my relationship with her was born once I asked about her – and she came. And she showed me many things – one thing was the status of women in the world – and the suffering and depravity of our situation. My mind was opened and my heart was broken – but she gave me art to create and teach AS MY RESPONSE to the suffering.

From that time – art would become the medium of healing that I would work with – that was fifteen year ago.

What sparked your artistic journey?

After the Mary awakening experience I began to include art making as a part of my life path. Since that time I have published six books, taught thousands of women and own several sacred art galleries. My art became my business – and since I am offering images that are designed to be a blessing to others – it is not a compromise to me to make art to sell.

This is my work and it is my profound pleasure to have my paintings placed in homes with people who see them for what they are – images of what is possible for our lives.

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

Often I turn on music, light a candle, say a prayer, set an intention and I begin to think – actually – about pain. And about love. About what is needed and wanted in the world at that particular moment. Sometimes it relates to world events, and sometimes it relates to events that are in my immediate circle. Then I begin with my paintbrush to create the antidote, the resolution. I even think of my images as an antidote to pornography or images of women and girls that do not represent who we are.

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

My paintings are offerings to people, which is a form of devotion to Creator. I call it devotional painting. I do not presume to paint image of God/Jesus or Mary in any real sense – but if the image sparks a feeling in someone that brings them closer to the divine, then that is my hope. And certainly when I am painting it – I feel closer to the Beloved and I know that is imparted into my painting on a molecular and spiritual level. Some people have called my paintings medicine for the soul.

_________________________________________________

Thank you again to Shiloh.  Soul medicine indeed!  I am so moved by the many layers of what Shiloh has shared here.  I love that her paintings are "prayers for the world," as a response and antidote to the suffering of the world, and as a "blessing to others".  I also deeply appreciate the way she articulates the four components necessary for the arts to become a spiritual practice.

Make sure to visit Shiloh Sophia McCloud's website where you can purchase originals of her art, reproductions, books, journals and sign up for workshops.  It is truly a feast for the senses.

Art from Top to Bottom: Finding Hope, Temple of Love, Self-Honor, Succulent is a Way of Being, Leap of Faith, Faith in the Promises

_________________________________________________

This Friday I will be reflecting on photography as a contemplative practice and on Monday, February 23rd our next Poetry Party returns!

-Christine Valters Paintner at Abbey of the Arts:
Transformative Living through Contemplative & Expressive Arts

«
»

7 Comments February 18, 2009

Upcoming Programs

  • Writing Into Bloom with Christine Valters Paintner
    • May 1, 2021
  • Revelations: The Mysticism of Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe
    • May 13, 2021
  • The Wisdom of Wild Grace: A Weekend Retreat Online
    • May 15, 2021 - May 16, 2021
  • View All Upcoming Programs

Recent Reflections

  • A mini-poetry reading from Christine plus other publishing news
  • St. Kevin Holds Open His Hand and Radical Hospitality ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Monk in the World Guest Post: Greta Kopec
  • Monk in the World Podcast + Harriet Tubman Mysticism ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
  • Lift Every Voice: Contemplative Writers of Color – April Video Discussion and Book Group Materials Now Available

Connect with the Abbey

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
JOIN THE HOLY DISORDER OF DANCING MONKS
SIGN UP FOR UPDATES
DONATE TO SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY

Copyright © 2021 BY ABBEY OF THE ARTS · WEBSITE PRIVACY NOTICE

Copyright © 2021 · Flourish Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in