Meet: Visual Artist Ira Thomas

“Maid in the Trinity” by Ira Thomas 24” x 24”/ 61cm x 61cm, acrylic on canvas

IRA THOMAS is a Malta-born visual artist who now lives in the U.S. with her family. catholicworldart@gmail.com | www.catholicworldart.com

Ira shared her thoughts on life as a Catholic artist with the Catholic Artist Connection: 

”I create paintings that emerge from my prayer life in a variety of styles, mostly in oils or acrylic. I also write a reflection for each painting with the aim of using my art for the New Evangelization.

I was born and raised on the Mediterranean island of Malta where I was in awe of the beautiful, religious paintings which adorned the baroque churches there.

I knew I had some talent but my instincts told me that this gift of art that God gave me was not, in my case, to be of commercial use; that there was another purpose for it. The question, “what is my art for?” haunted me for a long time.

In the several years I was a catechist, I found that sharing my art with the young helped drive the lessons home. But it was not until I read, Pope John Paul’s II Letter to Artists that it hit me: I was to use my art to catechize and encourage other Catholics to draw closer to God. I am a Catholic first and then an artist. I had finally discovered what my art was for.

My first step was to seek a spiritual director to see if I was correct in interpreting this call from God with regard to my art. He put me straight to work.

What followed was a series of exhibitions in several churches. It especially pleases me to display my paintings, when they tie in with the liturgical calendar, by the sanctuary. I would like to see more pastors be open in allowing other artists to show their inspirational work.

One painting per week by various artists displayed in a church vestibule would welcome parishioners to visually prepare for Christ’s message of salvation before entering the church to hear it.

I showcase my art on my website which includes five different languages thus enabling me to reach Catholics in many parts of the world. However, to my surprise, the majority of the letters I receive are from Protestants.

My paintings often emerge while I am at prayer, often like a flash in my mind’s eye. I then spend days churning the idea over and choosing the colors, format, medium and step-by-step technique through many sketches. When I have sorted it all out, I spent one day fasting in preparation to begin the following day. It is my way of preparing myself in order to let the Spirit work in me, being fully aware that my talent is His gift.

I am in a state of euphoria the day I begin a painting. This is followed by a slow and often painful journey. Painting is not therapeutic for me but an emotional struggle. When I manage to pull everything together and complete the painting, I feel joy again, as in the beginning. These are the times I know I am doing what the Lord called me to do.

While painting, I am praying and reflecting on the subject at hand. Often, I paint with the cycle of the liturgy. I compose a simple message for each painting which I ask a very knowledgeable priest to approve before posting onto my website.

My advice to any Catholic artist is, ‘to be yourself’; that your art be authentic to the beating of your own heart. ‘To know yourself’ by discovering what places, people, situations and time of day best helps your creativity. But mostly, to listen to God in prayer for He gave you the talent and He knows who needs to be served by it.”