Meet Connecticut-based Artist Natasha Kowalczyk

Natasha Kowalczyk is a painter and fine arts student at the University of Connecticut. You can find out more about her on Instagram.

CATHOLIC ARTIST CONNECTION: Where are you from originally, and what brought you to your current city?

NATASHA KOWALCZYK: I was born in Ojai, California and lived there until I was 8 years old when me and my family moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut and my education has now brought me to Storrs, Connecticut where I study fine arts at the University of Connecticut.

How do understand your vocation as a Catholic artist?

I am an artist but before anything I am Catholic. I feel as though the Lord has given me this gift of artistry. I know that the only way to honor this gift is to center it around Catholicism, to serve and hopefully build His pilgrim Church on earth. My artistic practice has now transformed into a form of devotion, and this is what pushes me to be a better artist and Catholic. A priest once told me that the easel should be my altar, and this changed my perspective on what it means to be a Catholic artist. My paintings and drawings are not just pictures but they’re prayers that have translated into a picture.

Where have you found support in the Church for your vocation as an artist?

My home parish St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ridgefield, Connecticut has been more than supportive to me as an artist. They recently commissioned me to make a drawing of the church to be used in various ways and places. This not only allows me to give back to my parish in a meaningful way but it also gets my art out into the community which is amazing for a young artist like myself.

How can the artistic world be more welcoming to artists of faith?

Unfortunately, I have seen the artistic world shift majorly towards secularism and as a Catholic artist, especially being a student at a public university, I have felt the effects of this. Catholic art usually makes the classroom go silent when it comes to critiques. In the modern world, especially in the arts, people are nervous to speak about Catholicism and walk on eggshells around it. As a Catholic artist, I would like to see the artistic community make an effort to understand and accept Catholic art as apart of the culture and, in my opinion, the foundation of traditional arts. I would like to see more conversation and deep discussion surrounding Catholic art in the community.

Where in your city do you regularly find spiritual fulfillment?

While on campus I attend both St. Mary’s in Coventry, Connecticut, and the church on campus: St. Thomas Aquinas in Storrs, Connecticut. These two are brother-sister parishes. They have a lively and youthful community and are very supportive to the students on campus. My home parish, St. Mary’s in Ridgefield holds a very special place in my heart and the second I step into the chapel, I feel so at peace and filled with inspiration.

What is your daily spiritual practice?

For my daily spiritual practice, I found that sitting in silent prayer is what helps me feel the most connected to our Lord. I enjoy attending Eucharistic adoration. My home parish has a perpetual adoration chapel that I take advantage of when I am home. I attend daily mass occasionally if it works with my school/work schedule. Going to confession regularly is also very important to me and my connection with God. I pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Rosary, not daily but it is my goal to start. Making art is also a way for me to show my devotion to Christ and to sit in silent prayer while I work.

What is your daily artistic practice?

My artistic practice looks different while I am in school versus while I am on break. Over this past summer break, I was working as a nanny and had minimal time in my day to work on my art, although I did take any time I had free to dedicate to my artistic pursuits. I have also found that quick sketches in a sketchbook would help me practice even if I had a busy schedule. On the other hand, during my school semesters, most of my time is dedicated to my artwork and I spend many hours a week working on various projects. While working on my art, I have found that working in complete silent prayer is best. I rarely listen to music or podcasts. This way helps me to connect more to God and to make my artistic practice a devotion to Him. In the off chance that I do feel like I want to listen to something while I work, I usually put on Father Mike Schmitz or Bishop Robert Barron, so that my focus stays on the Lord and does not divert to something else.

Describe a recent day in which you were most completely living out your vocation as an artist.

In my last week of the summer, I had one day where all I did was work on the commission for my home parish. It was an artist’s dream, I was in the groove, and I had nothing else to do except draw, which was really exceptional. That day, I finished the drawing and sprayed it and put it nicely into a folder ready to bring the morning after. That feeling of completing an artwork you put so much time and love into is just amazing.

How do you market your art?

I jump at every opportunity I am blessed with. I learned that a big part of building your career as an artist is connection. That’s how I found the Catholic Artist Connection. Reaching out and making meaningful connections which people or institutions that want to connect, support, and help you grow as an artist professionally. I am still a student and I have many more connections to make and opportunities to grasp, but so far that is what I have learned.