The Art of Spirit
art spirit by an inspired artistThe Art of Spirit
Spirit art occupies a unique space where creativity meets the paranormal. Unlike conventional artistic practices, in which the artist consciously controls every brushstroke, spirit art operates on entirely different principles. The idea centers on mediums serving as channels through which spirits communicate visual messages to the living.
This collection of practices has developed over more than a century, with specific communities and traditions keeping these methods alive. From the historic streets of Lily Dale to modern practitioners worldwide, spirit art continues to fascinate those interested in exploring the boundaries between the physical and spiritual realms.
NOTE: No art school is required. Inspiration and lessons come from the Divine.
Understanding Spirit Art
Spirit art encompasses several related practices in which artists claim to receive guidance, inspiration, or direct control from spiritual entities during the creative process. This form of expression differs fundamentally from conventional art making because the artist functions less as an independent creator and more as a vessel through which spirits communicate.
Art Inspired by Spirit
The concept of art inspired by spirit extends beyond formal mediumship into a broader philosophy about creativity itself. Many cultures throughout history have recognized that the finest voices in art often speak of being inspired by sources beyond their conscious mind.
This motivation might manifest as:
- Sudden clarity about a composition or subject
- Emotional states that guide color and form choices
- Dreams or visions that become the basis for paintings
- A sense of being guided during the creative process
The distinction between general artistic motivation and specific spirit communication matters to practitioners. While most people acknowledge that great art often feels as if it comes from beyond the conscious mind, spirit artists make more specific claims about receiving messages from identifiable spirits or entities.
Spirit Messages Through Art
Spirit messages through art represent perhaps the most personal application of these practices. During a reading, a medium may create images while in an altered state, producing pictures that allegedly contain information the artist could not have known through normal means.
These messages might include:
- Portraits of deceased relatives the medium has never met
- Symbols meaningful only to the recipient
- Scenes from the past that validate the spiritual connection
- Written words or names that appear during the creative process
The hope for many who seek these services is to receive confirmation of continued existence beyond physical death, making the art itself secondary to the message it carries.
Spirit Portraits
Spirit portraits are among the most recognizable forms of spirit art. In this practice, a medium creates a portrait of a deceased person, often someone connected to a client or sitter present during the session.
The process typically unfolds in specific stages:
- Preparation - The medium enters a receptive state through meditation or prayer
- Connection - The artist claims to establish contact with a spirit wishing to communicate
- Reception - Visual impressions begin forming in the medium's mind
- Creation - The portrait emerges on paper or canvas
- Validation - The recipient confirms or denies recognition of the depicted individual
What makes spirit portraits remarkable to believers is the claim that the medium works without any prior knowledge of the deceased person's appearance. When recipients recognize the portrait as depicting someone they knew, practitioners consider this evidence of genuine spirit communication.
The development of this art form has continued through generations, with teachers passing techniques to students in both formal settings and informal mentorships. Some practitioners work quickly, producing sketches in minutes, while others spend hours creating detailed paintings.
Spiritual Mediums and Spirit Art
The spiritual process mediums describe varies between practitioners, but common elements emerge across accounts:
Entering the receptive state involves quieting the conscious mind through various techniques. Some mediums describe feeling a shift in awareness, as if stepping aside to allow another presence to work through them. This state differs from ordinary consciousness but typically doesn't involve complete unconsciousness.
Receiving impressions might include:
- Visual images appearing in the mind's eye
- Physical sensations guiding hand movements
- Emotional information about the spirit communicating
- Auditory impressions of names or messages
Translating impressions into form requires the medium to render internal experiences as external art. This process explains why spirit art varies so dramatically in style and quality—the medium's artistic abilities influence how effectively it can express what it perceives.
Many practitioners emphasize that this work requires both natural sensitivity and dedicated practice. Like any discipline, mediumship develops through consistent effort and guidance from experienced teachers.
Precipitated Painting
Precipitated painting represents perhaps the most extraordinary claim in spirit art. In this phenomenon, practitioners assert that images appear on canvas or paper without any physical action by the medium—the paint or pigment allegedly materializes through spiritual agency alone.
Lily Dale, NY
Lily Dale is associated with precipitated paintings, with several examples on display at the community's museum. These works typically feature portraits or symbolic imagery that reportedly appeared on blank canvases during séances or spiritual demonstrations.
Skeptics attribute these paintings to conventional techniques combined with misdirection or self-deception. Believers cite witness accounts and the difficulty of replicating the reported phenomena through normal means.
Regardless of one's position on authenticity, precipitated paintings remain fascinating artifacts of spiritualist culture and continue to draw visitors to Lily Dale who are interested in examining these unusual works.
What is a Soul Painting?
A soul painting differs from a spirit portrait in its focus and intent. While spirit portraits depict deceased individuals, soul paintings seek to capture the essential spiritual nature of a living person—what some traditions call the iwa l'ewa, or inner essence.
Soul paintings may include:
- Colors representing the subject's emotional or spiritual state
- Symbolic imagery reflecting life path or purpose
- Abstract forms expressing qualities beyond physical appearance
- Representations of spiritual guides or influences
The philosophy behind soul painting suggests that each human being possesses an essential nature that extends beyond physical form. When art successfully captures this essential nature, the work achieves a special kind of recognition and beauty that transcends mere technical accomplishment.
Practitioners who create soul paintings often work with the subject present, entering meditative states to attune to the person's energy. The resulting artwork serves as both a reflection of the individual's inner life and a potential tool for personal insight and development.
Spirit Paintings and Spirit Messages
Spirit paintings serve as vehicles for spirit messages in ways that extend beyond portraiture. These works may contain symbolic content, written words, or imagery that practitioners interpret as communication from the spirit realm.
The interpretation of spirit paintings often requires collaboration between the medium and the recipient. A symbol meaningless to the artist might carry profound significance for the person receiving the reading. This collaborative meaning-making distinguishes spirit art from conventional artistic appreciation.
Common elements appearing in spirit paintings include:
- Flowers - Often representing specific deceased relatives or spiritual qualities
- Animals - Symbolizing guidance, protection, or character traits
- Colors - Carrying emotional or energetic information
- Written elements - Names, dates, or short messages
- Religious imagery - Crosses, angels, or figures from various traditions
The collection of spirit paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries provides valuable documentation of spiritualist beliefs and practices from that era. These works, preserved in museums and private collections, reveal how mediums and their clients understood the relationship between art and the afterlife.
My Experience of Spirit Art
During a trip to the Lily Dale museum, I discovered something truly incredible. The Lily Dale Museum is a spiritual treasure chest housing a vast collection of spirit art, including automatic drawings, psychic art, spirit paintings of loved ones, and more.
As I was looking around and enjoying the remarkable spiritual pieces, I came across a drawing that left me speechless. However, before I tell you about the drawing and my reaction, I first need to explain something.
Many years ago, while in a trance-like state, I saw myself in a semidark room. The only light came from a small window. The space was empty except for a ladder. One end of the ladder was attached to the floor, while the other end was connected to a door or opening on the ceiling.
As I climbed the ladder and opened the door, I was amazed at what I saw and felt. It was a place like no other—a place of profound peace and beauty. Upon entering, I immediately felt a lightness throughout my body. It was as if all my earthly worries and emotional problems had been lifted from me.
The air felt light and intoxicating. As I looked around, I saw transparent figures moving peacefully. Although they were not of flesh, their energy was felt and seen very clearly. Enthralled by this transcendent place, I was oblivious to the being standing next to me. After a minute or two of savoring the beauty and tranquility of this place, I felt the presence of the being next to me.
Although I had not seen her before in my earthly travels, I knew who she was. She was my maternal grandmother. Even though she had died eleven years before I was born, my mother kept her memory alive in our hearts. Here, she was standing beside me, greeting me with much love. I felt her love penetrate my soul.
She said that my mother and my loved ones were unable to come because they had other matters to attend to, but that they would visit me soon. Excited and hungry for information, I began to ask her questions. She smiled and calmly answered all of my questions.
As I looked down from where I was, I could see what looked like stars or planets. My grandmother told me that far, far away was Earth.
As we continued to converse, I asked her who the transparent figures moving around were. "They are souls that have just arrived and are beginning the first stage of their spiritual journey," she replied.
From where we were standing, I could see a road leading to a building. Although the building was quite a long distance away, I could see it and the massive columns in front of it. Knowing what I was going to ask, my grandmother said, "The building is the first place you go to when you leave your earthly body. Since you are still in the body, you are not allowed to go there. You must remain in the designated area."
Although my grandmother shared much more information with me, it is not relevant to this page.
Now, let us return to the Lily Dale museum. As mentioned above, I was left speechless by a series of six or seven spiritual drawings depicting the process of death. One of the drawings depicts the first stage, when the spirit leaves the body and enters the spiritual realm. Other spirits direct the spirit to a path that leads to a building with enormous columns. It is the first place newly arrived spirits must enter.
Lily Dale Museum- Spirit Art Making
spiritual artI was shocked to see that the path and building were identical to those I had seen during my visit with my grandmother. The building was exactly as my grandmother had described it to me.
(For further information on this spiritual drawing and/or other spiritual drawings and paintings, visit the Lily Dale museum in Upstate New York).
Many individuals are inspired and guided by spirits to create spiritual drawings. These drawings are spirits' ways of communicating and helping us better understand the spirit world. They also let us know that we are not alone.
Never underestimate the power of meditation. It can take you to places beyond your imagination.
Spirit Guide Drawings
A woman named Maria L, who has been a spiritual medium for approximately 70 years, created the drawings below. These drawings of her spirit guides were created during the early stages of her spiritual development.
intuitive artThank you, Maria L, for sharing these wonderful spiritual drawings. They are a real treasure.
Summary
Skeptics attribute these paintings to conventional techniques combined with misdirection or self-deception. Believers cite witness accounts and the difficulty of replicating the reported phenomena through normal means.
I don't care what is being stated. My soul tells me it is real, and that is good for me.
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