Spiritual canvas art: Does this mean that we can expect biblical themes?  Can we expect that the artist is religious?  When we speak of spiritual art, are we referring to the arts of one of the more unorthodox groups or churches?  In which case, spiritual art might be regarded as something more official.  The answer to all these questions is yes, because the word spiritual is ambient to religion. 

The greatest generalisation is, spiritual art portrays biblical themes.  With regards to the artwork produced previous to modernism, this is a predominant belief.   And, in many, many ways, it is not so estranged from reality.  Even today, much of the spiritual art available will also fall within this generalisation.

Should we consider spiritual art, as work produced by spiritual or religious artists?  With regards to modern canvas art, more so.  With regards to work produced, for example, during the Renaissance, less.  Why?  Today, an artist chooses the subject matter for a painting.  Modern artists are free to express their own spirituality, faith, and any other religious beliefs.  As we all are.  However, during the Renaissance, a time when religious art was at its peak, it was, quite literally, exactly what the church deemed it to be. 

In many early cultures, art and spirituality were regarded as virtually the same thing.  The Encarta world dictionary defines the world spiritual, primarily, in two ways.  Spiritual: 'relating to the soul or spirit'.  Spiritual: 'religion: relating to religious or sacred things, rather than worldly things.' Despite these concise definitions of the word, from an extremely respectable source; the word spiritual takes on a many facets, when combined with the word art.  As does everything!

Biblical themes might be depicted by an artist, to revoke those beliefs.  Their painting, a formal statement of their annulment of it.  In many ways, an artist such as this could be considered spiritual.  Much more so than anti-religious.  Some artists from the Renaissance, Leonardo Da Vinci for instance, would often 'ad lib'  discretely of course) within their paintings.  Some of the most powerful, persuasive and influential spiritual art today, has been created by artists who have openly professed their scepticism; with regards to all religious traditions. Ultimately, whether an artist is religious, spiritual or atheist, it will rarely affect the quality of the work they produce. 

Spirituality, Religion and Faith are complex terms.  Within art, they become even more so.  The word religion is derived from the original Latin; meaning “to tie together'.  A wonderfully simple way to define it.  It seems, as we have pursued to understand the world, and 'tie together', we have complicated that fundamental principle. We understand the world differently.  By trying 'to tie together' all those perspectives, we have created discourse.  Even so, religion achieves its own balance.  On one hand there is discourse, and on the other there is peace.  However, without the pursuit of understanding, there are only misunderstandings

Spirituality, religion and faith have become generic words for Catholicism.  Even so, none of them are exclusive or synonymous to that religion.  Although, it is regarded by many to be all of these, in their highest form.  Art expresses human emotions, philosophies and aspirations.  Ranging from the simple things in life, to the far more complex.  It is not mandatory for spiritual canvas art to portray biblical themes.  Any painting that possesses powerful and passionate insight into this world, might be deemed spiritual art.  All of them providing a necessary bridge, upon which, understanding may cross over. 

Frances Elizabeth Kent, also known as Corita Kent, was a hugely successful pop artist, during the sixties and seventies.  At eighteen years old, she joined the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  A Roman Catholic convent, situated in Los Angeles. Her work portrayed messages of peace, and love, and like many artists today, she believed that all art is spiritual.  Not so different to many of the worlds earliest cultures.  And, as Sister Corita Kent so aptly put it, "We have no art here. We only do the best we can."