Original Fine Art + Giclée Prints
by Lisa Marie Campo
Peace be with you. Using what God gives and I acquire, I aim to portray the invisible and offer a fresh rendering of the visible world.
Grace in the ordinary is brought to life in pastel, watercolor, and other media.
“And Now I See”
A Modern Eucharistic Missionary and His Lord
A Depiction of Blessed Carlo Acutis with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament
Soft Pastel on UART Sanded Paper, 18 x 24 in
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall be afraid? …Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple…’Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek His Face!’ Your Face, LORD, do I seek. Do not hide Your Face from me.’” (Psalm 27: 1, 3-4, 8)
During this time of Eucharistic Revival in the Catholic Church, “Eucharistic missionaries” are needed - and Blessed Carlo Acutis serves as a model for that. He called the Eucharist his “highway to Heaven” and created a website that showcases Eucharistic miracles in a virtual museum. Blessed Carlo Acutis knew that authentic belief comes from “being with” - as such, we must regularly look for opportunities to encounter, and stay with, Our Lord in the Eucharist. At the empty tomb, Jesus asks Mary Magdalene, “Whom are you looking for?” She was looking for her Lord, and He was right there though she did not recognize Him at first. Seek the Lord’s Face in Eucharistic Adoration, and He will reveal Himself to you.
In this unique soft pastel painting, you can see Blessed Carlo meeting the gaze of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament in a loving look that says, “I see You. I ‘get’ You, because I believe You ‘get’ me. I believe in You. Yes, Lord.” Hints of wheat grow out of the golden monstrance, and rays of light penetrate through Carlo’s face. Flecks of green are seen throughout the painting, for added interest that symbolizes the vibrancy of life in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The rays of light emanating from the monstrance also reach back to the right of the painting, indicating that the light of Christ can reach even those who are not currently seeking His Face, for “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1: 5). A subtle, thin layer of iridescent pastel is in the depiction of the Sacred Host - it is He Who shines.
In the Nicene Creed, Christians profess belief in one God, the Maker of all things visible and invisible. In modern times, people often look to science for answers - but living by faith in the Son of God is only a decision away. The Lord, Creator of all, is above science and shows Himself in Eucharistic miracles, but we all have the capacity to choose to believe without seeing…and then live out of this belief.
Let this painting remind you to seek the Lord’s Face in the Eucharist, so you can be nourished, strengthened, and receive life (John 6). Believe His Word “Take, eat; this is My Body. And He took a cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26: 26-28). If you do not yet believe, or want to deepen your faith in Jesus in the Eucharist, ask God to give you the gift of faith. He will answer. When we take the healthy risk of believing, we then see… because faith is “yes” to the fullness of God’s grace and allows Him to move in our lives.
“Little One”
Portrait of Saint Therese at Age 8
Soft Pastel on Pastel Premier Sanded Paper, 16 x 12 in
“It is impossible for me to grow up, so I must bear with myself such as I am with all my imperfections. But I want to seek out a means of going to heaven by a little way, a way that is very straight, very short and totally new…I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched then in the Scriptures for some sign of this elevator, the object of my desires and I read these words coming from the mouth of Eternal Wisdom: ‘Whoever is a little one let him come to me’ (Prov. 9:4). The elevator which must raise me to heaven is your arms, O Jesus, and for this I have no need to grow up, but rather I have to remain little and become this more and more…” (Saint Therese of Lisieux, in her autobiography The Story of a Soul)
Saint Therese is truly a little one, and has much to teach us about spiritual childhood. She lived a life full of love and joy because she listened for God’s Word in the Scriptures and in her prayer. When you look at this pastel painting closely and meditate on it, you can almost see into her soul. She is extremely little, fragile as a flower, and full of delight. You can see innocence and love in her countenance, with hints of a smile.
Let this painting remind you to honor the little one (i.e., inner child) in yourself and in others, and to entrust them to Our Lord, Who delights in the little ones He has created. As you look at the image on screen or on a giclee print, may you seek the intercession of Saint Therese, who can help you become as a little one, and thus enter the Kingdom of God…in time and in eternity, on earth as it is in Heaven.
“Micah Chapter Six”
Pastel Study After Bloch’s The Mocking of Christ
Choose compassion for God’s Son, crucified and risen. Open to His Truth and thus, authentic meaning,,,and in humility stand under Him.
“O My people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery…He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (excerpt, Micah 6). To Him Who looks at us with love, what is our answer?
Venerable Bishop Fulton Sheen said, “…the crowning with thorns was the atonement for the sins of the mind – for the atheists who wish there were no God, for the doubters whose evil lives becloud their thinking, for the egotists, centered on themselves.”
Let this painting remind you Jesus Christ is - right now - looking at you intently, waiting for you to compassionately invite Him into every area of your mind, every place that says “no, do not look, this is my space!” We cannot hide space from the One who created both space and the concept of space.
“Simon, Son of John”
A Depiction of the Moment Jesus Reconstitutes Peter (John 21)
Pastel and Charcoal on UART Sanded Paper, 24 x 18 in
Lavender Series + Gift Collection
Be sure to check out The Lavender Field Collection, with giclee prints and art-inspired products like purses and apparel. You can also get fine art prints at Windy Hill Lavender Farm in Chester County and enjoy their unique products!
“Graced” (A Portrait of Saint Josephine Bakhita)
The original work is a portrait in soft pastel and willow charcoal, completed on 16 x12 sanded paper. Saint Josephine Bakhita was kidnapped as a child, enslaved, sold five times in the slave markets of Sudan, and subjected to physical and emotional torture. The trauma affected her memory and she forgot her name, so slave traders gave her the ironic name “Bakhita” (translated “Fortunate” or “Lucky”). She learned about our true Master, Jesus Christ, who is kind and merciful, unlike any slave “master” - and devoted her life to Him. She received her emancipation when she was 18, and entered the Canossian Sisters of Venice, Italy, where she made her profession of faith and lived as a sister for four decades until her death on February 8, 1947. Despite years of enduring extreme cruelty and indifference to her personhood and dignity, she forgave everyone who had injured her and showed kindness and grace to all. When she was baptized, she chose the name Josephine Margaret Fortunata - the last as the Latin translation of Bakhita, indicating that even memory and identity can be redeemed. The title of the painting is intended to counteract the intent of the slave traders and show her dignity as a child of God, graced by her Creator to love. This is depicted in her kind and gentle countenance that triumphed over the trauma she endured. The background shows 10 crosses, symbolizing the five wounds of Christ on each side. The original work belongs to a private collection, but prints are available in the shop.
"The Song of Moses" (Exodus 15)
"The Song of Moses" (Exodus 15)
“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: ‘I will sing to the LORD, for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is His name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He cast into the sea; his elite officers were sunk in the Red Sea…’” (Exodus 15)
Faithful Leader. Humble Herald of God’s Word. Friend of God.
The original work is a portrait in soft pastel and willow charcoal, completed on 16 x12 sanded paper. It is interesting that after the Israelites were finally freed, Pharoah’s army tried to enslave them again, and pursued this evil deed until the LORD intervened by parting the Red Sea and allowing the waves to crash upon the ancient Egyptian army.
In this depiction, Moses is looking to his right, signifying the right hand of God, and his eyes are full of love for the Lord he knows and trusts. Musical notes in the form of the Holy Spirit rise up from Moses’ song, like the streams of water that flow from Baptism - the Sacrament of salvation. The face of Moses shines with the glory of the Lord.
Miriam views what Moses sees from a distance, and her brother’s song will inspire hers at the end of Exodus 15, as Israelites dance and praise God at the shores of the Red Sea. The sun is painted in a Eucharistic fashion.
The original work belongs to a private collection, but prints are available in the shop.
Featured Art: "Be the Shamash"
Featured Art: "Be the Shamash"
An archival reproduction of a soft pastel work commissioned as a gift for a beloved rabbi in the local community, this art is a sign of hope. Standing tall and bright in the middle of the menorah, the shamash is the candle that lights all of the other candles and is a powerful symbol of hope: you can “be” the shamash in your family, community, and world. The Word from the Torah, Psalms, and Prophets were prayed on behalf of the rabbi, from concept to painting completion. As you reflect on this painting, it is notable to realize the Jewish people were chosen by Our Creator to bring knowledge of the One True God to all the nations - and they are still Chosen.
More Artwork
“Mercy Given for You” - Original
Soft Pastel on Pastelmat (9 1/2 x 12 in)
$850 (USD) Archival giclée prints: $40 and up
Sale proceeds from the original painting will be donated to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find help in our time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
This pastel rendition of the Divine Mercy with Jesus giving His Body in the Eucharist is an image with layers of meaning. Learn more in the shop.
“Ecce Homo” - Giclée Print
Starting at $40 (USD)
Archival reproduction of the original watercolor painting. Fine art paper is 100% cotton, acid-free, and textured, bringing out the luminosity and detail of each brushstroke.
“So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” (Jn 19:5).
In the very place where the bloodied Jesus was presented to the people who yelled “Crucify Him, Crucify Him!” the Blessed Sacrament is there…and will always be there. Let this work remind you of God’s presence and remind you to adore Him. Learn more in the shop.
“The Moment of Cure” - Giclée Print
Starting at $40 (USD)
Archival reproduction of the original soft pastel painting. Fine art paper is 100% cotton, acid-free, and textured, bringing out the best of every pastel mark.
In Luke 8:40-48, the Gospel paints the scene of Jesus Christ curing a woman who had a hemorrhage for 12 years. She reached out to touch Him, believing He could (and would) cure her - and so it happened by His power and her faith IN HIM. A Eucharistic portrayal of the event, this fulfillment of hope foreshadows the outpouring of Blood of Christ on the Cross that cleanses (Heb. 9:14) and depicts Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist piercing His light through her whole body, drying up the flow of blood, as the blood and water that flows out of Him in the Divine Mercy (Jn 19:34) drips to the ground and renews the face of the earth. Is there something you might want the Lord’s touch to heal? Let this work remind you that He has every answer, if we dare to approach Him in faith, buoyed by hope, and connected by love that is patient and persevering by its very nature (1 Cor 13).
“Time to Go Home”
Pastel on Mazzouli Paper (9 1/2 x 13 in)
SALE: $625 Archival giclée prints: $40 and up
Even during a teeming rainstorm, Plitvice Lakes, Croatia is a place where people go to walk on winding, boarded paths with views of natural beauty that can startle the soul and rekindle your sense of wonder. This pastel captures a glimpse of grace in the ordinary. After late springtime rain, a man heads home to his village in the Croatian hinterland after a long, reflective walk by the lower lakes.
Let this painting remind you of the beauty and grace in the ordinary - even when the day is over and it’s time to go home.
Get the original or giclee prints in the shop.
“Crossroads at Mount Hermon”
Soft Pastel on UART Sanded Paper (12 x 9 in), $425 Archival giclée prints: $40 and up
View of snow-capped Mount Hermon from a rugged meadow in the Golan Heights during a personal pause. An intentional pause is the condition for the possibility of connection - with God, ourselves, and other people. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostle James writes we are to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Are we quick to pause to listen for the Lord? Are we slow to speak in word or action? Tumult in hearts, homes, and whole countries can be avoided by being hearers and doers of the Word - if only we exercise the patience to pause. Let this pastel be a reminder that, whether the crossroads are at the international or personal level, there is beauty surrounding us if we pause to look, listen, and absorb our surroundings…known and unknown.
Select Portraits of Humanity
“Lead, Kindly Light”
Soft Pastel on Velour: Not for Sale
Archival giclée prints: $40 and up
“The Role of Man”“Simple Joy”Soft Pastels on Canson Paper. Not for Sale.
Giclée prints by special inquiry.
“Encircled”
Original Soft Pastel on UART Sanded Paper (12 x 9 in)
Painted alla prima on the Feast of St. Luke, Patron Saint of Artists
SALE: $850 Archival giclée prints: $40 and up
“I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety” (Psalm 4:8). One sleeps; although vulnerable, the person is encircled by streams of grace flowing from the Lord in the Eucharist. The Precious Blood of Christ seeps into the person’s dreams and memory, dispelling any dark cloud, and all negativity is transferred to the foot of the Cross. The Holy Spirit inspired St. Luke the Evangelist to reveal and emphasize the healing power of Jesus Christ. Let this painting remind you of God’s protection and interest in cleansing our souls, including our memories at the physical level, with His own Blood.
Why The Acquired Palette?
Sacred Art from the perspective of Catholic Christianity, endearing Portraits of Humanity, and simple-yet-stunning Landscapes of Creation reflect the truth of the Incarnation. How?
The invisible God became visible…and He is the condition for the possibility of each sunset, every atom congealing into a colorful rock, every human glance and memory, the adventure in a smile, a fireball in the sky causing mud to shimmer, and the miracle of true, pure kenotic love.
I’m not the Creator, but I take what He creates and I make…He, from nothing; me, with an acquired palette.
