Heavenly Inspiration Lends Artful Vision to Words : Sister Madeleva Paints in Bold Colors and Biblical Quotes : ARTISANS: Spotlighting makers of handcrafted goods

“What I’ve always liked about art is that it’ssomething that doesn’t need a specific language,” says Sister Madeleva Williams. Still, the written word is integral to her paintings.

Sister Madeleva, artist in residence at the St. Joseph Center in Orange, often incorporates quotes from a variety of sources, including biblical references and poetry, in her works. She uses bold washes of color and minimalist design to bring vision to the words.

“People respond to different mediums,” Sister Madeleva said. “I’ve always loved the idea of words, the shape of letters. A stroke can be beautiful on paper. The challenge is to find a way to make the words and graphics work together. I find the combination of words and color to be fascinating.”

Sister Madeleva’s work can be found throughout the community, not only in the buildings and hospitals owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, but in many private homes as well. She has done large works and items as small as cards and bookmarks. “I look for the beauty in the ordinary,” she said. “So often there is remarkable beauty in something seemingly ordinary. As an artist, I want to be able to focus on that beauty.”

When she is asked to create a custom piece, Sister Madeleva likes to sit down with her clients and discuss what they want.

“Usually, if they want something fairly specific, I recommend someone else,” she said. “I have a certain style and way I work. I like to have some freedom to create.

“It’s important for me to understand what a person wants or the feelings they’re trying to convey. Most of the people I work with are familiar with my paintings and drawings, so that’s fine with them. They know I’ll do my best.”

Sister Madeleva grew up drawing and painting. “My mother was a musician, so the arts were an important part of my childhood,” she said. “I always remember having lots of paints and crayons around. I was always drawing or painting. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is much respect in our culture for art.”

Although as a youngster she didn’t see art as a profession, she was interested in becoming a nun.

“When I was in eighth grade, the idea of leading a religious life interested me,” she said. “Of course, like most young girls, I’d be interested one day and not the next. I really didn’t think about combining work in the arts with becoming a sister.”

But, when she entered her religious order in 1948, she continued to pursue her love of drawing and painting.

She enrolled at Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and began studying under a teacher who would make a significant impact on her work: Sister Corita Kent, a painter who has been featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine and whose art is recognized throughout the country.

“Corita was an incredible teacher,” Sister Madeleva said. “I learned so much from her. I think Corita opened up a world that will never be finished. She had a way of looking at things around her and finding their beauty.”

Given a choice, Sister Madeleva is partial to bright, bold colors.

“I’m just mesmerized by color,” she said. “I love bold strokes of color. Besides Corita, I’m very intrigued by the art of Paul Klee. He had a unique sense of color and line that fascinates me.”

That love of color and line has lead Sister Madeleva to use a lot of open space in her work.

“Some people forget how important space is,” she said. “Many seem to believe that space is simply something to be filled up, but often it’s as important as where you place the lines.”

Many of her paintings and drawings feature religious figures or quotations.

“I guess that’s not so surprising since I’m a sister,” she said. “In many of my works I try to create images of faith, peace and compassion. Religion and philosophy is a part of life, and so it is represented in my work. But many times, I draw whimsical figures or little drawings that are funny. I always tell people that I believe God is a teacher with a lot of teacher’s aides. I see my art as a process of growth and if I can convey a sense of spirituality through my work, that’s fine.”

Quotations often appear through brushes of muted colors or against a backdrop of bright splashes. So what comes first, the art or the quotation?

“It depends,” Sister Madeleva said. “Sometimes a quote will bring a certain image to mind. At other times, the image is there and I’ll be looking for a suitable quotation to finish it.”

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Sister Madeleva’s works are sold at art exhibits, religious conferences and benefits. Her work is available year-round in the gift shop at the Center for Spiritual Development in Orange. Original watercolors cost about $200; smaller prints are less.

Typically, she has several projects going on at once. “I like having many different projects,” she said. “I find it helpful to be able to change my focus from one piece to another.”

Although known for her paintings, drawings and prints, Sister Madeleva also enjoys sculpting, calligraphy and printmaking. In fact, her favorite piece is a current sculpture of a Madonna and child.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever finish that piece,” she said. “The hands are complete but most of the rest is unfinished. But to be honest, I guess that’s OK. People always seem to be in a hurry, and this is a way of slowing down. Although it seems like there are always a million things to do, you do need to slow down and take time to look around.

“Beauty surrounds us,” she said. “The trick is to recognize it.”