An East Texas artist is looking to his faith to bring beauty to the world. From his studio in downtown Tyler, Robert Puschautz is training aspiring artists to produce sacred art that inspires others.

“There’s a need for new imagery, a need for beautiful art to occupy people’s hearts and minds,” Puschautz said.

The Stabat Mater Foundation, which operates the studio, was born from a prayer apostolate devoted to promoting beauty for the good of the Church and culture.

“These forms of art form one of the faculties of the soul, which is the imagination. If there is no images informing the imagination, that void is going to be filled in by the secular world.”

Commissioned works are already being produced in the studio on South Broadway Avenue, overlooking the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Fine art is produced on various mediums. Most are destined for churches, homes, or even public spaces, such as a hospital.

The images are intentionally designed to elevate minds toward eternity.

“Even before you really even start thinking about doctrine or teaching, you’re exposed to these images and stories and you start to think about the stories that are in the bible or all these questions about life and death.”

Aspiring artists are trained in drawing and painting in the classical methods, a tradition that’s been passed down from artist to artist since the Renaissance.

“To cultivate that sense of beauty within themselves and seeking out beauty. And then once the artists are immersed in beauty, immersed in creation, immersed in the desire for God, then they’re going to create beautiful images for the rest of us to look at, to ponder, and contemplate.”

While students perfect their technical skills, the journey is often accompanied by a deeper formation.

“T.there’s also this leap of faith in engaging in a project and in a painting,” Puschautz said. “That the Holy Spirit is going to be guiding that process. He’s going to be setting me up with the right supplies, the right material to like research it, the right intuition, of like an image… that he’s working through my own creativity so that I can create the most impactful image for the person or that client.”

This vocation is supported by a grassroots network of prayer dedicated to the renewal of beauty in the world.

The Stabat Mater Art Studio in downtown Tyler is currently accepting applications for students, as well as private commissions. To learn more, click here.

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