February 22 - April 4, 2026

Online Seminar: An Ignatian Artist’s Way

“The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to High Creativity” has helped authors, filmmakers, visual artists and more to get in touch with their inner artist and unleash their creativity for over three decades. This classic text by best-selling author and artist Julia Cameron serves as the source material for a twelve-week journey that empowers participants to see the inherent connection between their creativity and spirituality — and to act from that place of inspiration.

It only makes sense that we here at the Jesuit Media Lab would look to Cameron’s quintessential volume to fuel our own creative endeavors. We share Cameron’s desire to help all people see themselves as inherently creative, and we believe ardently that spirituality is essential to this quest.

So the question becomes: What can Ignatian spirituality add to this journey? How does “The Artist’s Way” complement and benefit from a dialogue with the Ignatian tradition?

This 6-week course is not a faithful rendering of Julia Cameron’s creative workshop; rather, what we aim to do in this course is infuse Ignatian language, principles and practices into to the artistic process already laid out in “The Artist’s Way.” To that end — and in community — we will engage with key elements of “The Artist’s Way,” explore how Cameron’s insights might be articulated and understood in an Ignatian light and encourage one another in our creative pursuits, reminded that we are made in the image and likeness of a God who creates.

This course will run asynchronously online and use the Wet Ink platform. The course content will consist of 6 narrative lectures. We will hold three optional Zoom meetings (Mar 4, 18 & Apr 1 at 8:30 PM ET / 5:30 PM PT) to foster and deepen community. And participants will interact with one another through reflective assignments that invite a cultivation of the artist spirit within each of us. Additionally, students will be paired into creative dyads so as to have an accountability companion along the artist’s way.

Great for anyone who is looking to dip their toes in the vast ocean of “The Artist’s Way,” or for folks who have already done “The Artist’s Way” and are looking to integrate Ignatian spirituality. Make this creative journey part of your Lenten walk this year! And arrive at Easter ready to embrace the new life of God’s promise in a radical and novel way.

All students should have a copy of “The Artist’s Way” in order to complete readings and activities throughout the course. You can purchase one here.

Course Schedule

About the Instructors

About the text, "The Artist's Way"

About Wet Ink

Week 1 (February 22 – 28) | Our Way of Proceeding, in which we take stock of why we’re here, where we’re going and reflect on the creative status quo that God may be asking us to push past. Week 2 (March 1 – 7) | Creative, Holy Desires, in which we reflect on the Spirit at work within us, wondering how God may be desiring to create uniquely through us. March 4 – first optional Zoom Week 3 (March 8 – 14) | A God of Abundance, in which we recognize our God who calls us to be co-creators and who does not want us to allow our imaginations to be limited by scarcity. Week 4 (March 15 -21) | The Enemy of our Creative Human Nature, in which we grapple with the “Censor,” that insidious voice that insists we are not enough. March 18 – second optional Zoom Week 5 (March 22 – 28) | A Return to Creative Community, in which we seek to use our creative lives to love and serve in all things, particularly as recognize our need for one another. Week 6 (March 29 – April 4) | Nourishing the Imagination, in which we pull together the tools and practices from the Ignatian tradition that can sustain our work going forward. April 1 – third optional Zoom – no joke!    
Eric Clayton is an award-winning author and the deputy director of communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States where he writes the weekly column “Now Discern This,” guest hosts “AMDG: A Jesuit Podcast” and produces a range of multimedia content on Ignatian spirituality and storytelling. His books include “Finding Peace Here and Now: How Ignatian Spirituality Leads Us to Healing and Wholeness,” “My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars” and  “Cannonball Moments: Telling Your Story, Deepening Your Faith,” among others. Subscribe to his Substack “Story Scraps” or visit his website ericclaytonwrites.com. Marissa Papula is a leader, storyteller and practitioner of cura personalis who believes in the power of faith to embolden imagination, ignite social change and transform lives. As director of campus ministry at Loyola Marymount University, she oversees one of the largest spiritual initiatives in higher education, forming students as contemplatives in action through retreats, worship, service, interfaith programming and international immersions.
Since its first publication, The Artist’s Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron’s novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist’s Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.
Wet Ink was designed specifically for online writing classes. Wet Ink is private, easy to use and interactive. Learn more about Wet Ink by watching a class demo.

Questions?

If you’re interested in the course but the enrollment fee poses a financial hardship, email Eric Clayton at eclayton@jesuits.org. You can also email Eric with any general questions about the course.

Register for this Event

Online Seminar: An Ignatian Artist's Way is full; to join a waiting list, email medialab@jesuits.org

Contributed by:

Marissa Papula

Marissa Papula is a writer, spiritual director, and retreat facilitator whose work has appeared in America, The Christian Century, the Jesuit Media Lab, Bearings Online, and more. After more than a decade accompanying students and advancing mission in Jesuit higher education, she serves as the Director of Development for Discerning Deacons.

Eric Clayton

Eric Clayton is the deputy director of communications at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States and the award-winning author of “Where Wonder Leads: Findin God Through Fairy Tales, Myth and Contemplative Prayer,” “Finding Peace Here and Now: How Ignatian Spirituality Leads Us to Healing and Wholeness,” and more. Follow his writing at ericclaytonwrites.com.