Biography

Kathy Finley is an artist, consultant, iconographer, teacher and spiritual director. She is deeply devoted to contemplative practices as she seeks to awaken hearts to the Sacred in every aspect of living. Kathy started Art of Contemplative Living to help others learn about the intersections of art and prayer. Kathy’s own spiritual direction has been under the guidance of well-known contemplative author and speaker, Dr. James Finley. Writing icons is a part of a broad contemplative prayer practice that shapes and informs her life. She is also currently a senior in The Living School, through Richard Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation. (www.CAC.org)

Kathy is currently developing Contemplative Arts’ Ministry at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Winnetka. She is a certified Formation Leader for The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, training adults to guide children spiritually, and a certified Spiritual Director.

Kathy holds a B.A. in Art History/Fine Arts and a Certificate in Digital Imaging from the University of California, Los Angeles, and she studied Graphics/Illustration for three years at the Art Center College of Design. She lives with her dogs, Henry and Scout, and cat, Bear, in West Los Angeles.

Click to download Kathy’s Curriculum Vitae

Mindful
by Mary Oliver

Every day
I see or hear
something
that more or less
kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle
in the haystack
of light.

It is what I was born for --
to look, to listen,
to lose myself
inside this soft world --
to instruct myself
over and over
in joy,
and acclamation.