Artist Archives - The Simple Catholic

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Nichole Lanthier via phone call on May 14th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Your story includes a 10-year break from visual art before rediscovering it in 2018. What was that moment of rediscovery like, and how has your artistic voice evolved since returning to your creative roots?

It wasn’t so much as a break as I really didn’t pursue art beyond a hobby. I was focused more on music ministry before having kids.

I pulled out the art supplies and started drawing a picture for my friend’s (Katie McGrady) daughter for her birthday.

Drawing was a way for me to pray. I started making prints for people and eventually opened an Etsy Shop. I have taught myself the more technical aspects of artwork and am still trying to learn.

I’ve noticed your “pixel art” design of the Blessed Virgin Mary fighting Satan (My son and I love our t-shirts!). Could you share the inspiration behind this striking imagery and what message you hope it conveys?

There’s an old illuminated manuscript of a priest who sold his soul to the Devil and the Blessed Virgin Mary was protecting the priest’s soul. The kids and I thought this was a great story and decided this needed to be one of our pixel shirts.

How does your Catholic faith specifically inform your artistic choices, themes, and the subjects you choose to create?

It is everything I create. It’s what I do specifically, faith-based work. It is impossible to separate my faith from what I’m doing. As someone who creates for a living I feel like I have an obligation to create something that can inspire others and bring them to God.

What type of music ministry did you do?

I was a singer-songwriter. From 2003-2018 I did ministry music around our diocese. We worked at a lot of the youth events in our diocese. Now I get to sing in our cathedral choir and I prefer this type of music, so it’s been very nice.

Your art helps support your children’s Catholic education. How has this practical purpose influenced your approach to your business, and how do you balance the commercial aspects with the ministry side?

It’s really hard. Since we got married we agreed that I would stay home with the kids. We also prayed about sending our children to Catholic schools. And once we sent our first child to Catholic school my art work started to pick up. We have had to put a lot of trust in God.

Interestingly enough, I don’t have a ton of time to draw due to running the other facets of the business.

It has been a struggle to balance the commercial and ministry sides. I have had a desire to give away my work for free at times, but I have had to tell myself that my work still deserves pay. At the same time there have been various ministries and circumstances to donate. I do try to price my art to be as low as possible to make it affordable.

Many artists struggle with vulnerability in sharing their work. As someone who describes feeling “very green with art,” how has putting your creations into the world as expressions of faith challenged or strengthened you?

It has definitely challenged me and has been an exercise in humility. I get nervous putting some of my stuff out there. Part of it is vanity, worrying about what others think of me. I start picking myself apart and thinking about what others more advanced in art would say. I have learned to push through those things. Some days it is tough. I follow so many talented Catholic artists and sometimes compare myself to others.

If you could create a dream project that perfectly encapsulates what your ministry means to you, what would it look like?

I’m always wishing I could do some large oil paintings. I do have a very long list on my phone of things that I want to paint. The crazy thing is it’s tough to find time to create. Honestly, I would really love to get professional art training.

Have you ever thought about iconography?

I have thought about it, but my husband is much more interested in that. He actually has an art degree, he took his career in a different direction.

How do you prepare yourself in terms of devotions or prayer before you create an artwork?

I try to listen to chant and get into as much of a contemplative state as possible. I love Saints Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. I also have a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother of God. I really do enjoy drawing images of the Holy Family in their humanity and in their daily life.

I have plans in my list of doing more artwork focused on the Holy Family.

Where is the best place for my readers to find more of your work?

Right now everything is on my Etsy shop.

About Nichole:

Nichole Lanthier is a wife, mother of five, and artist living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She strives to create pieces that will encourage others to turn their hearts and minds to God. Her work can be found in her etsy shop, at nicholelanthier.etsy.com.

Thank you for sharing!

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Fabiola Garza via phone call on April 23rd, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Tell me a little about your faith journey.

I was born a cradle Catholic and come from a pretty strong Catholic family in general. I actually only went to one year at a Catholic school due to my family moving a lot. I lived in Mexico, Columbia, and Istanbul. I always thought you lived faith on your own and wasn’t aware of youth groups.

In college I started dating a Protestant Evangelical and this gave my dad some pause. He gave me some Scott Hahn books to read. His language is accessible and added depth to helping me understand my faith. I eventually got involved in youth groups in Boston.

What got you interested in art?

I was an artistic kid, always loved drawing. I loved animated movies as a kid and my main interest was to work for Disney. I was absolutely mesmerized by the art of animation. Art was a thing I was good at and understood. I loved creating characters and creating stories.

How did you get started with Disney?

After college, I worked several jobs including a video game and toy company. Finally, I found a job at Disney Creative Group. We did the art for all the merchandise that goes out to retail stores. I worked in that division for ten years.

How does your Catholic faith inform your approach to character design, especially when working on secular projects at Disney?

I only designed one character at Disney. I always like putting myself in a place of prayer before work. But with Mickey, you just draw Mickey. Thankfully, I was never put in a position to have to worry about having the work on a project that would conflict with my conscience.

Could you share how creating “The Story of Saint John Paul II” differed from your other artistic projects, both technically and spiritually?

The great part of doing saint stories is you get to delve into their stories. You can’t help but be changed by learning about their stories and writing. When I am creating saint stories, I ask the Saint for intercession and how they would be presented and in the best way for children. It’s really interesting and wonderful to bring the saints along in the process.

The saints are not dead, they are alive!

My portrayal of the Saint is only a glimpse of their amazing life. It’s like a movie. You can only capture an aspect to bring children to understand the saints more as they grow. I do try to approach the creation of the saint story like a movie.

Are there specific Catholic artistic traditions or sacred art styles that have influenced your personal work?

Growing up, I never really looked at artwork as being separate from religious and non-religious art. To me anything that is beautiful is of God. That’s my view on art. Sometimes we as Catholics feel forced to love certain religious art over others.

For instance, I love Da Vinci and the Renaissance. I don’t compartmentize art, I don’t feel like putting a wall between my work and the Holy Spirit. I think a truly Catholic person is going to make truly Catholic art without it being thematically religious. It is important for me to never confuse my work with what I am doing spiritually. You could be a terrible person and do spiritual/religious work.

The Lord cares about your heart. It can be a temptation when you are working in a Catholic sphere.

Art nouveau is a style I love. The most famous artist is Alphonse Mucha in this movement. He has a mastery of anatomy and these beautiful romantic shapes. It reminds me a lot of the elven architecture in the Lord of the Rings. It is very dreamy and has a magical soft quality. It is based on natural shapes. This movement preceded Art Deco which has more harsh/rigid lines and shapes. It has more structure and architecture.

How has working in the entertainment industry shaped your perspective on creating media that resonates with Catholic audiences?

I think you need to make beautiful things. Catholic audiences are also looking for quality and good stories made with care and time. A lot of Catholic audiences are tired of entertainment media that isn’t up to par with the rest of the industry.

We want to create things that are good and beautiful. Nothing can substitute for a good story. You can have all the money in the world and technology, but it needs a good story.

What advice would you give to young Catholic artists who want to pursue careers in mainstream creative industries while staying true to their faith?

I think it is important to have a faith community. When I moved to Orlando I plugged myself into the local Catholic community. You aren’t meant to live out your faith alone. Your community keeps you accountable.

Is there a particular saint or biblical figure whose story you’d love to bring to life through your art in the future?

So many, I have a whole list! I can tell you one that didn’t make it into the princesses of Heaven. I really want to make a story and art for Hildegard of Bingen. She was so smart and was so cool. She’s definitely one saint that I would love to portray.

Do you have a saint quote?

During my tough “hell” year, before work I prayed the prayer (The Mission of My Life) by Saint Cardinal Henry Newman.

Where can my audience learn more about your work?

Instagram: Fabiolagarzacreates

Website: Fabiolagarza.com

About Fabiola:

Fabiola Garza is the author and illustrator of the children’s book best-seller Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers. She worked as a character artist at the Walt Disney Company for over a decade. Her other work includes A Boy Who Became Pope: The Story of Saint John Paul II, Pixar/Disney’s Little Golden Book Coco, and the cover of A Portrait of Walt Disney World: 50 Years of the Most Magical Place on Earth. Fabiola has lived all over the world. Born in Mexico City she eventually settled in Orlando, Florida. She loves fairytales, London Fog lattes and France.