Presenting the work of Charlotte Artist
Shannon Zabawa
Inspired by sacred architecture, traditional Catholic art, and the stillness of liturgical spaces, Shannon Zabawa’s watercolor paintings explore light, reverence, and the enduring language of beauty. Each work is created slowly and intentionally, drawing from churches, devotional imagery, and moments of contemplative silence.
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This watercolor depicts Pentecost at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Light radiates from the consecrated Host, symbolizing Christ’s presence and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Standing ad orientem, the priest leads the faithful in worship toward God. The painting invites contemplation of the Eucharist as a living Pentecost, where divine grace transforms souls.
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This watercolor depicts the elevation of the Eucharist during the Easter Vigil, celebrating Christ’s victory over sin and death. Beneath Gothic arches, the priest stands ad orientem while clergy and servers kneel in reverence. The radiant Host becomes the focal point, symbolizing the Risen Christ, whose light overcomes darkness and draws the faithful into His presence.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5
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Our Lady of Grace is a luminous watercolor study of the church interior that gave this painting its name. Shannon’s approach to sacred architecture focuses not on documentation but on devotion — the way a space feels when prayer has been offered within it for generations. Light pools and filters. The colors are warm, reverent, and alive. Original watercolor on archival paper. Fine art prints available.
“How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! … Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.”
- Psalm 84
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This original watercolor painting explores the theme of divine light as it falls through the interior of a sacred space - warm, golden, and quietly insistent. The work captures the tension between shadow and illumination that defines both great church architecture and the spiritual life. Original watercolor on archival paper. Fine art prints available.
“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12
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This devotional watercolor was painted as a meditation on scripture — on the intimacy of being known and claimed by God. The work pairs sacred text with luminous, contemplative imagery, making it a meaningful piece for a home, chapel, or as a gift marking a baptism, confirmation, or other significant moment of faith. Original watercolor on archival paper. Fine art prints available.
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1
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A devotional study of St. Michael the Archangel — protector, warrior, and intercessor. This watercolor captures the gravity and grace of one of the Church’s most beloved figures, rendered in Shannon’s signature style of luminous color and contemplative stillness. A meaningful work for a home, study, or as a gift for a feast day, confirmation, or military service.
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle…”
At the heart of Shannon Zabawa’s work is Lex Orandi, an ongoing collection of sacred watercolors inspired by the ancient maxim lex orandi, lex credendi—the law of prayer is the law of belief. Lex Orandi is about preserving what cannot easily be measured. While churches may be built of stone and timber, they are shaped by something far greater: the prayers offered within them, the sacrifices placed upon their altars, and the sacred traditions that have formed generations of Catholics. Shannon Zabawa’s original watercolors seek to preserve this grammar of worship—the visual language through which the Church has proclaimed the Gospel long before most could read. Each painting becomes both a work of fine art and a testament to the enduring beauty of Catholic worship, inviting future generations to remember not only where the Church prayed, but how she prayed.
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