What happens when art is created not just with the hand, but from the heart? For contemplative abstract painter Chad Glazener, painting has become a spiritual practice—one that grew from his past life as a pastor and now anchors his present as an artist. His layered compositions and organic marks emerge from silence, forming a visual record of presence that invites viewers to pause, turn inward, and encounter wisdom in new ways.

Rooted in a background of theater and movement, Chad brings an embodied dimension to his art. Influenced by the Viewpoints method and Suzuki training, he explores tempo, space, and stillness as spiritual tools. For him, painting is less about how to hold a brush and more about how to hold consciousness. Returning often to a beginner’s mind, Chad treats art as a playground of self-discovery—an exercise in knowing who he is and what he loves in the present moment.

Silence is central to Chad’s art practice. He describes it as “the fullness of presence in the present moment,” a bedrock that awakens him most intensely. After painting, he often experiences a creative afterglow, where solitude and silence deepen his connection to Spirit. For Chad, the heart space is the seat of divine presence, and art becomes a spiritual pilgrimage that reveals the fullness of life.

In conversation with CJ, Chad shares how he moved from using words to describe Spirit, to embodying Spirit directly through painting and presence. Together they explore the intersection of silence, movement, and art as pathways to awakening—reminding us that painting, like life, is most powerful when lived from the heart space.

For more information on Chad, visit https://www.glazenerstudio.com/ or follow. him on Instagram at glazenerstudio

Want to learn more about CJ Miller? Check out his Spiritual Artist Retreats, 1:1 Personal Coaching, and Speaking Engagements at www.spiritualartisttoday.com. His retreats are designed to help you reconnect with your Creative Intelligence and express your true artistic voice. You can also find his upcoming schedule there, and his book, The Spiritual Artist, is available on Amazon.