Creating with Hope

with Jana Pingel

How do we keep creating when life doesn't look the way we hoped it would?

In this episode of Creative Catholics, I sit down with artist, author, and founder of January Jane Shop, Jana Pingel, to explore the relationship between creativity, prayer, and hope. Jana's artwork has become a source of encouragement for thousands of Catholics, inviting people to discover beauty in the ordinary and holiness in the hidden life.

Together, we talk about what it means to co-create with the Holy Spirit, how beauty can sustain us through seasons of waiting, and why the hidden work of faithfulness matters more than we often realise.

Jana also shares the deeply personal story behind her Land of the Living collection, reflects on navigating infertility and miscarriage, and offers gentle encouragement for anyone who feels creatively discouraged or spiritually weary.

This is a conversation about far more than art—it's about learning to trust God in every season and discovering that even our smallest acts of creativity can become acts of hope.

Please note: This episode contains a conversation about infertility and miscarriage.

In this episode we discuss:

• Jana's journey from art student to founder of January Jane Shop

• Growing up in a large, creative Catholic family

• How boredom, imagination, and storytelling shaped her artistic life

• Co-creating with the Holy Spirit and beginning every creative work in prayer

• Why beauty has become a source of hope during seasons of waiting

• The story behind Humans of Heaven

• The inspiration for the Land of the Living collection

• Creating through grief, infertility, and miscarriage

• Hidden holiness and the ordinary path to sanctity

• Protecting a prayerful life while running a creative business

• Social media, creative pressure, and trusting God's timing

• Encouragement for artists who feel stuck, weary, or uninspired

Memorable Quotes

"Beauty reminds us of our ultimate fulfillment that waits for us in heaven."

"Creating became an act of hope."

"Hidden holiness is found in the small acts of fidelity that no one else sees."

"Lean into the heart of Jesus. His heart is a safe place."

Resources & People Mentioned

• January Jane Shop

• Humans of Heaven by Jana Pingle

• Land of the Living collection

• Psalm 27

• The Liturgy of the Hours

• The Rosary

Connect with Jana

• Discover Jana on Instagram @januaryjaneshop

Connect with The Creative Catholics

If this episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another creative.

Follow @TheCreativeCatholics on Instagram to share your creations and join the community.

Until next time, stay creative—and keep making what matters most.

Sponsors/Links

Intro/outro music by Marie Miller

This episode is sponsored by Riverside

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