A disabled artist and minister dedicated to the Art of Healing, Donna’s journey uncovers an amazing depth and breadth of spirituality and remarkable healing beyond expectation.

Donna Fado Ivery is a United Methodist clergywoman whose pastorate was interrupted by disabling injuries sustained in a 1994 restaurant accident. While brain injury impaired her ability to speak, stand, concentrate, and remember, the Rev. Donna Fado Ivery painted her prayers and was led to the Art of Healing by the Spirit who speaks for us in groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). Later, Donna could see answered prayers in these same paintings, with the brushes of the Spirit adding to and directing the imagery whenever she was most honest. With pain too deep for words, Donna relied on the Spirit to lead, and was shown handles of hope, the work of tears, and focus of healing. She began her licensed home business, Spirit Brush Arts in 1997 at a disability pace, to sell the Scarf of Tears, originally created for a grieving friend and hospice nurse. A dynamic speaker, opportunities to keynote speak and teach has taken her across the U.S. 

All of Donna’s work relies on a spiritually-attuned artistic process and has an enthusiasm for faith, passion, and joy. 

Spirit Brush Arts has expanded to embrace the fullness of Adventures in Healing.

Donna’s professional training in organizational behavioral sciences, theology, pastoral care and counseling alone make her eminently qualified to teach on this subject. As a pastor and community leader she has accompanied, counseled, and led communities of compassion, justice, and healing. She brings to her work skills at writing, spiritual reflection, teaching, as well as her knowledge and experience with psycho-social dynamics.

Her own experience of the sudden interruption of life and self from a disabling accident, and her journey to healing through discovering artistic expression authenticates her celebrated knowledge and demonstrated skills. Donna powerfully conveys how art and spirituality have led her through layers of healing. She teaches hope through identifiable stages of living with chronic pain, challenges clichés that are not helpful to those who suffer, and shows how to find the balance necessary for Dancing with Pain.

As an artist, Donna has developed a fresh and new passionate painting style like no other with a pure celebration of creativity and healing. Whether she is painting acrylic on silk, “woven from cocoon threads, silk reminds me of that sacred space of waiting for the unknown while wrapped within the security and presence of a loving God,” or telling the story of Bible-based prejudice and healing process by creating the stained-glass Table of Tears, “because it combines the beauty of church tradition with the brokenness of prejudice, seen best when illuminated,” Donna is bold in her use of innovative, organic materials. Dedicated to the Art of Healing as keynote speaker, conference painter, preacher, and writer, Donna Fado Ivery distills the clutter down to an amazingly articulate and resilient breath of fresh air well received by secular, interfaith, and Christian audiences.