George Capps spent decades in corporate science before returning to the paintbrush he’d put down after college. His sister Polly followed a similar path, trading secular work for sacred art. Together, the sibling duo now creates religious imagery full-time. Aleteia profiled the pair, whose story illustrates how artistic vocations can emerge at any stage of life.
What happened
George Capps loved drawing and painting as a child, but a disappointing university art class pushed him toward science instead. He built a career in the corporate world while his artistic gifts remained dormant. His younger sister Polly took a similar route into secular work.
Years later, both siblings felt called back to art with a sacred focus. They now collaborate on religious commissions, creating icons, devotional paintings, and liturgical artwork. Their work has found an audience among parishes, religious communities, and individual Catholics seeking traditionally styled sacred imagery.
Read the full story at Aleteia for details on their artistic process and the projects they’ve completed.
Why this matters
The Capps siblings’ path challenges the assumption that artistic vocations must be pursued immediately after school or not at all. Their mid-career pivot speaks to the Church’s long tradition of artists who came to sacred work later in life, often after worldly experience deepened their vision. The Renaissance painter Fra Angelico entered religious life as an adult. Caravaggio painted his most powerful sacred works after years of tumultuous secular living.
The contemporary hunger for quality sacred art also creates opportunity. Many parishes built or renovated in recent decades lack strong visual catechesis. Devotional images mass-produced in generic styles have left Catholics seeking artwork that teaches the faith through beauty. Artists like the Capps siblings help fill that need.
For Catholic readers
If you’ve set aside a creative gift for practical reasons, consider whether God might be calling you back to it in service of the Church. Parishes often need help with everything from liturgical banners to website design. A vocation to sacred art doesn’t require leaving your day job, but it does require offering your skills where they can build up the Body of Christ.
Sources:
1. Aleteia — original report
