Founder of The Shamrock Society

Rachel Pineda is a liturgical artist based in Northern California and the founder of The Shamrock Society, a studio dedicated to healing through sacred art and education. A professional artist since 2011, Rachel works in egg tempera, oil, encaustic, watercolor, and clay sculpture. Her journey into liturgical art began not with formal instruction, but with a deep, personal desire to seek the Face of Christ. An impulse which was born from her encounter with the love of God and her baptismal participation in the life of Christ.

Before formally training, she was largely self-taught, studying art manuals, copying the masters, and later completing rigorous academic training in classical drawing, painting, sculpture, and conservation techniques. In 2011, she began learning iconography with a local artist trained by the monks of Mount Tabor, igniting her vocation in sacred art.

Rachel recently completed an immersive 2.5-month residency at the Chichester Workshop for Liturgical Arts in England, where she deepened her practice in traditional techniques such as egg tempera, membrane technique, water gilding, panel making, and completed an abridged course in the Ravenna method of mosaics at the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London. Beyond technical skills, the experience shaped her through shared community life and theological reflection rooted in the liturgical life of the Church. The workshop confirmed her conviction that creating sacred art is as much a spiritual discipline as an artistic one requiring humility, openness, and a willingness to be transformed.

Rachel envisions The Shamrock Society as a small scale school and creative space for women religious and dedicated artists committed to exploring the spiritual and technical disciplines of sacred art. The community fosters mutual growth and shared learning in the spirit of unity between Eastern and Western liturgical traditions. Her work honors the shared heritage of saints like Saint Patrick, venerated across both traditions, reflecting a desire to build bridges through art, prayer, and fellowship.

Rachel’s long term vision includes creating large scale liturgical commissions, cultivating a collaborative community of artists, and contributing to the founding of this school for liturgical arts in Northern California. Inspired by the hope of drawing others into wonder and healing through beauty, whether in public commissions or quiet studio practice, her goal remains the same: to create works of beauty for God and, in doing so, help others encounter His love.

She has completed an altarpiece for a local Catholic parish and has work on permanent exhibition at the Aerospace Museum of California. Rachel continues to take commissions and lead small group study rooted in the iconographic tradition.