Dear <<First Name>>,
For me, it's a joy to make beauty out of a "mess" on the canvas. I love nothing better than to make things beautiful, whether transforming a canvas, graphics, or a room.
I hadn't thought that hard about whether other artists are this way.
Then one day my friend Greta remarked, "Well you artists, you love to express!"
I was taken aback. I realized for the first time as it came out of my mouth, "Some artists love to express. Others love to make things beautiful."
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Thus began a period of observation and introspection.
For one thing, the distinction between expression and making things beautiful led to an awareness of my superpower, helping other artists to see and bring out the beauty & spirit in their unfinished paintings.
For another though, I began to wonder whether my artistic expression was actually locked inside of me. I had gone through a long process to free my verbal expression after an unsafe childhood, but had thought my art haven was not subject to the same suppression.
Meanwhile, my longstanding fascination with intuitive painting came to the foreground. What would show up in my paintings if I were truly willing to express freely?
For many years I had enjoyed a book considered the mother lode of wisdom on intuitive painting: Life, Paint and Passion, Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression, by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley. Then last October I had the opportunity to attend Stewart Cubley's workshop, The Painting Experience.
Stay tuned to hear about my expressive Painting Experience in the next Beauty & Spirit Note!
And hey, click to my blog to let me know which you love more - expressing or making things beautiful - if you had to choose. I'm curious!
Yours in the love of beauty and spirit,
Julie
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P.S. Scroll down for a peek at what else is up on my blog.
P.P.S. For those in the Sedona area, my first Luscious Abstractions class of the year is coming up this weekend (see below). Until Saturday morning there's still time to register, have a great painting weekend, and bring home two exciting, yummy paintings to inspire you onward!
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Luscious Abstractions
Crash Course with Julie Bernstein Engelmann
at the Sedona Arts Center, Sedona, Arizona
Five opportunities:
January 20-21, 2018 (Sat-Sun)
March 10-11, 2018 (Sat-Sun)
April 16-17, 2018 (Mon-Tue)
August 6-7, 2018 (Mon-Tue)
September 8-9, 2018 (Sat-Sun)
Explore abstraction, rich with depth and meaning! Julie's layering technique gives you a powerful foundation that helps you enter the painting process naturally, develop beautiful complexity, and bring out the spirit of your work. You'll gain discernment and appreciation for abstract painting. Learn More...
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