Beauty & Spirit Abstract Artist Circle

With Julie Bernstein Engelmann



Go deeper with abstract painting: Enhance your skills, discernment, and confidence — in six weekly sessions of small-group sharing and support — without losing your authentic voice.




Sometimes there's a miracle in the studio. You wonder, "How on earth did I do that? Can I do it more often?"

Other times you may ponder, "Does this painting work? What's missing that could bring my piece to an awesome finish?"

“Likes” are no longer enough. Your friends say, "That's great!" or "I don't get it," but you've realized they don't really understand the language you are trying to speak. Does anyone?

Yes! You've found your people. You're invited to join kindred artists in a circle custom-made to enliven and empower you as an abstract artist.



Beauty & Spirit Abstract Artist Circle
ENROLL NOW to secure your seat

May 6-Jun 24, 2024
Theme: My Subjective Life
Six Mondays
11:00am-1:30pm PDT / 2:00-4:30pm EDT

+ Bonus session: "Q&A with the Curator"
+ Eligibility to enter Circle paintings into a curated end-of-year online Circle exhibition

Attendance limited to 7, first come first served!
$290
Or email me to be notified when I next open doors

Supplies
FAQs




Here is what you get when you secure your seat:

• Motivation, growth and support: Using acrylics, each two-month period we lean into an approach. Size is your choice. We meet on Zoom weekly, three times per month—then a rest. Sessions are 2.5-hours, including: sharing our artwork and experiences; celebrating our wins; a demonstration or lesson to train the eye; hands-on painting time to incorporate what you're learning; and feedback to address your individual needs. Circle size is limited to 7 so you get plenty of attention.

• Build on your foundation: If you have taken a class with me (or if not), you'll deepen your understanding, joy, and confidence. Creative visualization meets beautiful layering techniques—so you paint rich abstracts that are meaningful to you and compelling to others.

• Additional support: Key teaching content is reinforced by video demonstrations and/or PDF handouts—so you can review them later for fresh inspiration or catch up if you miss a session. You may also email me with any questions.

• BONUS EXHIBITION: If you continue in the Circle, you're invited to submit your Circle paintings for a curated Beauty & Spirit Abstract Artist Circle Online Exhibition in fall 2024. We'll work with an art museum curator to craft our artist statements; select artworks; prepare a presentation; and publicize the event.





Beauty & Spirit Abstract Artist Circle
ENROLL NOW to secure your seat

May 6-Jun 24, 2024
Theme: My Subjective Life
Six Mondays
11:00am-1:30pm PDT / 2:00-4:30pm EDT

+ Bonus session: "Q&A with the Curator"
+ Eligibility to enter Circle paintings into a curated end-of-year online Circle exhibition

Attendance limited to 7, first come first served!
$290
Or email me to be notified whenever I open doors

Supplies
FAQs


See the Circle's 2022 Culminating Online Exhibition



Circle Members Say:

“You have a way of critiquing where people feel good about their work, plus you get across your point. And it’s just so fun. You bring up so many ideas—things we can mix up and try later. You’re bringing out parts of ourselves being expressed into the paint—onto the canvas—while teaching how to paint. I’m not sure there’s any other workshop like this. Your expertise—I could work with you for years and years. You’re just so heartfelt—you have a love for doing this. It’s so uplifting.

“Not that it’s easy. These paintings are challenging. You’re challenging us to go to another level with wherever we’re at. And you know when to bring us to the next level and when to let us rest and gain confidence.

“You make room for a million different styles, while applying sound concepts that you’re teaching us, like the ratio of dark to light, and bringing dark to the edge. It’s made a world of difference. You have such a gift. I feel so grateful that you have chosen to partake in teaching. Julie, you’re such an expert. The critique points sheet is so valuable. The Inspired Abstract process is such a rich teaching.

“Something you said that really got me is, ‘At the beautiful mess, it’s already a great painting. Now let’s make it good.’ I thought that concept was so life affirming, so hopeful and true, so unique. Validation that this creative intuition their soul has brought forward is already great—the act of creation made it great. Now we just have to make it good. Instead of what we’ve been taught, to work to get it from good to great.”

- Michelle Hurteau


“A year ago, I joined the Abstract Artist Circle to have a more structured way of creating paintings in a supportive setting, with fellow artists. Julie’s techniques kept me in touch with the freedom I wanted to express and prevented my over-obsessing too early in the painting process. Her approach allowed for incorporating the imagery I love into an abstract space. She teaches ways to give dimension and depth to paintings.

“It was really interesting how each of the artists developed in our own unique direction and style, even though we were working so closely together with similar prompts. It created a very fun and supportive atmosphere.

“Most importantly, it was a healing process of reclaiming my full self and becoming whole again. Through this artist circle experience, I reclaimed the joy and freedom of artistic self-expression to nourish my creativity and joy.”

- Beth Bernstein


“When I first visited Julie’s website, I was very intrigued by the beauty and expressiveness of her abstract paintings. Immediately I wanted to learn as much as I could from this talented teaching artist. My past ability to create abstracts was severely limited and I had finally found the person to bring me through that jump into abstraction.

“Julie’s training and oh-so-patient mentoring on Zoom has been so impressive! I had created my first six abstract paintings and I needed to pull it all together — to know what was working and what my problems were. Julie spotted my weaknesses, such as stopping a shape short of the edge (instead of going off the edge), lacking sufficient darks to make the rest of the painting glow, and creating a focal point that has punch. Then we worked together to make a better composition, virtually showing possible solutions.

“Julie’s patience, helpfulness and vast knowledge of art has been amazing and so nurturing. Her guidance has sent me on a wonderful creative adventure and has vastly improved my ability to analyze my own paintings—as well as those of others—with more understanding and appreciation. I have learned so much from Julie in such a short time. I heartily recommend her to anyone who really wants to make great abstracts.”

- Lorna Cole

Beauty & Spirit Abstract Artist Circle
Email me to be notified first when I open doors again







© 2022-2024 Julie Bernstein Engelmann.