Journey into IP Facilitator Training

Meet Julie Trueblood and hear her describe her journey to and through Intuition Painting Facilitator Training. It was an honor having her join training.

Transcript

Montine:
Hi, this is Montine Blank. I’m here with Julie Trueblood, who is an Intuition Painting facilitator-in-training this year. I’m excited to interview her today. One of the reasons we’re doing these interviews is to help people understand what Intuition Painting can do—that it’s not just about the art.
So Julie, would you give a little introduction of yourself, please?

Julie:
Hello, my name is Julie Trueblood. I discovered Intuition Painting a little over a year ago. At first, I was hesitant to take classes, but I decided to take the plunge and talked with Montine. We spoke on the phone, and I loved so much of what she shared—about healing, trauma, and the way art can help you learn about yourself and heal others.

It really spoke to me on so many levels, especially in a soulful way. I would love to bring Intuition Painting to the Louisville, Kentucky area. I live in southern Indiana, and I want to support my community by offering Intuition Painting. I’ll be graduating in August and will be able to offer classes later this year.

Montine:
Thank you for being here. What do you remember that initially drew you to Intuition Painting?

Julie:
I think the biggest thing was not only the art itself—art is very healing—but also the way it helps other people. I’ve wanted to use art as a vehicle to help my community heal in whatever way I can. Art has always spoken to me.

I also loved how the courses were laid out and hearing from past students. You could tell they’d experienced profound changes. I immediately thought, this is what I’ve been looking for.

When my kids were little, I painted murals on their walls. Art has always been something I’ve used during times of stress or excitement. Even back then, it felt therapeutic. That was probably when the seed was planted—about 20 years ago.

Montine:
What experiences since then have brought you further into art as a healing practice?

Julie:
During the pandemic, it really reignited. Like many people, I was having a hard time. I started painting almost every day and taking online art courses. My daughter loves to draw, so we spent a lot of time creating together. We both realized how helpful it was.

I remember thinking everyone needed a paintbrush during that time—to release all the emotions people were carrying. That was when it really manifested.

Montine:
When you finally joined the online studio, what were you hoping for?

Julie:
Personally, I wanted to release a lot—past experiences, emotional weight—but also to reconnect with creativity and joy. It felt layered: healing and creativity together. Art has always come back into my life when I needed it most.

Montine:
What did you find through the process?

Julie:
I realized we carry so much without knowing it. Things showed up in my paintings that I didn’t realize I was holding—like my mom’s breast cancer. She’s fine now, but I didn’t realize how deeply it affected me until it appeared in my art.

That’s what I want to help others with—having an outlet where those things can come out safely, onto paper.

Montine:
A lot of times, things get painted that we didn’t know we were carrying.

Julie:
Yes. Seeing it on paper is powerful. It reflects back what you’ve been holding, and then you can start working with it.

Montine:
You eventually decided to become a facilitator. What were those experiences like?

Julie:
As the process went on, I wasn’t sure what would show up next. I started having realizations about who I am and what work I still had to do. You taught us to ask the painting to speak—and it does.

Sometimes you don’t know why you’re painting something, like a ladybug, until later when it reveals something important about yourself.

It’s hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced it. I call it intuition—that same inner voice that guides us in everyday life. Learning to tap into it through painting is incredibly revealing.

Someone once described it as God whispering what you need to know. That stayed with me deeply.

Montine:
You’ll be working in the Louisville area as a facilitator and offering different workshops. What are you most excited about?

Julie:
I’m especially excited about working with young women in their twenties who are dealing with anxiety and life transitions. I’d also love to offer workshops for men, because there aren’t enough spaces supporting men emotionally.

What’s beautiful about this process is that you don’t have to be in touch with your emotions—the painting brings them out naturally.

Montine:
Is there anything you’d like to share about your most recent painting experience?

Julie:
One of the biggest revelations was that the meaning came in waves. Each time I stepped back, the painting revealed something new. I journaled after each wave of insight. It wasn’t all at once—it unfolded over time, often when I was in a flow state.

That’s something we’ll be doing in classes too: journaling and listening as the painting continues to speak.

Montine:
That open flow state of connection is powerful. The process continues even after the painting is finished.

I’m excited for your journey as a facilitator. Thank you so much for your time.

Julie:
Thank you, Montine.