Julian Hope turns grief into global art retreats

Artist and educator Julian Hope is using The Wild Canvas Retreat to blend painting, travel and healing for artists of all levels. Her story, rooted in personal loss and formal study, shows how creativity can become a community-centered path forward.

Why it matters: - Julian Hope has built an art retreat model that mixes creativity, travel, healing and connection for participants around the world. - The Wild Canvas Retreat is designed to help artists build confidence, form relationships and keep creating beyond a single workshop. - Hope’s story offers a public example of how personal loss can reshape a career and become a broader mission.

What happened: - Julian Hope, an artist, educator and retreat host based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is being spotlighted by Influential Women. - Hope founded The Wild Canvas Retreat after years of rebuilding her life following the death of her husband. - Hope now hosts retreats that bring artists together in destinations such as Spain, Rome and Puerto Rico. - Hope is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree through the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

The details: - Hope says she spent years surviving after her husband died before deciding to start living intentionally again. - Her artistic influences include Jeremy Mann and John Singer Sargent. - Hope’s work focuses on atmosphere, emotion and quiet moments in everyday life. - Her education includes painting, drawing and art history. - She says travel has been a major part of her artistic development, with each location serving as both inspiration and classroom. - The Wild Canvas Retreat pairs painting instruction with cultural exploration, personal reflection and friendship-building. - Hope personally hosts every retreat. - The retreats are open to artists of all skill levels. - Hope says her goal is to create spaces where guests feel safe to experiment, gain confidence and leave with lasting friendships. - Her motto is: “I will live and not just exist.”

Between the lines: - Hope is pushing back on the idea that artists need permission or perfect timing before pursuing their work. - She argues that technical skill matters as much as passion, and that disciplined learning creates more opportunities. - A retreat in Catalonia, Spain, became a turning point when Jeremy Mann told her, “You have to have the skills.” - Hope says that lesson pushed her toward formal fine arts study. - She sees social media as a source of both comparison and connection for artists. - She believes technology can help artists build communities and businesses centered on shared experiences, not just sales. - Her message is especially aimed at young women who hesitate to trust their own talent.

What's next: - Hope plans to keep expanding The Wild Canvas Retreat as part of a broader mission to inspire creativity and human connection. - She will continue her fine arts studies while refining her artistic voice. - Hope is also expected to keep mentoring emerging artists and leading retreats in new destinations.

The bottom line: - Julian Hope is turning a personal turning point into a growing creative platform, with art retreats that aim to help people make work, build community and change how they see their lives.

More information and The Wild Canvas Retreat