Intuition Painting for Executive Coaching

An Interview with Heather Gordon

We welcome Heather L. Gordon, Executive Coach and Consultant, holding a PHD in Organizational Science and soon to be a certified Intuition Painting® Facilitator. Heather shares her discovery of this process, including it’s wake up call for her personal life as well as the impact she expects it to have on her future work with leaders and their teams.

Learn more about Heather Gordon.

Transcript

Montine:
Hi, it’s Montine Blank, and I’m doing an interview with Heather Gordon, who is currently in facilitator training for Intuition Painting. She’s joining us today for the continuation of our series on Intuition Painting.

This series isn’t really about the painting itself—it’s about helping people understand all the ways Intuition Painting can impact and transform people’s lives.

So Heather, please introduce yourself.

Heather:
Hi everyone, I’m Heather Gordon. I live in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’m an executive coach and assessor by training, and I’ve been doing that work for many years. I’ve worked in corporate environments and now work with CEOs and clients all over.

I’ve always loved painting—it’s been part of my DNA—but I never found the time for it and always found excuses not to paint. This opportunity with Intuition Painting resonated so deeply with me, and that’s why I decided to join.

Montine:
I’m glad to have you here. Can you tell us how you first found Intuition Painting?

Heather:
It was actually pretty random. I was interested in attending a painting retreat because painting is something I love but never make time for. I searched for retreats and came across Intuition Painting.

There was something about tapping into intuition and using it as a creative model that really spoke to me. I read about it, and within a day I decided to sign up for facilitator training and go all in.

Montine:
That happened quickly—within about 48 hours, right?

Heather:
Yes, it was fast. But I hear people say this a lot—when it’s right, you just know immediately.

Montine:
You started with private sessions before joining the full facilitator training. What do you remember about those first sessions?

Heather:
They were very different from what I expected. Especially the first one—I remember thinking, What did I sign up for?

But it was also exciting. At different points I felt energized, frustrated, and then completely exhausted. What surprised me was how many emotions I could feel within just an hour of painting without a plan—just tuning into intuition.

It was something entirely new for me, and with each session I tapped more deeply into that intuitive space. The awkwardness I felt at first slowly disappeared.

Montine:
Do you remember your very first painting?

Heather:
Yes, very clearly. I was surprised by the colors I chose—I’ve never liked the color red, yet I felt compelled to paint with it.

As I painted, figures started appearing. I didn’t know what I was painting at first, but then things began to unfold. The painting revealed thoughts and emotions I hadn’t allowed myself to process before. It was shocking—but also relieving. It felt like something that needed to come out finally did.

Montine:
It sounds like elements surfaced that needed to be acknowledged.

Heather:
Absolutely. Things I didn’t even know needed to surface.

Montine:
How did that impact you?

Heather:
It forced me to pause. I tend to be a go-getter, always moving forward without stopping. The painting made me slow down and feel things I’d buried.

Over time, each session built on the last. The paintings continued to evolve and tell new stories, helping me process experiences and move forward into a place I hadn’t been before.

Montine:
You later joined a group session after working privately. What was that transition like?

Heather:
It was very different—in a good way. Even though we were on Zoom, I could feel the energy of the group while painting. Seeing everyone else painting inspired me to keep going.

During the reflection portion, hearing others’ experiences helped me understand my own process more deeply. That shared experience was powerful.

Montine:
Then you traveled to Joshua Tree and met your facilitator cohort in person. What was that experience like?

Heather:
For lack of a better word—it was juicy. A diverse group of incredible people, all with different stories, but all sharing the desire to lean into this work and offer it as a gift to others.

The connections we formed were magical. There really are no words for it.

Montine:
What was it like doing your first in-person painting there?

Heather:
Every painting experience was different, which blew my mind. Painting in that space—surrounded by others—created a heightened sense of energy. Hearing the brush strokes, feeling the collective focus, and watching imagery emerge was incredibly visceral.

Some of the imagery brought up memories I hadn’t thought about in years. Seeing that happen, alongside others having similar experiences, was deeply moving.

Montine:
Would you be willing to share a challenging moment from one of your paintings?

Heather:
Yes. There was a moment when I hated my painting and felt intense anger while painting it. I couldn’t stop—it felt like my body needed to finish it.

I painted a brick wall with blood coming out of it. It was dark and painful. Later I realized it represented a wall I had built myself over years. After processing it through journaling, I transformed that wall into a mountain I could soar over.

That transformation felt incredibly freeing.

Montine:
That’s a powerful example of how transformation happens in this process—both visually and internally.

Heather:
Absolutely. Even now, when I look at that painting, I feel that same release and freedom.

Montine:
You also had an experience where an element you tried to remove had to come back, right?

Heather:
Yes—Mr. Bones, the skeleton. I tried to paint over him, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The next morning, even when we weren’t painting, I went back and repainted him because he was part of the story.

Montine:
That’s a big part of this work—honoring what shows up, because it has something to say.

How do you see Intuition Painting fitting into your executive coaching work?

Heather:
I see so many possibilities. In coaching, we often talk things through, but Intuition Painting allows what’s held in the body to come out physically.

I can see using this work to help clients uncover things they don’t even realize are holding them back—things affecting their leadership and growth. It works beautifully in one-on-one settings and retreats.

Montine:
Leaders often rely heavily on data and metrics, but don’t tap into deeper knowing.

Heather:
Exactly. Intuition Painting helps them access what they already know deep down—the missing piece that allows them to use data more effectively and lead more authentically.

Montine:
I’m excited to see where you take this work. You’re based in Charlotte and will be working with me at a retreat in Asheville later this year, correct?

Heather:
Yes. I’ll finish facilitator training in the fall. Right now, people can find me through Summit Leadership Partners at summitleadershippartners.com.

Montine:
Wonderful. We’ll include links below the video. Thank you so much for your time, Heather.

Heather:
Thank you so much.