Orange Spiral Arts

Mark Making Monday-The Under Layer

Good Day to You! Thanks for visiting Orange Spiral Arts! My mission is to inspire you to express yourself through art, writing, photography, or any other form of creative expression that calls to you! You and your creativity matter!

For today's Mark Making Monday post, I'm going to share the idea of making marks as an under layer using colored pencils, pastel pencils, or other drawing media that you may have hanging around.

Supplies to Try:

• CarbOthello Pastel Pencils by Stabilo
• Colored pencils (neon, regular, and try different brands to find your preference)
• China Markers Wax Pencils
• Acrylic and/or Tempera Paint
• Catalyst Silicone Mini Blade

Getting Started: The Under Layer (drawing)

Have a large piece of drawing paper, along with your drawing and painting supplies, nearby.

Begin playing around with different pencils on the sheet of drawing paper. Make designs, marks, scribbles, or whatever feels good to you in the moment.

Continue playing with different materials to see how they feel and work on the paper.

The purple smeared areas are created by drawing with a CarbOthello pastel pencil, then rubbing the line with a finger.

After your paper is filled with marks and doodles, it's time to paint.

Layer Two: Tempera and Acrylic Paint

TIP: Use a fan brush to create marks and patterns with paint! (pictured below)

 

TIP: Try painting or spreading paint with a Catalyst Mini Blade. The result you get is much different than working with a paint brush. (pictured above)

TIP: Tempera paint tends to have more transparency than acrylic paint. It's fun to play with the back and forth layering that occurs by using both types of paint on one piece of paper.

Layer Three: White Paint (doodles and dots)

Painting with white paint on top of slightly wet tempera or acrylic paint is fun! Sometimes the white will mix and blend with the wet paint from the second layer. In drier areas, the white really pops forward. The variation is what pleases the eye.

That's it! You're done! 

Now you have a fun piece of painted drawing paper that can be turned into: collage fodder, handmade cards, art journal pages, an art journal cover, or gift wrap!

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Mark Making Monday! If you did, I'd love to hear what you liked in the comments below.

Summary:

Playing with doodling and drawing, using colored pencils or pastel pencils, etc., is a great way to get started on your blank paper. Every mark you make, or doodle you draw, takes you deeper and deeper into the process of creativity. Being creative is good for you! It helps to reduce stress, slows your breathing, and brings you into the present moment. 

Painting on top of those doodles and drawings is fun, too! It's interesting to see what ends up peeking through from that initial under layer. Although an outsider might not notice your marks from the under layer right away, they definitely add a lot to the overall painting. Nice work!

Happy Creating!

Blessings,

Briana

 

 

BRAND NEW INSTANT DOWNLOAD-4x4 Art Cards-Affirmations and Word of the Year Cards

There's something new in the OrangeSpiralArts Etsy Shop today!

Yesterday, I released 12-4x4 Art Cards out into the world. Two of the originals sold quickly. If you are interested in an original, affordable and affirming piece of art, you can find the listings in my brianacreates Instagram Feed or on Facebook. I am selling them for $12 USD with free shipping within the USA. Simply send me your PayPal email address, I will send you a PayPal invoice, complete the payment, and the original will be mailed out ASAP!

You may also now purchase the FULL SET OF 12 cards for only $18 as an instant digital download. Use them in your art journal, make your own DIY coasters for your home or office, or pack them in your purse to pull out when you need a little boost.

Thank you for looking!

Sending Love Out to You Today,

Briana

Freedom through Painting Friday-A Video and Praise for Flora Bowley

(The actual video is posted a little later in this post)

Welcome to another Freedom through Painting Friday! 

Today I would like to share a video of my painting process. 

First, I must mention a couple of things. 

1. I adore painting on paper. I feel that painting on paper gives me the freedom that I desire to experiment and play. Plus, there is HUGE collage material potential for any painting that I do not wish to keep whole. I paint on 80 lb. paper, which works just fine for tempera and acrylic paint. There are limitations to how much heavy paint and heavy layering you can do, but for quick painting for the fun of it, 80 lb. paper works great! (For heavy layering, I would use 140 lb. Strathmore watercolor paper or 100 lb. Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.)
2. I love using long handled brushes. I don't always use them, but the long handle allows me to be looser and more free when I paint. I am going for expression, not perfection. (The Robert Simmons Titanium Brushes have worked well for me. I also recommend the Simply Simmons brushes, if you are out shopping at a craft store like Michaels.)
3. You do not need any prior art experience to paint. All that you need is the desire to create and your own inner guidance. Begin by choosing colors that you are attracted to, then paint away!

First, I will share the video. After the video, I would like to talk a little bit about the artist Flora Bowley.

The video is just under 5 minutes long. At about 1 minute 15 seconds, I speed up the video. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Let's Talk:

Flora Bowley is an artist I have been following for several years. I took her Bloom True E-Course several years ago, and it was really transformative for me. Flora got me painting on LARGE CANVAS!! After I was a student, the e-course was revised and new videos were shot by Zipporah Lomax. I am a huge fan of Zippy's photography.

Every time Bloom True is offered, I contemplate signing up again.

Every time Flora releases a new Studio Diaries, I contemplate signing up. What about you?

Here's a sneak peek into the January 2016 Studio Diaries from Flora Bowley:

 

Isn't that awesome?!! Flora is a professional artist and teacher with a huge heart. I can relate to her on many levels. 

If you are wondering why I am talking about Flora in this Freedom through Painting Friday post on Orange Spiral Arts, it's because Flora inspires me to paint!

I can almost guarantee that she will inspire you to paint, too! 

Go ahead and sign up for the Bloom True E-Course if you can.

If that's too much right now, I highly recommend Flora's Studio Diaries.

I love sharing the love for other artists who I believe work hard to help others open up to the power of their own creative expression. Flora does that.

 

May you feel inspired to be free, let go, not care if your painting "looks good", so that your creative soul has a chance to feel expressed and satisfied.

Whether you choose to paint on paper, or canvas, with inexpensive paints, or fancy paints, your soul does not much care, as long as you paint!

Upcoming Opportunities:

The Beautiful BEing Program ONLINE is in full swing. It's not too late to sign up. The pace is nice and slow, over a five month span. The content is rich and deep, where inner wisdom and intuition guide the way, writing + painting! Click here.

The Beautiful BEing Program LIVE in Minneapolis is open for February registration and beyond! Click right here to reserve your spot! Ten percent of your registration fee supports the non-profit courageous heARTS, an art space for youth!

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas through Forest Lake Community Education, Wednesday, February 17th, 6pm-8pm

 

Blessings and Peace,

Briana 

 

Watercolor Wednesday-Namaste-Mixed Media Art Journal Spread

Good Day to You, Creative One!

Today I am sharing an art journal spread, which is inspired by the work of a local Twin Cities artist named Lara Cornell. I took an art journaling workshop this past weekend, held in Lara's art studio, but lead by another amazing artist, who recently transplanted to Minnesota from California, Deanne Williamson.

The piece that I saw in Lara's art studio that took my breath away is pictured below. It's the "Namaste" piece.

I love the cool colors. I typically use warm colors in my art, like orange and magenta. The hand lettered "Namaste" also makes this piece really awesome. Finally, it's a circle! Does anyone else simply adore circles?!!

So, I decided to take the inspiration, that I held in my mind's eye, to the art journal.

I am working in a blank book from Rag & Bone Bindery.

I grabbed the following supplies:

• Caran d'Ache Neocolor II Artist Crayons
• Crayola My Color is Purple set
• Prang Oval Pan Watercolor set
• Yasutomo Pearlescent Watercolor set
• a jar of water
• a round brush

Step by Step Art Journal Spread:

Using the dry erase crayon from the Crayola My Color is Purple pack, I wrote the word "namaste". I was not looking at the photo I took of the art that inspired me. If I had been, I probably would have tried to use different lettering than I did here.

Next, I wanted to create that peaceful feeling by using cool colors. I started circling the word namaste.

Now onto light blue . . . and more circling.

 

To add a little depth, and to give the page spread the feel of mixed media, I added some green watercolor paint. Plus, it is Watercolor Wednesday!

 

Those pearlescent colors wouldn't leave me alone, so I had to dip into those next. 

TIP: Let a little water sit and pool on these to get the maximum shimmer effect. Then paint with them.

 

Pictured below, you can see that the dry erase purple crayon is starting to smear a little. I like this, and it reminded me that these Crayola dry erase crayons are fun to use with water, too!

 

I decided to go back around the circle some more with that light blue Neocolor II Artist Crayon.

For some reason, I was being called to add some pink. This was NOT in my original mental picture of what I was going to do. However, as I create, whether in the art journal, or on canvas, I like to listen to and trust my intuition. So, pink it was! I started with a pattern, created by tapping the end of the brush, or the full brush length, all around the page spread.

Finally, I added an overall shimmery pink background all around the circle.

Some reflective thoughts to share:

The word "namaste" is not centered. At first this bothered me a little, but then, eh, not a big deal!

Once done with the journal spread, I saw an abstract heart shape, caused by the binding in the middle of the spread. I like it!

Since I was not using the reference photo, this looks nothing like the piece of art I felt inspired by. That's a good thing! I am not out to copy other artists. I want to create from a place of authenticity and by guided by intuition.

May this blog post inspire you to use a little mixed media the next time you grab your tray of watercolor paint. Water soluble artist crayons are really fun to use!

May this post encourage you to treat yourself to an art class, whether online, or in person. One of the benefits of an in person class is connecting with other creative souls in your area. I know I sure had fun this past weekend!

Upcoming Opportunities:

The Beautiful BEing Program ONLINE is in full swing. It's not too late to sign up. The pace is nice and slow, over a five month span. The content is rich and deep, where inner wisdom and intuition guide the way, writing + painting! Click here.

The Beautiful BEing Program LIVE in Minneapolis is open for February registration and beyond! Click right here to reserve your spot! Ten percent of your registration fee supports the non-profit courageous heARTS, an art space for youth!

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas through Forest Lake Community Education, Wednesday, February 17th, 6pm-8pm

 

Thank you for being here!

Namaste,

Briana

 

 

 

 

Mark Making Monday-Get Your Flow On

Hello, Hello to YOU! 

I am feeling pretty jazzed about today's post.

Some of you may know that I used to teach preschool before diving into Orange Spiral Arts.

One of my favorite things about teaching young children is watching and seeing their art making process.

A classic art lesson to use with children ages 4 and up is the "straw blown paint" technique.

Now that I am an adult who has been art journaling for over 15 years, I get a kick out of seeing the blown paint/ink technique used in layered mixed media art. It brings me back to my roots, ya know?!

Today's post is all about getting back in touch with your inner child, or your adult mixed media art loving self, and playing with fluid paint, ink, and watered down gesso!

Let's Go!

Supplies to Try:

• liquid watercolor paint
• a straw
• acrylic ink
• India ink
• watered down black gesso or white gesso
• sticks
• rocks
• an eye dropper or paint pipette

I will be sharing a variety of photos with you today as a point of inspiration. Some of the photos are of supplies, and the rest of the photos will be of art related projects or journal pages.

THINGS TO TRY

Starting with blank paper

Liquid Watercolor Paint, an Eye Dropper or Paint Pipette, and a Straw

For this journal spread, I used liquid watercolor paint and blew it around with a straw. I journaled with a black pen on the bottom left and the top right of the page spread.

TIP: Be sure to take breaks as you spread the paint by blowing through a straw. You will get light-headed.

Acrylic Ink or Colorful India Ink with Built in Droppers (Dr. Ph Martin's Bombay India Ink)

Watercolor Paint and a Wet Brush (Tilt Your Paper to Create Drips)

Ink, Coffee, Tea and Handmade (or Natural) Mark Making Tools

The Mixed Media Version of Drips and Straw Blown Paint

Working on Layered Surfaces

There is so much to explore with mark making using fluid inks, paints, dyes, and watered down gesso.

Whether you start on a blank page, a rinsed and dried tea bag, or on a layered mixed media art journal spread, doesn't matter. The fun is all the same. Try it, you'll like it!

Thanks for being here!

Have a beautiful, artful, "caught in the flow" kind of day!

Blessings,

Briana 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spectrum 2016 Give-Away Blog-Hop Winner Announcement

WINNER, WINNER, WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT RIGHT HERE!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win the Spectrum Blog-Hop Give-Away!

THE WINNER IS  . . . BONNIE BOUCEK! Congratulations!

Hali Karla Arts will be contacting you this week about your free pass to Spectrum 2016.

Pre-registration for Spectrum is now officially open - it's going to be such an inspiring workshop!

If you didn’t win a give-away spot, you can join us at a special early-bird rate for the next 3 days, by using this code at checkout: SP16EarlyBird

So CLICK RIGHT HERE to REGISTER 

Also - there is also the chance to apply for one of 15 all-new scholarship passes!

The scholarships are for those facing financial hardship, but who feel that Spectrum would be just the right support and enhancement for their 2016 journey. To find out if you are eligible and apply, click that link above, learn more about the program to make sure it’s a perfect fit for you, and then scroll down to the very bottom of the page to access the scholarship application.

Thanks for playing along in the blog-hop - and I hope to see you in Spectrum 2016 beginning May 2!

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have some exciting news to share today: I am going to be a guest teacher in Spectrum 2016 this year - and I have 1 spot to give-away here at my blog as part of the Give-Away Blog-Hop!

Spectrum is an online Holistic-Creative workshop going on its third year, and organized by Hali Karla of Hali Karla Arts. Spectrum 2016 will be guided by 20 NEW featured teachers and more than 20 returning contributors offering a variety of workshops, inspiration and invitations - all intended to empower, nurture and celebrate your innate creative expression, healing journey, and personal development!

There will be weekly inspiration & reflective activities related to mixed-media art-making and journaling, guidance on integrating your creative process and holistic awareness into your day-to-day life, and a variety of opportunities to connect, support and share with others in the growing Holistic-Creative online community.

The themes that will loosely guide our 2016 Spectrum experience are Forgiveness, Shifting Perspective, Navigating Uncertainty, Integration, Alchemy, Connecting with Nature, Honoring Body, Trusting Joy, and Expressing One’s Truth! You can expect a variety of perspectives on these - and so much more.

To learn more about the details, including all of the contributors and workshop offerings for this course CLICK RIGHT HERE. 

I am currently creating my brand new Spectrum workshop for you - it is called 

Forgiveness Art Cards: Artful Reminders for Self-Forgiveness, Asking for Forgiveness, and Accepting an Apology

Participants will create several painted papers, using acrylic paint, crayons, and stencils. These colorful papers will then be cut and collaged into a set of Forgiveness Art posters. The 8.5×11 posters can be displayed as is, or may be scanned, resized, and printed into smaller cards to carry.

Forgiveness is such a challenging, yet powerful part of healing and wellness. Forgiving is a gift to yourself, not necessarily to the person you need to forgive. And guess what? We all make mistakes, and sometimes we even need to forgive ourselves. This workshop will give you the opportunity to reflect on any forgiveness work you might need to do on yourself, or toward others. You will write, paint, cut and collage your way through your personal journey toward forgiveness. The completed cards will be fantastic reminders on how to forgive yourself, how to ask for forgiveness when you make a mistake or hurt someone, and how to graciously accept an apology.

with Briana Goetzen 

Briana Goetzen, MA, founder of Orange Spiral Arts, is an expressive arts coach living in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. As an artist, avid photographer, visual journal keeper, and deep conversation enthusiast, Briana supports women who desire to fully express themselves in mind, body, and spirit. She helps women re-connect to the inner artist and divine inner wisdom that is inherently theirs. Briana wishes for you to experience spiritual joy through creative and mindful acts.

Pre-registration for Spectrum 2016 officially opens on February 1, 2016 (and the program will begin on May 2). So be sure to bookmark this page (or link) - so that you can check back to see if you win the giveaway here or sign up just as soon as it goes on sale.

About the Give-Away:

Like I mentioned, I have one spot for Spectrum 2016 to give-away to a lucky winner in our January blog-hop - but if you follow the blog-hop list below, you will have an even better chance of winning a spot by entering the other give-aways as well.

All of the new teachers are playing along - and quite a few of the returning contributors volunteered to join in the fun, too - so there are over 30 chances to win a free pass!

Here is how to enter my give-away:

1.  Subscribe to the Orange Spiral Arts mailing list (top, right-hand sidebar).
2.  Share this post on your social media sites.
3.  Leave a comment below letting us know why you'd love to be a part of Spectrum 2016, or what you are most looking forward to about the program.  

I will announce the winner of my free Spectrum pass here on February 1, 2016 - the same day pre-registration opens for Spectrum 2016!

Just below is a list of the other teachers who are playing along in the Spectrum 2016 blog-hop, with the dates their give-away goes live - so be sure to visit their site and enter there, as well.

13 January: 
Hali Karla 

14 January: 
Andrea Schroeder           
Angelique Arroyo 

15 January:
Bebe Butler
Beth Morey 

16 January:   
Briana Goetzen You are here at Orange Spiral Arts
Carissa Paige

17 January:   
Cat Caracelo
Catherine Anderson 

18 January:   
Chris Zydel
Effy Wild 

19 January:   
Elloa Atkinson
Grace Howes   

20 January:   
Gretchen Miller
Kara LC Jones

21 January:   
Kelly Johnson
Kitty Oppegard 

22 January:   
Kristal Norton
Lisa Hofmann

23 January:   
Lisa Wilson
Lucy Pearce 

24 January:   
Malini Parker
Meghan Genge 

25 January:   
Melissa Harris
Michelle Turbide

26 January:   
Petrea Hansen-Adamidis
Rachael Rice 

27 January:   
Robin Hallett
Shelley Klammer 

28 January:   
Suki Ciappara Ka'Pinao
Tara Leaver 

Enjoy the blog-hop, good luck on the give-aways, and I hope to see you in Spectrum in a few months!

Blessings to you,

Briana

  

PS The Beautiful BEing Program is another deep, soul-nourishing opportunity where you will dive into the creative acts of writing and painting. Learn to hear your inner wisdom, heal from emotional pain, and fully express yourself without fear of judgement. 

There is an opportunity to be in a supportive community, LIVE in Minneapolis, Minnesota, once per month at courageous heARTS.

For those of you who are states or oceans away, I invite you to look at the ONLINE Beautiful BEing Program.

It's NOT too late to register!!!