Orange Spiral Arts

Mixed Media Art from the Week-Carvedecember, Art Journaling, Stenciling, Stamping Art Foamies

Hello and a Warm Welcome to you!

Thank you for reading this post via email or by visiting my blog at OrangeSpiralArts.com

I am so happy you are here.

Despite having had a migraine for most of the week, I did manage to get some art time in. Would you like to see what I made? I would be more than pleased to show you.

As you may know, I am participating in #carvedecember again this year. The art challenge is by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, and the idea is to carve a stamp per day in the month of December. So far, I have stayed on track, and am feeling pretty proud of that fact!

Here are a few of my latest stamps from this week:

I also worked on some catch up in Alisa Burke's a grateful heART journal online class. Here are two pages from that.

On Monday night, I attended the monthly meeting for the Visual Journal Collective at the Minnesota Center for the Book Arts. It was a small group, but we enjoyed chatting, looking at each other's journals, and creating together. Here are two pages I worked on.

After January 2017, TJ and I will be taking over as co-facilitators of the Visual Journal Collective. We already had a planning meeting, and we are really excited for 2017! The Visual Journal Collective meetings are free and open to people interested in making and keeping visual journals! We meet on the third Monday of every month, usually 7pm-9pm. For more information, request to join the MCBA Visual Journal Collective Facebook group here. I would like to express my gratitude to both Roz Stendahl and Suzanne Hughes for their years of service and dedication to the Visual Journal Collective. Thank you, thank you! I love this group!

Ink and Oil Pastel is coming up.

Here's a little bit of playtime I had in preparation for class!

Finally, I've been playing with some new stamps and stencils, because those are some of my favorite art tools!

Please say hello to Tri-Square stamp by Art Foamies.

And please say hello to the Diamond Series Stencils from artistcellar.

May your holiday season be warm and bright, filled with love and light. Know that I am sending love to you right now. 

Blessing and Peace to you and yours,

Briana

 

Mark Making Monday-Dye-Na-Flow and Oil Pastels and an Intuitive Flower Drawing

Greetings to Wonderful You!

I would love for you to take a minute to tell yourself something positive right now before anything else. You might say, "I am wonderful" or "I love myself" or "I am perfectly imperfect" or "The universe is love, and I am part of the universe." Say whatever makes you feel really good inside. Then take a deep breath in. And release any tension as you breathe out. Aaaaahhhhh. 

Okay, now onto today's Mark Making Monday post!

Today's supplies include:

140 lb. watercolor paper

Jacquard Dye-Na-Flow Liquid Color in Magenta and Midnight Blue

Sakura Expressions Oil Pastels

Bubble Wrap

Paintbrush

Jar of Water

Getting Started

Step 1:

I looked at a roll of washi tape for inspiration on what to draw.

I decided to go with some sort of flower.

First I used oil pastels to get a few shapes down.

Next I used a paintbrush to apply magenta Dye-Na-Flow.

Step 2:

Place some bubble wrap over the wet Dye-Na-Flow.

Step 3: 

Lift the bubble wrap to reveal the dot marks created from lifting the ink.

Step 4:

Print the wet bubble wrap in various places on the paper.

Step 5:

Start adding more lines and designs into the wet color, using oil pastels.

Step 6:

Finalize your design, using the oil pastels.

Squint your eyes to see areas that need more contrast or pattern.

Get ready to add a darker color of Dye-Na-Flow.

Step 7:

Begin applying the darker color of Dye-Na-Flow.

Snap a few photos to get perspective on how things are looking to you.

Finish your intuitive flower painting.

Step 8:

Snap one last photo, and let dry.

Thank you for looking, and possibly playing along!

May you get a little creative time in this week, so you may feel more calm, centered, and connected to your creativity.

 

Announcing Ink & Oil Pastel

Speaking of art time, I wanted to let you know that I completed the information page for the upcoming Ink and Oil Pastel online class.

Read all about it right here.

It's only $20 USD! A completely affordable way for you to get inspired and step into some fun creative action!

The online classroom opens on Friday, January 13th, 2017.

 

Announcing Watercolor Wednesday-Playing with Watercolors

If you are looking for something local to get your creative juices flowing, I am teaching

Watercolor Wednesday-Playing with Watercolors at Green Lotus Yoga & Healing Center in Eden Prairie, Minnesota.

December 28, 2016, 1pm-3pm. Registration details are right here-choose 12-28-16 from the online calendar.

 

Have a wonderful, joy-filled week!

Blessings and Peace,

Briana

 

New :: Watercolor Workshop in the Twin Cities

Good Day to You!

I am excited to let you know that I will be offering a watercolor workshop on Wednesday, December 28th, 2016, from 1pm-3pm at Green Lotus Yoga & Healing Center in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. 

This workshop is running during winter break, so it's during the day, in the middle of the week! 

The aim is that you will give yourself a little R&R through a playful watercolor class. 

• You'll learn 12 watercolor techniques
• You'll create 4 postcards that can be mailed to family or friends, or kept for yourself 
• You'll have a great reason to get out of the house and meet new people

I hope you will join the fun! Reserve your spot today!

Blessings and Peace to you,

Briana

CarveDecember, Upcoming ONLINE CLASSES, Mark Making, and Art Journaling Inspiration

Hello to Wonderful YOU! Today's post is full of images and inspiration. I hope you can spend a few minutes with a cup of something that soothes your soul and take a peek!

MARK MAKING MONDAY

Since it's Monday, and I usually do a Mark Making Monday post, I will show you my new favorite tool:

Isn't it awesome?!! Thank you to Jean Shannon, who passed this baby along to me at the November Visual Journal Collective Art Supply Swap!

INK AND OIL PASTEL ONLINE CLASS-starts Friday, January 13, 2017

And if ink intrigues you, I invite you to sign up for my upcoming online class called Ink and Oil Pastel. It's only $20, OR you can get all three upcoming classes for $50 and SAVE $10 (scroll down to the 2017 Winter Mixed Media Online Classes for the Class Bundle option). Here are a few sneak peeks for Ink and Oil Pastel:

You'll learn a lot about ink and oil pastel through playing, experimenting, and taking action from the inspiration gained in this online class. Both video and written instructions are featured. I hope you'll join the fun!

CARVE DECEMBER (aka #carvedecember on Instagram) IS HAPPENING and IT'S FREE

I am participating in Carve December again this year. I skipped 2015, but when I participated in 2014, it changed my life! Carve December gave me the structure I needed to develop a consistent creative practice, and I haven't stopped getting up early to focus on my art since! What a game changer! 

Anyway, here are a couple of stamps I've carved so far in December 2016 for Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's art challenge called Carve December.

Feel inspired to carve your own stamps, too? It's not too late to join the fun! Simply use Instagram and tag your hand-carved stamp photo using #carvedecember. 

TIP: In 2014 I decided to carve an alphabet set. I found this to be a fantastic way to get started.

ART JOURNAL PHOTOS, & STENCIL AND STAMP PLAY

Sweet Gum Balls Stencil by Jane LaFazio sold at StencilGirlProducts.com

Ring Hopscotch Foam Stamp designed by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer sold at Artfoamies.com

UPCOMING IN-PERSON CLASSES:

Green Lotus Yoga & Healing Center

Eden Prairie, MN 

Watercolor Wednesday: Playing with Watercolors

December 28, 2016, 1pm-3pm

 

UPCOMING ONLINE CLASSES BY OTHER ARTISTS THAT I RECOMMEND

Life Book 2017

 

Into the Stars-Astrology & Art with Hali Karla

There are more classes and recommendations on the sidebar of OrangeSpiralArts.com

SENDING LOVE AND BLESSINGS

Knowing that this time of year is challenging for many people, I am sending you love, peace, and warmth from my heart to yours.

Blessings and Peace,

Briana