Orange Spiral Arts

December 2020 Art Inspiration and 2021 MN Visual Journal Collective Information

Greetings, Everyone!

What a wild ride we've been on this year.

I have neglected my blog, as my focus has mostly been on family. However, I have been making some art in the spaces in between.

Above are a bunch of postcards that I mailed out for the participants of the MN Visual Journal Collective who signed up for Postcard Swap Round 4. These cards were a lot of work, yet also quite fun and rewarding to create and send off.

Speaking of the MN Visual Journal Collective, Molly (co-facilitator of the MN Visual Journal Collective) and I have planned out the 2021 schedule. If you'd like more information, visit my page all about the MN Visual Journal Collective.

I also have a couple of random photos to share with you.

First up, here are some colorful stripes I learned how to create in Tammy Garcia's online class Groovy Grunge. I am so happy I signed up for this class. I just love Tammy's ideas, use of color, and plain explanations for how to create . . . well, everything she shares.

Finally, I have been working on an art challenge this month called Carve December. It is hosted by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, and it mostly happens on Instagram with the hashtag #carvedecember or #carvedecember2020.

In early January, I will be sharing a post all about the stamps I carved. For now, if you are on Instagram, I invite you to take a look at my OrangeSpiralArts feed. 

Since I have been way into hand-carved stamps this month, I decided to alphabetize and use a very special set I have been coveting. 

Read the letter to understand what they are all about.

I wrote a little story on Instagram that I will share here, too.

I am so grateful to my mom for sharing her creative energy with me. She is trained as a fine artist, and I am an expressive, abstract artist. Yet, we can still share some of the same supplies, as we both love mixed media, collage, fiber, and printmaking.
A while ago, my mom gave me her set of hand-carved alphabet stamps. I don’t think I used them until today. One thing the global pandemic is teaching me is to use your art supplies, and make/do things you enjoy.

I am sending good energy and love out to you all. Thanks for reading a piece of my art story. 

 

Thanks for reading this post. I miss you all.

Many Blessings and Gratitude to you,

Briana

2020 Handmade Holidays Buyer's Guide

Greetings, Everyone!

Some of you may know that I co-facilitate a monthly visual journaling group here in Minnesota, USA. 

Below is information on how to support members of our group this holiday season. Thanks so much for considering to support our small businesses. 

Kind Regards,

Briana of Orange Spiral Arts

 

 

Welcome to the 2020 Handmade Holiday Buyer’s Guide!

2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges, unfathomable circumstances and, at times, surreal situations. But, during this difficult time as we have been forced to keep our distance from each other, we have overcome the obstacles, called upon our creativity and found new ways to come together. And the members of the MN Visual Journal Collective are no exception.

Formed over 10 years ago by founder Roz Stendahl, the MN Visual Journal Collective has met monthly in person to share art journaling ideas, creative inspiration, supplies and support. When the country shut down this spring, those in-person meetings were put on hold, but the group’s creativity and love for each other were not. Meetings shifted to Zoom, sharing of ideas and support were posted to Facebook and the group has kept in touch through a monthly postcard project.

Many of the artists in this group have been struggling to find ways to support their artistic businesses in a world that has been forced to move to a virtual marketplace. But one thing we have never struggled to do is come together in support of each other. In 2019, members Molly Anthony and Jenny Maroney created this buyer’s guide as a way to showcase
the work of their collective artistic communities worldwide. But this year, they knew it had a much larger purpose much closer to home. This year, the Handmade Holiday Buyer’s Guide features only the work of local Minnesota artists who are members of the MN Visual Journal Collective. Instead of simply making a list of these artists, we wanted to build a guide that would showcase their amazing work and also provide all the ways
to connect with each artist so that you can both share and purchase
their work.

When you purchase from these artists, you aren’t just receiving beautiful handmade items delivered with love, you are also supporting an independent artist, making dreams come true and are making someone do a happy dance – seriously, you may not see them, but a happy dance comes with each purchase! We hope you enjoy the Handmade holiday Buyer’s Guide and we all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for buying handmade this holiday season!

Molly & Jenny and the members of the MN Visual Journal Collective

2020 Handmade Holiday Buyer's Guide download

Download 2020 Handmade Holiday Gift Guide Final