Orange Spiral Arts

Hope, Faith, Grace-Words + Art with Briana (DT member for artistcellar)

Hello Creative Ones,

 

I was recently reminded about how much I love the combination of words with art.

I am sharing a quick tutorial of how you can create a painted background, and then add the Virtues Words Pocket Stencils by artistcellar on top.

 

SUPPLIES USED

Watercolor

Gouache

Dina Wakley Acrylic Paint

140 lb. watercolor paper

Small round brush

Ballpoint pen

Water

Rag

 

Step 1:

Paint six loose rectangles on 9 x 12 inch watercolor paper.

Let dry.

 

Step 2:

Choose a rectangle and three of the Pocket Stencils by artistcellar.

 

Step 3:

Use a ballpoint pen to trace the word stencils.

 

Step 4:

Using Dina Wakley heavy body paint, or another acrylic paint and round brush, paint around the letters you traced.

 

Step 5:

Add any design details around your words.

 

Step 6 (Optional):

Cut out your card and give it as a gift to someone who could use some uplifting or encouraging words.

 

I hope that you enjoy painting your stripes, tracing your word stencils, and making art + words art for someone! (That someone could be you! These would make wonderful journaling cards, too.)

 

Many Blessings to You,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

 

 

 

 

Art Graf and A Stencil

 

Greetings Everyone!

I am in studio clean up mode, and have been making some amazing art supply discoveries! One of which is a set of Art Graf water-soluble graphite that I purchased a couple of years ago. I recently taught Getting Started with Art Journaling at my favorite art supply store, Wet Paint, and they had some Art Graf out for us to play with. I am now totally obsessed.

Since I love doing crayon rubbings with stencils, I knew that something could be done with Art Graf and stencils.

 

Here’s what I came up with.

 

Supplies Used:

Artistcellar Sacred Geometry: Sri Yantra stencil

Art Graf by Viarco

Canson Mix Media sketchbook-9x12 inches, 98 lb. paper

Princeton Velvetouch-Filbert no. 8 brush

Water

I placed the set of Art Graf, my sketchbook, stencil, a brush, and a jar of water out on my table.

Here’s what the set of Art Graf looks like:

 

I placed the stencil under my paper.

 

I placed the paper back down, then rubbed a chunk of Art Graf over the area of the stencil.

 

Now comes the exciting part. Art Graf is water-soluble. So, next, I played with painting in various parts of the stencil rubbing.

I simply dipped my brush into water and started painting.

 

Here’s another look at my set up.

 

The ochre Art Graf (as well as the yellow, which I don’t have yet) is so rich and saturated in color!

 

I continued to play around with adding Art Graf as paint, or just water on the rubbing I created.

 

Near the end of my work time, I decided to add a little turquoise liquid watercolor over the Art Graf in the corners of the design.

Here’s what I ended up with when it was time to stop for dinner.

 

There’s a great video on Wet Paint’s website of the Carbon Black Art Graf in action. You can watch it here. The video is by Viarco. If you have extra time, I just discovered a 28-minute video on YouTube about Viarco and the making of Art Graf. It appears to be a Portuguese company, so the video has English subtitles. It is fascinating to watch. Go here, if you want to see more. (Oh, that yellow!)

 

May you make your own amazing art supply discoveries, and enjoy using them!

 

Sending Blessings and Creative Vibes,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

PS For more mandala and liquid watercolor fun, I am teaching Liquid Watercolor Mandalas at Wet Paint! Get more info and register today! Class is on Thursday, May 23, 2019, 10:30am-1:30pm. This is a great time for retired folks, entrepreneurial folks, or people with a flexible schedule to enjoy the community of a day time class!

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas Class at Wet Paint

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas Class at Wet Paint 

Are curious about Ecoline Liquid Watercolor and how to create with this bright, fluid medium? I am offering a class at Wet Paint on Thursday, May 23, 2019, 10:30am-1:30pm. You will be creating a series of mandalas on watercolor paper. I have taught this wonderful class several times. What I've noticed is that it takes participants a few mandalas to get into their groove, but each one takes you a little deeper into yourself. The fluid nature of liquid watercolor means that is not easy to control. Accidents and happy accidents occur, and it all helps you to get present and connect with the here and now. Why would you want to connect with the present moment while experimenting with liquid watercolor mandalas? The answer is simple. This time is healing for the mind, body, and spirit. Your heart rate slows, endorphins are released, and you get to feel good for a few hours, while expressing your creativity. I hope to see you in class!

Visit Wet Paint's site under Events, call the store to register, or register online here.

With Love and Creativity,

Briana

21 Secrets Retirement SALE is here-SAVE 50 Percent

Hello Creative People!

I wanted to let you know about an amazing opportunity. I have been a guest teacher, as well as a student of the many, many editions of 21 Secrets. Since the lovely Connie Solera is rebranding her website and making room for new things, she is no longer going to be selling the five pictured editions of 21 Secrets online art journaling workshops. I have a class in the 21 Secrets-Color, Color, Color edition. My class is called Draw, Paint, and Print Artful Color Patterns. I own all of the other editions shown here, as I am such a fan of these workshops.

Here's what makes 21 Secrets so great:

• There are workshops from teachers from all over the world
• The workshops cover an amazing amount of mixed media ideas and techniques to use in your visual/art journal
• The teachers are extremely generous in the amount of content they provide
• You get unlimited access to the content and videos all linked in the handy PDF file that you receive upon purchase
• You are supporting emerging and established artists when you purchase these 21 Secrets editions
• Last but not least, you are supporting me, as an artist, by purchasing through my affiliate link

So, the SALE is so awesome-you'll save 50 percent off each edition purchased when you use the coupon code RETIREMENT.

The sale runs Wednesday, May 8 (beginning at 3am PST and 5am CST) through Saturday, May 11, 2019.

To summarize, there are five editions of 21 Secrets that are going into retirement.

After May 11, 2019, the following editions will no longer be available for purchase.

• 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color
• 21 Secrets emBODY
• 21 Secrets Tell Your Story
• 21 Secrets Tools & Techniques
• 21 Secrets The Best of 2014 & 2015

Note: All owners of these editions will still have unlimited access to the content and videos.

Get them while you can and SAVE 50 percent! Simply enter the coupon code RETIREMENT at checkout.

May you enjoy these art making videos as much as I do. I return to these again and again. Sometimes our lives are so busy, we can't fit in all that we want to. That's the beauty of having unlimited access to these treasures. Seriously, there is so much goodness packed in to each 21 Secrets edition. If you are interested in art journaling or mixed media art, I highly, highly recommend these 21 Secrets online workshops.

Sending Love and Gratitude out!

-Briana

 

Prepping a Visual Journal Background-Tutorial

This post was originally written as a design team member for artistcellar.

Simple and Fun Visual Journal Background with Briana

Hello Everyone,

I hope this post finds you well. I have been getting back into visual journaling again. Although I have been playing in my journals for years, I don’t always write about my life. It’s time for me to bring that back. I still will be creating fun backgrounds before I do the writing/journaling part because backgrounds are my favorite!

Today’s post is a quick tutorial for making a fun background page in your visual journal that you can then add a photo from your life (i.e. photo + washi tape), or some writing about your day, etc.

Enjoy!

 

Supplies Used

Acrylic paint

Paint scraper

Artistcellar Traditional Japanese: Arrrow stencil

Staz On stamp pad

Baby wipe

Rubber stamp

Yellow Owl Workshop black stamp pad

 

Step 1:

Use 2-3 matte acrylic paint colors and scrape them across your pages with an old plastic card.

 

Step 2:

Choose one of your favorite Artistcellar stencils; I am using the “Arrow” stencil from the Traditional Japanese Series.

 

 

Step 3:

Using a stamp pad like Staz On, rub some color over the stencil and into the openings. TIP-Do this gently as to not chew up your stamp pad.

 

Step 4:

Use a baby wipe to spread that ink into the spaces of the stencil. Remove the stencil and have a look.

 

Step 5:

Find an interesting stamp and a black stamp pad.

 

Step 6:

Create a border on the top and bottom of your page.

 

Now your page is all set for you to add a personal photo, or to do some journaling about your life!

 

Way to go!

 

I hope you have tons of fun in your visual journal!

 

Sending Blessings,

Briana

 

PS I am teaching Getting Started with Visual Journaling at Wet Paint in St. Paul, Minnesota. The next available class will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2019. See the Events section on the Wet Paint site for more information and to register. If it is not posted yet, check back soon!

Upcoming Classes at Wet Paint

Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 10:30am-1:30pm, Fee $48

Sign up today, before this class fills! It's been quite popular in the past.

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas

In Gratitude:

Thank you for reading this post, for supporting my art, and for giving your creativity the attention it needs.

Blessings and More Going Out to You,

Briana

 

 

Getting Started with Visual Journaling -Class at Wet Paint

“Our creativity-that is, our fearless engagement with the world around us- is the source of our happiness and purpose on this planet.” –Peter Himmelman, Let Me Out: Unlock Your Creative Mind and Bring Your Ideas to Life

 

Dear Creative Ones,

 

I’d like to invite you into the wonderful world of visual journaling. This is a world where anything goes; there is no right or wrong way to express yourself in your journal. My style is not going to be your style, and that is the beauty of sitting with others who are also engaging in the process of keeping a visual journal. You are unique, and your own artistic style will show up. You don’t even have to think of yourself as an artist; you are born a creative being.

 

In my upcoming class at Wet Paint, Getting Started with Visual Journaling, I have a few goals. The first goal is to help you overcome your fears of the blank page. The second goal is to have you feel seen, heard, and loved while you are in class. The third goal is to have fun playing around with various mixed media supplies, so that we may breathe a little easier, let go of the stress we carry, and just be present to the moment.

 

I will be guiding you through creating initial backgrounds, adding to those backgrounds, as well as doing some low stress drawing and journaling exercises.

 

This experience is for you, and I want you to see yourself reflected in your visual journal.

I have been keeping visual journals for over twenty years. Some of my journals have tons of writing, and other journals are explorations into various art materials. The journals that mean the most are the ones where I’ve included bits and pieces of my life. Those bits and pieces could be photographs, ephemera from the day, or a deep writing session.

We are all on a journey, and a visual journal is your companion along the way. Whether you are in a place of healing physical or emotional pain, in some sort of transition, or riding life’s waves with ease, we all need a safe space to express ourselves. That’s what a visual journal is for me. When I am present to the creative process, I connect to something greater. To illustrate this, one woman at a recent MN Visual Journal Collective meeting said when referring to her journal, “It’s time I start working on a better relationship with myself.” That resonated with so many others in the room. Can you relate, too?

 

Gather your supplies, begin to open your heart, and let’s create together.

Register for Getting Started with Visual Journaling here: http://info.wetpaintart.com/index.php/event/getting-started-visual-journaling-taught-by-briana-goetzen/

 

 

“Without dreams, without risks, only a trivial semblance of living can be achieved.” –Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Finding Flow

 

May we all go about our days with a greater sense of aliveness.

May it be so.

 

Sending Blessings to you,

Briana

 

Artist’s bio

 

Briana Goetzen, MA of Orange Spiral Arts is an expressive arts coach, artist, writer, photographer, and teacher. With a background in Elementary Education and Human Development, Briana brings gentleness, a sense of calm, and a never-ending enthusiasm for the arts wherever she goes. Briana’s art teaching philosophy is “process over product,” and her personal mission is to inspire your creative spirit.

www.OrangeSpiralArts.com

Briana is offering a variety of classes at Wet Paint in 2019 for children, youth, and adults. Please look at the Wet Paint site for upcoming Events and registration information. Thank you! I am ever-grateful for your interest and support.

 

 

 

Beautiful Butterfly Mixed Media Art Journal Page

 

Greetings Everyone!

One of the things I love about stencils is that they provide a structure and/or texture that helps a page come alive.

Today I am sharing a tutorial where I use only a few supplies to create a dynamic journal page.

Supplies Used

Tam’s Whimsy Series-Butterfly Wings stencil

Traditional Japanese Series-Cherry Blossom stencil

Ranger Dylusions-Alphabet border stencil

Mechanical pencil

Distress Stain

Water-soluble pencils

Dylusions Spray Ink

Golden Molding Paste

Palette Knife

Small paintbrush

Jar of water

 

Step 1:

Use Tamara Laporte’s Butterfly Wings stencil and trace the inside parts with a pencil.

 

Step 2:

Grab the Traditional Japanese Cherry Blossom stencil, as well as some molding paste by Golden, and a palette knife.

 

Spread the molding paste through the Cherry Blossom stencil. Decide if you want any of the pattern to go over the butterfly or not. I chose to let in some of the pattern.

Step 3:

Thinking about the rule of thirds, add the pattern from the Dylusions Alphabet Border stencil underneath the butterfly area on the page.

 

Use Distress Stain through the stencil, and blot up the extra with a paper towel.

 

Step 4:

Add water-soluble pencils to the butterfly. Then use a small paintbrush and water to make the pencil move like watercolor.

 

Step 5:

Create a rough paper mask for the butterfly.

 

 

Step 6:

Use Bubblegum Pink spray ink over the butterfly area of your page. Use a paper towel roll to soak up extra ink.

 

Step 7:

Remove the paper mask and take a look at your page!

 

In case you are curious, below is a photo with the spray ink and Distress Stain that I used.

 

I hope you have tons of fun in your art journal this week!

 

Sending Blessings,

 

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

PS If you are local to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul), Minnesota, be sure to check out all of the wonderful classes I have coming up at Wet Paint! The first one is Getting Started with Visual Journaling. It starts on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 10:30am-1:30pm, and runs the following two Tuesdays after that, too! Please tell all of your retired friends, friends who work the second shift, or entrepreneur friends with a flexible schedule. It's going to be a great class!

Markers, Stencils, and a Spray Bottle-An Artistcellar Design Team Post

 

Would you like to hear my best-kept secret? Children’s art supplies, in combination with professional art supplies, are wonderful for mixed media artists.

There, now you know.

Today, I am sharing an easy tutorial that will add color, scent, and fun to your creative endeavors.

 

Supplies Used:

Chris Cozen-Bodacious Pods stencil by Artistcellar

Lynn Krawczyk-Marked Series stencils by Artistcellar

Scented markers by Mr. Sketch

Water spritzer

Watercolor paper

Paper towel roll

 

Step 1:

Place the Bodacious Pods stencil on a piece of watercolor paper.

Use the Mr. Sketch markers to loosely fill in the spaces of the stencil.

Enjoy the scents as you go!

 

Step 2:

Spritz the marker and stencil with water.

Use a paper towel roll to soak up extra water before removing the stencil from the paper.

 

Step 3:

Remove the stencil and see what you’ve got.

 

Step 4:

Place the Marked Series stencils all around the rest of the paper.

Color in some of the spaces with more colors from your Mr. Sketch scented markers set.

 

Step 5:

Spritz the stencils and marker with water.

Use the paper towel roll to soak up extra water, if desired.

Lift the stencils and take a look at the paper now.

 

Step 6:

Draw some wobbly rings around the pods stencil.

Spritz them with water.

 

Step 7:

Let the paper dry and then bask in the wonder of water spritzed over Mr. Sketch markers.

 

Step 8:

Use your watercolor paper as a journal cover, mail art, or tip into your art journal. A white gel pen would like great over some of those dark areas, would you agree?

Enjoy!

 

Thanks for being here! May you have a wonder-filled day!

 

Blessings to you,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the Time of Water: An Art Journal Spread

This post was originally written as a design team member for artistcellar.

In the Time of Water: An Art Journal Page Spread by Briana

Greetings Everyone!

Today, in my art journal, I played around with the 12 x 12 Water Series stencils by artistcellar. It has been a very snowy February, and now a very wet March here in Minnesota, USA. It felt appropriate to use these stencils!

I chose the Ripples stencil from the 12 x 12 Water Series.

 

I was having trouble sleeping last night, so I was envisioning what I would do for my artistcellar post! Pink and water was the inspiration behind what transpired.

 

Supplies Used:

12 x12 Water Series stencils by artistcellar

Jane Davenport Mixed Media 9 x 12 journal

Acrylic paint

Paint scraper

Brushes

Foam roller

 

Step 1:

Make it pink.

I used pink and white acrylic paint and scraped it across the two pages.

 

Step 2:

Using a foam roller and deep periwinkle acrylic paint, I applied paint in the spaces of the Ripples stencil by artistcellar.

Tip: Foam rollers work great to cover an area quickly when using large stencils.

 

Step 3:

Using fluid black acrylic paint and a long-handled no. 8 brush, I loosely drew a mandala.

 

Step 4:

Add some details, using a script liner brush.

 

Step 5:

Finally, add a contrasting color of acrylic paint around your mandala and the background designs.

 

I am sending you encouragement to play around with your art supplies this week. Make a mess; draw something simple. Do not worry about the end result, but do enjoy the process.

 

May it be so.

 

Blessings to you,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

Stencils and Pencils by Briana (artistcellar design team)

Hello Everyone!

I recently pulled out a beautiful set of colored pencils that I may have been saving for a “special occasion”. I decided that being alive today is reason enough to use my “good supplies”, so out from the bottom of the shelf they came.

 

 

Supplies Used

Mechanical pencil

Coloursoft Pencils by Derwent

Steampunk Series Stencils-“Steampunk Lace”

Jane Davenport Mixed Media 9 x 12 journal

Step 1:

Choose a stencil design that intrigues you, and that you’d like to trace.

 

Step 2:

Trace the stencil in your journal, using a mechanical pencil. Note: you don’t have to trace the entire design. Give yourself the freedom to pick and choose.

 

Step 3:

Remove the stencil from your page, and begin coloring in the shapes of the design with colored pencils.

 

 

Step 4:

Use your own imagination and library of symbols to add designs around the square shape of the traced stencil.

 

Step 5:

Continue to work back and forth, filling in the stencil design, as well as your own hand-drawn imagery.

 

 

Here’s a closer look at the inside of the stencil design.

 

Step 6:

Snap a photo and notice if there are any areas you’d like to develop further. Add your finishing touches and call it done!

 

In Summary

I hope this post inspires you to use your “good supplies”, knowing that now is as good of a time as any. May it be so!

 

Blessings and Gratitude,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com