Orange Spiral Arts

January 2020 MN Visual Journal Collective Meeting Summary

Greetings, Folks! 

Thank you for being here.

We had an excellent start to our 2020 monthly MN Visual Journal Collective meetings with a presentation on developing a creative habit. Molly Anthony of TheFoundArtWalk.com is the new co-facilitator with me this year. She has participated in many art challenges, both hosted by other people, and ones that she has come up with on her own. Molly generously shared her journals with us, as well as a whole slew of tips on how to get going and maintain a creative habit. 

Molly's main mediums of expression are writing and collage. She posted consistently on Instagram about her life and journaling process for a entire year or more. She currently is giving herself permission to slow down on her IG posts, however there is still much to see in her Instagram feed @mkranthony. I highly recommend you go and take a look!

Are you wondering how on earth this busy mom of two could be so productive? Here are some of the main tips Molly shared with us:

First, acknowledge what obstacles are preventing you from creating. Some common obstacles are: time, low energy, perfectionism, not feeling good enough, space/mess, too many supplies, too many ideas, etc.

Next, decide to try something until you find what fits for you. Molly says, "Anything can work for creativity. (You) just need to do something. Start finding possibility."

If you are looking to try a monthly art challenge, CreativeBug is a great resource. Doing a challenge with a community of other people is one way to stay accountable and keep it up.

Going for a walk can be a great way to kick start your creative ideas. Molly used her daily walk with her dog as a way to find inspiration. 

Molly suggests finding or creating a space to be your work area. This can be a corner of your dining room table or an entire art studio. 

Have your favorite supplies within arms reach in this work space.

When you are starting to build a creative habit, use supplies that are familiar to you. Later on, you can bring in new supplies.

******Set realistic expectations for yourself.******

-Perhaps begin on a small surface, as that often takes less time.

-Or let go of the idea that you have to "finish" something. Just do something.

-If you miss a day, don't worry about it. Forgive yourself and move on. Any day can be your Day 1. Who says that a 30 day project has to be in consecutive order?

-Set a timer for 10 minutes. You will be surprised how much you'll get done over a month's time, if you create for only 10 minutes per day.

Molly also talked about themes and prompts.

-Find something from your day

-Do a Google search for art journal prompts

-Set your own theme, i.e. draw the food you eat.

-Choose a supply to focus on for the month

-Collect colors

-Use the lyrics to songs or quotes

-Use things from nature

As far as accountability, here are a few suggestions from Molly:

-Do a challenge in a community of other people, i.e. on CreativeBug or Instagram

-Set reminders on your phone

-Use Post-Its or Index Cards

-Use a habit tracker

When you keep showing up, you are training your brain.

Some final thoughts from Molly on developing a creative habit are:

Be gentle with yourself.

Let the project evolve with you.

Know why you are doing this work.

It does not matter what other people think; do it for you.

Make it sustainable so you can keep going.

Group Sharing

After Molly's presentation, some group participants shared what they've been creating. (I apologize that I did not get a good photo of everyone's share. I tried!)

Sue has been walking around her house and creating mandalas. She said she clips her paper to a piece of foam board for stability. This one pictured below was inspired by Lynda Barry's drawing exercise.

Heather created these collages during our meeting when Molly set the timer for 10 minutes and had us create with a paper kit she put together.

Lynn also shared her 10-minute collage on index card. She also shared that her word of the year is "Now."

Kari shared her 10-minute collage card with us, too.

Carol talked about adding color to handmade papers she buys at Wet Paint. She also showed us her newly done journal cover.

Margit shared the doors she cut into her journal pages. 

Angie is just getting back into doing watercolor in her journal after taking about a 10 year hiatus.

LisaMarie LMNOP shared her progress on her tiny accordion book. After her mother passed away, she found it really difficult to keep going. Something did shift recently, and now she is giving herself less restrictions, and more permission to create what she wants and when she wants. She also shared that she has found herself using a gold pen, which feels to her much like the Japanese practice of Kintsugi.

Ann shared how she likes to save the little envelopes that hold the "extra button" when you buy clothing. She included one on her 10-minute collage.

Molly shared her 10-minute collage with the word "Peace" on it.

Nell shared her 10-minute collaged index card. 

Jenny shared her smaller journal she is using for an online program called The Painted Diaries. Molly Anthony happens to be a guest teacher in this program, too!

Here is the 10-minute collage card that I created last night at our meeting. This is to be used as a loving reminder and motivator for my creative practice.

A big thank you to Molly for sharing so much with us about what has worked for her and how to develop a creative habit.

We strongly believe in the power of creativity. Thank you for being here and part of the MN Visual Journal Collective.

Another big thank you goes out to Wet Paint in St. Paul, MN for hosting our monthly meetings.

If you are an adult who is interested in keeping a visual journal, you are welcome to attend a meeting. You can come anytime that works for you. We meet on the third Monday of every month, 12 months per year, from 6pm-8pm at Wet Paint in St. Paul, MN. Simply RSVP via the Wet Paint website if you plan to attend a certain meeting. Space is limited, so please only register if you are going to physically be at the meeting. Thank you so much! May you continue to create, play, and express yourself in ways that delight your soul!

 

Upcoming Classes and Workshops with Briana 

I am so excited to share that I have many in-person classes coming up in 2020.

I have updated the LEARN tab on my site so you can view my teaching calendar.

What: Gelli-Stencil-Stamp-Love

When: Sunday, January 26, 2020, 10am-1pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $60

What: Abstract Alcohol Inks

When: Saturday, February 1st, 2020, 10am-12pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $56 (includes inks and paper)

What: Mixed Media Heart Art

When: Sunday, February 2nd, 2020, 2pm-5pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $53

What: More Visual Journaling Inspirations

When: Three Tuesdays-Feb.11, Feb. 18, and Feb. 25, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $126

What: Visual Journaling Retreat

When: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 16, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $84

What: More Creative Inspirations: Abstract Alcohol Inks Continued

When: Monday, March 2nd, 2020, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $32

What: Mixed Papers Junk Journal

When: Sunday, March 15th, 2020, 10am-4pm

Where: Minnesota Center for the Book Arts (MCBA)

Fee: $108 + $25 supply fee

What: Magic Lives In You Art Workshop

When: Saturday, March 21st, 2020, 10am-12pm

Where: Olivet Congregational Church, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $35 per person

(This is where my art show and sale is currently on display until April 5th, 2020. I will be there on Sunday, April 5th, 11:15am-12:30pm. Come buy some art and pick up your purchased art! Thank you! I am ever grateful for your support.)

Thank you, you blessed being, for making it to the end of this post. May you create some art, take a class, or simply find inspiration for viewing this post.

With Gratitude and Love,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

January, February, and March 2020 Upcoming Classes and Workshops with Briana of Orange Spiral Arts

Greetings Everyone,

I am so excited to announce all of the upcoming classes and workshops I have coming up in person.

If you are local to the Twin Cities, and you could use a little creative relief and/or inspiration, I've got you covered!

January Classes at Wet Paint

Gelli-Stencil-Stamp-Love: Gelli Plate Printing Fun with Briana

When: Sunday, January 26, 2020, 10am-1pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $60

Register here

February Classes at Wet Paint

Abstract Alcohol Inks

When: Saturday, February 1, 2020, 10am-12pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $56 (includes ink and paper kit)

Register here

Mixed Media Heart Art

When: Sunday, February 2, 2020, 2pm-5pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $53 (all supplies included)

Register here

More Visual Journaling Inspirations

When: Three Tuesdays-Feb. 11, 18, and 25, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $126

Register here

Visual Journaling Retreat 

When: Saturday and Sunday, February 15 and 16, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $84

Register here

March Classes

Abstract Alcohol Inks Continued

When: Monday, March 2, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Wet Paint

Fee: $32

Mixed Papers Junk Journal

When: Sunday, March 15, 2020, 10am-4pm

Where: Minnesota Center for the Book Arts (MCBA)

Fee: $108 + $25 supply fee

Register here

Magic Lives in You -Art Workshop at Olivet Congregational Church, St. Paul, MN

When: Saturday, March 21, 2020, 10am-12pm

Where: Olivet Congregational Church, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $35 per person

Register here by Wednesday, March 18, 2020

 

The workshops I offer give you space and freedom to play with art supplies and express yourself. You do not need to know how to draw a straight line, and coloring outside of the lines is encouraged. 

After attending one of my workshops, students often feel a greater sense of joy, freedom, and hopefully a sense of inner peace.

May it be so.

Blessings and Gratitude, 

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

MN Visual Journal Collective December 2019 Meeting and Announcing Upcoming Classes and Events

Hello Folks! 

Thank you for visiting Orange Spiral Arts.

This post features a few photos from the December 2019 MN Visual Journal Collective meeting held at Wet Paint.

This was our last meeting of 2019, and we decided to keep it as a low-key time to work in our journals.

One of the participants of the group shared her love of this Platinum Carbon Pen that Wet Paint has for sale. We all went a little gah gah over it!

Photo Credit: Wet Paint

The participant likes the Extra Fine nib. Several other participants purchased the pen last night and decided to go for the Medium nib to be able to go over their acrylic paint in their journals. The Medium nib did the trick for the mixed media artists!

If you are into fountain pens and ink, it is also recommended that you purchase a converter, so that over time, you are getting more for your money, rather than purchasing cartridge refills.

Photo Credit: Wet Paint

Of course, the choice is yours.

If you go with the converter, the ink of choice last night was the Platinum Ink Carbon Black, as it writes over everything. Here's a review of the Platinum Carbon Black ink on the jetpens.com site.

Photo Credit: Wet Paint

Below is one of our participants (Sue Rowe) trying out the Platinum Carbon Pen in her journal. If you are local to the Twin Cities and you go to any of the local art fairs, Sue is lovingly known as "the bear artist."

Below are a few additional photos of people working away in their journals!

If the stress of the holiday season is getting to you, we highly recommend opening up a blank book and expressing yourself in any way that feels good!

Before I sign off of this blog post . . .

At the end of each meeting, we often invite people to share their journals with the group. We had a new participant last night, and we were all quite excited to see his work!

Announcement about changes to the MN Visual Journal Collective in 2020

TJ Goerlitz, of Studio Mailbox, who has been co-facilitating the group since 2017 will be focusing on her writing in 2020. Thank you to TJ for all of her time and dedication to the MN Visual Journal Collective. Her amazing visual journal work and especially her good humor will be missed!

Molly Anthony of The Found Art Walk will be stepping in as co-facilitator to the MN Visual Journal Collective in 2020. Welcome, Molly!

Photo credit: Molly Anthony

Briana (of OrangeSpiralArts.com) and Molly (of The Found Art Walk) have a fun year ahead planned for the MN Visual Journal Collective.

You can find our tentative 2020 MN Visual Journal Collective calendar here.

Thank you to everyone who helps makes this group possible, especially Wet Paint who houses our monthly meetings!

Upcoming Classes and Events

December 2019

Alcohol Inks Family Class

Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews, Grandparents with Grandchild, Mom or Dad and Tween, Mother and Adult Daughter/Son, Sisters, etc., this class is for you!

Suitable for ages 11 and up

No prior art experience necessary

Caution: Rubbing Alcohol is used in this class

When: Sunday, December 29, 2019, 3pm-5pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $35 per person

Register here

January 2020

Briana's Art Show and Sale

You're Invited

Olivet Congregational Church

1850 Iglehart Ave.

St. Paul, MN 55104

Art Opening is on Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 11:15am-12:30pm

Show runs through Sunday, April 5, 2020

Pick up purchased art on Sunday, April 5, 2020 from 11:15am-12:30pm

Or make special arrangements with Briana

Thank you for your interest and support!

January Classes at Wet Paint

Gelli-Stencil-Stamp-Love: Gelli Plate Printing Fun with Briana

When: Sunday, January 26, 2020, 10am-1pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $60

Register here

February Classes at Wet Paint

Abstract Alcohol Inks

When: Saturday, February 1, 2020, 10am-12pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $56 (includes ink and paper kit)

Register here

Mixed Media Heart Art

When: Sunday, February 2, 2020, 2pm-5pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $53 (all supplies included)

Register here

More Visual Journaling Inspirations

When: Three Tuesdays-Feb. 11, 18, and 25, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $126

Register here

Visual Journaling Retreat 

When: Saturday and Sunday, February 15 and 16, 2020, 10:30am-1:30pm

Where: Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Fee: $84

Register here

March Classes

Abstract Alcohol Inks Continued

When: Monday, March 2, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Wet Paint

Fee: $32

Mixed Papers Junk Journal

When: Sunday, March 15, 2020, 10am-4pm

Where: Minnesota Center for the Book Arts (MCBA)

Fee: $108 + $25 supply fee

Register here

----------------

Thank you for being here, for expressing your creativity, and for making the world a better place.

I appreciate you!

With Gratitude,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

 

 

Birthday Sale on Online Classes-Express Yourself Creatively Today

Greetings Folks!

Thank you so much for visiting Orange Spiral Arts.

It's almost my birthday, so I decided to offer up my online classes at a heck of a bargain.

All of my online classes are on sale for $45 USD or less! 

Simply click on the class title to be taken to the information and registration page.

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas $150 to $45 (save $105)

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art $75 to $45 (save $30)

The Beautiful BEing Program $225 to $45 (save $180)

Mixed Media Paint Scraping $65 to $45 (save $20)

Collage Paper Pies $55 to $45 (save $10)

Winter 2017 Online Class Set-Ink and Oil Pastel, Magazine Mixed Media Collages, and Abstract Watercolor Patterns $50 to $45 (save $5)

Vision Board E-Course $37

Benefits of Orange Spiral Arts online classes

• work at your own pace and at a time of day/night that suits you
• revisit videos and content as often as you'd like (play, pause, play, pause)
• personal support via email (limits noted in each class)
• loosen up creatively
• gain confidence in expressing yourself through art and/or writing
• enjoy the moment
• play and feel a sense of freedom
• relax, reduce stress, and breathe easier
• feel inspired, grounded, and connected (mind-body-spirit)
• feel good about supporting a woman-owned and operated small business
• be entertained while learning a new art technique

Thank you so much for being here.

I appreciate your support and encouragement to keep on keepin' on!

Sending Blessings,

Briana

MN Visual Journal Collective-October 2019-Special Guest Brenda Hudson

Greetings, Everyone!

Welcome to Orange Spiral Arts! Thank you for visiting.

Today's post is about the October 2019 MN Visual Journal Collective meeting held at Wet Paint, in St. Paul, MN.

We had a special guest this month, thanks to co-facilitator TJ Goerlitz (pictured below in deep writing mode). Also pictured is LisaMarie (LMNOP). 

Brenda Hudson of Voiced Life  led us through some unique writing prompts as we looked at photos brought from home, or on our phone.

You may click the link below to access the Captured Moments prompts by Brenda Hudson. (Thank you, Brenda for your generosity in sharing these).

Download Captured Moments promptsbyBrendaHudson 

After we wrote, we each had time to visually create something related to the writing that occurred. 

Brenda has a brand new book out called, Story by Story: 15 Projects to Write Your Family Legacy. I believe the prompts came from this book.

Photo Credit: TJ Goerlitz

After we all had a chance to write and illustrate, we had a chance to share.

I love sharing time. We not only get to see and hear from the wonderful participants of the MN Visual Journal Collective, but we also get to feel less alone.

Seeing each other's art and hearing one another's life stories, even if in a tiny snap shot, joins us together in the human experience.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to the October MN Visual Journal Collective meeting! And thank you again to Brenda Hudson for being our special guest!

November's MN Visual Journal Collective meeting is the annual supply swap. This will be on Monday, November 18, 6pm-8pm at Wet Paint.

Please be sure to sign up through Wet Paint's Events if are able to attend.

An email reminder will be sent out to those in the MN Visual Journal Collective Google Group, and we'll post a reminder to the MN Visual Journal Collective Facebook group.

Also, since we have limited space, please be conscientious about how much you bring for the swap. It should be able to fit at your spot in front of you, or on your lap. The swap is a really fun meeting. As TJ Goerlitz described it, the supply swap is sort of like a rummage sale and a white elephant gift party had a baby. (I probably got this wrong, but you get the idea!) In other words, one person's trash is another person's treasure! So bring your used or gently used supplies that no longer spark joy. Someone will likely be happy to take them off of your hands.

NOTE: ANYTHING NOT CHOSEN DURING THE NOVEMBER SUPPLY SWAP WILL NEED TO RETURN HOME WITH YOU. You can always put it in a bag and donate it to Art Scraps in St. Paul, MN, or your local thrift store.

UPCOMING CLASSES AT WET PAINT WITH BRIANA

Tuesday, November 12, 5:30pm-7:30pm-Intro to Abstract Alcohol Inks; fee $56 (includes alcohol ink kit and Yupo paper)

Sunday, November 17, 1pm-4pm-Liquid Watercolor Mandalas; fee $48

ONLINE CLASSES WITH BRIANA (these classes go above and beyond what I have time to share in the in-person workshops)

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art (unlimited access; fee $50)

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas (unlimited access, mind-body-spirit approach, 20+ videos; fee $150)

 

In Gratitude,

Briana

Upcoming Art Classes at Wet Paint, St. Paul, MN

Greetings Everyone!

I am offering several classes at Wet Paint this October, November, and December 2019.

Here's what's happening and when:

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Inks, Fee $56 (includes generous kit of alcohol inks + Yupo)

Saturday, October 19, 10am-12pm

same class is also being offered on 

Tuesday, November 12, 5:30pm-7:30pm

and a family class for ages 11+ is being offered on

Sunday, December 29, 3pm-5pm

Call Wet Paint at 651-698-6431 to register, or click on Events from the Wet Paint site and search by month and date.

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas, Fee $48

Sunday, November 17, 1pm-4pm

I have an online class called Liquid Watercolor Mandalas, which goes in greater depth than I can cover in the three hour class at Wet Paint. So, if you are not local to the Twin Cities, or if you love expressive mandala art as much as I do, I highly recommend that you check out my online class, Liquid Watercolor Mandalas. This is my signature course that includes helping people have a greater sense of peace and calm, while integrating the mind, body, spirit connection through mandala art.

Thank you for being here and for taking a look at my fall teaching schedule.

I also have several additional online classes available, which you can view under the LEARN tab from OrangeSpiralArts.com

The online version of Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art goes into more detail than the two-hour class at Wet Paint. It is also a handy resource that you can return to after class.

I received a moving testimonial from a student recently who took the online Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art class.

Here's what she said:

"Briana, I want to thank you for introducing me to alcohol ink. It has been enlightening, motivating and given me the inspiration and courage to move forward with my art. You have literally changed my life."

I am so pleased to help someone find their creative voice again.

May you, too, give yourself permission to play and create and enjoy life!

Sending Blessings and Gratitude,

Briana

Getting Started with Visual Journaling-Class at Wet Paint in October 2019 (3 Wednesdays, starting October 9)

“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.

 

 

 

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas Online Class

Greetings to you! 

I am thrilled to share that one of my signature classes, Liquid Watercolor Mandalas is now being offered online.

Benefits to you

I am so excited because I have seen the benefits students have received over the last 4 years of teaching this workshop in person.

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas offers a process that helps to put you in a meditative state, while thoroughly enjoying the moment.

The benefits of meditation include:

• your heart rate will slow
• your breathing will become easier
• you will relax in mind, body, and spirit
• solutions to problems seemingly come from nowhere
• feel more grounded, centered, and clear 

Additional benefits former students have reported:

• loosen up creatively
• increased positive self-talk
• learn to let go and trust the creative process 

What you will learn

• a variety of approaches to creating liquid watercolor and mixed media mandalas
• all about liquid watercolor and where to purchase it, including Colorations brand, Ecoline brand, and Dr. Ph. Martin's Radiant Concentrated Watercolor
• how different sized brushes can be used for different effects
• how to source inspiration from nature, textiles, art, jewelry, food, and human made objects
• how to combine 2-3 different art supplies in one mandala to create a unique look and design
• how to keep a mandala journal as a creative practice that will add meaning and understanding to your life
• an inside out approach to creating mandalas, which often comes with benefits of healing emotional pain

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not a therapist or a doctor. I recommend that you have professional support ready before exploring areas of trauma or abuse, or additional issues you may be going through that require professional help.

I do have a master's degree in Human Development. In my program, I studied creativity, spirituality, and healing. I went into my graduate program with the question, "How can people heal from emotional pain?" 

I have also since become a certified facilitator for the curriculum called, "Renewing Life through the Expressive Arts."

Educating myself and learning how to serve others on their life journey is something I care deeply about.

Teaching workshops that combine my background as an early childhood educator, where the children are so free in their art making process, and my formal training in Human Development, where I focused on adults, is the sweet spot which makes me unique as your guide. I also have been making art and writing in journals for most of my life. My goal when creating is not to about the end-result, but about the process that occurs while the creative work is happening.

What you will receive

• detailed supply list
• resource list, including recommended books and online classes by other instructors
• a mini mandala (original art by me) in the mail as a thank you gift
• videos, lots of them, sharing the various approaches to creating liquid watercolor mandalas and a few mixed media mandalas
• a simple breathing technique to help you relax, feel calm, and empowered
• tons of inspiration via photos I have taken over the years of nature, textiles, etc. that can all be used as references while creating your mandalas
• information about liquid watercolor-from children's paint to professional grade ink

Pricing Structure

I have decided to use a unique pricing structure that will allow a variety of people, with varying income levels to have access to this course.

On the first day of registration, the cost will be only $35. The price will increase each day, over 5 days, with the maximum price at $150.

Day 1 = $35 (Sept. 24th and 25th only)

Day 2 = $45

Day 3 = $55

Day 4 = $75

Day 5 = $150

Registration opens on Tuesday, September 24, 2019 and reaches the maximum price on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019.

Supply Tip

If you know you are going to sign up for this course, the most affordable source of liquid watercolor is from Discount School Supply (which I have used for 15 years). If it is in your means, I suggest getting the set of 18 colors, 8 oz. bottles. There is also a set of 6, 4 oz. bottles, at a great price.

There are many papers at a great value as well, such as this one, this one, and this one. I will most frequently be using 140 lb. watercolor paper by Canson.

For paint containers you could use one of the following:

Artist's Loft Plastic Paint Cups-set of 12

Masterson Air-tight paint cups-package of 20

Watercolor Paint Jar set with 6 jars-2 oz.

 

Final details and FAQs

Class begins on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 and runs for at least 3 weeks.

Registration confirmation will come through via your email 24-48 hours after payment is received.

Content is delivered via a password protected site that is for registered participants only.

Share your work on Instagram with the hashtag #liquidwatercolormandalas

Class Outline and Plan

Session 1

• Introduction-What is a mandala? (written)
• What is expressive art? (written)
• Supplies (written, images and links for easy shopping)
• Loosening up with liquid watercolor (video)
• Making color charts of various liquid watercolor brands (video)
• Basic watercolor techniques demo (video)
• Setting intentions (written)
• Setting up your space and supplies (written and photos)
• Creating your first liquid watercolor mandala(s)
• Crayon resist mandala (video)
• Resources (written and linked in online classroom) 

Session 2

• Breathing technique (video and written)
• Mandala art and journaling as a creative practice (video-journal flip-through)
• Journaling prompts (written)
• "Art show" of Briana's liquid watercolor mandalas (video and photos)
• Mandala technique-rays and doodles (video and photo example)
• Gathering inspiration from the world around you (written and photos)
• Structured mandalas vs. free-form (written and photos)
• Using a compass and/or circle template (video)
• Concentric circles mandala (video)
• Finding your symbols exercise (written)
• Symbol at center mandala (video)

Session 3

• Moving beyond the circle mandala (video and photo examples)
• Nature inspired mandala (video and photo example)
• Q-tip as tool mandala (video)
• Blown paint mandala (video)
• Mixed media mandala (video)
• Using photos for reference and inspiration (written and photos)
• Mandala painting using Ecoline watercolors (video)
• Mandala painting using Dr. Ph. Martin's Radiant Watercolors (video)
• There may also be extra bonuses, like printable art, or additional videos.

 

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Policy Note: No Refunds

IMPORTANT: BE SURE YOUR PAYPAL EMAIL ADDRESS IS CURRENT. THIS IS HOW I WILL SEND YOU YOUR REGISTRATION AND ONLINE CLASSROOM ACCESS.

              $150

Thank you so much for your interest and support. You and your creativity matter!

I am so looking forward to this online version of Liquid Watercolor Mandalas.

If you are local to the Twin Cities, you can also take the in-person Liquid Watercolor Mandalas workshop at Wet Paint on Sunday, November 17, 1pm-4pm.

 

September 2019 MN Visual Journal Collective Meeting Summary-Mandalas

Greetings! Thank you for visiting Orange Spiral Arts!

Today's post is a meeting summary about the September 2019 MN Visual Journal Collective gathering at Wet Paint.

Our meeting topic was the mandala. Briana (one of the co-facilitators of the MN Visual Journal Collective) shared some resources and personal journals where she used mandalas and journaling as a way toward self-discovery and healing. 

Briana recommends the online teachings of Julie Gibbons, who taught The Great Round, based on The Mandala Workbook by Susanne F. Fincher, and offers a variety of online workshops centering around the mandala. (Ha! Did you catch that pun?)

Here are some of the resources shared by Briana.

The Mandala Workbook by Susanne F. Fincher.

Mandala: Luminous Symbols for Healing by Judith Cornell

Creating Personal Mandalas: Story Circle Techniques in Watercolor and Mixed Media by Cassia Cogger

Here's a free tutorial by Cassia Cogger for creating a gratitude mandala.

Briana also mentioned a more structured form of creating mandalas called Yantra painting. Find out more here.

Next, the floor was opened up to participants at the meeting to share their experiences with creating mandalas. 

Nell shared her experience with making mandalas at the beginning of a class she took at Split Rock Arts Program many years ago. She said that participants enjoyed the mandala process as a way into the day so much, that often students would also create one at the end of their session. Nell also shared the following mandala book by Kathryn Costa.

Kathy shared some mandalas she is working on for a class on mindfulness and meditation at the White Bear Center for the Arts.

Linda talked about traveling solo in Alaska, and using a mandala making practice as a way to document her experiences of the day.

Kari shared a similar idea of gathering experiences and nature items from a trip and placing them into a mandala in her travel journal.

Lakin shared how she spent a year creating a mandala a day, and then used her images as gift wrap. Currently Lakin enjoys the Koala Tools circular grid journals available at Wet Paint.

Heather mentioned an interest in the dot mandala making process where you use a set of tools of varying sizes to create your dot patterns. This process is helping her let go of imperfection, as any mistakes tend to get magnified as the pattern grows.

Karena shared her expressive art created where mandalas just sort of showed up in her work.

Thank you so much to everyone who shared a visual or a story about how you use mandalas in your creative process. It's so good to see and hear about a variety of examples.

After this initial group sharing, we all worked in our journals for about 45 minutes, and mandala making was encouraged.

Here's everyone hard at work and in their creative zone.

At the end of our meeting, participants were invited to share the mandalas they just created, or any other visual journaling work. This is always such a fun part of the night. Everyone's work is so inspiring to see and hear about! Thank you everyone!

Nell shared her mandala and also mentioned the Sketchbook Project from the Brooklyn Art Library in New York. Find out more here.

Carol used water-soluble pencils for her mandala.

Carol also does fiber journals, as she is a quilter. She generously passed it around for everyone to see and touch.

Below is Linda's mandala from the night. She was reflecting on some labyrinth walks she took in Arizona.

Nan shared some recent paper printing work she did in a class in Duluth, MN.

Molly shared her mandalas from the night, as well as her altered collage journal. Molly is teaching at Artistry MN in Bloomington this fall. Look under Fiber for Altered Book Art Journaling with Molly Anthony.

Briana is offering several classes at Wet Paint this fall. She also has classes online on this Orange Spiral Arts site. Thank you in advance for your interest and support.

Briana's Classes at Wet Paint, Fall 2019

Getting Started with Visual Journaling-3 Wednesdays, October 9, 16, 23, 10:30am-1:30pm Fee $126

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Inks-Saturday, October 19, 10am-12pm Fee $56 (includes kit + yupo)

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Inks-Tuesday, November 12, 5:30pm-7:30pm Fee $56 (includes kit + yupo)

Liquid Watercolor Mandalas-Sunday, November 17, 1pm-4pm Fee $48

Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Inks-Ages 11+ -Sunday, December 29, 3pm-5pm $56 (includes kit + yupo)

You are always welcome to call Wet Paint to register for a class. 651-698-6431

Briana's current online class is Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art. I cover a lot more territory than the 2-hour in person workshop at Wet Paint. This class makes a great addition to the live class.

More of Briana's online classes can be found by clicking the "Learn" tab from OrangeSpiralArts.com or by clicking here.

You are never too young or too old to experiment with art supplies!

You and your creativity matter. 

Thanks so much for reading this post!

Sending Blessings and Gratitude to You,

Briana

 

 

 

 

How and When to Print a Stencil with Fine Lines

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

How and When to Print a Fine Line Stencil with Briana

Hello Everyone!

 

It’s hard to believe that September is here already! We just had orientation at my son’s school. A day later, he decided he wanted to make cards that say, “Thank you for being my teacher.” My heart smiled when I heard what he wanted to do, so we got started right away. (Thank you to all of the educators, teachers, and support staff out there. You matter, and your work is so important!)

 

As my son created his cards, I could not keep my hands off of the art supplies, so I ended up making a background paper for this blog post. I used construction paper crayons and liquid watercolor.

 

For this blog post, I decided that I wanted to see what would happen if I used a stencil on top of this busy background. The stencil I chose is by Artistcellar, and is from the Sacred Geometry 2 Series. It’s called Seed of Life.

This stencil has fine lines. I didn’t want to cover up all of the color in my background, so I decided to use some Marabu Art Spray. This spray ink is acrylic-based vs. water-based spray ink, like Dylusions spray ink.

I liked how the color showed up, and the ink beaded up around the crayon. I got a little carried away though and sprayed a bit too much ink.

 

Instead of using paper towels to blot up the extra ink, I used a piece of 8 x 8 inch watercolor paper.

I pulled up the watercolor paper to check on the results of both papers.

As a mixed media artist and avid visual journal keeper, I love having a lot of papers to work with. I also am working on a series of 8 x 8 inch paintings, and this Seed of Life print will be a great start for one of those paintings.

 

While I am happy with the 8 x 8 printed version of the stencil, I could not see it well enough on my busy background.

That gave me the idea to use the stencil again with spray ink on the 8 x 8 inch paper, and make a print of it onto my background.

 

I used a card scraper to really rub the back of the wet stencil.

Here’s what things are looking like after pulling off my busy background paper. I think this is my favorite image of this whole bunch. I love those pink dots that happened.

 

Here’s a closer look at the print.

Those fine lines of the stencil are showing up much better now, especially since I dug the stencil into the paper by burnishing it with a plastic card.

 

Here’s how both of the papers looked at the end of my session.

 

In Summary, if you are going to work with a fine line stencil on a busy background, you may want to spray it with ink on a different paper first, then make a print of it onto your background. Burnishing with a plastic card is a great way to help the ink absorb into the paper, so the stencil lines are nice and sharp.

Spray inks and stencils are really fun to play with in a variety of projects. If you do not want your spray ink to be reactivated with water, Marabu Art Sprays are acrylic-based, which means they stay in place.

 

I hope you enjoyed this photo tutorial of my experiments and creative process.

 

Don’t forget to grab your Artistcellar stencils at 30 percent off until September 9^th, 2019. Use coupon code BACKTOSCHOOL19. You’ll love the high quality of the material and the fantastic designs!

PS These stencils are what I will be using in my brand new online class called Introduction to Abstract Alcohol Ink Art. Learn more here.

Sending Blessings,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com