Orange Spiral Arts

Carve December 2020-31 Days of Hand Carved Stamps

Welcome! Thank you for visiting Orange Spiral Arts.

First of all, how are you doing? 2021 has already had a rough start. I am thinking of you. Give yourself a great big hug right now from me to you.

Carve December

Do you like to create or look at hand-carved stamps? 

I have a video to share with you. It features the stamps I carved for the 31 days of December 2020. This is an art challenge that is hosted by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer on Instagram. The hashtag to look up on Instagram is #carvedecember or #carvedecember2020.

I have a bunch of photos of my hand-carved stamps, too. Those may end up in a different post.

For now, I have this little video I made for you. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks in advance for watching. : )

Carve December 2020 Video by Orange Spiral Arts

In the interest of time, that's all I've got for today.

I hope you found some inspiration even though this is short. I am trying to post more often, and so short and sweet it is!

May you be safe and well. I am sending good energy out to you now!

Thank you for your support!

-Briana

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

Art Sale Happening Now to Make Room for Miracles

Greetings to you! 

I wanted to let you know that I am having an art sale over on my OrangeSpiralArts Instagram feed right now.

I invite you to come take a look and see if anything speaks to you!

If you see something you'd like to purchase, send me a DM via Instagram, or an email with your PayPal email address. I will then send you an invoice. Once you've paid in full, I will ship your item to you with love and care!

In January of 2020, I had my first art show. I spent hours upon hours preparing for it in 2019. I had my art opening, but unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented me from offering a workshop, and from having an art show closing. I have a lot of art left over that could use good homes. 

I know these are tough times. Art is something that can uplift and brighten one's day. May something speak to your soul and help you feel a teeny bit better each time you look at it.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Sending Love out to you all!

May you be safe and well.

Watercolor Wednesday-Experimenting

Greetings!

It's Watercolor Wednesday, and I have a new video for you.

Today, I am experimenting with a toilet paper tube, wrapped in plastic + watercolor. What do you think will happen?

Let's find out!

 

Don't you just love that shimmering watercolor?

Here are a couple of sources I have been happy with for buying handmade watercolors:

Rusee

Rivervale Watercolor

Remember, it's good to experiment, as that is one way to learn about your supplies. Also, experimenting with art supplies is a great way to unwind. Do you need a little joy today? Allow yourself to play. There is absolutely nothing wrong with playing with art supplies as an adult.

May you be safe and well!

Mark Making Monday-Video 1

Greetings to you!

Thank you for being here.

Years ago, I attempted to blog three days/week. The topics I chose were: Mark Making Monday, Watercolor Wednesday, and Freedom through Painting Friday.

I am feeling called to return to those themes, but this time through time-lapse video form.

Lately, I have been creating videos that are 1 minute or less, and they are silent. I feel like there is so much noise in the outer world right now, we could all use a little silence. If this doesn't jive for you, feel free to put on your own background music.

Today's Mark Making Monday video features the idea of using colored pencils to make some messy marks, then go over it with watercolor. It is a quick and satisfying process, and I hope you'll give it a try. 

Supplies Used:

140 lb. watercolor paper

Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 colored pencils 

Qor Watercolors by Golden

 

Thanks so much for stopping by.

You and your creativity matter.

Scribble Start-Mixed Media Art Video

Greetings to you!

May you be safe and well. 

Today, I am sharing a short video about scribble art. Scribbling is such a great release for tension or heaviness you may be carrying.

I prefer to use wax crayons and watercolor paint. That's what this video demonstrates.

May you find at least one blessing in your day.

Thanks for being here. You and your creativity matter.

Watercolor Wednesday-Abstract Watercolor Stripes-Video

Greetings to you!

It's Watercolor Wednesday here on Orange Spiral Arts.

I thought I might just do one video a week, but as it turns out, I have been making several more.

Today is the fourth video, and it's called Abstract Watercolor 4.

I hope you enjoy a minute of silence and colorful art inspiration.

The watercolor you see in my palette is a mix of Prima Marketing watercolors, Jane Davenport watercolors, and handmade watercolors. The handmade watercolors are by the following people on Etsy: Rusee, RivervaleWatercolor, and JazperStardust.

Thank you for supporting independent artists and small businesses!

May you be safe and well.

Abstract Watercolor 3-Video

Hello!

Thank you for stopping by or opening your email to view this post.

Here's the latest one-minute silent video. May it brighten your day!

Thanks for watching.

Art Supplies used:

Daniel Smith Watercolors from Wet Paint

140 lb. Canson XL watercolor paper

Bosobo Art Brushes

Abstract Watercolor 2-Video

Greetings, Everyone!

Thanks for being here.

I created another one-minute time-lapse video for you. This is to encourage you to paint freely and for the fun of it. Most of my work has that intention.

I hope you find some part of this inspiring. Have a great day!