Orange Spiral Arts

Here's Why I am Signing Up for Life Book 2019

Here's the truth: I am not into creating faces and portraits. Even though 30-40 percent of the lessons in Life Book will have some sort of face, that leaves 60-70 percent of the content that does NOT focus on creating a face. What I appreciate about Life Book is that there is a focus on personal development and healing. I completely believe in the power of the arts to help us heal our emotional wounds. I know that imagery is a powerful tool that helps the subconscious deliver messages to our conscious mind. Once we are aware of what's going on inside our hearts, bodies, and minds, there is the opportunity to shift, change, and transform our lives for the better.

It is important to note that Life Book does not take the place of professional therapy. The offerings in Life Book are tools for personal growth and development. 

This year, I am particularly excited about Andy's offerings related to NVC (Nonviolent Communication). As an expressive arts facilitator, I am always looking to add to my own list of resources and skills that will help me to be a better facilitator. 

If you are interested in developing your mixed media skills, in being playful and experimental with art supplies, or in creating a Life Book for 2019, I hope that you will join us. You may click the image above, or click here. Don't forget to enter coupon code "LOVEBOMB2019" to save 20%, valid through December 31, 2018.

Sending Blessings to you,

Briana

PS I loved the Life Book Creativity & Wellbeing Summit, and that content is included once you register for Life Book 2019. It's truly a win-win.

New-COLLAGE PAPER PIES online class is open for registration

It has been a dream of mine for nearly twenty years to create what I call a "collage paper pie." I had been seeing them created by several artists, in many different styles. They seem to be a modern art motif. They kept grabbing my attention and entering into my psyche, as something I wanted to create "someday." Well, finally something clicked, and I am making them, and I want to share this process with YOU!

Come read more about the story of how this online class came to be. And if you feel inspired, you are welcome to sign up today! You receive unlimited access to the course material. Learn more by clicking here.

Register for Mixed Media Paint Scraping-NEW Online Class

I am so excited! I am working hard on my next online class, Mixed Media Paint Scraping.

Go here for more info and to register!

Class opens on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018 and runs for five weeks through November 13th, 2018.

After November 13th, 2018, the class will be self-paced.

 

Sending Blessings and Creative Vibes your way!

-Briana

Life Book Inspired Art

Life Book Inspired Art by Briana

(Post written as artistcellar design team member)

Many of you may know of Tamara Laporte and her online course creation called Life Book.

You may also know that in 2018 Tamara got her book published called Create Your Life Book.

As I was flipping through the book referenced above, I noticed some stencils that I recognize and adore. They are stencils by artistcellar! Feeling inspired by this, I decided to try my hand at one of the lessons. I did my own version of “The Zen Butterfly” lesson on pages 16-21.

Supplies Used:

Watercolor paper, 140 lb., 9 in. x 12 in.

Dylusions Spray Inks

Artistcellar stencils

Paintbrush

Jar of water

Roll of paper towels

Micron Pen

Step 1: Choose a few stencils and spray inks.

Step 2: Spray the ink through the stencils and blot with a paper towel roll.

Step 3: Continue to add stencils and spray with ink.

TIP: use another paper to cover up areas you do NOT want to spray with ink.

Step 4: Allow spray ink to dry completely.

Step 5: Add writing about how you want to live your life.

For reference, here’s one more photo of the stencils I used:

As you can see, Tamara Laporte is one of the AC (Artistcellar) Signature Series stencil artists! How fun is that?

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. May you go out and have some fun with your stencils and art supplies!

Blessings to you,

Briana of OrangeSpiralArts.com

Rag and Bone Bindery Giveaway Winner Announced

Hello Everyone,

Giveaway Winner Announced

Thank you for being here. I wanted to thank all of you who entered to win the gift certificate to Rag and Bone Bindery! We have a winner! In case you are curious, this is how the winner was chosen. First I wrote down all of your names on loose leaf notebook paper, after reading your thoughtful responses to the survey. Each name was numbered, as I wrote. Then I used a random number generator through the internet to see who the lucky winner would be!

Lucky number winner 33 goes to Kim! Congratulations, Kim! (Kim has already been notified via email, and she is excited!)

Briana's Watercolor Art and 21 Secrets Summer Studio

Since you are here, I thought I might share a little art with you. I have been participating in the 21 Secrets Summer Studio-Just Add Water

Here are some photos of my background art from today's lesson with Mou Saha.

While I had all of my paints and watercolor supplies out, I decided to play around while my backgrounds were drying.

As you can see, I was experimenting and playing with color, pattern, line, and shape.

I have been having so much fun, learning new techniques, and "meeting" artists online in the 21 Secrets Summer Studio. Just Add Water registration is now closed, but you can still sign up for the next 21 Secrets Summer Studio-The Great Outdoors, which runs July 30-August 10, 2018. I hope to see you in our active Facebook Group! 

As always, I am sending blessings and love out to you. May you take a few minutes to play with some art supplies. Let go of any fears you may be holding. It's only paper. Making art feels so good. It's like a little gift you can give to yourself.

Happy creating! Remember, you and your creativity matter!

-Briana

PS Speaking of the great outdoors, I saw this amazing pileated woodpecker in my backyard today! It feels like a positive sign!

 

 

Visual Journal Collective June 2018 Meeting-Paper Toy-Cootie Catcher

Greetings to you! Thank you for being here.

For the June Visual Journal Collective meeting, we got a little playful and made a paper toy. The book, Magic Books & Paper Toys by Esther K. Smith was used as a reference. (This is such a great book! I highly recommend Esther K. Smith's books!)

 

We learned how to fold up a "Cootie Catcher" from a square piece of writing weight paper. Then we brainstormed as a group, how we might make use of our paper toy.

Some members of the group did their own Google Search to jog their childhood memories.

Also, co-facilitator TJ Goerlitz thought it might be fun to try to draw the Cootie Catcher in her sketchbook.

Working in our journals is always encouraged at our monthly meetings.

Artist, Theresa Harsma (above) decided to make a sketch of her Cootie Catcher she made at our meeting.

Theresa's Cootie Catcher looked like a map, due to the line drawing she did on her ledger paper.

Artist Sue Rowe also drew one of her Cootie Catchers. (See pink image in photo below).

Each participant had a unique idea on what could be done with the Cootie Catcher.

Book Artist, Kari Kruempel turned her Cootie Catcher into a poetry maker.

I tried to catch everyone's great ideas, but I unfortunately was too caught up in the moment to take notes. So, I guess I will just share the pictures.

 

As you can see, we had a great time!

Below are some of my work in progress photos I took before we had our sharing time a the end of our meeting. These Emoji stamps by Yellow Owl Workshop are so fun to play with. 

I am in LOVE with this eye stamp by Yellow Owl Workshop, too. And I've had this set by The Small Object for a long time. They were so fun to use!

And the end of each meeting, we try to have journal sharing. It is soooo inspiring to see other people's journals. We had time for a couple of peeks into Molly's, Sue's, and TJ's.

Here's a peek at Molly's current journal project.

And here's a look at Sue's journal pages.

However, TJ's journal pages are TOP SECRET, as her pages were about her upcoming workshop featured in 21 Secrets-The Great Outdoors. (You can also SAVE by signing up for the 21 Secrets Summer Studios Bundle that features Just Add Water, which starts July 9th, AND 21 Secrets Summer Studios- The Great Outdoors (starts Monday, July 30th)).

I LOVE 21 Secrets online art journaling workshops. There is great instruction, variety, and they are to keep forever! Also, you are supporting small businesses and artists when you purchase 21 Secrets online art journaling workshops. It's really a win-win!

I want to thank everyone who showed up to the June Visual Journal Collective meeting! It was so fun!

MCBA SHOP INSPIRATION

The SHOP at MCBA has so many great journals, zines, artist books, paper, book binding supplies, and cards. Some of my favorite cards featured above are by Twin Cities artist Jennifer Kunin.

IN SUMMARY

We made Cootie Catchers at the June 2018 Visual Journal Collective meeting.

It's great if you can support local businesses, shops, artists, and online teachers.

There's so much inspiration out in the world, and I feel grateful for it.

I am thankful that you are here, reading this post, too. 

Sending Creative Vibes and Blessings,

Briana

 

 

 

 

Enter to Win-Gift Certificate Giveaway to Rag and Bone Bindery

Howdy Everyone,

Thank you for visiting or reading this post via your email.

I am working on a brand new blog post series.

In my previous post, I shared the following info with you. 

I'd like to share it again, in case you missed it, and also to remind myself.

NEW BLOG SERIES PLAN

Here are my intentions for this blog post series here at OrangeSpiralArts.

1. I want to help promote and share the awesome blank page journals created at Rag and Bone Bindery.
2. I want to inspire you to open up a blank journal to express yourself creatively.
3. I want to share ideas for having fun and playing with blank books and journals.
4. I want to offer a giveaway for a $75 gift certificate for Rag and Bone Bindery.

So here we are with post number two. 

I am happy to share some information about the Large Journal by Rag & Bone Bindery. I also will be sharing the link for you to enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag & Bone Bindery at the end of this post!!

Let the fun begin!

The journal I am using is the Large Journal Paprika. The large journal measures 8.25 inches x 10.25 inches. It contains 144 bright white, acid free pages. I absolutely love the paper in the Rag & Bone journals. It has a smooth surface. It's sturdy and pliable. I will demonstrate this quality when I share my first two pages later in this post.

First, let's go over some of the special qualities of the Large Blank Page Journal by Rag and Bone Bindery.

FABRIC COVER

If you know me and my art at all, you know I love pattern and prints. 

I have a workshop in 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color called Draw, Paint, and Print Artful Color Patterns. (See the sidebar of my site or click the above link for more info). People had so much fun with this class, and there are tons of additional workshops by teachers from around the world when you purchase 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color. The Rag & Bone Bindery blank page journals would be perfect to use for 21 Secrets, too!

The reason I started talking about pattern is because of the fabric on the cover of the above journal. Those over at Rag & Bone Bindery attend fashion fabric shows, then have the fabrics converted into bookcloth. Isn't that awesome?!! No wonder why they have such unique cover designs. The fabric is made by fabric designers!

Here's some inside information straight from Jason Thompson, co-owner of Rag and Bone Bindery:

"FABRIC COVERS:

We choose the fabrics by attending fabric shows and visiting with fabric reps. We purchase fashion fabrics and have them converted into bookcloth for us, a custom process we utilize for all of our fabric covers - cottons, silks and linens. We have worked with the same fabric distributors, but we vary up the designers we work with. In the past we’ve used fabrics from Riley Blake, Amy Butler, Joel Dewberry, Kaffe Fassett and many others. When choosing fabrics for book covers, we have to consider availability, exclusivity, cost, and uniquely the size and direction of the pattern, which dictates the number of books per yard. Once converted, we cut down the yardage to manageable widths for production in the bindery."

INSIDE PAGES

Awesome paper, awesome fabric covers, and each book is handbound. Here's what the inside stitching looks like.

I asked Jason Thompson what he had to say about the paper in the journals.

"PAPER PAGES: 

The pages of all of our journals are a 65lb vellum finish paper which is acid-free and archival. We chose it after testing books myself - many many years ago! We still use the same paper we designed for Journals back in the 90’s. I chose it because it’s thick, but pliable, and it has a good ‘tooth’ which takes pen, pencil and a light wash very well. A little bit of history - we still employ the same person to ‘cut’ and sew our journals (cutting gives journal pages a deckled edge) since 1996. Ann is employee number one, my first ‘official’ hire, and she still works for us, cutting all of our album paper and our journal pages." -Jason Thompson

 

I love reading this little bit of history. Thanks for sharing, Jason!

 

BRIANA'S FIRST PAGE SPREAD IN THE LARGE BLANK PAGE JOURNAL

 

I decided to do some paint scraping with a Catalyst tool and acrylic paint.

 

The process was quite soothing, and also kept me curious, as I played with the paint scrapes layering on top of one another.

 

 

I often can't have orange without pink in my art, so I decided to add some pink paint, too.

 

 

Then I felt inspired to test the paper a bit, by adding some stitching.

 

I used an awl to poke some holes.

 

 

As you can see, the paper had no trouble handling this process.

 

I added lime green embroidery floss.

 

 

And stitched an X pattern.

I had so much fun, I decided to challenge myself with a spiral on the right-hand page.

I drew the spiral in pencil, then poked my stitching holes.

 

Here's the front side of the completed spiral.

 

And here's the back side, which also looks pretty cool.

 

I am very pleased with the paper in the Large Journal by Rag and Bone Bindery.

Thanks for taking a peek at my process. It was very calming and meditative. Stitching takes time, but that's the point. (Have you heard of the #slowstitching hashtag over on Instagram? There's a lot of beauty happening there.)

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

So, are you ready to enter to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag and Bone Bindery?

I am so excited for you!!!

 

All you need to do is follow this link. Fill in the info and hit submit! The giveaway will be open until the end of Monday, July 16th, 2018. I will announce the winner on my www.OrangeSpiralArts.com site a few days after that. You may wish to sign up to receive Orange Spiral Arts blog posts by email. On the sidebar of my site, look for "Art Inspiration in Your Inbox" and hit Subscribe. Or, simply mark your calendar to come back and check in. Good luck!

 

SUMMARY

Rag and Bone Bindery journals have great paper, designer fabric covers, and are handbound by dedicated staff. 

If you love to journal, and wish to explore color and pattern, you might want to check out Briana's 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color workshop called Draw, Paint and Print Artful Color Patterns.

If you'd like to have the chance to win a $75 gift certificate to Rag and Bone Bindery, go here.

 

Happy Creating!

 

Sending Love and Blessings out to you now!

 

-Briana of Orange Spiral Arts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hand-carved Zodiac Signs, Planets, and Moon Phase Stamps

Howdy and Happy New Year, everyone!

THE NEW YEAR AND MY VISION FOR 2018

It's 2018, and I can hardly believe it! I am thrilled for the possibilities this new year brings. I feel like for me, it's going to be a lot of hard work, but with great rewards. What's your feeling about 2018?

One piece I am going to work on, is to be a better blogger, as well as create more online class offerings, and in-person workshops for those around the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota).

INSPIRATION TO CREATE YOUR OWN STAMPS

The following information was released yesterday on the artistcellar.com blog, as I am one of the Design Team members for artistcellar. 

I hope you enjoy this post and feel inspired to make something this week!

BRIANA'S POST FOR ARTISTCELLAR

For today’s tutorial, I’d like to share an idea for carving your own stamps.

I happen to be taking two online classes that deal with astrology, so I chose to carve a set of zodiac signs, planets, and moon phase stamps to use in my art journals. (If you're curious, the classes are In the Stars 2018 with Hali Karla, and the second class is Pull Pen Paint with Kiala Givehand.)

Here’s what you’ll need:

A simple design of whatever you’d like to carve, printed or drawn on paper

A pencil

Carving material-Speedball Speedycarve

Carving tool-Speedball Lino Cutter

An ink pad-Archival Ink by Ranger

(Stamp Carving Kit on artistcellar)

A cutting mat

Copy Paper or Art Journal-Strathmore or Canson

Steps 1-6:

1. Print out your designs.
2. Color in an image with your pencil.
3. Flip the paper face down onto your carving material.
4. Rub the back of the paper with your pencil.
5. Take a peek to be sure the image is transferring.
6. If so, remove the paper and get ready to carve!

Carve Your Stamps:

1. Using a Speedball Lino Cutter or other stamp carving tool, carve around the dark areas you traced and rubbed onto the carving material. You cut away the white space, and keep the dark areas. (This can be tricky for my brain to process, so be patient. I recommend starting with a simple design, until you get the hang of it.)

2. Make a print of your stamp, using the Archival black ink pad.

3. Cut away any miscellaneous areas that you missed.
4. Keep going until you need a break.

TIP: ALWAYS CUT AWAY FROM YOURSELF WHEN CARVING STAMPS. Cutting toward yourself will likely get you a bloody finger or worse! Those blades are sharp!

Enjoy your collection of hand-carved stamps!

Additional Tips:

Stay hydrated.

Use good lighting.

Get up and do some yoga stretches or shoulder rolls to keep your back and neck healthy.

Blessings to you and Cheers to a Wonderful 2018,

Briana

Painting the Feminine Student Show

Dear Ones,

I am pleased to announce that I am in a student show called Painting the Feminine. The beauty is that this student show is online right here!

With an open mind and heart, you're invited to view the tender art of twenty-three women who participated in this online, four week experience this fall, led by the gifted Connie Solera of Dirty Footprints Studio.

May this Painting the Feminine Student Show spark something in you.

ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT::

SALE! SALE! SALE!

I'd also like to share that there will be a SALE on 21 SECRETS-Color, Color, Color in which I offer Draw, Paint, and Print Artful Color Patterns. You can SAVE $21 by entering the coupon code FLASHBACK at checkout. There is also a sale on 21 SECRETS-Tools & Techniques, which is one of my favorite editions. Again, simply enter the coupon code FLASHBACK at checkout to save $21. This offer is valid Friday, November 24th-Friday, November 30th.

Note: For 21 Secrets-Tools and Techniques, scroll to the bottom of the 21 Secrets-Color, Color, Color page and click on the image that looks similar to the one above.

 

Sending Blessings and Peace to you!

In Gratitude,

Briana

 

 

21 Secrets Flashback Sale!!

If you know me, you know that I am a HUGE fan of 21 Secrets online art journaling workshops. I believe I own every single edition. 

So, I wanted to let you know about this awesome FLASHBACK SALE happening now through Wednesday, July 5th.

SAVE $21 ON TOOLS & TECHNIQUES and  21 SECRETS COLOR, COLOR, COLOR. My workshop in 21 Secrets Color, Color, Color is all about creating artful patterns with various media. It was a big hit upon release, so I hope you'll grab your copy today and SAVE $21. In case you aren't familiar, you get immediate access to a wonderful downloadable PDF that is yours to keep forever! Within the PDF are the links to videos and a wealth of additional inspiration around art journaling, mixed media supplies, etc. ENJOY! IT'S AWESOME!! Just enter coupon code: "FLASHBACK" to save $21!

Blessings and Peace to you!

Briana