Artwork in today’s post is all by my friend Briana Goetzen, one of the two co-ordinators of the Minnesota Visual Journal Collective.
Briana has been journaling for over 20 years. She’s teaching a series of visual journaling classes at Wet Paint in Saint Paul Minnesota this spring and summer.
First up is “Getting Started with Visual Journaling.” It is on Tuesdays April 23, 30, and May 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The fee is $126.
Contact Wet Paint to register at 651-609-6431
Briana is a wonderful artist with whom to take a trip into visual journaling because she creates a nonjudgmental, inclusive, welcoming space for her students. She explains her philosophy for this class this way:
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.
During this class she will set out to help you overcome your fears of the blank page; help you feel seen, heard, and loved while in class. She will also help you have fun while playing around with various mixed media supplies. She encourages her students to let go of stress and be present in the moment.
To meet these goals she’ll guide students through the creation of backgrounds. Next she’ll inspire you to create pages which reflect your life.
Briana believes:
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.
I’ve known Briana for twenty years since she took a bookbinding class from me. She has a thoughtful and nurturing spirit, with a wild, joyful love of color and mixed media. Think about signing up to go on a journey with her.
Up Later This Spring and Summer
Briana has additional classes at Wet Paint coming in May, and through summer.
The “Getting Started” class will be offered in June as a one-day Saturday workshop. Other workshops will explore Watercolor Mandalas and collage.
She also has upcoming visual journaling classes for students ages 7 to 10 years and 11 to 15.
Please visit Briana at Orange Spiral Arts to learn more information about these classes and also her online classes.
Don’t forget to join Briana and her co-coordinator TJ Goerlitz at the regular monthly meetings of the Minnesota Visual Journal Collective (Formerly the MCBA Visual Journal Collective). Those free meetings are held the third Monday of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. also at Wet Paint.
