The Minnesota Visual Journal Collective is a group of artists from all ranges of skill-level and disciplines who gather once a month to share ideas, learn new skills, collaborate on projects and support each other’s artistic pursuits. This group has been very near and dear to my heart for many years and I am so honored to be a co-facilitator alongside Briana Goetzen of Orange Spiral Arts.

The MN Visual Journal Collective meets on the third Monday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m CST. Meetings are free and open to any adult who is interested in keeping visual journals. All skill levels are encouraged from beginner to life-long journal keepers.

Currently, all meetings are in-person at Wet Paint in St. Paul, MN (unless otherwise noted). Wet Paint is located at 1684 Grand Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105. There is a small parking lot behind the building, otherwise ample street parking is available.

Meetings are free, but to the small classroom space, we do require an RSVP on the Wet Paint Events and Classes page for all meetings that are held in that space. Please RSVP only if you know you will attend the meeting. If you need to cancel, please call the store at 651-698-6431 so that they may open your space for someone on the waiting list.

If you are on Facebook, you may request to join the MN Visual Journal Collective group or you may also wish to join the MN Visual Journal Collective Google Group to stay informed of upcoming meetings and/or any last-minute changes due to weather. Meeting topics are listed below, but complete meeting details and supply lists will be sent out via Facebook and the Google Group.

2023 Tentative Schedule*

** Meetings marked with a double asterisk indicate a month where we will be doing an optional group swap. You are still welcome to join and participate in the meeting topic without committing to a swap.

Monday, January 16, 2023 – Wet Paint paper counter demo and then we will make our own name tag.
Click here to register at Wet Paint

**Monday, February 20, 2023 – Paper & fabric swap

Monday, March 20, 2023 – Creating layers and using moveable collage

Monday, April 17, 2023 – Using stencils

** Monday, May 15, 2023 – Making zines and zine swap sign-up

Monday, June 19, 2023 – Annual supply swap (location TBD)

Monday, July 17, 2023 – Asemic Writing

Monday, August 21, 2023 – Making junk journals

Monday, September 18, 2023 – Round Robin collaborative project

Monday, October 16, 2023 – Layers of Meaning Soul Page (inspired by the work of Rakefet Hadar)

**Monday, November 20, 2023 – Making Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) using mindful drawing/painting techniques and ATC swap sign-up

Monday, December 11, 2023 – Using Washi Tape
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING IS ONE WEEK EARLIER.

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PAST MEETINGS:

Monday, January 17, 2022 – Leaving Room for Writing
**Please Note** Due to rising Covid numbers, this meeting will be held online.

Monday, February 21, 2022 – Soul-Positive Journal Dots (inspired by the work of Kristi Nazzaro of Soul-Positive)

Monday, March 21, 2022 – Creating and Collecting Collage Bits & Pieces

Monday, April 18, 2022 – Receipt Roll Collage Project

Monday, May 16, 2022 – Favorite Supplies
The list collected from our favorite supplies meeting is now live in the Files section of the Facebook group – complete with links!

Monday, June 20, 2022 – Supply Swap
This meeting will be held at:
Gethsemane Lutheran Church and School
2410 Stillwater Ave. E.
Maplewood, MN 55119
(you may arrive around 5:45pm to set out your things – please see the post in the Facebook or Google group for complete meeting details)

Monday, July 18, 2022 – Nature Sketch out
This meeting will be held at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, MN. For complete details, please see the Facebook group for the meeting announcement (this will be posted one week prior to the meeting date).

Monday, August 15, 2022 – Make Your Own Tiny Journal

Monday, September 19, 2022 – Round Robin Project

Monday, October 17, 2022 – Dip Pen and Ink Drawing Night

Monday, November 21, 2022 – Using Textiles and Stitching to Add Texture

Monday, December 12, 2022 – Types of Journals and Journal Favorites Show-n-Tell
**PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE OF THE DECEMBER MEETING** Wet Paint will be hosting a winter market in their classroom space in December so we will need to adjust the date of our meeting to one week earlier.

Monday, January 18, 2021 – Stress reduction through visual journaling practices

Monday, February 15, 2021 – Fountain/dip pens & ink: fuel for your pen & ink obsession!

Monday, March 15, 2021 – Hidden journaling & collage techniques

Monday, April 19, 2021 – Using poetry in your visual journal

Monday, May 17, 2021 – Textured backgrounds and DIY mark-making

Monday, June 21, 2021 – Supply Swap (outside)

Monday, July 19, 2021 – Nature journaling – This meeting will be held at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, MN. For complete details, please see the Facebook group for the meeting announcement.

Monday, August 16, 2021 – Simple printmaking — This meeting will be held in-person at Wet Paint. Please click here to RSVP.

Monday, September 20, 2021 – The complete journal spread

Monday, October 18, 2021 – Page layout & design with special guest Katie Licht

Monday, November 15, 2021 – Make your own zine

Monday, December 20, 2021 – What’s inspiring you now?

Monday, January 20, 2020 – Daily Journaling Practice and Collage How To
Click here for a recap of the January meeting on Briana’s website

Monday, February 17, 2020 –  Self-Care and Journaling
Click here for a recap of the February meeting on Briana’s website

Monday, March 16, 2020 – Stitching with Fibers and Papers in your Journal
Click here for a recap of the March meeting on Briana’s website

Monday, April 20, 2020 – Special guest presenter: Roz Stendahl

Monday, May 18, 2020 – Creating During Crisis
Due to Covid-19 this meeting will be held online via Facebook Live (once you have joined the group, go to the meeting page at 6:00pm CST and you will receive a notification once the host has started the meeting. We have changed the topic from Exploring Book Options for Visual Journaling to Creating During Crisis for this month’s meeting.

Monday, June 15, 2020 – Simple Bookbinding – creating an “unprecedented times” visual journal

Monday, July 20, 2020 – Summer postcard project

Monday, August 17, 2020 – Introduction to Using Watercolor in Your Journal-Pan and Tube Watercolors

Monday, September 21, 2020 – Virtual Sketchout

Monday, October 19, 2020 – Special guest presenter: Thomas Gleaner

Monday, November 16, 2020 – What are your current favorite art supplies?

Monday, December 21, 2020 – Inspiration Cards

*Topics subject to change depending on availability of teachers and/or supplies or weather.