FACEBOOK UPDATE: In September 2023, Facebook disabled the MN Visual Journal Collective Facebook group without warning. Briana and I have been fighting to get it reinstated ever since without any luck. Please join the Google group or Padlet to stay informed of meeting announcements and updates ( details to sign up for each are listed below).

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.

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 the Google Group.

NEW: I have created a Padlet so that we have a place to post schedules, meeting details, swap information, etc… To view the Padlet, click the button below. You can also reach out to me directly to have your email added as a contributor so that you can post and comment on the Padlet.

2024 Tentative Schedule*

Monday, January 15, 2024 – Directional Writing (guest presenter Kelli Clement)

Monday, February 19, 2024 – Water-Soluble Media

Monday, March 18, 2024 – Layering in your Visual Journal

Monday, April 15, 2024 – Stamp Making

Monday, May 20 , 2024 – Stamping (clear, rubber, and ArtFoamies)

Monday, June 17, 2024 – Sketch Out (details TBA)

Monday, July 15, 2024 – Supply Swap (details TBA)

Monday, August 19, 2024 – Cloth/Fabric Art Journals

Monday, September 16, 2024 – Round Robin

Monday, October 21, 2024 – Transparent Art

Monday, November 18, 2024 – Favorite Art Supplies/Books + Techniques

Monday, December 9, 2024 – TBD (PLEASE NOTE – this date is one week earlier than our usual monthly meetings)

*Topics subject to change depending on availability of teachers and/or supplies or weather. Meetings with a different time, date, and/or location have been indicated.

PAST MEETINGS:

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

**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 12, 2023 – Annual supply swap
Please note the new date, time, and location:
5:45 – 7:45pm
Highland Park Library and Community Center
1974 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116
2nd floor meeting room

Monday, July 17, 2023 – Asemic Writing

Monday, August 21, 2023 – Layers of Meaning Soul Page (inspired by the work of Rakefet Hadar)

Monday, September 18, 2023 – Round Robin collaborative project

Monday, October 16, 2023 – Making junk journals

**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.

---

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