Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day!
Part one here!
(Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting,
and the logo also was stolen from him….)
Note that I am having problems with the paper in my new
Fabriano Watercolor sketchbook and discuss it at the end of the post…
Oh, and both my Hero and Platinum (shocking, so reliable) pens gave me grief!
Finishing up my sketches from over a week ago, this is a thumbnail (you can see
below the size on the full page) of the view as you drive into the entrance.
The building is beautiful from all sides — this is the “backside” in some ways,
looking more industrial and shuttered as opposed to the entrance and the train side.
Still, the attention to the details create an elegance even to the working sides.
Sketched on site, blue skies added but trouble with sketchbook evident.
Watercolor added in studio.
Around the corner near the tracks is another structure, possibly offices or maintenance — has the round shape of the main building. I will have to sketch it too sometime, and the view from the bridge (below) looking down onto the station and the tracks.
So much to sketch!
Guy Clark died this week; here is his sad train song appropriate for the day!
A couple of notes about the Fabriano Watercolor Journal embedded below. I usually use a Moleskin, but wanted to try the Fabriano. This one did not perform well, pilling and lifting paper when just a soft watercolor brush was used in ways that I often use a brush to move skies around or blend a mistake. I am in touch with them and they are responding.
UPDATE: They were distressed and are sending me replacements.
I will write about what is sent…
Fabriano Watercolor Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil;
Platinum Carbon pen, Hero Pen, DeAtramentis Document Brown ink;
and Daniel Smith, Sennelier, and Holbein watercolors.
I agree to Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, which you can learn more about by visiting the site, or,
visit my web page for a more user-friendly summary on my terms.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
D.Katie Powell Art 
Pingback: National Train Day: Portland Union Station | D.Katie Powell Art
I love these “sketches” Kate. I put that in quotes because I’d call it art work given my ability to sketch. Thanks for the pingback and thanks for honoring National Train Day in such a wonderfully unique fashion.
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Sketches because they are in a sketchbook, probably — some of my best work is in a sketchbook. Mitchell insists that I stop painting front and back…. In case he wants to rip a page out! AAAACK!
Yur welcome! It was fun! Next year!
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These are wonderful sketches Katie. I love the train station, the color, the architecture. You did a fabulous job despite the issues you had with the watercolor journal. I hope the company responds to you in a good way.
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Thanks BikerChick (gads I love that name).
They are — they are sending me some new journals…. so we will see!
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Katie, you made me laugh. Thanks for continuing to call me Biker Chick. I like to have some part of me that’s bad ass (if in name only). With the beautiful weekend we had, the Harleys were out in force and it made me yearn terribly for a ride. I need to find my Mr. Biker Dude one of these days. 😉
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these are fantastic sketches Kate-with wonderful perspective to boot! Too bad about the paper. I have never tried that brand.
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Thank you Linda; Fabriano is distressed about this and sending me replacements. We will see what they send.
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Love your colorful sketches. The layout and writing on your pages really blows me away. So well designed and great handwriting. I see your architecture training there.
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Thanks Fran… I am always surprised when anyone loves my writing because both architect and my mother always gave me grief about it….
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Great sketches, and how good that they are responding to your issues and sending you a replacement at Fabriano. I also heard that they made some changes to their watercolour paper recently, which many people are not happy about. I hope the problem was just with this particular journal, and not the paper in general.
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I had heard that too, but European friends said they still loved the journals. I hope I love the replacements. I’m not sure what I will do with the journals I have… Perhaps gesso over them but I rarely use acrylic in my journal. It is hard to want to work in a journal that pills at contact.
Love your blog — following.
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I love your relaxed style Kate, even if you are having difficulty with your supplies… it doesn’t come across in your artwork as far as I can see.
The station looks a great piece of architecture. Happy PPF and congrats on being selected.
Enjoy your weekend
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Thanks Neesie! It was a surprise!
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Awesome sketches!! ❤
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Thanks Simona!
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The Portland train station IS beautiful – & you’ve done a great job with it! I’m an hour (+ these days!) S of you in McMinniville, & took the train from Salem down to Sonoma county for my graduation from Color of Woman school last fall. I love to sketch, and realize I don’t do it often enough!
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Thank you. Nadya, I love McMinnville! I come for Merriartist and stay for lunch at Nick’s! Sketching daily has changed my artwork so much….
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This is such a wonderful post and I am glad you got selected for the featured PPF artist.
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Thanks Lizzie — I enjoyed your blog as well — In some ways getting stuck by weather in our home would be heaven! Paint paint paint!
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