Author Archives: D. Katie Powell

Unknown's avatar

About D. Katie Powell

hollywood baby turned beach gurl turned steel&glass city gurl turned cowgurl turned herb gurl turned green city gurl. . . artist writer photographer. . . cat lover but misses our big dogs, gone to heaven. . . foodie, organic, lover of all things mik, partner in conservation business mpfconservation, consummate blogger, making a dream happen, insomniac who is either reading buddhist teachings or not-so-bloody mysteries or autobio journal thangs early in the morning when i can't sleep

LaLaLand Fires

(Note: Posted late, long after the fires are finally contained… I am running behind on posts and images shared.) How is it that something so destructive and terrifying inspired me to produce a beautiful ink painting? And yet, it did. … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, current events, direct watercolor, ink painting, memory, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USk: Cherry Blossoms Alphabet District

My trip to New Seasons yesterday was glorious with the pink and white and yellow blossoms everywhere… Cherry and dogwood (just starting) and forsythia and dandelions and daffodils and those teeny white flowers in the grass! I took a moment … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, drawing, journal, landscape, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

VSW: Vietnam End of 2024

I used my A4 Hahnemühle 100# Cotton Watercolour Book which I rarely use, because I prefer to work in the A5 size.  But here I took several photographic images from our Virtual Sketchwalk group, and created a montage: a family … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, journal, landscape, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VSW: Hawaii, a Friend, and Sea Turtles

A friend recently moved away from Hawaii after many years; she allowed us to create a virtual walk from her many images. Right, her lovely face. BTW, if you want to try virtual walks join “Virtual Sketchwalk” on Facebook. My … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When Jimmy Carter Died

December 29 2024 Jimmy Carter Died today, at 100 years old, and thankfully, in his own bed.  The man deserved a good death.  I cried, the only time I ever cried for a politician when they died. I am glad … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, current events, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Curry Chicken: Good Food is Good Medicine

One thing that is still available to us during this crazy time is cooking. Good food is good medicine. I think I made that up but who knows? Curry Roasted Chicken, YUM. Place chicken upside down in glass roasting pan.  … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Distress

(This was written the middle of February, when I finally wrote about how I was reeling from the horrific action of the new regime… In the beginning I was frozen, then finally, slowly, I decided I had to step it … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Benu Talisman Buddha Lotus Blossom Pen

I was thrilled when Benu brought out the Buddha-Lotus Blossom Talisman pen, and it also gave me the opportunity to try out their NEW steel flex nib. I haven’t bought a new pen in a long time.  My pen collection … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, pen & ink, review, tools | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When a Creative is Cut Off from Social Media

I was recently banned from Instagram (hereafter known as IG). I had posted comments on several political posts and I basically just copied my original post and pasted it instead of writing it over and over again.  IG didn’t like … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commission, creativity, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

DEQ

Gads I am glad I took my sketchbook with me when I last had our car smogged. The boredom and tedium of sitting, trying to be alert so I would move forward when they told me to was lifted a … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yaman the HelperCat

Yaman is his Daddy’s best friend. Where Mitchell is, Yaman is.  If I can’t find Mitchell in the studio I look for our panther-cat to be sitting outside a closed door, waiting impatiently to be let in.  There is jealousy … Continue reading

Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

2025 1 20 Rump

IMO the flag should be flown upside down and at half-mast for the next four years because we are in distress as a nation.  I won’t be stopping these rants anytime soon and if I do, then you should all … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commentary, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Home is Burning

Los Angeles is where I was born, at a hospital in Hollywood. I have two places I call home, the West side, which is burning, and Laguna Beach. I have been everywhere that is on fire, and have friends, and … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, current events, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inky Thots: Robert Oster’s GHOST

I am not usually a shimmer gurl, but I’ve found one that is soon to have its own pen!  I love Robert Oster Signature’s shimmer, GHOST! It has a silver-black shimmer, then goes grey leaning into purple-grey, and then into … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, pen & ink, review | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Do I Use My Journals? What Do I Write About?

Facebook recently alerted me to an anniversary of 10 years using watercolors in a sketchbook.  As a result a friend asked me how many sketchbooks have I gone through in ten years.  After counting, I found it is between 6-8 … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commentary, creativity, gouache, journal, loss, meditation, painting, pen & ink, ritual, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Many Sketchbooks in a Year?

Facebook recently alerted me to 10 years using watercolors in a sketchbook. I had to share that anniversary — it surprised me — and as a result I was asked how many sketchbooks have I gone through in ten years.  … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commentary, gouache, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

VSW: Fremantle AU Boys School

From our Virtual Sketchwalk group on Facebook, Fremantle Austrailia; images offered were mostly by Debi Taylor. We do a different place each month! Info from Wikipedia: The Fremantle Boys’ School is a heritage building on the Register of National Estate … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When a Creative is Cut Off from Social Media

This is a journal entry edited and expanded for you all to read; I edited it for readability. Instagram, and Facebook too, have been a game changer for me. I work full-time and run a business with Mitchell restoring/conserving various … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, commission, creativity, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments