Author Archives: D. Katie Powell

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

Alizarin Gladioli

Posted on September 9, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Middle-of-the-night, deep inky-maroon gladioli challenged me! The Da Vinci Alizarin Crimson is semi-transparent, but the secondary top color had to be quite opaque, and i don’t like nor work well with opaque paints. I painted them in my Nostalgie journal, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged #gladiola, #gladiolas, #gladioli, alizarin crimson, art journal, Da Vinci Watercolors, Daniel Smith watercolors, DaVinci watercolors, Fineline masking fluid, floral, flower, Matteo Grilli, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor | 5 Comments

Peach Glads

Posted on September 8, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Can you spot the mistake? (I corrected it by now….) Middle-of-the-night, I took on the peach gladioli Mitchell gave me earlier in the week. I tried one of the new DaVinci watercolors, Rose Dore, a quinacridone paint. Such a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged #gladiola, #gladiolas, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, DaVinci watercolors, Fineline masking fluid, floral, flower, Matteo Grilli, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor | 5 Comments

Fire

Posted on September 6, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

It is a pitiful drawing, altogether too cheery, but it was the middle-of-the-night and I had only my watercolor-filled pens. I was horrified about what I’d read in the Oregonian. *yeah i know i should not be reading puter in … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, commentary, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged #eaglecreekfire, #middleofthenight, #Portlandoregon, art journal, De Atramentis Document ink, doodle, Eagle Creek Fire, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pentel Aquash Water Brush, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Super5 ink, watercolor | 4 Comments

A visit to Gamblin Paints

Posted on September 5, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

NOTE: This is from our MPF Conservation website but thought that some of you might enjoy! I am reproducing the first Washington State Flag for the DAR. I might’ve struggled through and trail and error and testing on many phases, … Continue reading →

Posted in oil paint | Tagged DAR, flag, Gamblin Oil Paint, painting on silk, reproduction, State Flag, Washington history, Washington State DAR, Washington State Flag | Leave a comment

USk: Labor Day in the Finish Studio

Posted on September 4, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Labor Day weekend and we are laborers so we are working… I have new A/C and a new lease on life in my newly cleaned and reorganized studio! I sat close to the door and tried to draw the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, memory, pen & ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #delrey, #masonmonterey, #momentcatchers, #mpfconservation, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Del Rey, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, finish studio, Holbein, Labor Day, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Mason Monterey, Oregon, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USA, USk, watercolor | 9 Comments

Hahnemühle Post Cards, 10, Palms

Posted on September 1, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

A lot to want to ESCAPE from this last couple weeks… Sad angry politics, riots, and my MAC is a lemon and screwed with my reports. So I go to my happy spot… doodling Palm Trees and Daisies and Stars … Continue reading →

Posted in cards, creativity, drawing, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged #365sketch2017, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, doodling, Hahnemühle Post Cards, Hahnemühle Postcards, palm tree, palms, Platinum Carbon pen, Robert Oster ink, watercolor | 10 Comments

Ganesha and Matteo Grilli’s Paints

Posted on August 30, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Sometimes I try small handmade paint companies. I took a chance on Aussie painter and paintmaker MatteoGrilliArt handmade paints! and liked his so much I ordered more! LOOK AT THOSE COLORS!!!! Intense pigment, beautiful, not as creamy smooth as a … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, Buddha, color, gods and goddesses, journal, process, ritual, sketchbook, tools, watercolor | Tagged Ayers Creek Farm, Chester, crescent moon, fire, Ganesha, gratitude, lunar, Matteo Grilli, Nostalgie by Hahnemühle, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, watercolor | 7 Comments

A Change in Posting

Posted on August 28, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

As I move along for the next couple of months my posting habits will change: I have a PAINTING project in our business that is in oil paint. The DAR is commissioning a formal reproduction of the Washington State Flag. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, oil paint, painting, watercolor, writing | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, KWZ Ink Foggy Green, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, lunar, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Super5 ink, watercolor | 14 Comments

Hahnemühle Post Cards, 11, Stuff for Friends

Posted on August 26, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

When I wake in the middle of the night I can’t sleep I need something to do… I reach for a Hahnemühle Post Card and a stack of images I keep by the bed… Friends prompt middle-of-the-night postcards… silly comments … Continue reading →

Posted in cards, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged #SoCS, #streamofconsciousnesssaturday, Daniel Smith watercolors, floral, flower, forget-me-nots, Hahnemühle Post Cards, Hahnemühle Postcards, Platinum Carbon pen, rex begonias, seagulls, watercolor | 8 Comments

WATWB: Longreads Candace Rardon

Posted on August 24, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

A celebration of creativity to lift us. One thing that I think soothes the soul is taking the time to drop into something wonderful and say “ah!” We are all searching for “home”. It is not 500 words (oops) but … Continue reading →

Posted in art, meditation, memory, writing | Tagged #WATWB, blogfest, home, In Darkness Be Light, Longreads, We are the World | 19 Comments

Hahnemühle Post Cards, 9, FORGOT

Posted on August 23, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

“For surely you are never forgot!” I’ve been going a bit crazy trying to find the rest of this poem about forget-me-nots. Literally got me out of bed going through books at 2am searching for likely places I’d have it… … Continue reading →

Posted in cards, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged #1linerWeds, Daniel Smith watercolors, floral, flower, forget-me-nots, Hahnemühle Post Cards, Hahnemühle Postcards, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor | 10 Comments

Thankful for Cooling Rains and more

Posted on August 22, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Tibetan Windhorse Flags from my donations to Save Tibet organized my gratitude entries this week… nice to be back in my hand-sized journal…. Cooling Rains. I’ve always been a fan of rain, and the heat wave breaking with cool rains … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, meditation, memory, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor, writing | Tagged #5buddhafamilies #tibetanflags Save Tibet, #artjournal, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, gratitude, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Las Primas, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, PSU, PSU Outdoor Market, Robert Oster ink, Sennelier, Super5 ink, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 4 Comments

Ganesha New Moon Eclipse

Posted on August 21, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Ganesha is calling again. ☾ Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges, Sennelier, Holbein, and DS Primatek watercolors, and Daniel Smith Watercolors ©D. Katie Powell. My images/blog … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, gods and goddesses, graphite, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, buddha, crescent moon, Daniel Smith watercolors, eclipse, Ganesha, Holbein, lunar, new moon, Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, vedic, watercolor | 3 Comments

VSW: Barcelona, 5, Casa Batllo

Posted on August 18, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Finishing off the two-page layout for our Gaudi walk, I tackled the fireplace I desire! I keep seeing this sweet heart-shaped chair breaking into song and dance in Angela Lansbury’s voice!. The final layouts finished by the collage of four … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, ink painting, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Antonio Gaudi, architecture, art journal, Barcelona, Casa Batllo, Casa Mila, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, heart chair, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, maps, Palace Guell, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 ink, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 12 Comments

VSW: Barcelona, 4, Palace Guell

Posted on August 16, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

For the Foyer, I squinted to imagine what might be seen in a small sketch. I went in with grisaille in Lexington Grey to suggest the tones; later I painted the color of the marble with Super5 Frankfurt warm grey … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, ink painting, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Antonio Gaudi, architecture, art journal, Barcelona, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, M.Graham, maps, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 ink, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | Leave a comment

The Grace of Ritual

Posted on August 14, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

My gratitude was easier even though it was a tough week. Politics is effecting me, making me so sad. While we try to live in the present, we also look to the future, as Chagdud Rinpoche once said, “with a … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, meditation, memory, sketchbook, writing | Tagged #artjournal, art journal, burger, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, eclipse, food, gratitude, Holbein, kittens, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, lunar, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, ritual, Robert Oster ink, Sam, Savitri, Sennelier, Super5 ink, watercolor, Yamantaka | 3 Comments

In place of Tools: Black and White

Posted on August 13, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

No post on tools today, but two cool interviews to share: Robert Gamblin and others from Gamblin paints interviewed by Savvy Painter And a very interesting read (or I thought so) by Robert Gamblin on Getting the Right White. And … Continue reading →

Posted in color, commentary | 2 Comments

Sketches toward the commission

Posted on August 11, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

I work a couple of sketches similar to the commissioned pieces. trying strokes for leaves, sky variations, whatever I need to play with! The two small studies of bungalows in NW Portland (below) turned out okay for test subjects!! They … Continue reading →