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

New Year’s Day (Belated)

Posted on January 9, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

We’ve been on a business trip so only now posting what I’ve done since 1 January. I don’t do too many resolutions. I want to commit to a drawing a day. You can do this along with me by using … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

He was MAD

Posted on January 5, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

I told you I was journaling more personally, because I am an avid writer who works through things on paper. How does one get to inner peace?  H0-boy. A family member (NOT Mitchell) was mad and has yet to work … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, loss, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Mitchell’s Broken Deb Babcock Cup

Posted on January 3, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Over the years, Mitchell and I have gifted ourselves with a few pieces of Deb Babcock’s lovely funny colorful pottery. Each has a custom water cup we use at our desk, with symbols we chose. Mitchell’s was retired to live … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, journal, loss, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Tools: Nostalgie Sketchbook by Hahnemühle

Posted on January 1, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Happy New Year! And here is to the Hahnemühle company, whose journals may be my new go-to journal! There are several journals made by Hahnemühle, and I have four to try. Full disclosure is they asked me to test them … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, review, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Endings and Beginnings

Posted on December 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I started my new Nostalgie Sketch book. It is named Endings and Beginnings. I don’t usually name my sketchbooks but this one cried out to me. I started it during the dark of the moon. We just were making the … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, creativity, ink painting, journal, meditation, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Shiatsu Quilt Backtalk Kitty

Posted on December 27, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

RIP… Okay, you will need a bit more.  We had to put her down December 23d because she didn’t respond to any of the meds for overactive thyroid. Her little heart was [pumping to hard, she was becoming more anxious, … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Our tree is eclectic, having a history of Jewish Buddhist Catholic Vedic ornaments, and a serious Santa Claus ornament collection. This year we are opting for restive… Family out of town, we are frankly exhausted, and so, ordered in, a … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, creativity, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Roy’s Challenge: Little Bird

Posted on December 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

An unexpected bit of joy on a tough day. 99% ink, and done in about five minutes (but ink dried between splashes while I was packing for a business trip.) Roy DeLeon posted this little challenge on FB: 1. Copy … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Using up my Falling-apart Pentallic

Posted on December 23, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Pentalic replaced this falling apart journal, and I am trying to get through it because it continues to break open at new places.  I want the new year to be free of breaking journals! Middle of the night QUICK sketches… … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Home, and Gratitude

Posted on December 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Why do I associate flamingos with home? NO flamingos in Laguna Beach nor Lalaland, though there is a healthy respect for trailer kitsch. Today I am filled with gratitude for my art friends, especially my favoritest aussie gurl! I have … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, drawing | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lanterns

Posted on December 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I wanted to do some transparent lantern-thangies in the middle of the night. I saw them as transparent. I SHOULDA gotten up and found some of my inks but I was lazy. Watercolors just don’t have that same transparency. It … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, pen & ink | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Random thoughts about architectural school

Posted on December 20, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Musings today. And continuing to finish off this breaking apart Pentalic! Being a student in a great architectural school prior to the advent of CAD, and exposed to some amazing and innovative thinkers was a huge gift. Los Angeles was … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USk: Physical Therapy

Posted on December 19, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Finally I’m hopeful that I will get the PT necessary to put my back together the way it was before the terrible terrible Dr. Im (Kaiser Permanente) cut my ureter in a routine kidney stone procedure and laid me out … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, urban sketchers, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Tools: Organization

Posted on December 18, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am one of those super-organized people. Even before I was an architect. I hear about how hard it is for people to keep track of their images — if on the puter. Understand I am not a Pinterest fan. … Continue reading →

Posted in class, making a living, tools | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

VSW: Squirrel stole Dan’s Breakfast!

Posted on December 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Brave, definitely squirrelly behavior stealing and running madly for his life! Dan Antion caught him in action!  Inked the sketch, masked areas, laid down grisaille, added various other inks, and then watercolors. ☾ Pentalic Aqua Journal, with a Pentalic 2B … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, ink painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Hand-Mind Creative Connections

Posted on December 15, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Liz Steel asked this morning if the architects she knows who draw needed to learn observational skills in order to sketch as artists. I sketch, practiced architecture until I left it to pursue art, and am an artist.  Most of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, making a living, memory, process | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Holiday Musical

Posted on December 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

To get you into the holiday PEN spirit. BTW, if you want to know everything about fountain pens and why I support them, start following their blog! 

Posted in art journal | 2 Comments

Pentalic: Grisaille Peek-a-boo Sheep

Posted on December 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Dan Antion provided a compelling image for middle of the night insomnia painting. I love his peeking-at-you sheep.  Next to the bed, I had two mark-making items and frankly it was pretty cold, and I didn’t want to get out … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, color, ink painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments