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Author Archives: D. Katie Powell
Tools: Grey Inks for Grisaille
“Grisaille (/ɡrᵻˈzaɪ/ or /ɡrᵻˈzeɪl/; French: gris [ɡʁizaj] ‘grey’) is a term for a painting executed entirely in shades of grey or of another neutral greyish colour… A grisaille may be executed for its own sake, [or] as underpainting … working … Continue reading
Posted in color, pen & ink, review, tools
Tagged Alphabet District Portland, architecture, art journal, Diamine Ink, grisaille, grisaille underpainting, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Pilot ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, USk, virtual sketchwalk, waterbrush
6 Comments
VSW: Alamo, a Fast Study
In an effort to begin to discuss how I look at buildings in order to begin to draw them, I took an image of the Alamo and dissected it. Most of this I do by simply looking, but what helps … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, class, drawing, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged Alamo, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, drawing architecture, Lamy Al-Star, learning perspective, Moleskin Watercolor journal, perspective, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, Texas, urban sketchers, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
13 Comments
VSW: Cheryl’s Turtles
Okay, not Cheryl‘s pet turtles but she fed them and they recognized a kindred spirit! Inked (with a healthy splat) then painted with grisaille, followed by watercolors. ☾ Pentalic Aqua Journal, with a Pentalic 2B woodless pencil, Fineline Masking Fluid, … Continue reading
Posted in animals, art journal, ink painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching
Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, Holbein, lake, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, turtle, watercolor
2 Comments
Karla’s Chair after Treatment
Shared the before picture of Sammy on Karla’s chair yesterday… We (MPF Conservation) took the lovely old chair apart, repaired the frame joints, rebuilt the innards using the original parts, and reupholstered it in the loveliest fabric. Sammy was not … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching
Tagged art journal, chair, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ink, Fineline masking fluid, J. Herbin ink, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, MPF Conservation, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Victorian
8 Comments
Sammy on Karla’s Chair
Sammy is allowed to curl into the chairs from cat lovers before we begin restoration (with permission from cat-loving clients). They travel back and forth from home to studio depending upon what is in the studio. This is Karla’s before … Continue reading
Posted in animals, art journal, furniture, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Cat, chair, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, M.Graham, MPF Conservation, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, watercolor, White Uniball Signo
8 Comments
Tools: Brush Pens
I don’t sketch with brush pens often, because I like a juicy wash and/or pen and ink — BUT I do occasionally, and so, here is my take on them. They are great on the go for quick sketches, thinking … Continue reading
Posted in color, drawing, ink painting, painting, review, tools, waterbrush
Tagged De Atramentis Document ink, highlighter, Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Brush Pen No. 22, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Noodlers ink, Pentel Aquash Water Brush, Platinum Japanese Art Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Preppy, refillable felt tip pen, refillable highlighter, review, Super5 ink, watercolor
8 Comments
NaSkeFiMo, or Fill Up The Journal and Be Done with It!
Working to finish up a journal I don’t like. Not because of the paper — Strathmore paper is good paper. The journal is not falling apart (I’ve stuck with THOSE.) No, this is because the Strathmore Journal has a strange … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal
Tagged Alphabet District Portland, architecture, art journal, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Diamine Regency Blue ink, fear, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy LX, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Strathmore journal, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, virtual sketchwalk
10 Comments
USk: Alphabet Tile Home
You might remember the sketch I did of this door and “blue” tiles at a home the other day >> It wasn’t the first time I’d drawn the house. I’m drawn to it: it is close to the studio, the … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, journal, process, sketchcrawl, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District, Alphabet District Portland, Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, architecture, art journal, Art Nouveau, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Al-Star, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, Thursday Doors, urban sketchers, USk, watercolor
17 Comments
VSW: Boyd’s Bread
Sketch to watercolor… Thanks to Randy for this image… Middle of the night drawing. Pentalic Aqua Journal Pilot Desk Fountain Pen – DPN-70 with De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Sennelier, Holbein, and DS Primatek watercolors, and Daniel Smith Watercolors. ☾ I … Continue reading
Tools: Favorite Journals
NOTE: This is about my preferences and why. Other artists will have other preferences, so reading what they like and what they say about this or that journal is good. The only negatives I will write are very bad experiences…. … Continue reading
Gratitude
☾ I am also thankful for my blog and the connections it has brought into my life. The wonder of the new and unexpected should be appreciated through new eyes! Have a day filled with Gratitude… ☾ UNKNOWN Watercolor paper … Continue reading
CA Trip, 1: Telegraph Road, Santa Paula
I’ve been processing a wild and woolly trip to So Cal. I’ll be posting items out of order, that is for sure. I’m adding color to many, and some are images from photos taken. Starting with Tooling around Mitchell’s home … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor
Tagged architecture, art journal, California, De Atramentis Document ink, Hand Book journal, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Noodlers ink, palm tree, palm trees, Platinum Carbon pen, Santa Paula, Sennelier, Super5 ink, Telegraph Road, travel, urban sketcher, USk, Ventura County, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
5 Comments
VSW: Buffalo the Town, 1
I want to play with color in unexpected ways. And loosening up, always trying to loosen up. Moleskin A4 Watercolor Journal, Lamy Al-Star with De Atramentis Document Black ink, Platinum Carbon Pen with waterproof cartridges, Sennelier and Daniel Smith Watercolors. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, color, creativity, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush
Tagged art journal, buffalo, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Al-Star, Moleskin Watercolor journal, New York State, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
2 Comments
Tools: Hand•Book Journal Trav•e•logue series Review
Sketchers whose work I admire love the Hand•Book Journal Trav•e•logue series… A few hate it. I’m many pages in as I took it on our trip to So Cal, So think I can safely review it now… Okay, how can … Continue reading
Posted in paper, review, sketchbook, tools
Tagged Hand Book journal, review, sketchbooks, watercolor journals
13 Comments
Thursday Doors, a day late….
I took a moment yesterday late to draw the door itself in this beautiful building that reminds me so of the Brentwood area of Southern California. I am finishing up images of this building that I will post later, but … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, ink painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers
Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, architecture, art journal, Diamine Regency Blue ink, Jinhao, Portland Urban Sketchers, Strathmore journal, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk
17 Comments
Restore Oregon Endangered Places 2016
The series for Restore Oregon Endangered Places 2016, is now on one page. Restore Oregon is a cause I can support. Drawing old buildings is always fun for me, as I began life as an architect. Restoration is my passion, … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, commission, creativity, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged architecture, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Demuro Award, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Oregon, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Restore Oregon, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
2 Comments
D.Katie Powell Art 
Motherwell, Must Read
Two years ago, for the first time, I steeped myself in learning technique as a shortcut
with watercolor. My editor soon became in charge of my paintbrush.
When I first wanted to paint, over breakfast at the West Beach Cafe I asked
Billy Al Bengston whether I should go back to school for a MFA. He said, “Do you want to paint or teach?” and advised me to take the money I’d spend on college and take the
time off and buy cheap paint and canvas and go to it. I took his advice at 29.
Now at 60 it is time to unlearn and go back to my own screwy sense of whatever I want to play with and not think about being technically correct. It took me two years to undo what technical drawing did to me as a artist. Let’s hope this time I remember the path. Continue reading →