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

Delphiniums

Posted on July 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Technically I’ve done over 30 paintings already for World Watercolor Month, which is good, because I have so much work to do in the next week I’d get behind. None are masterpieces, but they were good experiments, which I think … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ink, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Preppy pen, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 5 Comments

Buddha Blues

Posted on July 23, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

These sketches came from a necessity to keep to my goal of a painting a day. They were busy days, and my ulterior motive was to continue to learn about both runny or non-waterproof inks and also wet-on-wet techniques. Wet-on-wet … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, challenge, drawing, gods and goddesses, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, buddha, Daniel Smith watercolors, Diamine Ink, Jinhao, moon, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Primatek, Sennelier, watercolor, wet on wet | 4 Comments

Parvati

Posted on July 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Our old (as in years) statue of Parvati. She is Shiva’s consort or wife, and daughter of Himavan and Mena. I know her best as the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. She is the goddess of love and devotion, as … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, challenge, gods and goddesses, meditation, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Abhaya mudra, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Parvati, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, Varada mudra, watercolor | 8 Comments

Thursday Doors, USk: Grimm and Impact on 26th

Posted on July 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

26th Avenue, two doors within throwing distance of our studio. Above, on the historic American Canning Company, which then became the Multnomah County Medical Examiners offices (and then, how apropos) became the door to Grimm’s studio costuming annex. (Sitting across … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, doors, green door, Grimm, Impact Jiu Jitzu, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Sennelier, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 8 Comments

Mimi’s Coin Purse

Posted on July 20, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I have these odd things of my grandmothers. Her dime bank, and this, her coin purse. She was a simple woman and the simple items I have from her are precious memories. Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, and Sennelier, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, coinpurse, Daniel Smith watercolors, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, watercolor | 6 Comments

USk: PSU Saturday Market and Oregon Berry Festival

Posted on July 19, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Memory of a lovely day with Mitchell. Started with the Pen Show, then on to the more normal Saturday activity for us: Going to the Portland Saturday Market for peaches and squash and other yummy things. We also happened upon … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, journal, landscape, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Fineline masking fluid, Nineteen27 S'mores, Oregon Berry Festival, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, PSU Outdoor Market, Saturday Market, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 4 Comments

First Pen Show

Posted on July 18, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

No longer a Pen Show Virgin. I’ve been to our little Portland Pen Show. It was fun being in that geeky collecting environment. Dealers were friendlier than I thought they would be, and it was so cool to be able … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Bleeding Heart, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ink, Jinhao, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Portland Pen Show, Sennelier, watercolor | 6 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 7, Black, White, Grey and Sparkly Colors!!

Posted on July 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday this summer I am looking at my paint “collection”: Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange; Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to Yellows Tool: Watercolors, 4, Blues to Greens Tools: Watercolors, 5, Violet and Purple Tools: Watercolors, 6, Browns … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, black, charcoal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, favorite, graphite, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grey, Holbein, iridescent, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, opaque, paynes grey, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor, white | 1 Comment

Raku Giraffe

Posted on July 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

My Zen brother gave me my raku giraffe. I think of him as my painterly Zenny Oriental giraffe, a cool dude. He is a cherished object, but not THE cherished object. To find out what object I cherish more than … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, memory, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, giraffe, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, M.Graham watercolors, Noodlers ink, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, watercolor | Leave a comment

Indian Paintbrush

Posted on July 15, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

California wildflowers are deeply connected to memories of my childhood. Until World Watercolor Month I had only a fleeting understanding of that, but the more I choose to paint California wildflowers, the more I am aware! Somehow, when you draw … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, California wildflower, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, floral, flower, Indian paintbrush, Lamy Joy, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, watercolor | 2 Comments

Thursday Doors: Monastery of the Precious Blood

Posted on July 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Okay, I had to pull up an old sketch for Thursday Doors! A wonky urban sketch of the side doors, which is nicer than the front doors, of the Monastery of the Precious Blood in the Mount Tabor neighborhood of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, art journal, circulation, marble, Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy, Stillman & Birn, Thursday Doors, urban sketchers, Washington State Capitol Justice Building | 13 Comments

Bleeding Hearts

Posted on July 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Bleeding Hearts As of today this reminds me not only of family, but of this incredibly awful political season and the vitriol among people on the “same side.” I am told I am a bleedin’ heart liberal. I wear it … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Bleeding Heart, California wildflower, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, Noodlers ink, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, virtual sketching, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 16 Comments

Gratitude: My Red Bike at the Haskell Street Barn

Posted on July 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

*alert: vampire child face, oops* I had a good childhood, raised by a single mom with an alcoholic dad who skipped, and three much older brothers who loved me dearly. I am GRATEFUL because I wasn’t around JD (what they … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, pen & ink, portrait, series, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, apricot, babysitter, bike, Daniel Smith watercolors, Encino California, George Puttnam, ghosts, gratitude, Haskell Ave, Holbein, journal, memory, Moleskin Watercolor journal, pen & ink, Platinum Carbon pen, red barn, red bike, selfie, sketchbook, the Haunting, watercolor, watercolor art journal | 18 Comments

Are you going to post for Cherished Blogfest?

Posted on July 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve been asking myself, “What object do I cherish the most? What object has the most memories attached? What is my most useful object no, irreplaceable object? If I could only take one thing (not including loved ones) with me … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge | Tagged #CBF16, #cherishedblogfest | 2 Comments

Two Hooks

Posted on July 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I did these in tandem, so will post them in tandem. Still working with the DeA tobacco ink, and loving it. Pentalic Aqua Journal, Lamy Al-Star, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, and Sennelier, Holbein, QoR and Daniel Smith watercolors. ©D. Katie … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Fineline masking fluid, froggie, frogs, hook, Lamy Al-Star, M.Graham watercolors, palm, palm trees, Pentalic Aqua Journal, QoR, watercolor | 2 Comments

Vetch is Not Good for Horses!

Posted on July 10, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I had to paint vetch after the lupines: equal time for Pa after Mimi! After my memory jog in California Lupines, I kept wondering why Pa warned me not to feed the horses vetch whenever I visited the ranch. There … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, California, companion planting, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, floral, flower, horses, Lamy Al-Star, Pa, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR, vetch, watercolor | 7 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 6, Browns and Golds

Posted on July 9, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday for the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection”, and why I have keepers and ‘meh’ colors that I probably won’t buy again. Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, tools, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, brown, Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, gold, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, opaque, Primatek, QoR watercolors, quinacridone gold, rust, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 5 Comments

California Lupines

Posted on July 8, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Lupines are a wild California flower — hillsides in Southern California turn deep violet with hues of magenta-purple vetch running through them. Both remind me of my grandparents. My grandfather used to tell me not to feed the horses vetch. … Continue reading →