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

VSW: Alberobello, Italy, 2, Blocking the Trulli Homes

Posted on January 10, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Presenting how I SEE a scene, from both the perspective and detail aspects, might be interesting. I drew on the google image for you, not that I do this, but to show you where my eyes go — studying before … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Alberobello, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Holbein, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Trulli, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 2 Comments

Organic Fudge: From my other blog!

Posted on January 8, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Posted first on my other blog, katwritesfood. I stopped making fudge at Christmas because we stopped eating anything with GMOs, and so many recipes for things like fudge were full of very nasty things. But I discovered organic Sweetened Condensed … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, bittersweet, chocolate, creme de cocoa, Daniel Smith watercolors, fudge, gluten-free, Holbein, holiday gifts, journal, kahlua, katwritesfood, non-GMO, organic, Primatek, QoR watercolors, semi-sweet, Sennelier, sweetened condensed milk, walnuts, watercolor | 5 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Our Winter Traditions

Posted on January 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

2015 was a pretty horrible year… I’ve heard this from lots of people; maybe it was in the stars? Surgery, bad urologist, fear, pain, stress, craziness, burdens. Not all bad, and some incredible gifts came our way, but a year … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, color, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged architect, art journal, bows, buddha, cups, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, dragonfly, Fiesta Ware, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, growing older, Hero pen, lights, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, romantic, snowflakes, Super5 ink | 2 Comments

VSW: Alberobello, Italy, 1

Posted on January 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Sketchwalk in Alberobello, Italy. The Trulli homes are so charming, magical! I want to visit in person! Virtual sketchwalk in Italy thanks to google! This piece was created in conjunction with 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. Moleskin 8×11 watercolor … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Alberobello, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Trulli, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | Leave a comment

Sweet Billy Pilgrim’s Arrived at Upside Down

Posted on January 5, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

AMAZING. I also want to be able to do this well.

Posted in art journal | 7 Comments

Washington State DAR Flag

Posted on January 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

The State of Washington DAR Flag (DAR = Daughters of the American Revolution) is my subject today for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge, drawn from an image taken while assessing the flag for the State of Washington curatorial … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, history, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, MPF Conservation, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Strathmore journal, Super5 ink, virtual sketchwalk, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building, Washington State DAR Flag, watercolor | 6 Comments

My Secret Journal: Eleven, Shellacking

Posted on January 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Shellacking an oak table in the first finish room; … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, furniture, journal, making a living, memory, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Kate Powell, Moleskin Watercolor journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, QoR watercolors, shellacking, table | 2 Comments

My Secret Journal: Ten, Sammy on a Sofa

Posted on January 1, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Sammy lounging as he is allowed to do occasionally … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, making a living, memory, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged cats, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Sammy, upholstery, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

My Secret Journal: Nine, the Ladies

Posted on January 1, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Three Lady Deities inspire me: MahaDurgha, the Virgin Mary, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, goddess, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Kannon, Kwan Yin, Mahadurgha, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Quan Yin, Senge, Senghe, Super5 ink, Virgin Mary | Leave a comment

Reflecting on an Anniversary: Watercolor Sketching

Posted on December 28, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Two years ago I started moving away from large acrylics on canvas (above left) or small acrylics on my hand-made paper (above right). I wanted to paint again, in a smaller space, and so, thought to try watercolors and shellac … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, Booby Gurl, Buddha, creativity, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged anniversary | 11 Comments

Holiday Memory Gift

Posted on December 24, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Merry Christmas, Happy Santa Day, Happy Hanukkah (passed but we have our Stars of David on our tree), and all the other holidays! Looking toward the light in our physical, personal, and national arenas! The folding journal, ready for words … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, memory, painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, buddha, Christmas, Daniel Smith watercolors, durgha, gift, Holbien, Kate Powell, Mitchell Powell, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, puja, Santa Claus, watercolor | 8 Comments

Holiday Memories at Hearst Castle

Posted on December 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Our business gets us in the back door to some amazing places. We conserved the Gothic Sofa for the Hearst Castle, near Cambria, California. We visited just before Christmas to see it installed in William Randolph Hearst’s private library (between … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, cards, furniture, making a living, memory, museum, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Christmas, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hearst Castle, Holbein, Mitchell Powell, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor | 9 Comments

Solstice Memory

Posted on December 22, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Puja’s on the Solstice. One of our winter traditions. When we are where we can’t make a fire in the brazier we find other ways to “make” a fire! Part of my holiday memory gift to Mitchell this year, I … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, cards, gods and goddesses, journal, lunar cycle, memory, painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Christmas, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbien, Mitchell Powell, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, puja, solstice, watercolor | Leave a comment

Kissing Christmas

Posted on December 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

The tassel man. Seriously, the differences between my sweetie and I in terms of decor is that I am a modernist and my man loves rich tapestries, textures, passementerie and tassels. I gave him a set of Indian red beaded … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, cards, memory, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Christmas, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbien, kisses, kissing, Mitchell Powell, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, selfie, Super5 ink, watercolor | 4 Comments

An Apple Parody.

Posted on December 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Cracked me up. Artists will get this!

Posted in art journal | 2 Comments

My Secret Journal: Eight, Monterey Furniture

Posted on December 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it’s published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Oh gads, not quite right. I look a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, furniture, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Mason Monterey, Moleskin Watercolor journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, Super5 ink | 6 Comments

Another Holiday Video: Rudolph by a Goat

Posted on December 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Posted in art journal | Leave a comment

New Moon Cleaning

Posted on December 11, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Haven’t cleaned my paints in a long time. I’m a stickler for clean colors and tools — I really don’t double dip much. No offense to those that muddy their paints, but how can you use a brilliant yellow when … Continue reading →