Author Archives: D. Katie Powell

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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

The current palette and brush

Posted on January 25, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Shari Blaukoft is one of my favorite painters to follow. Here is a recent posting of her current palette on her new blog post, and also links to Parkablogs, which is another great blog to follow if you are a … Continue reading →

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USk: Palm Motor Hotel

Posted on January 24, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Whenever I drive by the Palm Motor Hotel I get a little surge of home energy. It looks like motels I remember staying in when visiting Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. I’ve always loved these Mid-Century Modern signs. Today I … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, drawing, journal, painting, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Chippendale Conservation

Posted on January 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Above, Mitchell thinking about the various things he has to do to this family heirloom in order to resurrect it from the broken state. The Chippendale sofa’s arm was broken and sagging, leg broken, parts of the frame broken, and … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Mattress Ranch

Posted on January 22, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve had this finished a long time and almost didn’t post it. There really is a Mattress Ranch on the way to Olympia Washington. It was the source of much amusement as we drove up in the morning to work … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, furniture, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Aesthetics Movement Pieces

Posted on January 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

You may remember these sketches; they started me thinking about how many beautiful objects we see daily.  I decided to dedicate one of my new Stillman & Birn sketchbooks to our business.  My first two watercolor sketches were in the … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, furniture, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

USk: Multnomah Sketchcrawl in the Pouring Rain

Posted on January 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

My first sketchcrawl with other people, the Portland Urban Sketchers; I’ve crawled around a lot by myself urban sketching!  Mitchell was the bravest, being new to sketching and now going today as well. It wasn’t raining, it was POURING — … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, memory, sketchbook, sketchcrawl, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Art Journal: Black and White

Posted on January 17, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Middle of the night, can’t sleep, found shells on the dresser. Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Alpha journal with Noodler’s Heart of Darkness ink.          I agree to Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, which you can learn more … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, sketchbook, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

USk: Smith Tower, Vancouver, Washington

Posted on January 16, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I had lunch with my niece yesterday and went an hour early to find an interesting building or scene to sketch.  As I was driving into the city of Vancouver I remembered the “beer can” building, looking glum and peachy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, history, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Art Journaling: Miscellaneous Picks

Posted on January 15, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Random sketches from my journal, continuing to play with the watercolors is the point. My confidence is growing; I am dropping into my best drawing habits from my teens and twenties.  While sketching my favorite coffee cup, I realized why … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Comics heroes Tintin, Spirou and Asterix: Je suis Charlie

Posted on January 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Originally posted on Le Blog des Flinflins:
I am lucky guy because I grew up in a land of freedom, a country where men decided to free themselves in 1789 with the French Revolution and chose to write the Human…

Posted in art | 2 Comments

#JesuisCharlie‬

Posted on January 11, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

#‎JesuisCharlie‬

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Art Journal: Memories

Posted on January 9, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

A friend has laid out a great challenge to kick off 2015. When I can, I am taking her cues because she’s created a great list.  Thoughtful, they are evoking memories in most who are playing along.  A challenge shouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

My Picks for the Best Books, Part One

Posted on January 6, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve been asked quite a bit about my favorite how-to art books, and here is my answer.  I will divide them into beginner’s best and then those that are good no matter where you are, but you must know that … Continue reading →

Posted in art, class, creativity, drawing, painting, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Webbing Stretchers

Posted on January 3, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

My commitment to documenting the upholstery studio is ongoing; a challenge prompted this watercolor sketch. I said no more challenges but this list is too much fun. I chose Mitchell’s webbing stretchers because they happened to be setting on his … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

How Did I Get This Age?

Posted on January 1, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

When did this happen? When I look in the mirror I expect to see the thirty-ish woman and do not know the face looking back at me. I expect to see the naked body of my forties and do not … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Booby Gurl, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Recipe Watercolor: Chicken Curry

Posted on December 31, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve been so busy I haven’t sketched recipes in a long time! During the holiday I made this leftover dish and enjoyed the curry colors! Yummy recipe using leftovers posted on Katwritesfood! Soon I will post my first lesson on … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, painting, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

You Share Good: A Good Book About Copyright

Posted on December 29, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I bought You Share Good by Gwenn Seemel and read it in almost one sitting.  Gwenn’s argument for letting go of copyright and relaxing into sharing is persuasive, and I highly recommend it — even if you choose to copyright … Continue reading →

Posted in copyleft, creativity, making a living | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Emotional Moonth Art Journal(Reposting)

Posted on December 27, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

This is one of the older posts from my other blog that I wanted here on D.Katie Powell Art. It was a pivotal moment regarding various choices to teach in cyberspace. It happened in November, and so is a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, Booby Gurl, journal, loss, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments