Category Archives: architecture

Working on Commission: How to Connect with a Subject

Posted on September 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am almost completed with my commitment to painting many of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for Restore Oregon. They will auction the images at the Restoration Celebration dinner to raise monies to further the cause of restoration and saving pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, creativity, history, memory, painting, process | Tagged commission, connection, inspiration, process, Restore Oregon | 5 Comments

Rivoli Theater

Posted on September 5, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Rivoli Theater at 1355 S Main Street, Pendleton, Oregon was built in 1900. It is a significant part of the original streetscape of the old downtown. In its heyday, the Theater served as a social and economic center of community … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, commission, watercolor | Tagged architecture, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, Fineline Masking, Holbein, Oregon, Pendleton, Portland, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Rivoli Theater, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 26 Comments

Uppertown Net Loft, Astoria, Oregon

Posted on September 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

The barn red on the lovely blue Columbia River was my initial attraction. I did a few fast sketches, and this one I like so will donate…. An image of the building from the hilltops is here. Uppertown Net … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, drawing, history, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Astoria, Columbia River, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Fineline Masking, Holbein, M.Graham, Oregon, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Uppertown Net Loft, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo pen | 20 Comments

Doors in Brazil, Middle-of-the-Night Sketch

Posted on September 1, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

To me this is a compelling street scene because of the line of doors…. Update: Murilo S Romeiro took the image of Tiradentes, a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil. For Thursday Doors, Norm’s blog round robin open to anyone! … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, grisaille, grisaille underpainting, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Thursday Doors, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 16 Comments

I’ve got a Patreon Page!

Posted on August 31, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’m getting ready to begin teaching, and so, drumroll…. I launched my Patreon page! Yes, here I am asking for your support and money… I support two artists, one on Patreon. For the cost of a coffee out, I contribute … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, class, creativity, drawing, history of journal, history of sketching, journal, making a living, pen & ink, pencil, watercolor, writing | Tagged art classes, online classes, Patreon, video classes | Leave a comment

Wong Laundry Building, Portland, Oregon

Posted on August 26, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Wong’s Chinese Laundry resided in the Wong Laundry Building on NW 3d St, an area currently under constant demolition for high rises, many of poor design quality. It was designed by Alexander Ewart in 1908, and has had many businesses in … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, history, landscape, painting, pen & ink, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Chinatown, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline Masking, grisaille, grisaille underpainting, Holbein, Japantown, Lamy Al-Star, M.Graham, NW Portland, Oregon, Pearl District Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo pen, Wong Laundry Building, Wong's Chinese Laundry | 39 Comments

Working Toward a Goal

Posted on August 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve rarely worked toward a goal/deadline in my painting life. (I do it all the time in my working life, above.) That is, there is a desired result at the end for a “client,” here, as. I am creating a … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, drawing, history, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged architecture, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Holbein, M.Graham, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Upper Sandy Guard Station Cabin, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 20 Comments

VSW: San Antonio, 1

Posted on August 9, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Thanks to a month of very fast watercolors I’ve lost some inhibitions… or left my editor in the dust. I quite like this freeing fast sketching, and throwing on of color! A page from our San Antonio River Walk: Some … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, M.Graham, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Riverwalk, San Antonio, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk | 4 Comments

2016 World Watercolor Month: Last Day

Posted on July 31, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

My last entry for World Watercolor Month! My entire month! Next year, I’ll do them both again! ©D. Katie Powell. My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.

Posted in animals, architecture, art journal, Buddha, challenge, color, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Alphabet District Portland, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Fineline masking fluid, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, NW Portland, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Strathmore journal, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 9 Comments

Thursday Doors, USk: Thurman Street Face

Posted on July 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Thurman Street is a nice “hike” up into the West Hills. Mitchell and I have been searching for good doors, and I have to say, Great houses but such mediocre doors as to be boring! However, many wealthy people who … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Alphabet District Portland, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 6 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

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

Thursday Doors: Justice Building Front Doors

Posted on July 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

For Thursday Doors, I am looking at the Washington State Capitol Justice Building interior is more pink-mauve than the Legislative building (see the top shell scroll), and perhaps it is because it was painted at a later date. This detracts … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, art journal, circulation, Delta journal, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, marble, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, Thursday Doors, urban sketchers, Washington State Capitol Justice Building | 14 Comments

USk: St. James Lutheran Church

Posted on June 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Experimenting with color after taking a class… I am often bored by stone buildings, but several interesting water-colorists use what-ever color where-ever they want. This is one of the stone churches we pass on our way to the Saturday Market … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Daniel Smith watercolors, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, St. James Lutheran Church, SW Portland | 17 Comments

Thursday Doors: The Doe Library’s Leather Doors

Posted on May 26, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

My sketch, above of the unpainted and beautiful doors in the Doe Library. The Doe Library in Berkeley still has the solid redwood doors, covered in thick hides with brass details. We were hired to assess the doors, and explain … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Doe Library, Holbein, leather doors, Platinum Preppy, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers | 9 Comments

More Trains: Portland Union Station and more

Posted on May 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! Part one here! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, history, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Daniel Smith watercolors, details, Fabriano Watercolor journal, industrial age, NW Portland, Pearl District, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Union Station, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, train station, trains, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 20 Comments

USk: Art Gallery Door, Alphabet District

Posted on May 19, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

There is this amazing rusty metal door going into the art gallery on Raleigh. It is a wild thing, all twisted and colorful and rough and organic. I did my best; but gads, what a door. It pops out of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Raleigh, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 7 Comments

VSW: Capetown South Africa Beachwalk, 1

Posted on May 15, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I haven’t much time this week. Necessity is making my goal for this sketchwalk to capture the essence of the view, let go of details. What stands out about the view? the buildings? the beach? the sky? the mountain? Capture … Continue reading →