Category Archives: architecture

National Train Day: Portland Union Station

Posted on May 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

This is in response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also was stolen from him….) … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, history, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Daniel Smith watercolors, details, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, industrial age, NW Portland, Pearl District, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, train station, trains, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 9 Comments

USk: Painted Girls, Alphabet District

Posted on May 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

We see these sweet homes on the way to our vets, and on walks. They are no where near special enough to be saved when the bulldozers come, which they will because way laid back Portlandiars won’t fight to save … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, commentary, creativity, drawing, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, NW Portland, painted ladies, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, red doors, Strathmore journal, Thurman St, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 22 Comments

USk: Trinity Episcopal Church’s Red Doors, Alphabet District

Posted on May 5, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Trinity Episcopal Church, at the corner of 19th and Everett, across from where the NW Outdoor Market is often held. I rarely see it like the image right (Wiki) — trees obscure the lovely old building except when it … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, NW Portland, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Strathmore journal, Trinity Episcopal Church, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 14 Comments

USk: Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Posted on April 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW. Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they’ve taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, NW Portland, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Pro Photo Supply, PSU Outdoor Market, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, White Uniball Signo | 12 Comments

VSW: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago

Posted on April 25, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Loving this virtual walk in Chicago, I found a lovely Louis Sullivan church I’d not known about. Chicago has to be the Queen City of Architectural Monuments! Playing in virtual sketching gives me the ability to try techniques, and here … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, color, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Art Nouveau, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Gothic, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, Holbein, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Louis Sullivan, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, virtual sketchwalk | 2 Comments

USk: Out my New (Studio) Window

Posted on April 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I have more space in my studio, and a new window. It is pouring. My urban sketch today was out my new window looking east on NW Nicolai! All the spring greens against the evergreens, a riot of green and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, drawing, landscape, pen & ink, pencil, urban sketchers | Tagged Alphabet District Portland, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, NW Industrial Sanctuary Portland, NW Nicolai, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 10 Comments

Thursday Doors: South Doors Washington Legislative Building

Posted on April 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Because we are in the middle of expanding our business studio space (and yes, I get a bit bigger art space to boot) I am pulling up old images with a new twist for Thursday Doors, (Check out Norm’s amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, central axis, circulation, Delta journal, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, marble, Pentalic, Platinum Preppy, Prichard Building, rotunda, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, Thursday Doors, urban sketchers, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building | 12 Comments

USk: Native American Student Center PSU

Posted on April 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Above, a quick sketch (with Diamine Ancient Copper ink in a Lamy Al-star) of the Native American Student Center at the south end of the PSU campus, off the park. Watercolor wash moved the inks: three colors were used: Yavapei, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Native American Student Center, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, PSU Outdoor Market, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 10 Comments

VSW: Getty Tomb by Sullivan

Posted on April 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Thanks to a tour of Chicago + Louis Sullivan, I found the Getty Tomb in Graceland (which the name always makes me think of Elvis, of course.) I couldn’t get the Getty Tomb out of my head. Best to get … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Getty, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, Louis Sullivan, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, tomb, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor pencil | 22 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 2 Watercolors

Posted on April 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I added a wash coat of color and a bit of detail to the ink sketches. Being a line-work gal, not sure which I like best… You? Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, watercolor pencils and Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, creativity, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Mummy Bauxite, owl, Primatek, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | 10 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 1Ink

Posted on April 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I look at my pages now that my comfort with fountain pens and watercolors — my materials — to move my eye to design a pleasing page. I love this postmodern building and had little knowledge of it so this … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Platinum Preppy pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | Leave a comment

VSW: Chicago, 1, Newberry Library

Posted on April 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Nice to have Sue lead the Virtual Sketchwalk in Chicago this month. I’m taking the opportunity to play on Canson Colored papers, ink and watercolor on grey paper! The watercolor buckled the paper, but it stood up to it — … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, process, series, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Canson paper, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Henry Cobb, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Mummy Bauxite, Newberry Library, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Shungite, virtual sketchwalk | 2 Comments

VSW: Chicago, 2, Fourth Presbyterian Church

Posted on April 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Continuing the Virtual Sketchwalk in Chicago drawing on colored paper, this time ink and colored pencil on grey paper, with a nod to Pat Southern-Pearce! Canson paper loose to be tipped into my Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, pen & ink, pencil, series, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, Canson paper, Chicago, colored pencils, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Gothic, Lamy Al-Star, Pat Southern-Pearce, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Ralph Adams Cram, virtual sketchwalk | 5 Comments

How I Make Creative Decisions

Posted on March 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Sometimes it is hard to pick a project, or say no to an opportunity. April is arriving, and I have two art projects on my board in addition to making a living (conserving antiquities — this is what I am … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Blackfriar Pub, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Holbein, IFJM, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, London, pent, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, St. Paul's Cathedral | 12 Comments

Doc Youping Qin

Posted on February 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Dr. Youping Qin is my acupuncturist. My images here are part of a larger set, depicting the history of acupuncture and Chinese immigrants to Oregon. (This post is about the painting, not the story!) Doc Qin has been a Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, creativity, drawing, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, portrait, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged acupuncture, Alphabet District, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, Dr. Youping Qin, Golden Needle, Holbein, Holbien, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Strathmore journal, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 16 Comments

A Walk in the Haight

Posted on February 19, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I agree to Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, which you can learn more about by visiting the site, or, visit my web page for a more user-friendly summary on my terms. My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, pen & ink, pencil, process | Tagged art journal, California, Haight-Ashbury, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 4 Comments

NW Portland Industrial Sanctuary

Posted on February 18, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Our studio sits in the NW Industrial Sanctuary. When most think of a sanctuary they think of preserving bird and wildlife habitats, but there are other kinds of sanctuaries. Once this was a gorgeous waterway and lake , used for … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, commentary, history, making a living, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Centennial Exposition, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Guild's Lake, history, Lewis & Clark, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Portland planning issues, preservation, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 16 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 4

Posted on February 9, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am running out of time this month due to other commitments, so decided to take scrap colored paper and do an insert. Blue seemed a good color for a place where this color adorns many homes! Still playing with … Continue reading →