Category Archives: art

I Prefer Painting Over Virtual Artwork

Posted on April 19, 2025 by D. Katie Powell

I read a mundane op-ed in the NYTimes this morning from a writer I rarely read — and I won’t mention it because he’s a dweeb and I don’t want to be sued. But the upshot is that he believes … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, gouache, ink painting, oil paint, painting, pen & ink, ritual, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #directwatercolor, #flexnib, #fountainpenrevolution, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #himalyapen, #holbeinwatercolors, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #Portlandoregon, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #sennelierwatercolors, #ultraflexnib, #waterproofinks | 2 Comments

ANTS: And a Fall!

Posted on July 23, 2024 by D. Katie Powell

As I said in an earlier post, in past, the ants have done a little bit of investigating, they have come in, walked about. We gave them an offering up in the reception room of brown sugar water and they … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art, art journal, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor, writing | Tagged #antinvasion, #antmarching, #ants, #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithwatercolors, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #nwindustrialsanctuary, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #Portlandoregon, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #urbansketching, art, sketching | 2 Comments

Beyond Depressed: Social Media

Posted on July 16, 2024 by D. Katie Powell

When I first was starting out as an artist I had a studio and time to explore what I wanted to do as an artist, mostly in acrylics, sometimes in oils. I painted alone in a large barn converted as … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, commentary, creativity, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #nwindustrialsanctuary, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #Portlandoregon, #social media, #urbansketcher | 2 Comments

ANTS GO MARCHING!

Posted on May 5, 2024 by D. Katie Powell

Pleeeze excuse the photographs… It is next to impossible for an amateur like me to get good images of largely white paper! So there is ghosting of shadow. Oh well! We have an ant invasion of EPIC proportions. Because of … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art, art journal, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor, writing | Tagged #antinvasion, #antmarching, #ants, #artjournal, #artjournaling, #brownink, #danielsmithwatercolors, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #nwindustrialsanctuary, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #Portlandoregon, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #twsbieco, #urbansketching, art, sketching | Leave a comment

Inky Thots: Robert Oster Anniversary Inks

Posted on July 2, 2023 by D. Katie Powell

Robert Oster Signature Inks is having their 7th Anniversary, and have created three special inks for their celebration: Their first true black, a beautiful purple storm, and a shimmering green-gold jewel: Let’s look at each anniversary ink. Remember that others … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, architecture, art, art journal, Cat, color, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, review | Tagged #blackink, #catportraits, #crown, #glitterink, #goldink, #grayink, #greenink, #greyink, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #inkreview, #kitten, #krishnascrown, #PilotMetropolitan, #purpleink, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #shimmerink, #storm, #stormyskies, art journal, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen | 2 Comments

Kakimori: Golf Palms at Night

Posted on November 28, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

Getting the hang of the Kakimori nib! ☾ To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram, Facebook or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com “Memory is more indelible than ink.” Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. “I think not….” Me… why … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, calligraphy, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #brasskakimorinib, #brownink, #dippen, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #hahnemuehlepapersarevegan, #kakimorinib, #sakurapenholder, #sketchbookcotton, #super5ink, #urbansketcher, #urbansketching, #urushipenholder, #virtualsketching, #virtualsketchwalk, #watercolourbookcotton, #waterproofinks, stainlesssteelkakimorinib, USk | 2 Comments

Kakimori: OM

Posted on November 19, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

I continue to play with my Kakimori nibbed pens. I now have both the brass and the steel nibs. I love being able to change ink colors quickly by dipping, yet they hold more ink than a dip pen. My … Continue reading →

VSW: Sheree’s Naners

Posted on September 5, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

This post is about taking a sketch to a finished watercolor, or an idea to a commissioned piece. Sheree, a friend from high school, posted a photo of her banana tree, above left. I was intrigued by the color, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, flowers, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #bananatree, #commission, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #holbeinwatercolors, #kakimorinib, #lagunabeach, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #Portlandoregon, #sennelierwatercolors, #sketchbookproject, #sketchtofinal, #super5ink, #super5inkaustrailiaink, #virtualsketching, #waterproofinks | Leave a comment

Inky Green Tara

Posted on May 30, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve drawn Green Tara many times. She is based on our Ganges River clay version of Green Tara. A challenge for me, she is very colorful and detailed, AND, I am still pushing for a loose wash effect. I can … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, color, ink painting, journal, meditation, process, sketchbook | Tagged #buddhistdiety, #greentara, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #tara, #tibetanbuddhism, #tibetanbuddhistdiety, art journal, buddha, buddhist, De Atramentis Document ink, deities, Green Tara, Pentalic 2B woodless pencil, Pilot Gold Marker, Tara | Leave a comment

Lifting Paint

Posted on May 19, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve heard of lifting paint but never tried it. I didn’t like the looks of the heavy gouache on the nose of the Pinto Pony, and so I thought I’d give it a try. I carefully and gently used a … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art, art journal, pen & ink, process, series, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #carouselhorses, #danielsmithwatercolors, #grayink, #greyink, #greytabby, #greytabbykitten, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #hahnemühlewatercolourbookcotton, #hahnemuehlepapersarevegan, #lamyjoy, #pintopony, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #pony, #waterproofinks, art journal, carousel, cats, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Hahnemühle Watercolour Book, Holbein, horse, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, watercolor | Leave a comment

Dragon

Posted on April 25, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

I think this is what they call blurple… Dragon’s Night… a blue-purple! This dragon sports it nicely, doncha think? It seems to glow under the flash, above! A new color for me, and I’ll do lots more sketching with it! … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, architecture, art, art journal, ink painting, painting, pen & ink | Tagged #blueink, #blurple, #dragon, #dragonsnightink, #firebreathingdragon, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #PilotMetropolitan, #purpleink, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, art journal, bluepurplink, watercolor | 4 Comments

My Perfect Journal

Posted on February 4, 2022 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve been journaling for 50 years, art journaling for forty (first architectural ideas, now art). I’ve tried many journals before finding my perfect journal. I bought the Chinese Journals (left, and btw, review in links) from Chinatown in San Fransisco … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, paper, pen & ink, process, review, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #Hahnemühle, #inkpainting, #journalreview, #Lamy, #lovethestub, #middleofthenight, #nostalgiejournal, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #review, #sketchbookreview, #twsbieco, #twsbilove, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Super5 ink, watercolor | Leave a comment

Three Cats: The End of a Sketchbook

Posted on December 11, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

Sleeping in Mitchell’s legs, all three of them. I don’t know how he does it… but maybe that’s what keeps him warm on cold winter nights! Chonky Gibbs, left, Yaman, center, and Savitri, far right. To hear about classes, follow … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art, art journal, color, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, watercolor | Tagged #sleepycat, #theylovetheirdaddy, #threecats, #toastycat, #winternight, #zencat, art journal, cats, crazy cat, zen cat | Leave a comment

Accordion Hearts

Posted on November 24, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

Home sick last week, a cold… Feeling really punky. Not able to wrap my fuzzy mind around anything, so went to icon I’ve doodled and painted all my life, hearts. Cheery. A symbol of love. What’s not to like? I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, color, ink painting, meditation, painting, pen & ink, series, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #accordionjournal, #inks, #penandink, #valentines, #watercolors, heart, hearts, lovers | 4 Comments

Bright Ideas: Waterman Inks

Posted on October 27, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

Waterman inks are ancient, not a trendy newcomer. They come in few but lovely colors, are a great price, and they take good care of our pens. Happy New Moon! Bright Ideas multi-color journal (which I am not sure is … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, pen & ink, review, sketchbook, tools, waterbrush | Tagged #beautifulbottles, #brightideasjournal, #coloredpaper, #coloredpaperjournal, #deatramentisdocumentink, #drawing, #fountainpenink, #inkbottles, #inkdawing, #lamyjoypen, #memories, #memoryjournal, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #watermaninks, Bright Ideas journal, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Joy, Platinum Carbon pen | 2 Comments

Bright Ideas: Platinum Carbon Pen

Posted on October 25, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

I adore my Platinum Carbon pen> They made a HUGE mistake when they discontinued them… I bought a few when I heard the news (guess that makes me a hoarder) because this is my workhorse pen. I free-handed this wonky … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools | Tagged #bestpenever, #brightideasjournal, #coloredpaper, #coloredpaperjournal, #deatramentisdocumentink, #drawing, #inkdawing, #lamyjoypen, #memories, #memoryjournal, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #whatweretheythinking, Bright Ideas journal, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Joy, Platinum Carbon pen | Leave a comment

Tools: Leonardo Officina Italiana Pen

Posted on October 9, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

Red is my favorite color… I love pens! I love gifts! Imagine how thrilled I am with three favorite things coming together in one pen? Thrilled! Leonardo Officina Italiana Pen in Red Passion… Filled with Robert Oster Direct Sun! This … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, review, sketchbook, tools, writing | Tagged #artjournal, #directsun, #finenib, #Hahnemühle, #ilovegifts, #ilovepresents, #ilovesurprises, #LeonardoOfficinaItaliana, #middleofthenight, #nostalgiejournal, #notastub, #orangeink, #orangered, #redink, #redpens, #robertosterink, #wrappingpaper, art journal, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal | 2 Comments

A Cuppa for Tracey

Posted on September 2, 2021 by D. Katie Powell

I painted this cuppa in honor of Tracey… I will always think of her when i am painting watercolors, but especially when I paint teacups… Hers were so lovely! Enjoy some videos here. To hear about classes, follow me on … Continue reading →