Category Archives: art journal

Overworked / Failure

Posted on May 30, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Dan recently blogged about failures: “So many people try to hide failure. Sometimes, they want to hide it out of embarrassment and sometimes they want to hide it out of fear. I don’t want to fail, but when I do, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, creativity, making a living, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged anniversary, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, failure, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, struggle, Sunflowers, watercolor | 4 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 6

Posted on May 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

This week I’ve taken care of business — my jewelry business, as I am hoping to wind it down and close shop this year. (If my readers fall in love, note the 40% off using the code “SPECIAL”. Shameless plug.) … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, gods and goddesses, journal, meditation, memory, pen & ink, writing | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, color, De Atramentis Document ink, Guadalupe, heart, Lamy Al-Star, mala, meditation, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, prayer, turtle, Virgin Mary | 12 Comments

For Dan, One More Train…

Posted on May 27, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Middle of the night drawing of the Oregon Zoo train. Dan now you are forever linked to trains, along with my girlfriend who I used to ride trains with, and a crazy boyfriend who once picked me up on a … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged De Atramentis Document ink, gratitude, Lamy Al-Star, Oregon Zoo, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier, train, watercolor | 8 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

Bright Ideas, Week 5: Gratitude in Gifting

Posted on May 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

A tough week; on top of our Kamala being sick, the astrological forces (Mars retrograde or whatever is going on) have conspired to make some of the people in my life complete arseholes. Fortunately, none are very close to me. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, urban sketchers | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, De Atramentis Document ink, dragon, dragon tea, Lamy Al-Star, orchid, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

Tough Week

Posted on May 20, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

It’s been a tough week. Our little girl got sick, and while we now know it is from her new condition and the meds for hypothyroidism, it was a hard week, staying up all night with her, worried, et all. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged anniversary, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, echinacea, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier, watercolor | 13 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 →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, beach, Capetown, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, ocean, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, virtual sketchwalk | 3 Comments

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

Bright Ideas, Week 4

Posted on May 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’m concerned about having drawn my mala because after drawing my thirty-year-old basket the handle broke. But maybe after all these years it is time to replace my broken-winged unconventional mala bead with a different bead… Okay, yes, I added … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, cats, compass, De Atramentis Document ink, hand made paper, heart, Lamy Al-Star, mala, Marilyn Wold, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, rocks, Toes, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 4 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

Video on Location: The Alvor Demo

Posted on May 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Originally posted on Citizen Sketcher:
This just in: During this back alley demonstration painting in Alvor, sketcher Anne-Laure Jacquart was able to get quite a good recording oft my painting in progress. https://youtu.be/fFalbIE9OTo She’s cut together a 12 minute video, showing…

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Palms Waves Sand Surf = Home

Posted on May 10, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Longing for home, the one I can’t go back to… It is never the same as when we were kids. An all-class reunion was this week. Part of me would love to have gone, part of me never ever wants … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, memory, watercolor | Tagged beach, De Atramentis Document ink, going home, home, Lamy Al-Star, palm trees, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier | 6 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 3

Posted on May 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. I can’t stop loving this crazy colored journal! I spent time color mixing this week… fewer Bright Ideas… But I did realize what this book is all about, and it … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged acupuncture, anniversary, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, buddha, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Al-Star, Mitchell Powell, phone, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Shakyamuni Buddha, Shiva, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 10 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

Travel Palettes and Color Mixing Charts

Posted on May 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Prepare for a total geek posting. I’ve finally created an entire mixing chart. Who knew what I might learn! I wrote about finding a great deal on a Sennelier travel palette with pan watercolors, above. I’ve not owned pan paints … Continue reading →