Category Archives: challenge

Every Day in May, 1-4

Posted on May 6, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

I mistakenly bought a couple of A6 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book, not my size! Teeny-tiny! I decided to use it and put myself through fast paces of the Every Day In May challenge, with a twist — I am doing NO … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, ink painting, journal, painting, paper, pen & ink, sketchbook, tools, watercolor | Tagged #365sketch2017, #EDIM, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, grisaille, Hahnemühle Watercolour Book, Holbein, kitchen, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Lamy LX, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Mei Fa Hairstix, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, watercolor | Leave a comment

#WATWB: the Afghan Women’s Writing Project

Posted on April 28, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

For National Poetry Month, I decided to give a call out to this enlightening post for We Are The World blogfest! Hurry: A poem from the Afghan Women’s Writing Project We have such a short time to do this good … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, commentary, journal, meditation, memory, writing | Tagged #WATWB, Afghan Women's Writing Project, blogfest, In Darkness Be Light, We are the World | 13 Comments

VSW: Dublin, with a Wee Bit O’Color

Posted on April 20, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Okay, you KNOW I am not big on self-criticizing… But gads the green got away from me. I think this is a good lesson in not just planning from a sketching point of view, but from a color point of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, art journal, Castle Dublin, Christ Church, Constance Lloyd, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Dublin, Holbein, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, M.Graham, Merrion Square, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Oscar Wilde, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, St. Patrick's Snake, Super5 ink, Trinity College, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 8 Comments

VSW: Constance Lloyd

Posted on April 19, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Constance Lloyd married Wilde man, and bore his children. That was not all she was — feminist, adventurer, leader. Well bred, well read, an author of children’s stories. Deceptively strong, though she died at forty from a complication of surgery, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged art journal, Constance Lloyd, Daniel Smith watercolors, Dublin, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Merrion Square, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Oscar Wilde, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | Leave a comment

VSW: Dublin Black-and-White

Posted on April 10, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

It started with the Monkey King tile from Christ Church in Dublin… And then I had to draw the one next to it… And then I found more… And more. They marched along the bottom of the open pages. They … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, art journal, Castle Dublin, Constance Lloyd, De Atramentis Document ink, Dublin, Hearst Castle, Lamy Joy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Oscar Wilde, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Trintiy College, virtual sketchwalk | 1 Comment

VSW: Oaxaca, 2

Posted on March 29, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

When sketches go wrong… blobs from a bad pen! *how to “fix”? add more blobs… then smear… oops* I feel good about the looseness of these sketches. I put the brush between my teeth to get me to play fast … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 ink, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 2 Comments

VSW: Oaxaca, 1

Posted on March 28, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Trying to keep things loose. This sketch was started in pencil in early March and finished at the yesterday. Time can make one move toward looseness! this whole sketch took a few minutes, and the color splashed on. It feels … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, landscape, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 ink, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | Leave a comment

#OneWeek100People2017 (I thought I was done)

Posted on March 8, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Okay this was fun for a bit… But still faces a no-go for me! Gregory allowed me to have a bit of fun with them, and find a way in… ONE more day, and no more. This time I mean … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, pen & ink, portrait | Tagged #365sketch2017, art journal, Baby Face Nelson, Busgy Siegel, Capone, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Jim Morrison, Larry King, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Aquash Water Brush, Steve McQueen, USk, virtual sketching, Willie Nelson | Leave a comment

Announcing We Are The World Blogfest!

Posted on March 8, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Will you speak for peace? Social media and news in recent times has been filled with hate and negativity. Just as you cannot fight darkness, only light lamps, hate and negativity cannot be fought. We will bring love and happiness … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, commentary, journal, meditation, memory, writing | Tagged #WATWB, blogfest, In Darkness Be Light, We are the World | 27 Comments

#OneWeek100People2017

Posted on March 7, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

That’s a winner… Mitchell! Okay I thought I’d do the 100-faces-in-a-week. I’m not terrible with faces, I just am not too interested in drawing them. So here is one day of that, and no more. Can’t do challenges just because … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, graphite, pencil, portrait | Tagged #365sketch2017, art journal, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Mitchell Powell, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, virtual sketching, westwing | 8 Comments

Sketchbook Project: Fear and Hope, Deportation

Posted on March 3, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

I am participating in the Sketchbook Project this year. This year is that they have assigned topics. You choose FEAR or HOPE. Being a creative type I picked one but am not following it. I am doing Fear AND Hope. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, ink painting, journal, watercolor, writing | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, deportation, fear, Guadalupe, Hope, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Mexicans, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, Sketchbook Project, Super5 ink, watercolor | 8 Comments

VSW: Max’s Car, 2

Posted on February 24, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

NOW I’m getting somewhere! From Max Vanderwyst’s car images! Again I used grisaille to shadow, the Super5 Frankfurt ink in a water-brush. I should go back and add a bit of shadow to the columns… Very fast watercolor, middle of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, grisaille, Holbein, Max Vanderwyst photographer, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, Super5 Frankfurt ink, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

VSW: Max’s Car, 1

Posted on February 23, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Max Vanderwyst offered his lovely car images and I still went first for the building image. What can I say? Old habits die hard. But I’d like to do some cars, so…. It was a lovely building to draw, and … Continue reading →

VSW: Art Center, Craig Ellwood

Posted on January 30, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Sketch from an image looking back at Art Center spanning the arroyo. To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook! Moleskin A4 Watercolor Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen in medium and fine with De Atramentis … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, Art Center, art journal, Craig Ellwood, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pasadena, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 5 Comments

VSW: Green Hotel, Pasadena, California

Posted on January 25, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Sketch to ink to grisaille to underpainting (for brightness) to final watercolor!. I spent a lot of time in Pasadena and love the Green Hotel! Above, pencil sketches and a relaxed layout of the entry and one end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, California, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, drawing architecture, Green Hotel, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pasadena, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Sennelier, watercolor | 12 Comments

Women’s March Portland Oregon

Posted on January 24, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Along the Willamette River, estimates of 70,000 people wearing brightly colored clothing and umbrellas (not a normal sight in Oregon) in the grey rain. Moleskin A4 Watercolor Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Noodler’s Lexington Grey Ink, Super5 Frankfurt … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, ink painting, landscape, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, downtown, Holbein, KWZ Ink Foggy Green, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Oregon, Primatek, protest, Sennelier, Super5 ink, watercolor, Willamette, Women's March | Leave a comment

VSW: Pasadena Rose Bowl Parade

Posted on January 18, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Pepé Le Pew was a favorite cartoon of mine… Had to be the first sketch of the New Year in the Virtual Sketchwalk group! I wanted you to see that I had water-colored his black with a dark sepia but … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, virtual sketching | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, Holbein, Lamy Joy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 4 Comments

Bright Ideas, Silver Roses

Posted on January 15, 2017 by D. Katie Powell

Going back to my Bright Ideas journal for the 365 drawings a day. I love my Platinum Carbon pen but really, the ink is so reflective that it shines in scans and in photos… I don’t like THAT! That is … Continue reading →