Category Archives: color

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

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 →

Posted in art journal, color, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged color, color charts, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Primatek, ProArt watercolor journal, Sennelier, travel, watercolor | 21 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: 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

Gratitude Journal: Chocolate Bunny

Posted on March 31, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

What is it about the power of a chocolate bunny? And more importantly, we’ve had SO many years without them because we stopped eating non-organic sweets! If we are going to fill our bellies with sugar and all means of … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, caramels, Daniel Smith watercolors, Easter Bunny, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, non-GMO, organic, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, spring., sugar, watercolor | 7 Comments

Tools: Watercolors

Posted on March 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Last week I was asked what my favorite watercolors were over a half-dozen times. I’m thinking it is a sign, so am using it as a prompt! I have favorite brands overall (Daniel Smith — DS — and assume a … Continue reading →

Posted in color, review, tools, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, opaque, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 11 Comments

Eye to Eye with Humpback Baby

Posted on March 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Rich German was eye to eye with a baby humpback whale. He took a picture, and allowed me to use it to sketch. I did this very quickly, and am happy with it. I only wish I could have the … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, humpback whale, Laguna Beach, Pentalic Field Book, Platinum Preppy pen, Primatek, Rich German, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, whale watching, whales | 18 Comments

World-wide Sketchcrawl in the Studio

Posted on January 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Watched a journal making class, then made journals today unlike what I saw — hearkening back to may leather-bag-making days, needles and knots. Thought, as I do, about the full moon energy, and where I was going. Played with colored … Continue reading →

Posted in color, drawing, pen & ink, pencil, sketchcrawl, urban sketchers | Tagged Calbag, colored pencils, Grimm, Portland Urban Sketchers, urban sketchers, Willamette | Leave a comment

Taxes, the Push Toward the Full Moon

Posted on January 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I hate taxes. That is all. In a foul mood. Full Moon Coming, my deadline. And I made fudge for Mitchell. Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, with a new loverly Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen in Retro Pop Orange with Private Reserve … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, waterbrush | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, buddhist, copper, deities, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Lamy Al-Star, orange, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Private Reserve Orange Crush Ink, Sarasvati, watercolor | 2 Comments

VSW: Alberobello, Italy, 4, Silliness

Posted on January 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

You’ve seen the sketches of the Trulli homes as they really look, below, but there was a good deal of discussion on our FaceBook page about how white the town was (yes, grey roofs and white walls), sooooo, I sketched … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Alberobello, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Trulli, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 2 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Our Winter Traditions

Posted on January 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

2015 was a pretty horrible year… I’ve heard this from lots of people; maybe it was in the stars? Surgery, bad urologist, fear, pain, stress, craziness, burdens. Not all bad, and some incredible gifts came our way, but a year … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, color, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged architect, art journal, bows, buddha, cups, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, dragonfly, Fiesta Ware, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, growing older, Hero pen, lights, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, romantic, snowflakes, Super5 ink | 2 Comments

My Secret Journal: Eight, Monterey Furniture

Posted on December 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it’s published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Oh gads, not quite right. I look a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, furniture, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Mason Monterey, Moleskin Watercolor journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, Super5 ink | 6 Comments

Sketching Memories of Our Staycation, 6 Crows

Posted on November 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

A lot of my journal about our time off are simple pages that form a background for my journaling; many are private, but some are like this, simple sweet memories of us watching the crows fly home at night. Inked … Continue reading →

Posted in color, journal, memory, painting, watercolor, writing | Tagged art journal, crow, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Delta journal, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, NW Portland, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Japanese Art Pocket Brush Pen, QoR watercolors, staycation, Stillman & Birn, Super5 ink, watercolor | Leave a comment

Sketching Memories of Our Staycation, 2 Work Happens

Posted on October 28, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Small business owners rarely get to really take time off. You can’t ignore a new client (or they may go elsewhere) and you can’t ignore the absolutely only time for a delivery, in our case. Crater Lake is one of … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, furniture, journal, landscape, making a living, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, CCC table, Civilian Conservation Corps, Crater Lake NP, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, object conservation, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, staycation, Super5 ink, watercolor | 4 Comments

My Secret Journal: Six, Goat-Milk Ice Cream

Posted on October 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Home-made organic goat milk ice cream became a possibility … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, ice cream, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, Super5 ink | Leave a comment

Finally, a Travel Box

Posted on September 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I have a couple of small travel boxes made from old tins, but none of them have adequate mixing areas. I have been looking for a good travel box, and unfortunately, been unhappy with this or that — and this … Continue reading →

Posted in color, painting, urban sketchers, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged plein air, Prang, travel palette | 2 Comments

Gratitude Journal: My New Chop

Posted on August 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Last week was tough, for reasons I’ll not discuss. . . . Leave it behind! I give thanks for the little and not so little things. Mitchell. A not so little thing! And the sunflowers Mitchell brought me, so gorgeous … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Chop, Daniel Smith watercolors, gratitude, Kannon, Kwan Yin, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Quan Yin, Sunflowers, Super5 ink, watercolor | 9 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Ink!

Posted on July 25, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

By chance I am keeping a gratitude journal — and the last two entries are about objects I LOVE — and this weekend the Cherished Blogfest 2015 is happening! So will share with that in mind. I cherish color! I … Continue reading →