Category Archives: creativity

How-To: Simple Folded Journals

Posted on September 9, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

There are good online tutorials on fancy precise folded journals, with hard covers at each end and measured numbers. I can do THAT… BUT it takes a long time to be precise, and the journal becomes quite precious! I want … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, collage, creativity, handmade paper, journal, paper, process, sketchbook | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #diy, #foldingjournal, #handmadefoldingjournal, #handmadejournal, #howto, #watercolorjournal | 2 Comments

Hahnemühle DS Art Journal: Last Look Back

Posted on September 4, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

I finished my Hahnemühle D & S Sketchbook and am well into my new Nostalgie journal; this is a rambling last look back, at the things I had no time to post that I can share. Sometimes I can’t share, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, creativity, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, ritual, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #creativeblock, #davinciwatercolors, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleDSSketchbook, #writersblock, art journal, creativity, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Hahnemühle Watercolour Book, Lamy Al-Star, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Super5 ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | 13 Comments

Giveaway: Hahnemühle YouTangle for Inktober!

Posted on September 3, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

I have one regret… I didn’t find Hahnemühle’s YouTangle.art tins before last year’s Inktober! (see bottom for video!) I know why… I’m not a zen-tangling person so I would not be looking. But I doodle, and these are great for … Continue reading →

Posted in cards, creativity, drawing, ink painting, pastel, pen & ink, pencil, review, writing | Tagged #giveaway, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleYouTangleartcards, #inkpainting, #inktober, #inktober2017, #inktober2018, #middleofthenight, #penandink, #pittpens, #platinumbrushpen, #tombowpens, #youtangleart, #zentangling, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor | 73 Comments

Moms Stuff, Jewelry

Posted on August 18, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

My mom’s jewelry box was a mess when it came to me. She had taken to only wearing few things (arthritis kept her from changing necklaces and earrings.) I had to sort to find earring pairs and backings. On top … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, process | Tagged #danielsmithprimateks, #davinciwatercolors, #foldingjournal, #grandmasjewelrybox, #HahnemühleHarmony, #metallicpaint, #momsstuff, #penandink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #playingdressup, Da Vinci Watercolors, Daniel Smith watercolors, jewelry, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolors | 13 Comments

VSW: Florida Trailer Park 1

Posted on August 6, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

This month’s walk is through four trailer park neighborhoods in Florida… Taking a look at dying neighborhoods, torn down for more lucrative places, happening not just in Florida. I took three images and put them together (I admit to taking … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #davinciwatercolors, #floridatrailerparks, #frankfurtink, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #middleofthenight, #super5ink, #trailerpark, art journal, flamingos, grisaille, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, watercolor | 2 Comments

VSW: Rockport Chairs

Posted on August 4, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

From sketch with a fat stub pen to watercolor wash! One more of Rockport — such excellent images! With us in the biz, I had to try the chairs in front of Habitat for Humanity! Thanks to Tom Brudzinski for … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #davinciwatercolors, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #middleofthenight, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #rockingchairs, #rockportmaine, art journal, chairs, watercolor | 2 Comments

WWM: Day 29, Journal painting

Posted on July 29, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

*Warning, this is not a happy post! A roller-coaster ride is more accurate.* All through World Watercolor Month I’ve been writing like I haven’t in years. I had so much to be upset about, and then on the heels of … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art journal, creativity, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #danielsmithwatercolors, #davinciwatercolors, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Platinum Carbon pen, Savitri, watercolor, writing | 5 Comments

WWM: Day 26 Rosh Chodesh

Posted on July 26, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

I wrote on Rosh Chodesh about the massive changes that are happening in our lives, our family, and the world. Pages of writing and unfortunately nothing I feel comfortable sharing. I am far more likely to share my “stuff” that … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, creativity, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #crescentmoon, #davinciwatercolors, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleDSSketchbook, #jinhaoshark, #middleofthenight, #robertosterink, #roshchodesh, #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, watercolor | 2 Comments

WWM: Day 25, Savirtri Sleeps

Posted on July 25, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

Savitri tends to sleep deeply near us at night… We make noise, move pillows, and really, the only thing that wakes her is if she somehow smells cheese or ice cream or hears chips… food rocks her world! My kinda … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art journal, creativity, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #danielsmithwatercolors, #davinciwatercolors, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, Cat, Daniel Smith watercolors, Platinum Carbon pen, Savitri, watercolor | 5 Comments

WWM: Giveaway! Cold Press Hahnemühle PostCards

Posted on July 24, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

Giving away to two lucky winners my favorite middle-of-the-night watercolor surfaces! Cold Press Hahnemühle PostCards! In honor of the paper I use most often for the World Watercolor Month challenge, I’m offering TWO prizes of postcard tins! (Sorry, USA + … Continue reading →

Posted in cards, creativity, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, review, tools, watercolor | Tagged #davinciwatercolors, #HahnemühlePostCards, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, flowers, Hahnemühle Post Cards, Holbein, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, review, Sunflowers, Super5 ink, watercolor | 222 Comments

WWM: Day 22, VSW Rockport Dog

Posted on July 22, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

A second stab at catching the essence, this time of a poodly dog in a doorway. Under five minutes, played with where I placed my color for fun. Still paying attention to the eyes in the end livened up the … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #davinciwatercolors, #fiveminutes, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #middleofthenight, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #rockportmaine, #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, dog, poodle, watercolor | 4 Comments

WWM: Day 21, VSW Rockport Cow

Posted on July 21, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

I have NO time so decided to try catching the essence in a few strokes and brushes of color. Cow was first try, under five minutes. Paying attention to the eyes in the end helped give the cow life. Thanks … Continue reading →

WWM: Day 18 Moon Palm

Posted on July 18, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

Any excuse to use my Moonman pen, below! Added a brush dipped in inks and you have my Moon Palm! “Paint as you like and die Happy!*” Want to join in the fun? Use the hashtag #WorldWatercolorMonth when you post … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, pen & ink | Tagged #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühlePostCards, #middleofthenight, #Moonmanpen, #robertosterink, #WorldWatercolorMonth | 4 Comments

WWM: Day 17 Moms Stuff, Sun

Posted on July 17, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

My mom’s copper sun hanging in my finish room. Trying a different route, waterproof inks building them up. Lexington Grey above… Brown inks added, De Atramentis Document Brown and something I mixed up in a waterbrush! Finally, watercolors added. And … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged #coppersun, #danielsmithprimateks, #davinciwatercolors, #deatramentisdocumentink, #frankfurtink, #Hahnemühle, #HahnemühleHarmony, #mexicansun, #middleofthenight, #super5ink, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, sun | 4 Comments

WWM: Day 16 Moms Stuff, Sun Postcard

Posted on July 16, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

Playing around with Robert Oster African Gold; ink-painting! In the end added lines… I LIKE lines! This is loosely based on my Mom’s big copper sun from Mexico. It now hangs in my finish room… Happy Sun! “Paint as you … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink | Tagged #africangold, #diamineink, #gouletnib, #HahnemühlePostCards, #lamyvista, #middleofthenight, #robertosterink, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Jinhao, sun | Leave a comment

WWM: Day 15, Canvas Project, Bedlam!

Posted on July 15, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

BEDLAM! I have the word “BEDLAM” for my entry into the Canvas Project 2018… I started with sketches, as I only have one canvas! I saw Yaman coming at me one night! Bedlam is when the “kittens” get CRAZY … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #canvasproject, #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, bedlam, Canvas Project, Cat, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, watercolor, Yamantaka | 1 Comment

WWM: Day 12 Moms Stuff Dragonfly

Posted on July 12, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

This was a garden decoration, and my mom always had great flower gardens. I saw quite a bit of pink in the greys, and so went with the mauve-pink. I used Super5 Frankfurt ink for the waterproof lines. I sketched … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged #danielsmithprimateks, #davinciwatercolors, #deatramentisink, #diamineink, #Fluidwatercolorpaper, #frankfurtink, #greyink, #LamyLX, #middleofthenight, #super5ink, #tobaccoink, #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Primatek, watercolor | 4 Comments

WWM: Day 11 Moms Stuff, Pelican

Posted on July 11, 2018 by D. Katie Powell

Ink as watercolor, in this case Robert Oster African Gold. I think I can stretch this World Watercolor Month to include this ink painting on Hahnemühle Cold Pressed Post Cards. This squatty body is such a joy to paint! “Paint … Continue reading →