Category Archives: creativity

Come Join Me in Cherished Blogfest 2016!

Posted on June 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

One month until the Cherished Blogfest arrives! Last year my blogger friends organized the Cherished Blogfest in which we talked about the most cherished objects in our lives, sharing stories, memories, and emotions. I wrote and painted about Buddha Ball (above), which … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, creativity, journal, memory | Tagged #cherishedblogfest, Cherished Blogfest | 4 Comments

Creative Blocks: What does that Nagging Voice Want?

Posted on June 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

When I am stuck, I play in color and texture. I see where materials take me without expectation. To have the feeling of blah, no vision, heavy, stupid, dim, is hard on any creative. Especially as being creative — at … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, making a living, memory, process | Tagged child's play, color, creative block, critic, critical voice, materials, play | 20 Comments

Watercolor and Ink Palm Sunset

Posted on June 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Just having a bit of fun, playing with Ancient Copper ink OVER washes of watercolor. There is a method to my madness in terms of the experiment… Pentalic Aqua Journal, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Lamy … Continue reading →

Posted in art, color, creativity, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Lamy Al-Star, Mid-Century Modern, ocean, Pacific Ocean, palm trees, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier, watercolor | 8 Comments

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 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

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

Bright Ideas, Week 2

Posted on April 30, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. Having such fun with these little doodle-ly sketches. I don’t know where this going; just drawing… Springtime, dandy-lions, and soon wishes! Most see them as weeds. They are good in … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, Cat, dandilions, De Atramentis Document ink, Ganesha, hanuman, Lamy Al-Star, Parvati, Platinum Carbon pen, Polish Basket, Portland Oregon, Prilosec, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 2 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

Bright Ideas, Week 1

Posted on April 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. I am trying to sketch faster, draw more without an agenda, and also to play again with colored pencils. I used to work with them as an architect and it … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged acupuncture, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, Brooke Medicine Eagle, buffalo, Cat, De Atramentis Document ink, Ganesha, glasses, Kamala, Lamy Al-Star, phone, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Prilosec, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

Copyright, Chagall Card, Riffs, WTH?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am breaking with my normal posts to say this timely bit regarding copyright, and the lawsuit against Led Zep over the riff. I don’t give a toss about any of it, but the topic is under my skin. I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, copyleft, creativity, meditation, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged copyleft, Copyright, Creative Commons, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier | 10 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 2 Watercolors

Posted on April 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I added a wash coat of color and a bit of detail to the ink sketches. Being a line-work gal, not sure which I like best… You? Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, watercolor pencils and Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, creativity, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Mummy Bauxite, owl, Primatek, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | 10 Comments

Creativity: Stumbling Blocks + Play

Posted on April 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Creatives get blocked. Creatives need play time! It has been a long time since I’ve been involved in a project — I’m not talking about recipes or art challenges but real projects — a couple of years of learning watercolors, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, making a living, process, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, architecture, cake, Caran D'ache watercolor pencil, creativity, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Platinum Carbon pen, play, watercolor | 12 Comments

How I Make Creative Decisions

Posted on March 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Sometimes it is hard to pick a project, or say no to an opportunity. April is arriving, and I have two art projects on my board in addition to making a living (conserving antiquities — this is what I am … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Blackfriar Pub, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Holbein, IFJM, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, London, pent, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, St. Paul's Cathedral | 12 Comments

Playing with Tracey Fletcher King, 1

Posted on March 9, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

The great thing about taking a class is what you might be pushed to do if you follow try to follow almost follow another artist’s instructions. I am taking an online class by my favorite Aussie, Tracey Fletcher King, called … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, creativity, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Caran D'ache watercolor pencil, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Tracey Fletcher King, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 8 Comments

Tracey Fletcher King’s Delicious Paint

Posted on March 8, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am taking a course by my downunder buddy, Tracey Fletcher King. Why do I take classes? I’m no expert (I know few watercolor experts) but I’m okay. . . I take them because I want to see what she’s … Continue reading →

Posted in class, creativity, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, Tracey Fletcher King | 5 Comments

Doc Youping Qin

Posted on February 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Dr. Youping Qin is my acupuncturist. My images here are part of a larger set, depicting the history of acupuncture and Chinese immigrants to Oregon. (This post is about the painting, not the story!) Doc Qin has been a Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, creativity, drawing, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, portrait, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged acupuncture, Alphabet District, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, Dr. Youping Qin, Golden Needle, Holbein, Holbien, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Strathmore journal, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 16 Comments

Chuck Close: Notes to Self

Posted on February 23, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

The serendipity of yesterday’s post being followed by what a friend (who knows we don’t watch the tele) sent me this morning: “CBS This Morning: Artist Chuck Close writes note to younger self.” He speaks to hard work, knowing you … Continue reading →

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