Category Archives: creativity

V is for Vonnegut’s Drawings: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 25, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I love it when I find writers who paint and draw, because I am both writer and artist. Kenneth Patchen, Natalie Goldberg, and Henry Miller are some of my favorites. I enjoyed these drawings of Vonnegut’s and was surprised as … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, writing | Tagged HyperAllergic, Kurt Vonnegut, writers, writers who paint | 2 Comments

R is for Repurposing: A-to-A Challenge

Posted on April 21, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I stumbled on this and after starting, thought, why not do it as a mini class? A friend sent me a fridge magnet, and while I was popping it onto our fridge, I realized we had a couple of old … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, class, collage, creativity, handmade paper, painting, process | Tagged craft, fish, Golden Acrylic Paints, horse, magnets, Pitt pens, recycle, repurpose, upcycle | 8 Comments

M is for Mistakes: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 15, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

It’s a cautionary tale. I tend to jump right in and not think about chemistry (which I was pretty good at) when it comes to paints and shellac and all kinds of wet colorful things. When I was first painting … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, color, creativity, painting, process | Tagged Golden Acrylic Paints, mermaids, mistake, mixology, retreat, shimmer | 8 Comments

J is for Art Journal: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 11, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I had to make a change. Running and working in our business means I don’t have the time to set up for painting at an easel and painting with acrylics, which in my case means canvases and 4 oz tubs … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, journal | 12 Comments

F is for Favorite Artists: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 7, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

A friend (and favorite artist) published a blog post the other day relating how her style evolved. It has a lot to do with artists who influenced her. I know several of my favorite artists influenced my tendency to one … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, painting, process, series | Tagged David Hockney, Marc Chagall, Marc Rothko, Monet, repetition, repetitve | 6 Comments

D is for Drawing Pens: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 4, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

My favorite drawing pens are Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pens, shown right as the top three pens with their caps off. I love them because they are wonderfully waterproofed India ink, and work best of all the pens on shellacked … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, process, shellac, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Cocoiro pens, drawing pens, painting with pens, Pitt pens, Tombow pens | 19 Comments

B is for Brush Pens! A-to-A Challenge

Posted on April 2, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am just learning to use brush pens, as I move to smaller formats and water colors to work my artistic ways. Brush pens are these super devices where the water is carried in tube which attaches to the watercolor … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, journal, painting, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged brush pens, Neocolor II, watercolor pencils | 5 Comments

Working With Watercolors in My Journal: Paint Party Friday

Posted on March 28, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I know that the best way to get over fear-of-watercolor-mistakes is to make a lot of them. So I finally dove into my journals, coloring sketches and moving graphite with water. the sketch above was partly made on-site; then colored … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, graphite, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Blacksmith, Cherry Grove Forge, Jamison Square, Portland Oregon | 9 Comments

Four Siblings: Part of “My Family” Series

Posted on March 13, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Many moons ago I was part of a year-long study group with Brugh Joy, an amazing spiritual teacher. We were given an exercise to get to know our ancestors and family, and write about it. I painted it. I painted … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, creativity, painting, series | Tagged Brugh Joy, family, My Family series, siblings | 1 Comment

Basilica of the Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo: Sketch to Finished Piece

Posted on March 9, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Carmel Mission (long name is Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, link to Wiki article) is one of my favorite missions. I am taking you through my sketching process from rough pencil sketches (which I wish I had not lost) to … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, painting, process, shellac | 6 Comments

PROCESS: From Acrylic to Oil Paints

Posted on March 5, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I paint with oils in our business but in my own artwork have used acrylics or gouache. Painting in our business is very different; I am working precisely toward an image that is not mine, shown right, in a restorative or reproduction … Continue reading →