Category Archives: drawing

USk: Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Posted on April 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW. Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they’ve taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, NW Portland, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Pro Photo Supply, PSU Outdoor Market, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, White Uniball Signo | 12 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

USk: Out my New (Studio) Window

Posted on April 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I have more space in my studio, and a new window. It is pouring. My urban sketch today was out my new window looking east on NW Nicolai! All the spring greens against the evergreens, a riot of green and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, drawing, landscape, pen & ink, pencil, urban sketchers | Tagged Alphabet District Portland, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, NW Industrial Sanctuary Portland, NW Nicolai, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 10 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 1Ink

Posted on April 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I look at my pages now that my comfort with fountain pens and watercolors — my materials — to move my eye to design a pleasing page. I love this postmodern building and had little knowledge of it so this … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Platinum Preppy pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | Leave a comment

VSW: Chicago, 1, Newberry Library

Posted on April 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Nice to have Sue lead the Virtual Sketchwalk in Chicago this month. I’m taking the opportunity to play on Canson Colored papers, ink and watercolor on grey paper! The watercolor buckled the paper, but it stood up to it — … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, process, series, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Canson paper, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Henry Cobb, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Mummy Bauxite, Newberry Library, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Shungite, virtual sketchwalk | 2 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

Recipes, and Taking Classes!

Posted on March 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I post this with recipe on my foodie blog, but this is a thanks to Tracey and a commentary about taking classes. I am taking an online class by my favorite Aussie, Tracey Fletcher King, called Delicious Paint. A class … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, drawing, pen & ink, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, food, grisaille, online classes, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Sugar Chili, Super5 ink, watercolors, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

Whales and Dolphins and Sea Creatures, Oh MY!

Posted on March 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’m using this “sketch-swim” to loosen up and try new things. I am in love with Reuven Dattner‘s wonderful sketching images. One thing I’ve wanted to try is the use of odd colored or complementary colored inks in a sketch. … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, humpback whale, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Pacific Ocean, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Rich German, watercolor, whale watching, whales, White Pitt pen | Leave a comment

Playing with Tracey Fletcher King, 2

Posted on March 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

My style, but trying to get the layering of watercolors to work from Tracey’s instructions, with under-painting then top detail painting. I am taking an online class by my favorite Aussie, Tracey Fletcher King, called Delicious Paint. Pentalic Nature Sketch … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, drawing, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, art journal, Caran D'ache watercolor pencil, Cretacolor Sepia Pencil, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Tracey Fletcher King, watercolor | 4 Comments

Drawing Rich German’s Whales

Posted on March 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Rich German lives in my home-town, Laguna Beach, and loves the ocean’s creatures. He garnered international attention from his video of a close encounter with a pod of orcas. (Board and Rich shown right.) He garnered the attention of some … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, Hol, humpback whale, Laguna Beach, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, Rich German, watercolor, whale watching, whales | 2 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

VSW: Burano, Italy, 3

Posted on February 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Rounded out my pages with teeny watercolors. The top one I like a lot. I rarely use my fat Pitt White pen, but did on the water. Happy with that outcome too. The other was a big impatient experiment and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, canals, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pitt pens, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 4 Comments

Still Weeping

Posted on February 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Missing Govinda Jai so… One week, and I feel sometimes like I am worse now, because I constantly forget he is gone and look for him. ©D. Katie Powell. My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.

Posted in art journal, drawing, journal, loss, memory, pencil | Tagged Cat, colored paper, colored pencils, death, Govinda Jai, grief, Kahlil Gibran, loss | 6 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 2

Posted on February 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I turn away from the church (above) and head toward the canals in Burano Italy; The color begins in the shops along the way! My process below, from guidelines to sketch to ink grisaille to watercolor. I was asked, and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 7 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 1

Posted on February 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

New month, new virtual sketchwalk with Facebook group page, to Burano Italy, an amazingly colorful island town in Venice. Starting in Chiesa di San Marino Piazza, my process below, from guidelines to sketch to ink grisaille to watercolor. Map below! … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 1 Comment

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

Sketching Memories of our Staycation: Ever Hopeful

Posted on January 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I didn’t fill our Staycation sketchbook, so am continuing it with sketches on our days off. Jai is doing better with his IBS (carrageenan in wet cat food), but there are changes that will be with him as long as … Continue reading →