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Category Archives: drawing
Art Journaling: Miscellaneous Picks
Random sketches from my journal, continuing to play with the watercolors is the point. My confidence is growing; I am dropping into my best drawing habits from my teens and twenties. While sketching my favorite coffee cup, I realized why … Continue reading
Posted in art, art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged Caydanlik, coffee, cup, Daniel Smith watercolors, La Gabbianella, La Poet Laval, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, palm, Portland Oregon, QoR watercolors, St. John's Wort, Stillman & Birn, tangerine, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor
17 Comments
Art Journal: Memories
A friend has laid out a great challenge to kick off 2015. When I can, I am taking her cues because she’s created a great list. Thoughtful, they are evoking memories in most who are playing along. A challenge shouldn’t … Continue reading
My Picks for the Best Books, Part One
I’ve been asked quite a bit about my favorite how-to art books, and here is my answer. I will divide them into beginner’s best and then those that are good no matter where you are, but you must know that … Continue reading
Posted in art, class, creativity, drawing, painting, process, watercolor
Tagged book review, Cathy Johnson, Charles Reid, France Belleville-Van Stone, Francis Ching, Frank Ching, Kimon Nicolaides, Marc Taro Holmes
10 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Webbing Stretchers
My commitment to documenting the upholstery studio is ongoing; a challenge prompted this watercolor sketch. I said no more challenges but this list is too much fun. I chose Mitchell’s webbing stretchers because they happened to be setting on his … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, MPF Conservation, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Oregon, Stillman & Birn, upholstery tools, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor, webbing stretchers
6 Comments
She Sings Gratitude
My last tree of the season. I had fun with my made-up trees; our cats had fun with their undecorated tree! She sings gratitude for her good fortune and prays for those in need. ☾ Aquabee Super Deluxe 9×9-inch (of … Continue reading
Posted in art, art journal, Booby Gurl, challenge, drawing, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Booby Gurl, Christmas Tree, crescent moon, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Oregon, pregnant, Primatek, QoR watercolors, stars, watercolor
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From My Earliest Art Journals on Design
I came across my old architectural journals the other day. Way way back in time I practiced architecture — in another life! Back in the old days we didn’t call it art journaling, it was just what many of us … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, graphite, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook
Tagged 200 Oceangate Boulevard, Arco, art journal, Charles Luckman, George Kaneko, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Portland Oregon, urban sketchers, USC
15 Comments
Happy Solstice and New Moon
Happy we are turning toward the light. Even on this rainy day, I know the light is growing . . . Looking across the river towards St. John’s, quick sketch while waiting. Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Alpha journal … Continue reading
Posted in art, art journal, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged moon, new moon, Portland, solstice, St. Johns, sun, Suzuki Roshi, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland
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Cats: The End of a Sketchbook
Kamala and I are the only gurls in the bedroom. She thinks she owns Mitchell, and competes with Jai, Sammy and me. She spent eight years living outside our door in a rural area and fended for herself, with fresh … Continue reading
Posted in art, art journal, color, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, watercolor
Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, cats, crazy cat, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Uniball Vision Elite, zen cat
4 Comments
Chinese Silk Bag and HOBO Bag
This is an exercise in gesture versus guidelines, and in permanence (in the form of lasting details and materials) versus impermanence (fast, light materials.) I have two bags I reach for besides my painting bag. One is this lovely silk … Continue reading
Posted in drawing, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, bag, Caran D'Ache, Chinese, Daniel Smith watercolors, guidelines, HOBO, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, pocketbook, Primatek, purse, QoR watercolors, silk, Stillman & Birn, watercolor, watercolor pencils
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My Business Sketchbook: Our Holiday Card
It was fun to create a holiday card this year, the end of my first year of watercolors! I had good models in a late 19th century chair from a set that will be conserved next year, and our cats, … Continue reading
Posted in art, cards, drawing, furniture, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged armchair, art journal, bow, Cat, chair, Christmas, Christmas lights, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, edwardian, gentleman's chair, Hanukkah, holiday cards, MPF Conservation, New Year, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Santa, Stillman & Birn, Victorian
7 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Washington State Justice Building
My last sketch onsite from earlier in the year, with watercolors added Sunday. It was pouring, our work at the Capitol completed, and we were on our way home. Mitchell wanted to explore the Justice Building. The Library was lovely … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Caran D'Ache, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, fleur-de-lis, lamps, Lamy Safari pen, lions, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, torchére, urban sketchers, USk, Washington State Capitol Justice Building
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Monastery of the Precious Blood Portland Oregon
Drawn on site in Mount Tabor, this is such a pretty building. Reminds me of Southern California, home home home . . . Had almost no time! Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Alpha journal on site with Caran D’ache … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged architect, art journal, Catholic, Daniel Smith watercolors, guidelines, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Spanish Revival, Stillman & Birn, Urban Sketchers Portland, watercolor
4 Comments
Architects Have Techniques in Common
I’m taking an online course right now from another architect turned artist. This artist is quite protective about her coursework staying within students, so I hesitate to discuss her by name. As our drawing styles are similar, I am taking … Continue reading
My “Business” Sketchbook: The Lion Torchéres
At the end of our last day working in the Senate Offices of the Legislative Building on the Washington State Capitol Campus, we crossed the grass in the pouring rain to the Justice Building. As you walk into the building … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, color, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Caran D'Ache, Delta journal, lamps, Lamy Safari pen, lions, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, torchére, urban sketchers, USk, Washington State Capitol Justice Building
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My “Business” Sketchbook: Selfie in the Senate Hallway
I tend to lay down to get ceiling shots. I also tend to take my shoes off anywhere I can. Mitchell caught me taking a picture of the chandelier on my back on the Senate Hallway floor. I have on … Continue reading
Sketching Eames House of Cards
Charles Eames House of Cards, above, bought in NYC at the Whitney, I think, in 1973; I bought them on my first traveling assignment as a young architect, to management school at IBM in New York. I chose them as … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, drawing, graphite, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Charles Eames, Daniel Smith watercolors, House of Cards, Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Ray Eames, Stillman & Birn
2 Comments
Back to Architecture: Chiesa di Ognissanti, Italy
Chiesa di Ognissanti, Florence, Italy. I wanted to draw something comforting last night, and pulled out images from Italy. This is comforting to me — portraits are NOT! This is the “doodle” I did to understand the building relationships. Understanding … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, drawing, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged architect, architecture, art journal, Chiesa di Ognissanti, Daniel Smith watercolors, Heart of Darkness, Italian churches, Matteo Nigetti, Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Stillman & Birn, symmetry, Tombow pens
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Line, Color, Shadow
Some of you know I am doing a year-long study of Weeping Buddha along with the lojong postings on my other blog. Thanksgiving, the first was a simple line drawing of Weeping Buddha. Now all color, pale wood colors and … Continue reading
Posted in art, Buddha, color, drawing, graphite, journal, meditation, painting, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, weeping buddha
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D.Katie Powell Art 