Category Archives: journal

USk: PSU Saturday Market and Oregon Berry Festival

Posted on July 19, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Memory of a lovely day with Mitchell. Started with the Pen Show, then on to the more normal Saturday activity for us: Going to the Portland Saturday Market for peaches and squash and other yummy things. We also happened upon … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, journal, landscape, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Fineline masking fluid, Nineteen27 S'mores, Oregon Berry Festival, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, PSU Outdoor Market, Saturday Market, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 4 Comments

Indian Paintbrush

Posted on July 15, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

California wildflowers are deeply connected to memories of my childhood. Until World Watercolor Month I had only a fleeting understanding of that, but the more I choose to paint California wildflowers, the more I am aware! Somehow, when you draw … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, California wildflower, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, floral, flower, Indian paintbrush, Lamy Joy, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, watercolor | 2 Comments

Bleeding Hearts

Posted on July 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Bleeding Hearts As of today this reminds me not only of family, but of this incredibly awful political season and the vitriol among people on the “same side.” I am told I am a bleedin’ heart liberal. I wear it … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Bleeding Heart, California wildflower, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, Noodlers ink, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, virtual sketching, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 16 Comments

Gratitude: My Red Bike at the Haskell Street Barn

Posted on July 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

*alert: vampire child face, oops* I had a good childhood, raised by a single mom with an alcoholic dad who skipped, and three much older brothers who loved me dearly. I am GRATEFUL because I wasn’t around JD (what they … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, pen & ink, portrait, series, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, apricot, babysitter, bike, Daniel Smith watercolors, Encino California, George Puttnam, ghosts, gratitude, Haskell Ave, Holbein, journal, memory, Moleskin Watercolor journal, pen & ink, Platinum Carbon pen, red barn, red bike, selfie, sketchbook, the Haunting, watercolor, watercolor art journal | 18 Comments

Two Hooks

Posted on July 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I did these in tandem, so will post them in tandem. Still working with the DeA tobacco ink, and loving it. Pentalic Aqua Journal, Lamy Al-Star, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, and Sennelier, Holbein, QoR and Daniel Smith watercolors. ©D. Katie … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Fineline masking fluid, froggie, frogs, hook, Lamy Al-Star, M.Graham watercolors, palm, palm trees, Pentalic Aqua Journal, QoR, watercolor | 2 Comments

Vetch is Not Good for Horses!

Posted on July 10, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I had to paint vetch after the lupines: equal time for Pa after Mimi! After my memory jog in California Lupines, I kept wondering why Pa warned me not to feed the horses vetch whenever I visited the ranch. There … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, California, companion planting, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, floral, flower, horses, Lamy Al-Star, Pa, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR, vetch, watercolor | 7 Comments

California Lupines

Posted on July 8, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Lupines are a wild California flower — hillsides in Southern California turn deep violet with hues of magenta-purple vetch running through them. Both remind me of my grandparents. My grandfather used to tell me not to feed the horses vetch. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, California wildflower, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, lupine, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, purple, Sennelier, watercolor | 7 Comments

Sweetpeas

Posted on July 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I was called Sweetpea by my brother growing up; I didn’t see a wild sweetpea until I moved to Oregon, and now they greet me in early summer and sometimes have a second blooming in autumn. I hear my brother … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR, sweetpea, watercolor, wild sweetpeas | 6 Comments

USk: Mitchell, Saw, ER Kaiser

Posted on July 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Mitchell had a saw buck and a piece of wood went flying yesterday. We are very lucky and thanked KaliMa that it missed his artery in his arm by mere mms! Hit him in the middle of his two eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, portrait, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor, writing | Tagged ‪#‎WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, ER, kaiser permanente, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Strathmore journal, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 22 Comments

July is World Watercolor Month!

Posted on July 1, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Charlie from Doodlewash starting World Watercolor Month to celebrate that which many of us love — WATERCOLORS — and to help benefit kids without access to art supplies. Artists from around the world will be posting their daily efforts on … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged ‪#‎WorldWatercolorMonth‬, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Dreaming Zebra Foundation, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, lovers, Pacific Ocean, palm trees, Pentalic Aqua Journal, sunset | 16 Comments

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

Bright Ideas, Week 9

Posted on June 25, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I sketched these in the Bright Ideas journal, and have begun to pick up whatever color ink I want to use. Rules are meant to be broken! We didn’t have a lot of money but Christmas was always a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged Anthurium, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, California pottery, Christmas ornament, compass, De Atramentis Document ink, dogs, grandmother, Hallmark, hand made paper, heart, Lamy Al-Star, meat grinder, Mimi, Platinum Carbon pen, Santa Anita Ware, Santa Claus, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | Leave a comment

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

Bright Ideas, Week 7

Posted on June 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I sketched these in the Bright Ideas journal. I had to use Freshly Minted Suggestions for the best designed bottle cap opener thangy ever! If you don’t have one of these 50+-year-old gadgets then you haven’t lived. And the memories … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, writing | Tagged AA token, art journal, bottle opener, Bright Ideas journal, cats, compass, De Atramentis Document ink, Dyson vacuum, Eldajon palette, hand made paper, heart, Lamy Al-Star, mala, Marilyn Wold, pepsi-cola bottle, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, rock, rocks, strawberry huller, Toes, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 11 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 6

Posted on May 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

This week I’ve taken care of business — my jewelry business, as I am hoping to wind it down and close shop this year. (If my readers fall in love, note the 40% off using the code “SPECIAL”. Shameless plug.) … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, gods and goddesses, journal, meditation, memory, pen & ink, writing | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, color, De Atramentis Document ink, Guadalupe, heart, Lamy Al-Star, mala, meditation, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, prayer, turtle, Virgin Mary | 12 Comments

Thursday Doors: The Doe Library’s Leather Doors

Posted on May 26, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

My sketch, above of the unpainted and beautiful doors in the Doe Library. The Doe Library in Berkeley still has the solid redwood doors, covered in thick hides with brass details. We were hired to assess the doors, and explain … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Doe Library, Holbein, leather doors, Platinum Preppy, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers | 9 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 5: Gratitude in Gifting

Posted on May 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

A tough week; on top of our Kamala being sick, the astrological forces (Mars retrograde or whatever is going on) have conspired to make some of the people in my life complete arseholes. Fortunately, none are very close to me. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, urban sketchers | Tagged art journal, Bright Ideas journal, De Atramentis Document ink, dragon, dragon tea, Lamy Al-Star, orchid, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

Tough Week

Posted on May 20, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

It’s been a tough week. Our little girl got sick, and while we now know it is from her new condition and the meds for hypothyroidism, it was a hard week, staying up all night with her, worried, et all. … Continue reading →