Category Archives: making a living

Commission: Dan

Posted on August 29, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I was commissioned to create a portrait for a local man, Dan, who has been a great friend to many, going beyond the call of duty, and has a sweet soul. His friend (and mine) wanted it as a retirement … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, making a living, painting, process, watercolor | Tagged commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Portland Oregon, portrait, QoR watercolors, sheep, Super5 ink, watercolor | 12 Comments

Sketchpack Project: Week Two

Posted on August 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

ABOUT SKETCHPACK: The project began in 2011. The original idea was to get folks to draw daily. The Sketchpack is a small zigzag journal with two usable sides, allowing one to sketch on both sides of 15 ‘pages’ to complete … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, August Challenge, Capetown, chalk chuck, challenge, cotton, De Atramentis Document ink, folded jurnal, furniture, guitar, leather punch, linen, making a living, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, painting, Passementerie, pen & ink, Platinum Carbon pen, regulating needle, sanding sticks, sewing gauge, silk, sinew, sketchbook, Sketchpack Project, Super5 ink, thread, upholstery tacks | 6 Comments

Sketchpack Project: Week One

Posted on August 5, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Posted in art journal, challenge, furniture, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Artsauce, August Challenge, aum, beeswax, Berry's, bostitch, Capetown, folded jurnal, Grex, Houles gimp trim, Houles Tassel, MPF Conservation, om, Passementerie, Platinum Carbon pen, Sketchpack Project, staple remover, Staplegun, upholstery tacks | 10 Comments

Red Cat Buddha on RedBubble

Posted on March 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I have Red Zazen Cat Buddha up on RedBubble! And a handsome husband who is willing to model his shirts for me! We have men’s, women’s, tanks, and hoodies — and other products as well!

Posted in making a living | Tagged buddhist, cat buddha, redbubble, zen, zen cat | 2 Comments

Red Zazen Cat on RedBubble

Posted on February 24, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I put a few new item up on my RedBubble page — I needed a break from the bidding wars of our mainstream business! Zazen Red Cat went up to satisfy a client! Men and women’s clothing, totes, note cards, … Continue reading →

Posted in Buddha, gods and goddesses, making a living | Tagged buddha, buddhist, cards, cat buddha, cats, phone cases, t-shirt, tote bags, zazen, zen, zen cat | 3 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Chippendale Conservation

Posted on January 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Above, Mitchell thinking about the various things he has to do to this family heirloom in order to resurrect it from the broken state. The Chippendale sofa’s arm was broken and sagging, leg broken, parts of the frame broken, and … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Chippendale, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Portland Oregon, sofa, Stillman & Birn, Urban Sketchers Portland, watercolor | 13 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Webbing Stretchers

Posted on January 3, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

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

You Share Good: A Good Book About Copyright

Posted on December 29, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I bought You Share Good by Gwenn Seemel and read it in almost one sitting. Gwenn’s argument for letting go of copyright and relaxing into sharing is persuasive, and I highly recommend it — even if you choose to copyright … Continue reading →

Posted in copyleft, creativity, making a living | Tagged Copyright, Gwenn Seemel | 1 Comment

My “Business” Sketchbook: Tiffany Chandeliers South Entrance

Posted on October 17, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

The chandeliers are a crowning point in the Washington State Capitol Legislative Building. The architects felt the most important fixtures were those in the north portico, in the rotunda, and in the entry in the south porte cochere, as well … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, drawing, history, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, bronze, chandelier, Daniel Smith watercolors, Lamy Safari pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, Tiffany, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building, water | 21 Comments

What Artists Can Do: Homeless Veterans (Washington Post)

Posted on August 26, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

This is an amazing and touching article in the Washington Post, which I came by via one of the artists, Richard Johnson. Drawing The World Together Once we were soldiers They are only translucent distorted shadows of the soldiers, marines, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, journal, making a living, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged addiction, Richard Johnson, war, Washington Journal | 2 Comments

Gwenn Seemel’s Commentary on Copyright

Posted on July 16, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Copyright is an important issue for artists. I cringe every time I hear art students speaking of how they want to post an image of an experiment where they copied an artist or photographer, but they know they can’t do … Continue reading →

Posted in copyleft, creativity, making a living | Tagged copyleft, Copyright, Creative Commons, Gwenn Seemel, protection | Leave a comment

Hit. The. Floor. Running.

Posted on July 12, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Thank you to Sammy at bemuzin for this blog post! I am asked how I manage to be so productive. We have our business together and I am working 25-40 hours/week. And I have several blogs — see the side … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, journal, making a living, process, writing | Tagged abundance, habits | 8 Comments

New Products on RedBubble!

Posted on June 27, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Just about the cutest thing in the world has happened at RedBubble: My line on baby clothes. I had to share! I ordered big tote bags for our groceries for myself and Mitchell too — Added a few more images, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, cards, making a living | Tagged baby clothes, Booby Gurl, grocery bags, onesies, tote bags | 6 Comments

Happy Solstice!

Posted on June 21, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I don’t think he wants Solstice! He wants to shine brightly year around! Mexicali suns are now on tote bags! (And of course, in cards and prints.) Happy Solstice (and some shameless marketing!) I agree to Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial … Continue reading →