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Category Archives: memory
Bright Ideas: Hopeful In Bad Times
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasize in … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook
Tagged #365sketch2017, Bright Ideas journal, Hope, Howard Zinn, Lamy Joy, Platinum Carbon pen
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#18 on the Top Sketch Websites!
Top 50 Sketch Websites & Blogs For Sketchers & Artists Woot! I made #18 on the top sketch blogs for sketchers! I am not usually interested in awards but this is comparing me with some people who I think are … Continue reading
Posted in class, creativity, drawing, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing
Tagged art, art classes, journal, journaling, sketching
29 Comments
CA Trip: Mitchell Lived Here and Here and Here
A complicated little house not far from the Moreton Bay Fig. Not easy, lotsa mistakes…. Logic (an architectural drawing) is easier. Not my style anymore… and little fun for me! I release those days! Relying on seeing leads to charming … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor
Tagged architecture, art journal, California, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, going home, Hand Book journal, Holbein, Lamy Al-Star, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Santa Paula, Sennelier, travel, urban sketcher, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
4 Comments
Rustic Happy Rooster Cup
Like I said, rooster’s on my mind. We name some of our cups, and we have two sets of Happy Cups. Both have roosters on them, not by design but by happenstance, although maybe roosters = morning = creative time … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, waterbrush, watercolor
Tagged #365sketch2017, art journal, coffee cup, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Mamma Ro, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, rooster, Super5 ink
6 Comments
CA Trip: Mitchell’s Moreton Bay Fig
Mitchell took me to see his Moreton Bay Fig in Santa Paula. I understand that. I have relationships with trees too, and this one is amazing. It was planted in 1879 — and yes, it is famous — and grows … Continue reading
CA Trip: The Chili Hut
Mitchell’s mom ran the Chili Hut in Santa Paula… When I sketched the building where it was I put a couple of women in dresses as they might have been then and used a 50’s style car (made up of … Continue reading
Bright Ideas, Silver Roses
Going back to my Bright Ideas journal for the 365 drawings a day. I love my Platinum Carbon pen but really, the ink is so reflective that it shines in scans and in photos… I don’t like THAT! That is … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook
Tagged #365sketch2017, Bright Ideas journal, De Atramentis Document ink, jewelry, Lamy Joy, Platinum Carbon pen, roses, silver
2 Comments
He was MAD
I told you I was journaling more personally, because I am an avid writer who works through things on paper. How does one get to inner peace? H0-boy. A family member (NOT Mitchell) was mad and has yet to work … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, loss, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing
Tagged anger, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Primatek, Super5 ink, watercolor
9 Comments
Mitchell’s Broken Deb Babcock Cup
Over the years, Mitchell and I have gifted ourselves with a few pieces of Deb Babcock’s lovely funny colorful pottery. Each has a custom water cup we use at our desk, with symbols we chose. Mitchell’s was retired to live … Continue reading
Posted in animals, art journal, journal, loss, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged art journal, cactus, Daniel Smith watercolors, Deb Babcock, Holbein, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, rabbit, Sennelier, sun, Tracey Fletcher King, watercolor
8 Comments
Endings and Beginnings
I started my new Nostalgie Sketch book. It is named Endings and Beginnings. I don’t usually name my sketchbooks but this one cried out to me. I started it during the dark of the moon. We just were making the … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, Buddha, creativity, ink painting, journal, meditation, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, dark of the moon, De Atramentis Document ink, Lamy Joy, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, new moon, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, resolutions, Super5 ink, trishnajewelry
12 Comments
Shiatsu Quilt Backtalk Kitty
RIP… Okay, you will need a bit more. We had to put her down December 23d because she didn’t respond to any of the meds for overactive thyroid. Her little heart was [pumping to hard, she was becoming more anxious, … Continue reading
Posted in animals, art journal, creativity, ink painting, journal, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged art journal, De Atramentis Document ink, Kamala, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Nostalgie Sketch Book Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, White Uniball Signo
13 Comments
Hand-Mind Creative Connections
Liz Steel asked this morning if the architects she knows who draw needed to learn observational skills in order to sketch as artists. I sketch, practiced architecture until I left it to pursue art, and am an artist. Most of … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, making a living, memory, process
Tagged architecture, creativity, dialogue, drawing architecture, mind-brain connection, perspective
4 Comments
Gratitude
☾ I am also thankful for my blog and the connections it has brought into my life. The wonder of the new and unexpected should be appreciated through new eyes! Have a day filled with Gratitude… ☾ UNKNOWN Watercolor paper … Continue reading
CA Trip, 1: Telegraph Road, Santa Paula
I’ve been processing a wild and woolly trip to So Cal. I’ll be posting items out of order, that is for sure. I’m adding color to many, and some are images from photos taken. Starting with Tooling around Mitchell’s home … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, watercolor
Tagged architecture, art journal, California, De Atramentis Document ink, Hand Book journal, Lamy Al-Star, Lamy Joy, Noodlers ink, palm tree, palm trees, Platinum Carbon pen, Santa Paula, Sennelier, Super5 ink, Telegraph Road, travel, urban sketcher, USk, Ventura County, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
5 Comments
USk: Thurman “Thursday” Garage Doors
Mitchell and I like to walk up Thurman Street sometimes (and should do it more!). So many old garages and oddities and lovely gardens. Some of the old garages look like they are never used; the vines cover the doors. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged architecture, art journal, brunaille, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, grisaille underpainting, Lamy Al-Star, NW Portland, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Sennelier, Super5 ink, Thurman St, urban sketchers, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor
18 Comments
VSW: Boyd’s Beach Too
home home home, image taken by Randy Boyd…. Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink; Sennelier, Holbein, and Daniel Smith watercolors. ©D. Katie Powell. My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart. ☾ As my Patreon … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, challenge, memory, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #inktober, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Holbein, Laguna Beach, Pacific Ocean, palm, palm tree, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Randy Boyd, Sennelier, Super5 ink
2 Comments
San Louis Obispo Wine Fields
Another “urban” sketch of wine fields around the central California area. I created a loose pencil sketch, and came in hard with pencil for shadow in the vineyards. No pen work. I was able to use my new KWZ Foggy … Continue reading
Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, memory, pen & ink, pencil, urban sketchers
Tagged #inktober, art journal, brunaille, california hills, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Diamine Ink, grisaille, grisaille underpainting, KWZ Foggy Green ink, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, USk, verdaille, vineyards, wine fields
2 Comments
D.Katie Powell Art 
Motherwell, Must Read
Two years ago, for the first time, I steeped myself in learning technique as a shortcut
with watercolor. My editor soon became in charge of my paintbrush.
When I first wanted to paint, over breakfast at the West Beach Cafe I asked
Billy Al Bengston whether I should go back to school for a MFA. He said, “Do you want to paint or teach?” and advised me to take the money I’d spend on college and take the
time off and buy cheap paint and canvas and go to it. I took his advice at 29.
Now at 60 it is time to unlearn and go back to my own screwy sense of whatever I want to play with and not think about being technically correct. It took me two years to undo what technical drawing did to me as a artist. Let’s hope this time I remember the path. Continue reading →