Category Archives: painting

Days of Yore: Laguna Beach

I am homesick. Sketch from an old black and white photo from who-knows-where, looking East into the Laguna Hills, when they were pristine… With more news of fracking pollution approved to dump in our oceans, I am homesick for better … Continue reading

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Janzten Beach Carousel 1, Chinese Water Serpent

I am a lover of carousels; this set was a pleasure to paint! Jantzen Beach Carousel has so many gorgeous carousel horses! I wanted to set up a series whereby someone could buy the set or just one, and they … Continue reading

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Tools: Travel Palettes (and a Review of Prima Watercolor Confections)

I’m happy with my travel case from Sennelier. I recently cleaned it and changed out two colors. There is one little thing: It doesn’t fit into my small purse. I know, artists are always fussing, right?  But it is about … Continue reading

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Birdhouse

(Image provided by Sharukh Bamboat: friend, tour guide, writer!) I thought it would be fun to show how the choice of an ink color can change-up your drawing.  I keep a stash of good images (both mine and other folks) … Continue reading

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Working on Commission: How to Connect with a Subject

I am almost completed with my commitment to painting many of Oregon’s Most Endangered Places for Restore Oregon.  They will auction the images at the Restoration Celebration dinner to raise monies to further the cause of restoration and saving pieces … Continue reading

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Creative Life

(Image by Dan Antion, with permission; his blog is No Facilities.) A dialogue with a friend yesterday about perfection in his painting (he is learning gouache) reminded me that perfection freezes us.  Also, NO artist is objective about their work … Continue reading

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Uppertown Net Loft, Astoria, Oregon

  The barn red on the lovely blue Columbia River was my initial attraction. I did a few fast sketches, and this one I like so will donate…. An image of the building from the hilltops is here. Uppertown Net … Continue reading

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Doors in Brazil, Middle-of-the-Night Sketch

To me this is a compelling street scene because of the line of doors…. Update: Murilo S Romeiro took the image of Tiradentes, a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil. For Thursday Doors, Norm’s blog round robin open to anyone! … Continue reading

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Wong Laundry Building, Portland, Oregon

 Wong’s Chinese Laundry resided in the Wong Laundry Building on NW 3d  St, an area currently under constant demolition for high rises, many of poor design quality. It was designed by Alexander Ewart in 1908, and has had many businesses in … Continue reading

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Working Toward a Goal

I’ve rarely worked toward a goal/deadline in my painting life. (I do it all the time in my working life, above.) That is, there is a desired result at the end for a “client,” here, as. I am creating a … Continue reading

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Kamala and My Sketch Bag

I have such a love-hate relationship with Kamala. She drives me crazy, never really wanting relationship with me, but definitely trying to drive me crazy by getting into the exact things I want her to leave alone. She pushes baskets … Continue reading

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VSW: San Antonio, 1

Thanks to a month of very fast watercolors I’ve lost some inhibitions… or left my editor in the dust. I quite like this freeing fast sketching, and throwing on of color! A page from our San Antonio River Walk: Some … Continue reading

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2016 World Watercolor Month: Last Day

My last entry for World Watercolor Month! My entire month! Next year, I’ll do them both again!          ©D. Katie Powell. My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

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Gratitude Journal: Rings, Cherished Blogfest 2016

I’ve been married twice.  My first husband died. You know how you don’t know what you don’t know until you experience it? I didn’t know how unconnected I was in my first marriage. I had doubts about getting married; everyone … Continue reading

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Mitchell’s Orange Fire Hydrant

Mitchell Boy Train Yogananda Destiny. All in the color orange….  Cherished Blogfest Starts today! July 29, 30, 31! Tell us about a cherished object: post a painting / drawing / photo, and in 500 words or less, tell us why … Continue reading

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Buddha Blues

These sketches came from a necessity to keep to my goal of a painting a day.  They were busy days, and my ulterior motive was to continue to learn about both runny or non-waterproof inks and also wet-on-wet techniques.  Wet-on-wet … Continue reading

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Indian Paintbrush

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

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Bleeding Hearts

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

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