Category Archives: pen & ink

Overworked / Failure

Dan recently blogged about failures: “So many people try to hide failure. Sometimes, they want to hide it out of embarrassment and sometimes they want to hide it out of fear. I don’t want to fail, but when I do, … Continue reading

Posted in art, art journal, creativity, making a living, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 6

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

For Dan, One More Train…

Middle of the night drawing of the Oregon Zoo train.  Dan now you are forever linked to trains, along with my girlfriend who I used to ride trains with, and a crazy boyfriend who once picked me up on a … Continue reading

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Thursday Doors: The Doe Library’s Leather Doors

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

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More Trains: Portland Union Station and more

Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! Part one here! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, history, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 5: Gratitude in Gifting

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tough Week

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

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

USk: Art Gallery Door, Alphabet District

There is this amazing rusty metal door going into the art gallery on Raleigh. It is a wild thing, all twisted and colorful and rough and organic. I did my best; but gads, what a door. It pops out of … Continue reading

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VSW: Capetown South Africa Beachwalk, 1

I haven’t much time this week. Necessity is making my goal for this sketchwalk to capture the essence of the view, let go of details. What stands out about the view? the buildings? the beach? the sky? the mountain? Capture … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

National Train Day: Portland Union Station

This is in response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also was stolen from him….) … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, history, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 4

I’m concerned about having drawn my mala because after drawing my thirty-year-old basket the handle broke.  But maybe after all these years it is time to replace my broken-winged unconventional mala bead with a different bead… Okay, yes, I added … Continue reading

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Bright Ideas, Week 3

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. I can’t stop loving this crazy colored journal! I spent time color mixing this week… fewer Bright Ideas… But I did realize what this book is all about, and it … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, Buddha, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

USk: Trinity Episcopal Church’s Red Doors, Alphabet District

Trinity Episcopal Church, at the corner of 19th and Everett, across from where the NW Outdoor Market is often held.   I rarely see it like the image right (Wiki) — trees obscure the lovely old building except when it … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

USk: Vaughn St and 18th Street

Near Lindy Ltd., Vaughn curves into 18th and there is a lovely set of older buildings. I’ve seen chickens in the street in this odd quiet part of the city. Quick studies, not that happy with outcome — trees are … Continue reading

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Bright Ideas, Week 2

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. Having such fun with these little doodle-ly sketches. I don’t know where this going; just drawing… Springtime, dandy-lions, and soon wishes! Most see them as weeds.  They are good in … Continue reading

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USk: Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW. Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they’ve taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th … Continue reading

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VSW: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago

Loving this virtual walk in Chicago, I found a lovely Louis Sullivan church I’d not known about. Chicago has to be the Queen City of Architectural Monuments! Playing in virtual sketching gives me the ability to try techniques, and here … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, color, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 1

All these images are sketched in the Bright Ideas journal. I am trying to sketch faster, draw more without an agenda, and also to play again with colored pencils.  I used to work with them as an architect and it … Continue reading

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments