Category Archives: pen & ink

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

Posted on April 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged #thursdaydoors, Alphabet District Portland, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, NW Portland, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Pro Photo Supply, PSU Outdoor Market, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, White Uniball Signo | 12 Comments

VSW: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago

Posted on April 25, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 architecture, Art Nouveau, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Gothic, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, Holbein, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Louis Sullivan, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, virtual sketchwalk | 2 Comments

Bright Ideas, Week 1

Posted on April 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 acupuncture, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, Brooke Medicine Eagle, buffalo, Cat, De Atramentis Document ink, Ganesha, glasses, Kamala, Lamy Al-Star, phone, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Prilosec, White Pitt pen, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

USk: Out my New (Studio) Window

Posted on April 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I have more space in my studio, and a new window. It is pouring. My urban sketch today was out my new window looking east on NW Nicolai! All the spring greens against the evergreens, a riot of green and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, drawing, landscape, pen & ink, pencil, urban sketchers | Tagged Alphabet District Portland, art journal, Bright Ideas journal, NW Industrial Sanctuary Portland, NW Nicolai, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 10 Comments

Thursday Doors: South Doors Washington Legislative Building

Posted on April 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Because we are in the middle of expanding our business studio space (and yes, I get a bit bigger art space to boot) I am pulling up old images with a new twist for Thursday Doors, (Check out Norm’s amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, central axis, circulation, Delta journal, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, marble, Pentalic, Platinum Preppy, Prichard Building, rotunda, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, Thursday Doors, urban sketchers, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building | 12 Comments

USk: Native American Student Center PSU

Posted on April 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Above, a quick sketch (with Diamine Ancient Copper ink in a Lamy Al-star) of the Native American Student Center at the south end of the PSU campus, off the park. Watercolor wash moved the inks: three colors were used: Yavapei, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Native American Student Center, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, PSU Outdoor Market, Strathmore journal, Urban Sketchcrawl, urban sketcher, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk | 10 Comments

VSW: Getty Tomb by Sullivan

Posted on April 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Thanks to a tour of Chicago + Louis Sullivan, I found the Getty Tomb in Graceland (which the name always makes me think of Elvis, of course.) I couldn’t get the Getty Tomb out of my head. Best to get … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Getty, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, Louis Sullivan, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, tomb, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor pencil | 22 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 2 Watercolors

Posted on April 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I added a wash coat of color and a bit of detail to the ink sketches. Being a line-work gal, not sure which I like best… You? Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, watercolor pencils and Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, creativity, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Mummy Bauxite, owl, Primatek, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | 10 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 1Ink

Posted on April 11, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I look at my pages now that my comfort with fountain pens and watercolors — my materials — to move my eye to design a pleasing page. I love this postmodern building and had little knowledge of it so this … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, caput mortem, Chicago, Harold Washington Library, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Platinum Preppy pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, virtual sketchwalk | Leave a comment

VSW: Chicago, 1, Newberry Library

Posted on April 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Nice to have Sue lead the Virtual Sketchwalk in Chicago this month. I’m taking the opportunity to play on Canson Colored papers, ink and watercolor on grey paper! The watercolor buckled the paper, but it stood up to it — … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, process, series, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Canson paper, caput mortem, Chicago, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Henry Cobb, Italian Renaissance, Lamy Al-Star, Mummy Bauxite, Newberry Library, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, Shungite, virtual sketchwalk | 2 Comments

Black HUB IPA Can

Posted on April 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Okay, first off, do NOT sketch in a black watercolor pencil when your first coat will be an Indian Yellow or Quin Gold. Dumb. I tried to wet and wash it off; alas, it did not work well. Also, the … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, pen & ink, recipe, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Organic HUB IPA, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen | 14 Comments

VSW: Chicago, 2, Fourth Presbyterian Church

Posted on April 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Continuing the Virtual Sketchwalk in Chicago drawing on colored paper, this time ink and colored pencil on grey paper, with a nod to Pat Southern-Pearce! Canson paper loose to be tipped into my Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, Pentalic HB woodless … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, pen & ink, pencil, series, virtual sketching | Tagged architecture, Canson paper, Chicago, colored pencils, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Gothic, Lamy Al-Star, Pat Southern-Pearce, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Ralph Adams Cram, virtual sketchwalk | 5 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Chocolate Bunny

Posted on March 31, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

What is it about the power of a chocolate bunny? And more importantly, we’ve had SO many years without them because we stopped eating non-organic sweets! If we are going to fill our bellies with sugar and all means of … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, caramels, Daniel Smith watercolors, Easter Bunny, Holbein, Moleskin Watercolor journal, non-GMO, organic, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, spring., sugar, watercolor | 7 Comments

How I Make Creative Decisions

Posted on March 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Sometimes it is hard to pick a project, or say no to an opportunity. April is arriving, and I have two art projects on my board in addition to making a living (conserving antiquities — this is what I am … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Blackfriar Pub, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fabriano Watercolor journal, Holbein, IFJM, Lamy Al-Star, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, London, pent, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, St. Paul's Cathedral | 12 Comments

Midnight Palm Full Moon

Posted on March 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Been so stressed for so many reasons. Middle of the night drawing. Moons on my mind. Watching Mitchell breath while painting ocean and palms and moon in her fullness, all calming. I almost woke him bringing salt back to bed … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, pen & ink, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, full moon, ocean, palm, Platinum Carbon pen | Leave a comment

Recipes, and Taking Classes!

Posted on March 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I post this with recipe on my foodie blog, but this is a thanks to Tracey and a commentary about taking classes. I am taking an online class by my favorite Aussie, Tracey Fletcher King, called Delicious Paint. A class … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, drawing, pen & ink, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #deliciouspaint, Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, food, grisaille, online classes, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Sugar Chili, Super5 ink, watercolors, White Uniball Signo | 4 Comments

Whales and Dolphins and Sea Creatures, Oh MY!

Posted on March 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I’m using this “sketch-swim” to loosen up and try new things. I am in love with Reuven Dattner‘s wonderful sketching images. One thing I’ve wanted to try is the use of odd colored or complementary colored inks in a sketch. … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, humpback whale, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Pacific Ocean, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy pen, QoR watercolors, Rich German, watercolor, whale watching, whales, White Pitt pen | Leave a comment

Sugar Corn

Posted on March 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Working from an image for the class, yellow watercolor pencil, Platinum Carbon pen…. Layering watercolors, yellow to deeper yellows and greens, to touches of pinks and Paynes grey, salt added, then white Pitt pen and splatters. I am taking an … Continue reading →