Category Archives: process

USk: NW Portland USPS

The USPS moved our office which was in the Alphabet District to another location. It is not a safe location, as it is deserted and is surrounded by homeless people (not that they are all dangerous, but they attract nutcases … Continue reading

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VSW: Ich Bin Ein Berliner, 3

Berlin is our city this month, with contributions from two photographers, Rich Matheson and Eli Weisz, though todays image comes from the famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech. I played fast and loose with this sketch using a Sailor Fude … Continue reading

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Tools: Fall Watercolors

Gads I love color! I’ve been asked why I buy so many tubes of watercolors… It’s true, I could buy a dozen tubes and mix everything — well almost everything, because the Primatek colors have their own lovely granulating properties. … Continue reading

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VSW: Berlin, 1, Tiergarten

New month, new walk for the Virtual Sketchwalk group on FaceBook. Berlin is our city this month, with contributions from two photographers, Rich Matheson and Eli Weisz. I played fast and loose with this sketch using a Sailor Fude pen.  … Continue reading

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VSW: Sheree’s Naners

This post is about taking a sketch to a finished watercolor, or an idea to a commissioned piece. Sheree, a friend from high school, posted a photo of her banana tree, above left. I was intrigued by the color, especially … Continue reading

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Taking Classes

I enjoy taking classes — the camaraderie, and also, even if I know a lot about the subject, I always learn something. This was a class by Pat Southern Pearce, called Paperbag Blossoms.  Pat often sketches on toned paper; that … Continue reading

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Summer’s End

For me, the end of summer shows itself when our local peaches are gone. We just took delivery on three dozen yellow peaches and so, summer is over. White peaches are earlier, lovely and fleeting. Yellow peaches are in for … Continue reading

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VSW: Luis Barragán, 2

Second installment in the series on my favorite architect, Barragán. To see the first installment, go here. Casa Barragán, above and below. In reality Opera Pink is not quite the right pink but it it the brightest pink I own … Continue reading

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VSW: Luis Barragán, 1

I used line, and diluted waterproof inks, with watercolors on top for Casa Golardi, above. I went to USC’s School of Architecture at a time when the school was run by the new dean, Quincy Jones.  The school was populated … Continue reading

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Sherre’s Posies

A high school friend has a lovely garden and one of her images caught me… I didn’t do it justice and might try again! I LOVE my sketch — and here is the secret, that I love line work. But … Continue reading

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Soft Kitty Warm Kitty

I drew the lines using Soft Kitty Warm Kitty ink in a Pilot Metropolitan with a stub nib. A waterbrush moved the lines without erasing them by moving it fairly fast only ONCE over the sketched lines (before below).  I … Continue reading

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Recipes: Ritual

I enjoy writing our recipes in my Khadi Journal, though it will never be a favorite journal (more on that at the bottom).  I have my journal when cooking; I make notes and sketch. I placed Ganesha, my favorite Hindu … Continue reading

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Recipes: Ham and Lima Beans

Rancho Gordo’s Big Juicy White Limas are soooo good… I’ve made a ham and beans for years but never had them as tasty as with these beans. If you try them you will never go back to any other Lima … Continue reading

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30 Posies: Sunflowers Field

I may be a bit obsessed with sunflowers. This one is a much more typical Oregon field, with big green trees in the background… Oddly, however, I think I went back to my So Cal days and thought of the … Continue reading

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Thinking, Thinking… Two

Continuing from yesterday’s post… When I am thinking about a larger piece I use my Nostalgie Journal to sketch out ideas… This takes me back to days as an architect when my thinking was done with pen to paper. The … Continue reading

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Thinking, Thinking… One

My sketchbooks are not just for trying to turn out great sketches… Okay, some of that goes on…  I want a nice flip-through on a journal.  But also, experimentation that rarely gets seen by anyone but Mitchell because I may … Continue reading

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30 Posies: Nasturtiums

As kids, we called them Nasty-ursums and thought that hilarious. Kids are pretty goofy. Detail below.  Sometimes I like the sketch better without watercolor, and this is one of those times.   Full watercolor below. This 8×8 Hand Book Journal … Continue reading

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VSW: Direct Watercolor vs My old Style

These paintings are from the Shanghai walk in Virtual Sketchbook… I am showing them together because it show two different approaches to similar images. Above, how I start the two images tells where they are going. On the left, I … Continue reading

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