Category Archives: process

Working on Commission: How to Connect with a Subject

Posted on September 13, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, creativity, history, memory, painting, process | Tagged commission, connection, inspiration, process, Restore Oregon | 5 Comments

Uppertown Net Loft, Astoria, Oregon

Posted on September 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, drawing, history, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Astoria, Columbia River, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Fineline Masking, Holbein, M.Graham, Oregon, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Uppertown Net Loft, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor, White Uniball Signo pen | 20 Comments

Summer Veggies

Posted on August 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Okay, despite my annoyance with Pentalic Aqua journals, it is what I have until sixty pages are used up! (I will tell you if my bugging them a second time gets their attention! While I am working on the pieces … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ink, Holbein, Jinhao, Lamy Al-Star, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, peppers, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, tomato, watercolor | 2 Comments

Working Toward a Goal

Posted on August 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, drawing, history, landscape, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor | Tagged architecture, commission, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, De Atramentis Tobacco ink, Holbein, M.Graham, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Upper Sandy Guard Station Cabin, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 20 Comments

Delphiniums

Posted on July 24, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Technically I’ve done over 30 paintings already for World Watercolor Month, which is good, because I have so much work to do in the next week I’d get behind. None are masterpieces, but they were good experiments, which I think … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Diamine Ink, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Preppy pen, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 5 Comments

Buddha Blues

Posted on July 23, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 →

Posted in art journal, Buddha, challenge, drawing, gods and goddesses, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, art journal, buddha, Daniel Smith watercolors, Diamine Ink, Jinhao, moon, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Primatek, Sennelier, watercolor, wet on wet | 4 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 6, Browns and Golds

Posted on July 9, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday for the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection”, and why I have keepers and ‘meh’ colors that I probably won’t buy again. Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, tools, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, brown, Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, gold, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, opaque, Primatek, QoR watercolors, quinacridone gold, rust, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 5 Comments

New Moon 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH TO EVERYONE! It’s that time of year when everyone in the West living near forests and fields worries about fireworks. Crazily, they still allow personal street fireworks as part of a RIGHT as if people’s homes, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, lunar cycle, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, De Atramentis Document ink, Fineline masking fluid, fireworks, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Sennelier, watercolor | 2 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 5, Violet and Purple!

Posted on July 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday this summer I am looking at my paint “collection”: Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange; Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to Yellows Tools: Watercolors, 4, Blues to Greens I hated pink and purple as a girl; I was … Continue reading →

Posted in art, color, painting, process, tools, watercolor | Tagged #WorldWatercolorMonth, Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, opaque, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 10 Comments

Tool: Watercolors, 4, Blues to Greens

Posted on June 25, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday this summer I am looking at my paint “collection”: Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to Yellows. I had to make myself purchase blues. I love turquoise blues, and bought Primateks when I … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, watercolor | Tagged blue, Daniel Smith watercolors, green, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 6 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 3, Greens to Yellows

Posted on June 18, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday for the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection.” In the last weeks: Tools: Watercolors, 1, Yellow-Orange; Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink One general comment about the greens is MANY of them are based with Phthalocyanine (sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, green, Holbein, opaque, pan paints, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, tube paints, watercolor, yellow-green | 14 Comments

Creative Blocks: What does that Nagging Voice Want?

Posted on June 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

When I am stuck, I play in color and texture. I see where materials take me without expectation. To have the feeling of blah, no vision, heavy, stupid, dim, is hard on any creative. Especially as being creative — at … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, making a living, memory, process | Tagged child's play, color, creative block, critic, critical voice, materials, play | 20 Comments

Tools: Watercolors, 2, Red-Pink

Posted on June 5, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Each Sunday for the next few weeks I am looking at my paint “collection.” OOPS. I HIT PUBLISH BY MISTAKE AND NO ERRORS. HOW OFTEN DOES THAT HAPPEN? SO THIS WEEK’S WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK! Because of this mistake, … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, painting, process, tools, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, favorite, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, M.Graham watercolors, Mayan paints, opaque, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, transparent paint, watercolor | 8 Comments

VSW: Hawaii, Oahu Palms

Posted on June 5, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Ink drawing, shadow inks (grisaille), then watercolors. Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Lamy Al-Star with De Atramentis Document Black, Noodler’s inks, and Daniel Smith , Holbein, and QoR watercolors. I started a Facebook group page (you must join … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, landscape, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, beach, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Hawaii, Holbein, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Oahu, ocean, Pacific Ocean, palm trees, Platinum Carbon pen, Primatek, virtual sketchwalk | 4 Comments

Overworked / Failure

Posted on May 30, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

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 anniversary, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, failure, floral, flower, Lamy Al-Star, pan watercolors, Pentalic Aqua Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Sennelier, struggle, Sunflowers, watercolor | 4 Comments

Travel Palettes and Color Mixing Charts

Posted on May 4, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Prepare for a total geek posting. I’ve finally created an entire mixing chart. Who knew what I might learn! I wrote about finding a great deal on a Sennelier travel palette with pan watercolors, above. I’ve not owned pan paints … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged color, color charts, Daniel Smith watercolors, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Primatek, ProArt watercolor journal, Sennelier, travel, watercolor | 21 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

Copyright, Chagall Card, Riffs, WTH?

Posted on April 14, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I am breaking with my normal posts to say this timely bit regarding copyright, and the lawsuit against Led Zep over the riff. I don’t give a toss about any of it, but the topic is under my skin. I … Continue reading →