Category Archives: sketchbook

Palm Trees Coffee Pot

I want this.  I’ve had a small image of it for years.  If I had this my life would be complete… No Thursday Doors…. Real life got in the way!  *sigh* But then, making money = $$$ for paint = … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

VSW: Hawaii, Oahu Palms

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

USk: St. James Lutheran Church

Experimenting with color after taking a class… I am often bored by stone buildings, but several interesting water-colorists use what-ever color where-ever they want.  This is one of the stone churches we pass on our way to the Saturday Market … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

VSW: Capetown South Africa Beachwalk, 2

Necessity is the mother of fast sketches. I barely finished these by the end of our month on Capetown! I used a water-soluble graphite fat pencil and splashed watercolors over the sketches.  From beginning to end in about 15 minutes … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, series, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 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 →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

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

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 →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

USk: Painted Girls, Alphabet District

We see these sweet homes on the way to our vets, and on walks. They are no where near special enough to be saved when the bulldozers come, which they will because way laid back Portlandiars won’t fight to save … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, commentary, creativity, drawing, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

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

Travel Palettes and Color Mixing Charts

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 , , , , , , , , | 21 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 →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, gods and goddesses, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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 →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

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