Category Archives: sketchbook

Doc Youping Qin

Posted on February 29, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Dr. Youping Qin is my acupuncturist. My images here are part of a larger set, depicting the history of acupuncture and Chinese immigrants to Oregon. (This post is about the painting, not the story!) Doc Qin has been a Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, creativity, drawing, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, portrait, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged acupuncture, Alphabet District, art journal, Daniel Smith Masking Fluid, Daniel Smith watercolors, Dr. Youping Qin, Golden Needle, Holbein, Holbien, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Portland Urban Sketchers, Primatek, Strathmore journal, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 16 Comments

Kamala in Four Seasons

Posted on February 28, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Kamala lived outside for many years before coming into our home. We did what we could to take care of her — she wasn’t feral, but was uncomfortable with us because we told her to go home when we first … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, cats, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, full moon, Holbein, Kamala, lunar cycle, Noodlers ink, Oregon, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, seasons, Super5 ink, watercolor | 6 Comments

Kamala Steals the Blanket

Posted on February 23, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Just to show what it looks like when you are playing to learn a new medium and it doesn’t work. This so didn’t work! The masking fluid is tricky. It takes its own talent to use it right! Then I … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, tools, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Cat, cats, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Kamala, Platinum Carbon pen, Strathmore journal, tuxedo cat, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 3 Comments

NW Portland Industrial Sanctuary

Posted on February 18, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Our studio sits in the NW Industrial Sanctuary. When most think of a sanctuary they think of preserving bird and wildlife habitats, but there are other kinds of sanctuaries. Once this was a gorgeous waterway and lake , used for … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, commentary, history, making a living, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, Centennial Exposition, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Guild's Lake, history, Lewis & Clark, NW Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentalic Nature Sketch Journal, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, Portland planning issues, preservation, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Super5 ink, urban sketcher, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 16 Comments

Kamala Notices I Have Pen In Hand

Posted on February 12, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Kamala is the most difficult cat, so smart, and does not want her image captured. She seems to know when I am studying her for a sketch, and moves away into a cozy box. I have to use a photo … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Cat, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Kamala, Kuretake Zig Cartoonist Brush Pen No. 22, Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Strathmore watercolor pad, watercolor, White Uniball Signo | 14 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 3

Posted on February 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Rounded out my pages with teeny watercolors. The top one I like a lot. I rarely use my fat Pitt White pen, but did on the water. Happy with that outcome too. The other was a big impatient experiment and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, canals, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Pitt pens, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 4 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 2

Posted on February 3, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I turn away from the church (above) and head toward the canals in Burano Italy; The color begins in the shops along the way! My process below, from guidelines to sketch to ink grisaille to watercolor. I was asked, and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 7 Comments

VSW: Burano, Italy, 1

Posted on February 2, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

New month, new virtual sketchwalk with Facebook group page, to Burano Italy, an amazingly colorful island town in Venice. Starting in Chiesa di San Marino Piazza, my process below, from guidelines to sketch to ink grisaille to watercolor. Map below! … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged architecture, art journal, Burano, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, grisaille, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Venice, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 1 Comment

Russell Stutler’s Book About Sketching

Posted on January 22, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I found Russell Stutler’s Book About Sketching this morning in my early early early in-the-dark wishing-for-coffee (M makes ours) and joyful-that-taxes-were-done meanderings. Not all “free” books are decent. While there are dated links, Stutler’s his material is fresh. I recommend … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, class, process, review, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Jetpens, Russell Stutler' | Leave a comment

Taxes, the Push Toward the Full Moon

Posted on January 21, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I hate taxes. That is all. In a foul mood. Full Moon Coming, my deadline. And I made fudge for Mitchell. Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, with a new loverly Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen in Retro Pop Orange with Private Reserve … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, waterbrush | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, buddhist, copper, deities, Diamine Ancient Copper Ink, Lamy Al-Star, orange, Pilot Metropolitan Fountain Pen, Private Reserve Orange Crush Ink, Sarasvati, watercolor | 2 Comments

VSW: Alberobello, Italy, 4, Silliness

Posted on January 17, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

You’ve seen the sketches of the Trulli homes as they really look, below, but there was a good deal of discussion on our FaceBook page about how white the town was (yes, grey roofs and white walls), sooooo, I sketched … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged Alberobello, architecture, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Italy, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, Super5 ink, Trulli, virtual sketchwalk, watercolor | 2 Comments

Sketching Memories of our Staycation: Ever Hopeful

Posted on January 16, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

I didn’t fill our Staycation sketchbook, so am continuing it with sketches on our days off. Jai is doing better with his IBS (carrageenan in wet cat food), but there are changes that will be with him as long as … Continue reading →

Posted in animals, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, carrageenan, Cat, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Delta journal, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Hero pen, IBS, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, sick cat, staycation, Stillman & Birn, Super5 ink, watercolor | 2 Comments

Organic Fudge: From my other blog!

Posted on January 8, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

Posted first on my other blog, katwritesfood. I stopped making fudge at Christmas because we stopped eating anything with GMOs, and so many recipes for things like fudge were full of very nasty things. But I discovered organic Sweetened Condensed … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, painting, pen & ink, recipe, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Aquabee Super Deluxe Journal, art journal, bittersweet, chocolate, creme de cocoa, Daniel Smith watercolors, fudge, gluten-free, Holbein, holiday gifts, journal, kahlua, katwritesfood, non-GMO, organic, Primatek, QoR watercolors, semi-sweet, Sennelier, sweetened condensed milk, walnuts, watercolor | 5 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Our Winter Traditions

Posted on January 7, 2016 by D. Katie Powell

2015 was a pretty horrible year… I’ve heard this from lots of people; maybe it was in the stars? Surgery, bad urologist, fear, pain, stress, craziness, burdens. Not all bad, and some incredible gifts came our way, but a year … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, color, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged architect, art journal, bows, buddha, cups, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, dragonfly, Fiesta Ware, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, growing older, Hero pen, lights, Moleskin Watercolor journal, Noodlers ink, Platinum Carbon pen, romantic, snowflakes, Super5 ink | 2 Comments

Reflecting on an Anniversary: Watercolor Sketching

Posted on December 28, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Two years ago I started moving away from large acrylics on canvas (above left) or small acrylics on my hand-made paper (above right). I wanted to paint again, in a smaller space, and so, thought to try watercolors and shellac … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, Booby Gurl, Buddha, creativity, gods and goddesses, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged anniversary | 11 Comments

My Secret Journal: Eight, Monterey Furniture

Posted on December 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Note: I am writing a story/journal that I don’t want to show before it’s published in full. These are some of the illustrated pages in the sketchbook for the story. Oh gads, not quite right. I look a bit like … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, drawing, furniture, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Greenleaf & Blueberry Watercolors, Holbein, Mason Monterey, Moleskin Watercolor journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Sheaffer calligraphy pen, Super5 ink | 6 Comments

Restore Oregon Endangered Places 2016, Painting the First Set

Posted on December 4, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

This is part of a series for Restore Oregon. Thanks to Drew Nasto, Craig Powell, and for the various locations for allowing me to use historic images to place into sketch format to commemorate the projects! This post shows the … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged A-Frame chairs, art journal, buildings, Chateau, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Fort Rock, Jantzen Beach Carousel, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, Oregon Caves NM, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Pentel Brush Pen, Pilot Parallel pen, Platinum Carbon pen, Portland Oregon, preservation, QoR watercolors, Restore Oregon, Rivoli Theater, Super5 ink, watercolor, Wong Laundry Building | 2 Comments

Restore Oregon Endangered Places 2016, Drawing the First Set

Posted on December 3, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

This is part of a series for Restore Oregon. Thanks to photographers Drew Nasto and Craig Powell, and for the various locations for allowing me to use historic images to place into sketch format to commemorate the projects! I hope … Continue reading →