Category Archives: sketchbook

Working With Watercolors in My Journal: Paint Party Friday

Posted on March 28, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I know that the best way to get over fear-of-watercolor-mistakes is to make a lot of them. So I finally dove into my journals, coloring sketches and moving graphite with water. the sketch above was partly made on-site; then colored … Continue reading →

Posted in art, creativity, drawing, graphite, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Blacksmith, Cherry Grove Forge, Jamison Square, Portland Oregon | 9 Comments

Process: Struggling with Watercolors

Posted on March 24, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I was able to carve out a day to play with my new watercolors from Daniel Smith. Having good watercolors makes a huge difference in my finished product, the viability and brilliance of the colors and the way they lay … Continue reading →

Posted in art, color, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged California missions, Daniel Smith watercolors, San Gabriel Mission | 6 Comments

Garuda Sketch: Paint Party Friday

Posted on March 21, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Paint Party Friday’s post this week is about Mitchell’s Garuda statue. Mitchell went to a friend’s home and they were drumming. The drumming was meant to further visions, for which Mitchell had no experience. He achieved a trance-like state, closed … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged bronze statue, buddha, buddhist, Garuda, hindu, nepal, paint party friday, vedic | 7 Comments

A Very Cool Journal Company Here In Portland

Posted on March 20, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am promoting a very cool, very GREEN business here in Portland Oregon, Ex Libris Anonymous. They take old books that are beyond reselling status that have good hardcovers, and turn them into wonderful writing or sketching journals! From their … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, sketchbook | Tagged Ex Libris Anonymous, green, Portland Oregon, recycled, upcycled | 2 Comments

Weeping Buddha, or as I like to think of him, Compassionate Buddha

Posted on March 2, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

The Buddha statue made by young monks in Indonesia and Vietnam touched me when I first saw one at a retreat, and has been on my altar ever since. He is now known popularly as “weeping Buddha,’ but I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, journal, painting, series, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged architectural elements, carved buddha, earth, Vietnamese Buddha, weeping buddha, Zen Buddha | 4 Comments

#29faces: The Worst Cold in History and I Painted Buddha

Posted on February 27, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve had the worst cold in history. This cold virus should be packaged as a weapon. After the first two days, going stark mad with boredom but having trouble standing due to dizziness, I finally got my wits about me … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, journal, painting, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art, Buddha's face, buddhist, Guatama Buddha, head cold, Neocolor II, Tibetan, watercolor crayons, zen | 3 Comments

My Foray Into Keeping a Watercolor Journal

Posted on February 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I have not used watercolors in 25 years — and when I did, it was in a graphic manner or as an undercoat for colored pencils. But I want to paint more, and need to work my painting into … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, journal, painting, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged buddha, buddhist, fear, Guatama Buddha, Ommani Center, perfection, Tibetan, zen | 6 Comments

#29faces, Week Four Part 1

Posted on February 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I turned to family this week, starting with my niece and nephew. Heather was difficult because she is a turned face, and a young face with few wrinkly lines. I almost caught Stephen — but not quite as fussy as … Continue reading →

Posted in drawing, journal, sketchbook | Tagged family | Leave a comment

#29faces: Week Three Part 2

Posted on February 16, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

#13, sadly, looks nothing like my friend, except that she is jolly — so I will spare you her name. In this photo she had on a funny hat of fake hair, and is much better looking, not a caricature … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, process, sketchbook | Tagged Mitchell Powell | Leave a comment

#29faces: Week Three Humpday Post

Posted on February 12, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Starting off with #10, I hate pastels, and was trying them for a class. I was to do faces, but I didn’t want to have to combat pastels and faces. Finally, Lorraine Rigby did such a cool face in the … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, painting, process, sketchbook | Tagged Cat, pastel, Pitt pens, Tombow pens | Leave a comment

#29faces: Week Two

Posted on February 9, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Week two I continued with my teachers, then moved to friends and family (also teachers!) #3: When it came to Sakyong Rinpoche, his face proved difficult for me because he is young, and has no lines for me to work! I remembered … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, process, sketchbook | Tagged Chagdud Rinpoche, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Lama Tsering, Orgyen Kusum Lingpa, Sakyong Rinpoche, Sits For Cats | 4 Comments

#29faces: Week One

Posted on February 2, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am participating in the #29faces Challenge; I won’t post daily but on Sundays on my blog. I have trouble with faces so this is a GREAT challenge for me. I will probably use Gwenn’s sketch technique a lot, allowing … Continue reading →