Category Archives: urban sketchers

USk: Falling Snow

I gave it a shot, painting the snow falling under the light from the window in our studio. Everything was sooo dark, but the falling snow popped. To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram, Facebook or check out my … Continue reading

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Posies: Cherry Blossoms

“I cannot go out tonight. Tonight everything scares me. Blossoming insanely are cherry treees and I don’t know how to blossom like that.” ~ Imants Ziedonis, Latvian Poet. Watercolor of cherry blossoms in a Handbook Journal. To hear about classes, … Continue reading

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Got the Blues

Sketching to get out of my depression… I really have the blues!  It doesn’t have to be good, just keep the pen moving…. When I’m depressed I struggle with all my images. Cats never seem to get depressed! ☾ To … Continue reading

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VSW: Rumpler Tropfenwagon, 4

Berlin is our city this month, with contributions from two photographers, Rich Matheson and Eli Weisz. The Rumpler Tropfenwagon is in the Duetsche Technikmuseum. It was built between 1921-1925, but only 100 were made. The Rumpler Tropfenwagon is SO OFF … Continue reading

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VSW: Berlin, 4, Tiergarten Again

Berlin is our city this month, with contributions from two photographers, Rich Matheson and Eli Weisz. I gave the Tiergarten another try, on watercolor paper and taking the whole sketch much more seriously.   I got this far and Mitchell begged … Continue reading

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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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USk: Oregon on Fire

Wildfire season is upon us again. I sketched this quickly in in the studio in hopes I would get the worry and the words out of my system and be able to paint today on actual projects…  It looks to … 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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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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PS: Even More Thinking… Testing… and Memories

My Nostalgie sketchbook really is a testing ground.  If something works a bit on the smooth sketch paper then I will try it out in one of my watercolor journals. Someday this will be a nice memory of Mitchell and … Continue reading

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Cat Fort

We build cat forts for the cats to play in… Elaborate or simple play area that sometimes use their travel carriers, which makes them love their carriers too. Long packing paper is woven through the carriers, and they love the … Continue reading

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30X30 Direct Watercolor, Week 2

June is when many watercolorists participate in the “30×30 Direct Watercolor Challenge”, created by Marc Homes and Uma Kelker.  Rules are simple:  Each day post one watercolor, but no sketching, no inking, no pencil, just straight watercolor. I’m giving it … Continue reading

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VSW: Walk to New Seasons

We sometimes walk to New Seasons Market in NW Portland from our studio. Snapped some images of our walk and sketched this layout across two pages. Before I started the watercolors, I used a diluted grey waterproof ink to place … Continue reading

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30 Posies: 24th Avenue Camelias

This was a little bit of urban sketching, a little virtual sketching…. sketched on a walk with watercolors added in the middle of the night! Above, a detail of the line drawing and the finished camellia watercolor. 24th Avenue is … Continue reading

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USk: MPFC Finish Studio

Every so often I like to sketch our studio rooms. This is primarily my finish room, where I work conserving objects. I use our own mixed shellac and (primarily oil) paints to bring back dead finishes. You can see one … Continue reading

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Easter Cherry Blossoms

Very late in posting… The cherries are nearly ripe! (Not really.) The thing about the cherry blossoms in the park is that they are not only a feast for the eyes but sometimes you can smell their fragrance… Also, they … Continue reading

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Booster

Booster hit us hard, but better than getting Covid! “Memory is more indelible than ink.” Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. “I think not….” Me… why I journal! To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook or dkatiepowellart.me and sign up … Continue reading

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