Category Archives: urban sketchers

My Secret Journal: Five, NW Neighborhood

Posted on October 7, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

(Note:  I am writing a journal that I don’t want to show before it is published in full.   I realized I can simply share some of the images without the writing;  These are a few blank pages that will … Continue reading →

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USk: Frank Ching, Gail Wong Workshop

Posted on October 1, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I had the opportunity to meet the man who taught me more than most professors in college, and influenced my drawing style as a free-hand sketcher of the built environment: Frank Ching.  Architecture: Form Space and Order made sense out … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, class, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Finally, a Travel Box

Posted on September 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I have a couple of small travel boxes made from old tins, but none of them have adequate mixing areas.  I have been looking for a good travel box, and unfortunately, been unhappy with this or that — and this … Continue reading →

Posted in color, painting, urban sketchers, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Gratitude Journal: Back to Studio Work!

Posted on September 4, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

 It is good to be back in my finish studio working on paying conservation projects. I have a NPS project due this month. Historic Mason Monterey paper and iron “chandeliers” for the Chateau need to be reproduced.  The original historic … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, handmade paper, making a living, paper, pastel, process, shellac, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Brenda Swenson’s Sketching Trip

Posted on August 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Love this video — Brenda is an amazing water-colorist!

Posted in dunno, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , | 2 Comments

USk: Slabtown New Seasons Opening!

Posted on August 12, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

We are so happy to have New Seasons blocks from our studio! No more driving all around for groceries!  YAY! We went opening day before we opened the studio. Mostly they were setting up and greeting their new customers, and … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, graphite, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USk: St. Patrick’s Church in the Alphabet District of Portland

Posted on August 2, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I love Saint Patrick’s Church in NW Portland. I drive by it all the time as it sits across from our bank. The Beaux-Arts church looks like it belongs in Italy, set into cobbled streets surrounded by a park and … Continue reading →

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USk: Meriwether’s Restaurant NW Portland

Posted on July 26, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Meriwether’s Restaurant looks like a nice house on a commercial street, but for the riot of bright yellow echinacea that bloom every summer in front of lavender and blue hydrangea.  Walking between the building and the flowers you might forget … Continue reading →

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Worldwide SketchCrawl USk: PSU Outdoor Market

Posted on July 25, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Portland Urban Sketchers did not go on the World Wide Sketchcrawl today. After weeks of too hot weather this weather was perfect, a bit overcast, some sprinkles (Oregonians do not care about sprinkles) and cooler temps. I had work to … Continue reading →

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Palace Cakes

Posted on July 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Good coffee.  Not Espresso but good coffee. Cake and coffee can do a lot to change your world! A bad day saved by Palace Cakes in Portland! Drawn in an Strathmore Mixed Media journal with Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, painting, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USk: Pyramid Juices + Schoolhouse Electric

Posted on July 15, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Schoolhouse Electric is on Nicolai St. It’s been revitalized with a barista and a great home furnishing and lighting store. It was a hot day to sketch. Pyramid Juices was once made in Ashland Oregon before it was bought out … Continue reading →

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USk: MPF Conservation’s NW Neighborhood

Posted on July 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I haven’t sketched outdoors much lately.  I wondered what I might make of our buildings. Our studio is in an industrial area in NW Portland. This is the approach from the freeway. We share space in the building with Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

4th of July: The best part was the morning

Posted on July 8, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

We went to the PSU Farmer’s Market on the 4th of July, arriving when it opened as we wanted to avoid heat and crowds. It was lovely, cool under the canopy of trees and on the cool lawn.   We bought … Continue reading →

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USk: Glisan’s Painted Ladies

Posted on March 16, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I drive by these painted ladies several times a week, always thinking I should give them a go.  The complicated details and the colors were a challenge for me to do loosely and not too “architectural.”   I wanted them to … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, graphite, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

USk: Montavilla Sewing Center and DEQ

Posted on March 10, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Mitchell sews on machines; I do not.  I used to follow him around for a while at the sewing centers and drive him crazy behaving like a five-year-old, then go sit with the husbands waiting for their wives. Now I … Continue reading →

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USk: 26th Street, WHAT IF?

Posted on March 6, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Took a walk and sketched in our studio’s neighborhood, buildings I look at all the time. I was able to sketch both of them, and it was a bit like old times, architectural sketches. They are both shades of grey: … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, creativity, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

USk: Nick’s Italian Cafe, McMinnville

Posted on February 15, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

McMinnville Oregon is a sleepy town with great places to eat, and a wonderful art store (Merriartist) which is staffed by people who either know the products or say they don’t, a refreshing change from overly huge chain stores that … Continue reading →

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USk: Kiva Tearoom, NW Portland

Posted on February 8, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I braved another day of sketching with the intention to sketch people in a crowded place. There were few people in today — what? — Saturday in Portland? This post is a big deal for me because I am posting … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments