Category Archives: urban sketchers

USk: Drawing Around Portland

Posted on February 1, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I haven’t had much time to paint anything this week but found moments in the car. Being back in a city is overwhelming in terms of the cacophony of lines and layers, rhythms and patterns.   (Yes I spelled that wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, painting, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

The current palette and brush

Posted on January 25, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Shari Blaukoft is one of my favorite painters to follow. Here is a recent posting of her current palette on her new blog post, and also links to Parkablogs, which is another great blog to follow if you are a … Continue reading →

Posted in art, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , | Leave a comment

USk: Palm Motor Hotel

Posted on January 24, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Whenever I drive by the Palm Motor Hotel I get a little surge of home energy. It looks like motels I remember staying in when visiting Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. I’ve always loved these Mid-Century Modern signs. Today I … Continue reading →

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

My “Business” Sketchbook: Chippendale Conservation

Posted on January 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Above, Mitchell thinking about the various things he has to do to this family heirloom in order to resurrect it from the broken state. The Chippendale sofa’s arm was broken and sagging, leg broken, parts of the frame broken, and … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Mattress Ranch

Posted on January 22, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve had this finished a long time and almost didn’t post it. There really is a Mattress Ranch on the way to Olympia Washington. It was the source of much amusement as we drove up in the morning to work … Continue reading →

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

USk: Multnomah Sketchcrawl in the Pouring Rain

Posted on January 18, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

My first sketchcrawl with other people, the Portland Urban Sketchers; I’ve crawled around a lot by myself urban sketching!  Mitchell was the bravest, being new to sketching and now going today as well. It wasn’t raining, it was POURING — … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, drawing, memory, sketchbook, sketchcrawl, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

USk: Smith Tower, Vancouver, Washington

Posted on January 16, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I had lunch with my niece yesterday and went an hour early to find an interesting building or scene to sketch.  As I was driving into the city of Vancouver I remembered the “beer can” building, looking glum and peachy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, history, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Art Journaling: Miscellaneous Picks

Posted on January 15, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Random sketches from my journal, continuing to play with the watercolors is the point. My confidence is growing; I am dropping into my best drawing habits from my teens and twenties.  While sketching my favorite coffee cup, I realized why … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Webbing Stretchers

Posted on January 3, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

My commitment to documenting the upholstery studio is ongoing; a challenge prompted this watercolor sketch. I said no more challenges but this list is too much fun. I chose Mitchell’s webbing stretchers because they happened to be setting on his … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Happy Solstice and New Moon

Posted on December 22, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Happy we are turning toward the light. Even on this rainy day, I know the light is growing . . . Looking across the river towards St. John’s, quick sketch while waiting. Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Alpha journal … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My “Business” Sketchbook: Washington State Justice Building

Posted on December 15, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

My last sketch onsite from earlier in the year, with watercolors added Sunday. It was pouring, our work at the Capitol completed, and we were on our way home. Mitchell wanted to explore the Justice Building. The Library was lovely … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Monastery of the Precious Blood Portland Oregon

Posted on December 14, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Drawn on site in Mount Tabor, this is such a pretty building. Reminds me of Southern California, home home home . . . Had almost no time! Drawn in an Stillman & Birn Alpha journal on site with Caran D’ache … Continue reading →

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

My “Business” Sketchbook: The Lion Torchéres

Posted on December 11, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

At the end of our last day working in the Senate Offices of the Legislative Building on the Washington State Capitol Campus, we crossed the grass in the pouring rain  to the Justice Building. As you walk into the building … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, color, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My “Business” Sketchbook: Symmetry + South Entrance

Posted on December 8, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I love it when an architect moves you through spaces, making you experience an environment as it was meant to be seen or felt.  I also love symmetry, especially in the hands of architects who know how to use it. … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, creativity, history, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: North Entrance Chandeliers

Posted on November 5, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I think these are my last lamps for a while. I’m not sure I want to become Kate-light! To draw this last Tiffany chandelier I could stand and rest my notebook on the marble railing, next to Big George. All … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, drawing, history, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Tiffany Chandeliers Mark Pathways

Posted on November 2, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

It is unusual for me to start my sketchbook posts with photographs, but this Tiffany chandelier is simply too beautiful. I did not do them justice! They line the hallways and mark entrances to the various rooms, providing a delicate … Continue reading →

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

My “Business” Sketchbook: Washington State Campus

Posted on October 30, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Stepped outside at the end of the day while waiting for Mitchell to fetch me, and decided to do a couple of quick sketches of the two main buildings on campus, the Legislative Building (where we are working) and the … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Sketching the Senate from the Floor

Posted on October 28, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Like my earlier post on drawing the Senate gallery details, I came around to draw the Senate from a different angle.  I sat on the floor of the first entry arch looking up into one of the corners, in order … Continue reading →

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