Category Archives: watercolor

More Trains: Portland Union Station and more

Part two of the response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! Part one here! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, history, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Tough Week

It’s been a tough week. Our little  girl got sick, and while we now know it is from her new condition and the meds for hypothyroidism, it was a hard week, staying up all night with her, worried, et all. … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, memory, pen & ink, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

USk: Art Gallery Door, Alphabet District

There is this amazing rusty metal door going into the art gallery on Raleigh. It is a wild thing, all twisted and colorful and rough and organic. I did my best; but gads, what a door. It pops out of … Continue reading →

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

VSW: Capetown South Africa Beachwalk, 1

I haven’t much time this week. Necessity is making my goal for this sketchwalk to capture the essence of the view, let go of details. What stands out about the view? the buildings? the beach? the sky? the mountain? Capture … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, landscape, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

National Train Day: Portland Union Station

This is in response to a friend’s request to post for National Train Day! (Go visit him here if you love trains and that will lead you to others who are posting, and the logo also was stolen from him….) … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, drawing, history, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

USk: Painted Girls, Alphabet District

We see these sweet homes on the way to our vets, and on walks. They are no where near special enough to be saved when the bulldozers come, which they will because way laid back Portlandiars won’t fight to save … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, color, commentary, creativity, drawing, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Palms Waves Sand Surf = Home

Longing for home, the one I can’t go back to… It is never the same as when we were kids. An all-class reunion was this week. Part of me would love to have gone, part of me never ever wants … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, memory, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

USk: Trinity Episcopal Church’s Red Doors, Alphabet District

Trinity Episcopal Church, at the corner of 19th and Everett, across from where the NW Outdoor Market is often held.   I rarely see it like the image right (Wiki) — trees obscure the lovely old building except when it … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Travel Palettes and Color Mixing Charts

Prepare for a total geek posting. I’ve finally created an entire mixing chart. Who knew what I might learn! I wrote about finding a great deal on a Sennelier travel palette with pan watercolors, above.  I’ve not owned pan paints … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, color, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

USk: Vaughn St and 18th Street

Near Lindy Ltd., Vaughn curves into 18th and there is a lovely set of older buildings. I’ve seen chickens in the street in this odd quiet part of the city. Quick studies, not that happy with outcome — trees are … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

USk: Pro Photo Supply, 18th and Marshall, NW Portland

Had little time to sketchcrawl last weekend, but found a great corner near us in NW. Around the corner from the main Pro Photo shop on 19th is the new-old building, where they’ve taken a dull green-grey corner at 18th … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

VSW: Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago

Loving this virtual walk in Chicago, I found a lovely Louis Sullivan church I’d not known about. Chicago has to be the Queen City of Architectural Monuments! Playing in virtual sketching gives me the ability to try techniques, and here … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, color, creativity, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Thursday Doors: South Doors Washington Legislative Building

Because we are in the middle of expanding our business studio space (and yes, I get a bit bigger art space to boot) I am pulling up old images with a new twist for Thursday Doors, (Check out Norm’s amazing … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, art journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

USk: Native American Student Center PSU

Above, a quick sketch (with Diamine Ancient Copper ink in a Lamy Al-star) of the Native American Student Center at the south end of the PSU campus, off the park.  Watercolor wash moved the inks: three colors were used: Yavapei, … Continue reading →

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

VSW: Getty Tomb by Sullivan

Thanks to a tour of Chicago + Louis Sullivan, I found the Getty Tomb in Graceland (which the name always makes me think of Elvis, of course.) I couldn’t get the Getty Tomb out of my head. Best to get … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, challenge, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Copyright, Chagall Card, Riffs, WTH?

 I am breaking with my normal posts to say this timely bit regarding copyright, and the lawsuit against Led Zep over the riff.  I don’t give a toss about any of it, but the topic is under my skin.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, copyleft, creativity, meditation, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

VSW: Harold Washington Library, Chicago, 2 Watercolors

I added a wash coat of color and a bit of detail to the ink sketches. Being a line-work gal, not sure which I like best…  You? Moleskin 8×11 watercolor journal, watercolor pencils and Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Preppy … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, calligraphy, challenge, creativity, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Tools: Sennelier Watercolor Pan Kit and Pentalic Aqua Journal

It seems that when I get my watercolors in order and say “I need nothing,” I end up buying something new.  Blick’s is having an amazing sale which I came across looking for a replacement tube; I had put my … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, journal, paper, review, watercolor | Tagged , , | 7 Comments