Category Archives: watercolor

Full Moon Puja, Anniversay Prayers

Posted on May 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Mitchel and I met, had our first date, and married within a week in May, with a few years between meeting and wedding.  We celebrate it as a weekly event. On the full moon this year Mitchell and I went … Continue reading →

Posted in art, drawing, graphite, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Making Your Own Watercolor Pads

Posted on May 14, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I can’t take credit for this wonderful money-saving idea.  Jorge Royan was discussing sketchbooks versus watercolor pads, and a few of us liked pads better than sketchbooks for many reasons.  They are more expensive, but Jorge makes his own! He … Continue reading →

Posted in dunno, process, tools, watercolor | Tagged | 5 Comments

Process: Watercolors, Mountains and Laguna Beach

Posted on May 13, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I started with an iconic view of my hometown, Laguna Beach, from the cliffs to the north.  I really went for saturation this time, trying to move lots of color onto a piece.  Not what I saw in my mind’s … Continue reading →

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Process: English Birdie House

Posted on May 12, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I finished up Jeannette House’s sweet bird.  Realism is not my thang, but practicing watercolors in this way makes me learn the mixing and the wet/dry work of watercolor.  I am still very frustrated by it — colors too dark, … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, class, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Process: Painting With Artist’s Prompts

Posted on May 12, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Today I played with artists from Community Thrive, painting their way.  I didn’t like all that I did, but will show you the “failures” too.  The thing about classes is two-fold, assuming you are pretty good at making art: I … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, challenge, class, color, creativity, painting, pencil, process, watercolor | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Tapestry: Timed Sketch

Posted on May 9, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Gina Rossi’s sprout for the week was to paint from an embroidered piece this week. I had no embroidery in sight, though when I finished my timed sketch Mitchell reminded me of several wonderful fabric samples we have: oops. I … Continue reading →

Posted in challenge, creativity, journal, painting, sketchbook, timed painting, watercolor | Tagged | 4 Comments

In Your Pocket: Anniversary of Meeting my Soulmate

Posted on May 9, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Happy Anniversary Loverman!  Bring on the vacation!          I am now agreeing to the  Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International License, which you can learn more about by visiting the site, or, visit my web page for a more user-friendly summary on my … Continue reading →

Posted in art, journal, memory, painting, watercolor | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Process: Mixing Chinese White Paints

Posted on May 7, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

“As an acrylic artist I almost never used white except under other colors to  pop them.  But as a water-colorist I have reached for white a few times, and I am using an old Sakura Chinese white right now until … Continue reading →

Posted in color, creativity, painting, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Process: Mixing Quinacridone + Caput Mortem Paints

Posted on May 6, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Building from Process: Mixing Hematite Paints, I moved into mixing two colors into each of my paints: Caput Mortem and Quinacridone Gold.  The latter has been a favorite of mine for 20 years. Caput Mortem has also been known as … Continue reading →

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Process: Mixing Hematite Paints

Posted on May 5, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

New color paints are the yummiest, and my new clean watercolors all moist from a spray call to me. After buying mostly Golden Acrylics for 15 years (and they have watercolors coming out which I am dying to try), I … Continue reading →

Posted in color, painting, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Z is for Zinnwaldite: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 30, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Okay, when I heard about this color I was shocked to find the mineral, above, doesn’t look like the color it supposedly produces, right.  How is it possible that this gorgeous green grey mica-looking mineral turns into this nothing-to-write-home about … Continue reading →

Posted in art, color, watercolor | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Process: Sunday Palms!

Posted on April 28, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Working on mastering this medium enough that I can move away from realism and make art that moves me. Today I finally just moved away — playing with palm trees and deep color and texture. I experimented with watercolor graphite, … Continue reading →

Posted in color, creativity, graphite, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged | 6 Comments

Journal: Trip to Southern Oregon

Posted on April 25, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

We have a guy that is our beloved pal, and he is getting old.  He is driving us nuts, because he somehow thinks that he has earned the right to boss us, and have everything the way he wants it.  … Continue reading →

Posted in art, color, journal, memory, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

U is for Ultramarine: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 24, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Ultramarine blue is one of those amazing electric colors that you want to fall into.  I first fell in love with the crayola color, then Golden Acrylic’s Ultramarine Blue Deep Hue.  It was my go-to blue! Ultramarine blue was originally … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, color, oil paint, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

S is for Little Folded Sketchbook: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 22, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

 Cathy Johnson is a wonderful source of classes and inspiration. She is part of the Artist Journal Workshop: “28 ARTISTS & JOURNALISTS their work and words, interviews, blogs, images, hints, tips, websites and more…” And product reviews.  Saved me money! … Continue reading →

Posted in art, class, journal, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Process: Tea, Milk, Honey — Our Garden Buddha

Posted on April 20, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

If you are following me, you know I am struggling to learn watercolors after years of entrenched acrylic painting.  I am following a few folks, and definitely studying the Urban Sketchers.  Yesterday I discovered Marc Taro Holmes blogs and he … Continue reading →

Posted in color, drawing, painting, process, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Q is for Quinacridone: A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

“You’ll not see nothing like the mighty ‘Quins’!”  I hear Bob Dylan’s tune as I gush about the family of paint colors called quinacridone (kwin awk’ ri doan). I first encountered them in Golden Acrylics.  They became a staple in … Continue reading →

Posted in acrylic, art, color, watercolor | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Prayer Flags in the Wind

Posted on April 18, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Originally posted on zenkatwrites. Prayer flags begin as we do, bright colors, full of the promise, like wishes on a dandelion. People notice them, cheered by their vibrancy. They oh-so-quickly fade, and begin to tatter here and there. Many people … Continue reading →

Posted in art, journal, memory, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged , , | 15 Comments