75 Day Challenge: 42 to 47

Posted on September 11, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Brenda Swenson has a drawing challenge to draw every day for 75 days. We are supposed to use a black or blue pen, but I know I will not do that one. Still, I play along because challenges are fun when done with others, and it keeps me doing at least one dang drawing a day even when I am slammed at work.
To see all the 75-day images go here.

Over halfway through the challenge. Now I am making it my own!

As you know, I am moving to working with brush pens, no pencil under, and
seeing how I like that for sketching my ideas. It is a big change, and having done months of drawing without pencil has made me brave enough to just do it!

Missing water, ocean, vast blue these days. Fall is the best time in beach towns, because the locals are there and walking deserted beaches, and the chance to have the beach to yourself and to co-mingle with sea creatures is high.

And few Buddha studies. Noticing how the older statues have different ways of draping, and placing the feet or hands into mudras. Same mudra, different shapes.

All are done in an OE Cadic sketching journal or in a Stillman & Birman Beta journal
with Cocoiro or Pitt pens or Uni-ball pen, and with watercolor when so moved!

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Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, challenge, drawing, journal, painting, sketchbook, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Brenda Swenson, buddha, Laguna Beach, Pacific Ocean, palm, palm tree greeting cards, weeping buddha | 12 Comments

Process: My first Brush Pen Sketches, No Pencil!

Posted on September 10, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Today I created my first brush drawing, wonky, clean and lovely.
Five minutes, done, no attempt to brush over, single strokes.
Very exciting for me, so I had to share.
This one is in my lojong journal. By the time I complete the drawing I
will have journal notes for my ongoing commentary on my practice.

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, drawing, journal, lojong, painting, sketchbook, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Luma, waterbrush, watercolor, weeping buddha | 9 Comments

Process: Loading my waterbrushes . . .

Posted on September 9, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am doing accounting work this week (argh) but spent time yesterday loading my extra waterbrushes with liquid watercolor. I had some Luma colors that I have never really used much, and some colors I loaded right out of the bottle (Orchid Blue) and some I mixed. I want a half-dozen colors to have so I can just grab and sketch, pushing me toward even more spontaneous thinking/journaling. I am loving no pencil, and this is another step.

The red is a combination of Persimmon, 20 drops Scarlett, and 20 drops Seal Brown.
Not completely satisfied with it but wanted a red hair color, and a red for other things.

The brown is mostly Acorn Brown, with 20 drops of Seal Brown to give it a bit more depth.

The green is a disaster — I wanted Fern Green (it has such great undertones
of warm yellow) but it was the first one I mixed and it was clogging and I emptied it to clean the brush/dropper I inadvertently picked up Orchid Blue and dropped a few
drops in before I realized it. WOW that toned it toward a grass green. I decided to flow with it and wait until the next time I fill ’em up.

What I learned? Before you fill up a waterbrush make sure there is no sediment in the dropper. If it is not flowing dip it into water to start it. If it is still not flowing and your liquid watercolors are older, add a few drops of water.

Back to accounting. My reward is a bit of drawing each time I make headway on business, + comedy at the end of the day with my husband, munching ice cream and berries in bed!

Uniball Vision Elite and Luma Watercolors in Pentel waterbrushes.

Posted in color, journal, painting, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged Luma, Pentel, waterbrush, watercolor | 8 Comments

75 Day Challenge: Gads what day??? 41!

Posted on September 7, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Mostly people think of sketching as drawing this or that thing, sketching their trips, their gardens, nature. All that is wonderful, but it is not me, and I have done 100 drawings of selfies, cats, faces, places, learning the ropes with watercolors.

This week (loosely, as we were traveling on business — see the image above — and the week got longer and longer) I realized I am done with all that as a mainstream thing, and I need to stop classes and just do my thang. I need to see where Booby Gurl or Horses or Buddhas will take me. I return, finally, to what I love best about drawing:

I draw to create what is in my Heart,
To channel what is running underneath my surface mind.
I draw to keep my Hand connected to my Muse!
I draw to channel Collective images,
I draw to push through stuck places,
to release sadness and discover joy,
to push through what they said I should draw,
to push through my Critical Editor.
I draw to uncover What Wants To Be.

I’s not sharing it all with you right now. I have some viable ideas gurgling up
and don’t want feedback on them so won’t put them out there.
When and IF they come to be I will show my process.
What is important today is that starting to sketch from my heart again was weird
— it was like I lost my mojo! Oh Muse come back!

Finally as I sketched Booby Gurls and Horses and Buddhas and things that people tell me I SHOULD draw, I slowly had ideas come to me. And the rules you all should know:

☾ Draw the icky stuff so you can get to the good stuff AND
☾ Remember the sad, angry, depressing things might be your next creative project.
☾ If you sign up for a class or take a challenge, don’t let that get in the way of your muse.
☾ Muses are quite real and if you don’t pay attention to them they can ruin you.
(Think addiction, illness, and no mojo.)
☾ Get into a flow where you stop thinking.
☾ Stop thinking not by banishing your critic/editor but my promising to
give it something to do — sometime I will write an entire post on that one.
☾ Once the flow starts keep you notebooks close. Draw whatever you envision.
☾ Don’t do what doesn’t work for you even if it is good advice.

So my mojo is on her way back, and the drawings are beginning to be fun again.

All are done in an OE Cadic sketching journal or in a Stillman & Birman Beta journal
with Cocoiro or Pitt pens or Uni-ball pen, and with watercolor when so moved!

Posted in art, art journal, Booby Gurl, class, color, creativity, drawing, india ink, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, tools, waterbrush, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Booby Gurl, drawing, sketchbook, sketching, waterbrush, watercolor | 5 Comments

When you say you feel uncomfortable sketching in public . . .

Posted on September 6, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve made a new friend, Richard Johnson. He is an Urban Sketcher, an artist, a husband, a dad, and a reporter for the Washington Post. I am awed at what he does, both where he does it and his fabulous drawings. He is an inspiration to me, and I pray for him every day. I highly suggest you click to see a few of his illustrations, stories — I am giving you a broad view. His writing is good and his drawing take you there. But before you do, go see the conditions in which he does some of these drawings. I WILL NEVER SAY I AM UNCOMFORTABLE DRAWING IN PUBLIC, EVER EVER.

On the road: DC to London to Dubai to Kabul, to give you a taste of how it is when he leaves for a trip. (Image above is from this article)

Once We were Soldiers, documenting a home for homeless veterans outside Denver.

The Rural Drawerer

A Day Out with the Marines

The Joe Bonham Project: Drawing Stories of America’s Wounded Veterans, Many artists participated in this amazing project.

Portraits of War is a book (still available) of his work.

I don’t have a legal right to post any of these images.
I simply am taking a chance to get the word out about what is going on
at the Washington Post with Richard Johnson. Amazing.

Posted in art, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged reporter, Richard Johnson, storytelling, war | Leave a comment

Sending You Off to Cathy Johnson’s Blog

Posted on August 31, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

She is one of my favorite artists; her perspective is uniquely hers, and is a joy.
Giving you a taste, then off you go — I don’t know how to reblog from blogspot.

Nurturing creativity…or killing it

Last time I explored some of the things (and they are many) that encourage creativity. Things that delight me, light that spark, make me want to grab the nearest pencil or pen.
Or yes, try a new Moroccan dish, design a tunic, make some Japanese tsukemono (kraut), solve a prickly problem or try a new approach to writing. (Thank you Andy Couturier for your book and your class!)

The old Marrakech Cafe is what got me started on the Moroccan-food kick! Now I make my own…

And for me (and for many of us), what can kill creativity–and the desire to create–are several.
Like my very personal discipline of making a list on what nurtures creativity, I find it helpful to write down those things that do not. It fixes them in my mind and reminds me to run like a rabbit, for my own sanity and peace. Sometimes that list is noticeably shorter than the one that inspires creativity, and for that I am grateful.
But somehow this “list” got a bit wordier and a good deal less “listy”! Here goes…
Rules, with a capital R, for one. You must NOT use this or that tool, you must NOT erase, you MUSTN’T use opaque paint with watercolor–or that feeling that you MUST do something every day, hence creating pressure to produce over being inspired or responding to something you care about. For her most excellent list, go to Nurturing creativity…or killing it, and follow her – it is so worth it!

Posted in creativity | Tagged Cathy Johnson | 3 Comments

Coloring A Drawing

Posted on August 29, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve been doing a lot of drawing lately, ink mostly. I decided to try creating
a photocopy of my drawings and water-coloring them. I could not use heavy watercolor paper because my copier bends, but gave it a go with 100lb paper.

Coloring a drawing is different from drawing toward a watercolor, and much
more like using a coloring book — albeit one I made. Sketching toward a watercolor is less detailed, looser, and leaves lots of room for the watercolor to tell the story.
I am not so happy with the results.

What do you think?

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Posted in art, Buddha, color, drawing, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged dieties, Shakyamuni Buddha, Siddartha, tantric, Tibetan Buddhist, Yab-Yum | 10 Comments

75 Day Challenge: 22-28

Posted on August 28, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Brenda Swenson has a drawing challenge to draw every day for 75 days.
We are supposed to use a black or blue pen, but I know I will not do that one.
Still, I play along because challenges are fun when done with others, and it keeps me doing at least one dang drawing a day even when I am slammed at work.
To see all the 75-day images go here.

I have trouble not adding watercolor to some of the images, and love color so much that some days I simply draw in the watercolor journal forgetting my internal agreement.
Oh Well, rules were made to be broken and these are pretty arbitrary being
that the whole point is to draw without a pencil!

I really love the lower two, and see my practice is paying off!

All are done in an OE Cadic sketching journal or in a Stillman & Birman Beta journal with Cocoiro or Pitt pens or Uni-ball pen, with watercolor when so moved!

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, challenge, drawing, india ink, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged art journal, buddha, elephant, gnomie, happy cup, mug, Shakyamuni Buddha, Yab-Yum | Leave a comment

What Artists Can Do: Homeless Veterans (Washington Post)

Posted on August 26, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

This is an amazing and touching article in the Washington Post,
which I came by via one of the artists, Richard Johnson.

Drawing The World Together

Once we were soldiers

They are only translucent distorted shadows of the soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen they once were. They are now addicts at the very edges of their addiction — singularly focused on the need to feed their habit, be it cocaine, meth, heroin, crack, or good old alcohol. Their drug-induced lives dull their histories of medication prescribed for diagnoses of bipolar, manic tendencies, depressive, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, antisocial, and attention deficit disorders.

A hundred miles southeast of Denver in a shallow Colorado river valley of lush man-made crop circles there is an old military base. It was once a prison, once a hospital, once an asylum but here now in a meander of the Arkansas River it has become a refuge.

They find them living under the bridges, or they find them close to death in hospitals, or they find them sleeping in dumpsters, in alleys, in doorways – the invisible dregs and the leftovers of good lives gone bad. They find them and they take the willing ones here.

For the rest of the story continue on to Once we were soldiers.

It will take your breath away. That is what artists can do.

Posted in art, drawing, journal, making a living, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged addiction, Richard Johnson, war, Washington Journal | 2 Comments

Our Happy Mug

Posted on August 25, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

This is our Happy Mug. If one of us says we need the Happy Mugs, we know which ones they are. Their history was we bought them at a time when we needed a shot of happy in the morning, and they looked exactly like they could provide. They’ve not let us down!

This watercolor began life as a drawing for Brenda Swenson’s 75-Day Challenge.
Watercolors seduced me with this cup, which begged to be painted.
It was drawn with a grey Cocoiro pen, which pretty much disappeared in the opaque watercolor undercoat. I so seldom use opaque colors, but for this pottery piece the Daniel Smith Warm Grey seemed right — and other transparent color went over it.
Other colors were Venetian Red, Paynes Grey, and Quin Scarlet. And colored pencil!

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, color, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged 75 day challenge, art journal, Brenda Swenson, chicken, Daniel Smith watercolors, happy, La Gabbianella, mug, pottery, red, rooster | 5 Comments

A Trip Through PSU’s Farmer’s Market: Lobster Mushrooms

Posted on August 22, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

The mushroom stall at the entrance to PSU’s Farmer’s Market is always so tempting.
I love mushrooms, and have tried most that I’ve seen at the market.
Lobster mushrooms have the bright (seriously this bright) orange
which is why I thought they were called lobster —
but they also have a slightly fishy taste similar to shitake shrooms — or so I think!

I am loving my new Stillman & Birn book! Daniel Smith and QoR watercolors!

Posted in art, art journal, color, drawing, india ink, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, farmer's market, lobster mushrooms, orange, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland | 12 Comments

75-Day Challenge: Days 14-21

Posted on August 21, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Brenda Swenson has a drawing challenge to draw every day for 75 days.
We are supposed to use a black or blue pen, but I know I will not do that one.
Still, I play along because challenges are fun when done with others, and it keeps me doing at least one dang drawing a day even when I am slammed at work.
To see all the 75-day images go here.

Playing with textures when I had NO idea what to draw, 2am.

Middle of the night Buddhas, my new drawing obsession.

Some drawings were water-colored (this should be 21 of 75!)

I fooled around a lot more, and tried this or that in silly moods;
These too are drawings, and they COUNT!

Not happy with this, but my commitment to sharing all these crazy drawings . . . I’m working an idea out in sketch form.

Like this less as it looks like a Japanese cartoon!

I Dream of Genie Yoga gurl . . .

A bit more like it, but not like the statue!

Leaving you with a video from Vimeo on drawing, and why it is important!

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, challenge, creativity, drawing, india ink, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged 75 day challenge, art journal, buddha, furniture, yoga | 2 Comments

Lojong Practice: 3 Friendliness

Posted on August 20, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I continue to keep my lojong journal, and am enjoying drawing in it, a new practice for me!

Zenkatwrites's Blog

I am using Weeping Buddha and the lojong sayings and commentary from Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness by Chogyam Trungpa as a study, together.
I’ve been practicing tonglen for almost three decades, and it is my main practice.
This is the third weekly installment. To start at the beginning go here.

The first time I heard a lojong teaching, I took a few notes, scribbled in my journal alongside some architectural building schematic.

Then in my early thirties I bought Trungpa at the Bodhi Tree when his book literally fell on my head. I read it pretty quickly (I read most things quickly), yellow marker in hand. I thought it was great, but could not relate. Next. “Where was I going to find the book to fix me?” I bought ten more books, and read them all quickly, not quite fixing me. (And for those of you…

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Posted in art journal, Buddha | Leave a comment

The Idea of Assignments: Coffee Mug

Posted on August 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am a self-starter, and so need no prompting to get me going, AND, I am enjoying the process of doing the same thing along with so many others in a class. It is just plain fun.

Take this challenge, to paint a teacup, from Liz Steel. I don’t own a teacup. I own salt and pepper shakers, and deity statues, but no teacups. Yet I enjoyed seeing all the many teacups painted in this class, and finally had to break down and paint one of our favorite mugs.

Where are my silly salt and pepper shakers . . .

Posted in art, art journal, challenge, class, color, drawing, journal, painting, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged art journal, La Gabbianella, mug | 2 Comments

Back to Watercolors: Buddha Maya

Posted on August 19, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

For several weeks I was immersed in work and drawing classes.
My goal was to wean me from my addiction to my pencil, so that when
I wanted to bravely use pen and ink, I would have that as an option.
Schools out. I’m weaned. And laughingly, the last instructor taught
the exact technique I normally use — so the joke is on me!

It is so good to be back into wet paint, brilliant colors,
and thick absorbent paper! Gads I missed color!

Buddha Maya is named after Maya Angelou.
She is turquoise and serpentine and tigers eye,
fitting gemstones for that woman.

She will soon be for sale on RedBubble!

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, color, painting, watercolor | Tagged art journal, buddha face, Daniel Smith watercolors, gemstone, Maya Angelou, Primatek, serpentine, tiger's eye, turquoise | 2 Comments

75 Day Sketch Challenge: Day 8 – 13

Posted on August 17, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

Brenda Swenson has a drawing challenge to draw every day for 75 days.
We are supposed to use a black or blue pen, but I know I will not do that one.
Still, I play along because challenges are fun when done with others, and it keeps me doing at least one dang drawing a day even when I am slammed at work.
To see all the 75-day images go here.

Another busy week, but learning to drag my sketchbook with me to all kinds of
meetings and see what can be drawn! Even still with one huge fast-tracked deadline,
I missed a couple days. I just picked up where I left off.

As I continue to draw, I’ve a few experiments with adding color slapdash
to my drawings. I’m not sure I like it. Now I scan before and after, and more and more, I like pen+ink! (The yellow tinge came from the scanning.)

All are done in an OE Cadic sketching journal with Cocoiro or Pitt pens or Uni-ball
or *eeek* ball-point, thank you Andrea (when I was stuck in a meeting),
and adding watercolor when so moved!

New week, new drawings!

Posted in art, art journal, Buddha, challenge, drawing, furniture, india ink, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged 75 day challenge, art journal, buddha, chair | Leave a comment

The Secret of Drawing from the BBC: Videos

Posted on August 14, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I am posting these as much for me as to share with you!

Apparently this week I am becoming a vlog site! I have not had time to review but they looked so interesting . . . “This four part series, presented by Andrew Graham-Dixon, explores how drawing has shaped our lives. Join him to discover the history of drawing and its relevance to the modern world.” On YouTube.