I enjoyed them — they speak of another time, and in my opinion,
a gentler, more exciting and friendlier time in our country.
.
Meet Kate!
Cat Cards on Etsy!
Stickers on Redbubble!
Write while having coffee… Cards on Etsy!
My Tees on RedBubble!
Two Wonderful Videos
Sofa Fabric
We have a large hundred-year-old sofa in to be restored; the frame was badly broken, and all the buildup (stuffings) had to be replaced and re-engineered, because they were done wrong by a novice upholsterer, who changed the way the sofa would sit (uncomfortably) and look.
The fabric is a wild weave of huge butterflies and flowers and vines, against a backdrop of brilliant green teal.
It had to be sketched.
The linework was drawn with a Platinum Japanese Art Pocket Brush Pen,
which was fun — a new-to-me tool. I’ve owned it for a long time but never used it. Lettering was made with a Platinum Carbon pen.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in animals, art journal, flowers, furniture, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithwatercolors, #fabric, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #mpfconservation, #nwindustrialsanctuary, #platinumbrushpen, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #platinumjapaneseartpcoketbrushpen, #Portlandoregon, #sennelierwatercolors, #urbansketching, #waterproofinks, $sofafabric
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Momofuko Noodles
One of the only great things about 2024 is that I discovered Momofuko noodles.
Not at all like the more popular Ramen,
these have great flavor and the noodles are wide and excellent!
My new lunch or late studio snack!
I frequently top them with pepitas or leftover chicken bits.
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
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Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
VSW: Palms is Where I Wanna Be
On the last day of one of the worst years, 2024,
I looked to a Virtual Sketchwalk palm-tree-and-beach image
from Vietnam to lift my spirits, and said prayers,
partly because I knew where our country was headed in 2025.
I began with a good pen and ink sketch, below, and thought about embellishing it with lots of detail and not adding watercolor, but then changed my mind.
I made notes about color mixes on the back rather than across from the image; I started the new journal with Jimmy Carter’s death.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #beach, #danielsmithwatercolors, #deatramentisdocumentink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #holbeinwatercolors, #lovethestub, #ocean, #palmtrees, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #sennelierwatercolors, #twsbieco, #twsbilove, #vietnam, #virtualsketching, #virtualsketchwalk
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Izzee Keeps me Company
Izzee is always a happy gurl when
she can sit close and watch me sketch.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #brothersistercats, #catantics, #greytabby, #greytabbycat, #greytabbykitten, #greywhitetabbycats, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #Izzee, #platinumbrushpen, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #shopcat, #studiocat, #studiocats, #tabby, #tabbycat, #urbansketching, #waterproofinks
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USk: Dogwood Blossoms
The only thing good about my trip to the dentist were the Dogwoods in bloom.
Pink and white blossoms everywhere, and this year the blossoms are heavy in the trees.
They remind me of trips to visit Mimi and Pa on the ranch in California, especially if we took side trips into the woods to visit a creek or friend in spring. The dogwoods nestled back within about 25 feet of the rd dirt roads, and their bright blossoms cheered even the worst days
Pen and Waterfront Dusk ink
are from
Birmingham Pen Company,
Pittsburgh, PA; Made in America!
Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
De Atramentis Document Urban Grey ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes,
De Atramentis Document Brown ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes,
Birmingham waterfront Dusk ink and Birmingham’s Beauregarde pen,
Daniel Smith Watercolors.
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back
to dkatiepowellart and drop me a note @dkatiepowell @aol.com.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, drawing, gouache, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, waterbrush, watercolor, writing
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #birminghamink, #birminghaminks, #birminghampen, #birminghampencompany, #coralink, #danielsmithwatercolors, #dogwood, #dogwoodblossoms, #fountainpenink, #Hahnemühle, #inkpainting, #lovethestub, #madeinamerica, #madeinusa, #nostalgiejournal, #nostalgiesketchbook, #pinkink, #pittsburghpennsylvania, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #usk, #uskportland, #waterfrontdusk
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I Prefer Painting Over Virtual Artwork
I read a mundane op-ed in the NYTimes this morning from a writer I rarely read — and I won’t mention it because he’s a dweeb and I don’t want to be sued. But the upshot is that he believes virtual or electronic activities are overtaking physical activities in most walks of life for various reasons, among them being easy access at all hours of the day and low risk in terms of exposure, and that someday real life activities could be replaced to a great degree by virtual or electronic activities.
Some of his editorial was surprisingly sound, and if it comes to pass that he is right then I am glad I am older and in the last third of my life and happily married. (It seems virtual dating doesn’t work, big surprise there… fewer lasting relationships statistically.)
It got me thinking about why I never gravitated to iPad art, not in terms of making it nor in what I’ve seen of it in the hands of artists I admire. In the making of it, I am talking in my case about drawing (pen and ink), watercolor, acrylic, shown below right, and oil on canvas, the latter I now prefer over acrylic.
So here goes, my thoughts today, off-the-cuff!
First, I love the physicality of it. Painting engages my whole body, not just my right-hand clicking parts or wand or finger. Even more so when I have the opportunity to paint BIG on canvas, such as the family series I did, shown right. It challenges me to remember to balance relaxing and holding the brush tight for painting tiny details. I have to get up and stretch, move around, step back.
Watercolors are the most difficult medium for me, and also my favorite. They are endlessly challenging, can be carried everywhere so always available, and I always have them with me. I’ve been writing about why I keep a sketchbook, and a lot of it is for emotional reasons, as in memories.
I am challenged when creating a wash for a sky, making enough wash color, and applying it. Or adding layers without overworking a piece.
I continue to forget ahead of time to choose the right paper, very important in watercolor. I start an image in a smooth-textured sketchbook and am sorry when I decide the image is going to need washes of color, which are better on thicker textured paper. I am lazy about switching out to a watercolor sketchbook or pad.
Watercolors show me a lot about my personality!
The physical challenges are varied and keep me engaged and paying attention. No computer does that for me. I could, in FACT, fall asleep on a keyboard.
Test on silk
Mixing colors…
Oil paint on a previously stripped (damaged) chair.
The senses, especially smell, though not so much with watercolor (though I can smell the difference between Daniel Smith and M.Graham, especially when it is fresh out of the tube).
I LOVE the smell of Gamblin oil paints, and thankfully their mineral spirits are odorless! I was introduced to them in our business, through the projects shown above, and have since continued to experiment with them on small boards and thick paper.
And then there is the memory of the lovely smell of this field of posies… I had to slow down and enjoy that moment, which was lovely.
Spontaneity, which means I can record life-moments in real time, and along with those moments comes the many emotions that I might or might not remember. Painting and sketching them makes them real and keeps them alive — there is something about the physical act that embeds them in my mind.
When we moved my mom out of her house, which was the beginning of the end of her life, I made a small folding watercolor journal for the trip, and recorded my impressions of a drive I’ve taken many many times, shown above.
During the Portland riots, which were frightening, an image so strong came up, and it has said it all to me in the years that have followed. Seeing it brings up the memories of that time, including staying in the studio until very late listening with fear to the sounds of anger in the city.
Getting lost in my work is the best part, and I cannot get lost in any creative act on the computer. In fact, when I am writing, and I do a great deal of writing on the computer, I have to jump start my creative process through hand-writing first, then after a certain time I can take it to the computer until I get stuck again.
Hahnemühle Watercolor
Hahnemühle Watercolor
Finally, I love the tools of the trade, including amazing color you do not get in a virtual image, shown above! Wet glistening paints on a page are the absolute best. If I am stuck sometimes just playing with the colors will move me toward creativity.
Pens, beautiful and fascinating and endless varieties! Right is a cheap but beautiful vintage Pelikan P20 Twist. I had to have it — it has PARROTS on it!
And below, my beautiful Benu pens… collectible but pricey, so I have to have a reason to use them!
I had to get this out… it was hurting my heart to think
about my processes and how I would be heartbroken
if I could not get my hands on paint and brushes!
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in acrylic, art, art journal, creativity, direct watercolor, gouache, ink painting, oil paint, painting, pen & ink, ritual, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #directwatercolor, #flexnib, #fountainpenrevolution, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #himalyapen, #holbeinwatercolors, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #Portlandoregon, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #sennelierwatercolors, #ultraflexnib, #waterproofinks
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LaLaLand Fires
(Note: Posted late, long after the fires are finally contained…
I am running behind on posts and images shared.)
How is it that something so destructive and terrifying
inspired me to produce a beautiful ink painting?
And yet, it did.
Watching places I lived, ate, socialized, and worked burn broke my heart.
I could not look away, could not turn it off.
I had to know what was happening, and lost days of work.
A quote I wrote down during the watching,
“Climate change will manifest as a series of disasters viewed through phones with footage that gets closer and closer to where you live until you’re the one filming it.”
That quote got me in the gut.
In the end I found my brushstrokes with the ink beautiful, detailed images below.
This was direct painting with inks, browns and oranges and yellows,
from Robert Oster and Birmingham.
The image above was based loosely upon a video of one of the streets;
I captured the image in a still screen shot.
My journal entries, if you want to try and read them:
Mark Peter (photographer) posted an image he took of a neighborhood
that burned, and it inspired the sketch below.
Having lived through a Malibu fire, I was struck back then by
what burned and what was left untouched.
Of course, the blue VW Bus amidst the char and rubble says it all.
The van belongs to Preston Martin.
I hope Mark Peter does not find it and want me to take it down.
I tried to get a hold of him for permission, but no response.
This one was sketched loosely in ink, then I used inks and watercolors.
☾
Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Aussie Brown ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Toffee Ink, Birmingham inks, Robert Oster Inks ,
Pentel Aquash waterbrushes with diluted De Atramentis Urban Grey ink,
Sennelier, Holbein, DS Primatek watercolors, and Daniel Smith Watercolors.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
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Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, current events, direct watercolor, ink painting, memory, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #birminghampencompany, #brownink, #danielsmithwatercolors, #directwatercolor, #fires, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #holbeinwatercolors, #losangeles, #losangelesonfire, #Malibu, #pacificpalisades, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #sennelierwatercolors, #twsbieco, #virtualsketching, fire
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USk: Cherry Blossoms Alphabet District
My trip to New Seasons yesterday was glorious with the pink
and white and yellow blossoms everywhere… Cherry and dogwood (just starting) and forsythia and dandelions and daffodils and those teeny white flowers in the grass!
I took a moment on the way and pulled over on 26th or 27th and
was startled by the brilliant pinks contrasting with an unreal green lawn!
90% was done on site; I had to add the electric green lawn when I got back to the studio!
☾
Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
Sennelier, Holbein and Daniel Smith Watercolors.
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
VSW: Vietnam End of 2024
I used my A4 Hahnemühle 100# Cotton Watercolour Book which I rarely use,
because I prefer to work in the A5 size. But here I took several photographic images
from our Virtual Sketchwalk group, and created a montage:
a family walking to the beach; a grouping of palms, and a large statue.
I began with line-work with a Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink, shown far left above and below. To that I added shadows with a watered down version of
De Atramentis Document Urban Grey ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes, shown middle above. The last layer was all watercolor, shown far right above and top.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, journal, landscape, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #beach, #buddha, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #goddess, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #holbeinwatercolors, #lakshmi, #palmtrees, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #sennelierwatercolors, #vietnam, #virtualsketching, #virtualsketchwalk
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VSW: Hawaii, a Friend, and Sea Turtles
A friend recently moved away
from Hawaii after many years;
she allowed us to create a virtual walk
from her many images.
Right, her lovely face.
BTW, if you want to try virtual walks
join “Virtual Sketchwalk” on Facebook.
My spread went across
the entire watercolor journal.
It had many of my favorite things to paint:
palms, water, sea turtles, ocean, flowers;
I created a collage of these items.
I am homesick for many things,
but palms and seeing the ocean are most missed.
I started with sketches, before moving to watercolor.
One thing that is hard is when I love an ink sketch
and have to decide whether to move forward with watercolors.
Thank the goddess for my iPhone!
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #flowers, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleWatercolourBook, #inksketches, #maui, #ocean, #pacificocean, #palmtrees, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #sea turtle, #sennelierwatercolors, #sketchbookcotton, #virtualsketching, #virtualsketchwalk, #watercolourbookcotton, #waterproofinks, Hawaii, palms
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When Jimmy Carter Died
December 29 2024
Jimmy Carter Died today, at 100 years old, and thankfully, in his own bed. The man deserved a good death. I cried, the only time I ever cried for a politician when they died.
I am glad he is not going to see the shitshow or the new regime. I am gleeful that , because a President’s death is honored with 30 days of the American flag flying at half-mast, it will be so at the regimes inauguration, which will certainly piss off Cheeto.
Carter was my first vote, and I was able to see him when he came to USC.
He had the wrong campus for Democrats, and the turnout was poor.
He was one of the few politicians I ever trusted, respected, and even admired, along with Jeff Merkley and Bernie Sanders. He is a dying breed. Part of his legacy (along with Rosalynn) is Habitat for Humanity. I notice that few other presidents do a damn thing after they leave office, even to step up to fight for our country.
BTW, I don’t do many portraits so am going to try to sketch more people. Not in a crowd, but like this, as a portraiture… I figure it is the only way to get better at it!
From an article on Habitat for Humanity.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
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To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, current events, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #danielsmithwatercolors, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #holbeinwatercolors, #jimmycarter, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #sennelierwatercolors, #twsbieco, #virtualsketching, portrait
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Curry Chicken: Good Food is Good Medicine
One thing that is still available to us during this crazy time is cooking.
Good food is good medicine. I think I made that up but who knows?
Curry Roasted Chicken, YUM.
Place chicken upside down in glass roasting pan. Garlic Salt, pepper, Curry powder, applied LIBERALLY on the bottom of the bird. Roast at 365-degres for a 26 minutes.
Turn over, season the top of the bird the same way, back in for another 26 minutes. Check to make sure it is fully done by wiggling the legs (Mitchell is my tester).
If you can stand to let it set for 10 minutes before cutting, do this — good eats.
Cooking good meals has been my anti-depressant during this regime.
And my gateway back into making art, apparently, because I like this curry chicken image I made while waiting the ten minutes! Ink-painting!
(Colors on the side below)
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #benupen, #currychicken, #danielsmithwatercolors, #directwatercolor, #goodfoodisgoodmedicine, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #holbeinwatercolors, #nwportland, #pilotyuyakeink, #Portlandoregon, #regimefatigue, #roastedchicken, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #sketchbookcotton, #urbansketcher, #urbansketching, #waterproofinks
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Distress
(This was written the middle of February, when I finally wrote
about how I was reeling from the horrific action of the new regime…
In the beginning I was frozen, then finally, slowly, I decided I had
to step it up, get my life back on track, do what could be done.)
Quotes that moved me , taught me, and guided me during
the beginning of this disaster of a regime:
“Grief burnout is real, and it can show up as
losing interest in things you once loved, constant headaches,
restless nights, anxiety, feeling scattered and mood swings.”
~ Good Morning Podcast
I had all of the above except radical mood swings —
my “mood” has been consistent… consistently depressed.
NO sketching or reading (except news) for weeks.
But after many MANY weeks in that place I am pushing to get beyond it,
to reclaim my life in the midst of this mess.
I never saw myself as patriotic, so never knew how much
I loved my country until it was threatened.
That is not a personality trait, rather,
I think, I grew up with the USA as my constant
and never considered it to be in danger.
I’ve begun to consciously meditate again, and
even found myself praying to whom I am not sure.
It isn’t that I don’t believe, but at some point I simply
did not find it useful to think that way.
The immigrants being sent back hurts my heart;
Please, I say aloud, keep them safe, keep the children with their parents.
I pray it many times a day as if it is a mantra.
“You write to change the world, knowing perfectly well you can’t.
The world changes according to the way people see it.
If you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks at
or people look at reality, then you can change it.”
~ James Baldwin
BTW, several political persons have talked about keeping a journal of these times,
because then we are documenting the history of how it was effecting us.
Hopefully this will counter the whitewashing that the regime will promote..
☾
Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook, Birmingham Coking Coal ink,
De Atramentis Document Urban Grey ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes
(so I could paint over it and not move the dark grey),
Robert Oster Australian Sky Blue, Nemosine Aeolis Palus Red ink,
Platinum Carbon pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #birminghaminks, #birminghampencompany, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #robertosterink, #robertostersignatureink, #virtualsketching, #waterproofinks
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Benu Talisman Buddha Lotus Blossom Pen
I was thrilled when Benu brought out the Buddha-Lotus Blossom Talisman pen,
and it also gave me the opportunity to try out their NEW steel flex nib.
I haven’t bought a new pen
in a long time. My pen collection now is such that
I know what I love, and
have “enough” pens,
frankly, so now it was a question of what might
I like to collect.
Talisman fits my hand perfectly, not too big,
not to small. I can write
for hours with them.
I tried several models of Benu before landing on Talisman. The Euphoria was a bit big for my small hands, though I have bought the other Buddha pen in that model (I’ll review it later). I love the little Ambrosia to slip into my small purse (top of row).
Benu is my favorite high-end pen (still affordable, don’t get me wrong, but not a $35 pen) because of the lovely nib action. Always smooth, good flow.
All my Benus are inked up and sitting next to my bed, where I use them the most.
My other Talismans lined up for their portrait, right!
The Buddha-Lotus
Talisman has a brilliant sparkling copper colored body, shown below,
with a deep wine banding
and beautiful painted
Buddha holding a lotus blossom with lovely embellishments
all around the pen.
I had a terrible time photographing it’s color!
I filled it with Diamine Ancient Copper, my first ink, and one I have not had in any pen for a long time. It is perfect for it! Eventually, I think I am going to find a deep wine red ink in my stash for the refill, which would match the lovely trim pieces and nib body.
How does the steel flex nib write?
Not like a gold flex nib, which I knew going on, but I can get some variation in line width
if I try. It was a good test for me deciding whether to switch out my nibs in my other Benu’s, and I think not. I will buy the flex nib going forward, and am happy with what I have in my other pens, ranging from fine to broad.
I do wish they’d do a stub, though.
Hint-hint if anyone from Benu is reading this!
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
When a Creative is Cut Off from Social Media
I was recently banned from Instagram
(hereafter known as IG). I had posted comments on several political posts and I basically just copied my original post and pasted it instead of writing it over and over again. IG didn’t like that, or possibly a Trump/Musk supporter reported it – I’m not sure which – but they cut me off from posting for 6 months. SIX MONTHS!
I was not using profanity, just stating
my strong opinions that the current regime is not good for our country.
It has been a bummer, to be sure, though I have more free time. But the bigger issue is IG is where many people sell their creative items: books, art, classes, etc., including myself. I could not longer tell a larger audience that I had a new blog post up. This ability to just pull the rug out from under us for whatever reason is not okay, and should be regulated.
There was a way back, and I started to fill out th forms and state my truth but here is the thing – suddenly they were asking me for far more information than they should know about me, and I could not see the purpose for the request. Because of the state of our country right now, I was reluctant to give them all that information.
Being creative is something you have to make space for. You invite the muse in and sometimes it involves being quiet and still and receptive.
But it also is nice to share, and this stopped me in my tracks,
I’ve been upset and possibly depressed about the way things are going,
and this was the icing on the cake, so to speak.
I stopped sketching for a long time. Nothing.
When I was doing the larger pieces – I wasn’t working for a few years – I could sketch then drop into painting canvases or large sheets for a long time without sharing, sometimes creating a series, like my family portraits, above, all 3×4 feet.
I got a little lost when I was doing these large canvases, in a good way.
I can’t see that happening right now.
Further, it appears they erased my information, and I have no way to tell
my actual friends who for all I know think I am dead. Mitchell told people,
but there are a lot of artist friends who don’t know him.
Anyhow, I am going to start posting on my blog, and see where it takes me.
I have a lot of things I’ve not posted, and perhaps this interaction will spur me on.
Yes, I am still depressed, but I think that if you aren’t feeling some of that with what is going on then you are nto paying attention, because this is not bout sane Republicans, but crazy crazy taking over our country. Really frightening, IMO.
What are your thoughts? (I hope this is a safe place as I’m not tagging any of these companies, so as not to get the “Eye of Sauron” on this post!)
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
To hear about classes, follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
Note: I was banned from IG until October for political postings.
DEQ
Gads I am glad I took my sketchbook with me when I last had our car smogged.
The boredom and tedium of sitting, trying to be alert so I would move forward when they told me to was lifted a bit by a sketch.
I added most of the color back home.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back to dkatiepowellart.
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Posted in art journal, painting, pen & ink, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #brownink, #danielsmithprimateks, #danielsmithwatercolors, #grayink, #greyink, #HahnemühleNostalgie, #nwportland, #pacificnorthwest, #platinumcarbonink, #PlatinumCarbonPen, #Portlandoregon, #urbansketcher, #urbansketching
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Yaman the HelperCat
Yaman is his Daddy’s best friend.
Where Mitchell is, Yaman is. If I can’t find Mitchell in the studio I look for our panther-cat to be sitting outside a closed door, waiting impatiently to be let in. There is jealousy and rivalry between he and I, on his part, not mine, though it can be irritating when it kicks in… When we are talking, unless Yaman is on Mitchell’s lap, Yaman circles us and yeowls, “me me ME!”
He is an excellent shop-cat, except for his tendency to want to steal shiny objects, which is where he got his nickname, CrowCat, not from his black fur, as some imagine. In this image you can see him on top of cattle-tail and horse hair in the upholstery studio, where Mitchell had begun stitching the hair into place with spring twine. He is considering the spring twine, but he has his paw on the 5-inch curved needle. His paw says, “Mine!” There will be a small tussle getting it away from him, and of course Mitchell will win.
Then for a bit he is banned from being a HelperCat, and has to sit on the high swivel chair and watch from a distance. This never lasts… The minute Mitchell steps out of the upholstery studio he goes back to his spot on the settee.
A couple of things to note:
- The cats are not allowed in the studio unless our clients have cats as well, because of allergies.
- All cats get their nails clipped weekly. While they are good about using scratching pads (we have them EVERYWHERE), we don’t give them the opportunity. Wednesday night is beauty night, and they all have their nails clipped and a good combin’!
- The cats travel from home to studio with us daily, only occasionally staying in the studio or at home without us. It is a lot of work but it is worth it! Their company, and their antics, relieves the long hours we spend working.
PROCESS
Pencil sketch first. Sometimes I erase my sketch lines but I didn’t on this image. I have gotten better at sketching the cats, and always work from a photo. I cannot imagine trying to sketch them in motion. Even if they are asleep, they have a sixth sense that tells them when I am sketching them and then disappear. They apparently think we will capture their soul!
I started laying in color with the backgrounds, above: wall, settee, hair and spring twine. I finished the settee, below.
Usually I use waterproof inks for some of the under-shadows, but this time I stuck to watercolors only. I am happy I experimented, but they moved too much. I wanted to influence Yaman’s fur, which is nearly blue-black with white tips in some areas as he has gotten older. The under-shadows pretty much disappeared into the watercolor layers.
Because I paint the cats so much, long ago I mixed a palette just for them, shown right. I have two colors mixed for Yaman’s fur, and several greys for the tabbies. Savitri, his sister, looks like a Siamese, and she has three custom mixes. Then there are the nose, ear and eye colors, pinks and greens.
I layered the final fur watercolors, left and below.
A thin white Uniball pen gave him his whiskers.
I used a white Prismacolor pencil for the tips of his fur. This white-tipped fur came on as he approached his fifth year.
Below, completion. I am so pleased with Yaman’s portrait. I have had such trouble capturing him and this is the first time I feel good about the watercolors!
Do you enjoy the stories of cat antics?
Do tell in comments, and follow for more!
Unknown Hahnemuhle paper (oops),
Pentalic HB woodless pencil, white Prismacolor pencil, White Uniball Signo,
Sennelier, Holbein and Daniel Smith Watercolors.
☾
©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back
to dkatiepowellart and drop me a note @dkatiepowell @aol.com.
Posted in animals, art journal, Cat, drawing, journal, memory, painting, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor
Tagged #artjournal, #artjournaling, #blackcat, #blackcatsaregoodluck, #catantics, #danielsmithwatercolors, #HahnemuhlePaper, #holbeinwatercolors, #mpfconservation, #panthercat, #Portlandoregon, #sennelierwatercolors, #shopcat, #Siamese, #Siamesecat, #studiocat, #virtualsketching
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D.Katie Powell Art 