Jungle Out There, or Xmas 2019

Posted on January 6, 2020 by D. Katie Powell

Okay those who are followers know that this year and past month have been bad.
Usually I do a cheery holiday layout for memories.
But what to do when the world is going to crap?.

Well. it is my journal, so I tell the truth… however, I was a bit frozen,
and it was hard to want to commit this particular year to a memory.
So I avoided doing much of it, then finally realized it had me FROZEN,
translating to no creative juices, and the only way to do it was to go through it…
This was actually the last image from that time off.
Some parts of the spread were left out because I named names.
As usual the best parts were Mitchell and the cats.
Everyone else can go away.

And I share this crap because if I do it then it might give you all
permission not to make nice-nice when it isn’t, though you don’t have to share.
I mean, if you can’t tell the truth in your art and/or journal then where can you?

The Solstice was uplifting.  Knowing the darkness was turning around and I went with it and spent time thinking about how I maybe could turn this around, at least in my small ways.  Can’t change the world but I can do things at home… market… blogging.


One of the uplifting forces last year was stumbling, in Instagram,
to the #visiblemending peeps.  The force of conservation is strong in keeping and mending clothes, not just constantly buying new.  Buying less and better quality.  The fashion industry and marketing to have you addicted to shopping is impacting water supplies
and human slave labor and so forth in the search for cheap clothing.
There has to be another way.
The #visiblemending movement shows that you are one of the subversives!
Mending takes on a colorful slant, embroidery, fun patches, as well as subtle for work if you must.  I love it, and am back to the 60’s with this movement.
Mitchell will be mending too.
Look also for #mendingmatters, #mendandmakedo, #slowstitching…

The sketch above is a stitch sketch.

Another great uplifting IG is the @tinypricksproject.
I have something I may send to her…
When creativity moves a nation in small way, every bit helps.
If you love this administration then it will not be for you.  I’m not sorry.


Journaling both the crap and the best stuff moves the stagnation.
I didn’t do as much as I usually might do but then we were playing together at night.
Eating things we *shouldn’t-outta* and binge watching the Closer and Monk…
Yes, it was a bloody holiday, though we threw in a couple of OLD (which means better these days I think but maybe I am just getting OLD) Christmas movies.

And with each now Monk. we sing along, loudly.
The cats don’t like it.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Bishop to King ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Aussie Brown ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Toffee Ink,
Pilot 3776 with a music nib with Monteverde Horizon Blue ink
FPR Himalayan with Robert Oster Melon Tea,
FPR Himalayan with Papier Plume House of the Rising Sun ink,
Moonman Wancai with special grind cursive nib with Akkerman Chinatown Red ink,
Knox pen from Birmingham with Papier Plume‘s “the Blues,
Da Vinci,and Daniel Smith Watercolors.

  W16 7 21 USK PSU BERRY FESTIVAL 02 SQ

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, ritual, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lojong 43: Observe these even at the risk of your life

Posted on January 5, 2020 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve studied through the slogans a dozen times in my life;
these are my musings on the slogan currently, what comes up on the day that
I am posting the slogan, not a formal interpretation.
For that reason they are less about straight Buddhist teachings,
and I think able to be shared with most practitioners of other faiths or no faith
(unless yours doesn’t allow you to read any other tradition.)
If you have time and the inclination, I published the WHOLE  thang here!


“#43: Observe these two,
even at the risk of your life.”

You’ll notice that I’ve paraphrased this slogan on my image.

“#43: Observe these even at the risk of your life.”

The reason is that I’ve read several books on the Mind Training over the years, and it seems that there are many interpretations of how many items there are to “observe at the risk of your life.” I am okay with that now, as I don’t care much about numbers.

That said, this one I will linger on for a couple weeks, I am sure…
partly because of the times we are living in, the potential of war, the collapsing
of our generous and lovely planet, so that it feels like danger is imminent.
Lives are at stake, not just human, but all sentient beings.

I am afraid.  Others are too.

In general, my zenny interpretation is not to
lose your head and heart even in danger and confusion.

But to be true to these teachings, and not in any order, adhere to the following:

The Bodhisattva Vow, praṇidhāna, has many translations:
“The many beings are numberless; I vow to save them.
Greed, hatred, and ignorance rise endlessly; I vow to abandon them.
Dharma gates are countless; I vow to wake to them.
Dharma is unsurpassed; I vow to embody it fully.”
from Roshi Robert Aiken

This vow sang to me when I first heard it, and I took it alone standing in the Boddhi Tree on Melrose Boulevard (Lojong 32: Boddhisattva Vow and more, Lojong 33: Boddhisattva Vow.) I was suffering, knew others were suffering, and this
selfless vow seemed a path to stopping the endless suffering.
It is about committing to clearing all your obstacles and poisons and bad habits,
in order that you may serve all sentient beings to free them from suffering.
Many Christians think this is about proselytizing, but it is in fact very bad karma
to try to make a person stray from their chosen spiritual path.
It is instead about working the dharmic teachings to become very very clear (enlightened),
and you do this to be in service to all sentient beings, of which you are one.

It brings up the whole discussion of enlightenment, which I have released entirely, thankfully.  I am happy when I can look back at the end of a day and have not caused suffering to those I encountered, to not have harmed anyone.  I am happy when I breath fully, when I practice tonglen, when I have released my monkeymind, which is oh-so-hard these days.  I am having to endlessly release worry, worry about our planet,
about the homeless, about our personal futures.

Practice is the only way, and a huge part of that is the practice of gratitude.
To remember to BE HERE NOW (RIP Ram Dass), present for what is.
For right here, right now, I can still practice, I have a warm safe place to lay my head,
a loving husband, critters I love and delight in, and am safe and fed.
I offer that up to those who do not have that, everywhere.

When I am in fear of the medical profession, I breathe in that fear and send out health to all those who are in the hands of doctors as we speak.  When I am in fear of fires I send out cooling rain to the Australia, the very embodiment of fiery suffering right now.
These monkeymind thoughts of fearful futures, even if they are quite possible,
are checked by tonglen, and offering the antidotes to every one.

This slogan will be continued.  There is a lot for me to say on this, and
that usually occurs when it is near and dear to me and not an easy slogan.

Next week, part two.

In this weekly commentary on the lojong, I am not open comments becoming
a debate for people to nitpick Buddhism or my interpretations of Buddhist concepts.
(There are lots of places for debates.)  I am more interested in hearing about
YOUR life or how the lojong affected you or your practice awakening in some manner.

☾

 OE or OKINA NOTEBOOKS (writing/sketching journals, also known as Cadic),
Moonman Wancai pen with special grind cursive nib with Akkerman Chinatown Red ink.

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art, Buddha, journal, lojong, meditation, pen & ink, ritual, tonglen, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

SoCS: OW

Posted on January 4, 2020 by D. Katie Powell

I  journal mornings with stream of consciousness exercises, and
I’m again participating in Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday.  whenever I have time.  I write to a timer, 15-20 minutes, no editing except spelling, and of course I add my art!  You can do it too!
The Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ow.” Find a word that contains “ow” or use it as a word in your post. Have fun!


Having to push myself for this one because I am depressed.

Starting with truth in writing helps get me going though and I see that there are
easy-to-fix owies, usually external, and harder to fix owies, usually internal.
I am suffering from internal pains, worries and arthritis — and these seem
harder to repair and set on the road to mending than the external, like the one Mitchell suffered a few years ago.  Those make for dramatic sketches, and of course,
we were lucky he didn’t lose a finger or hit an artery.  Taking this one day at a time,
hoping we don’t end up going to war over this clown of a president though no one is laughing… He is playing with bullets and possibly deranged leaders —
though not so deranged as he is — so the whole thing adds to my growing anxiety.

Thinking about how we treat painful happenings, in the external world we have the craziness of the hospital, where you are also at risk even walking in the door,
picking up possible infections or getting one of the many bad doctors that abound
these days, versus the calming healing feel of Golden Needle.

Which leads me to telling the truth again, not sure why, but to heal the internals pains — owies — opening up and sharing, finding out how many are also frightened or anxious about idiots starting wars or the very real climate crisis — accelerates healing.

Times up.  Thanks Linda.

For the rules, go to Linda’s blog;  feel free to join the fun!

©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Happy New Decade! Resolutions?

Posted on December 31, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Resolutions?
Never make them anymore until this year…
I have somethings I need to change, and so…

Especially as the stuff that happened in the last two years
really messed up my rhythms… my mojo… my nature!

Gratitude daily, morning and night... I do this lots but I am doing more…

And with that, writing lojong resolves morning and night,
forward and backward.  These two recent posts reminded me of that:
Lojong 42: Patience! and Lojong 41: Two Activities.

Back to a sketch a day.  Everyday.  No rest until I do! 
Can be a watercolor or ink doodle… And more palm trees…

Must finally get back into shape.  Seriously folks.
Walking daily, minding my diet.
Not weight loss per se, but stress and all work no play sent my body into a spin
and that has to change so I make it into 2030 healthy!

Seeing betraying peeps coming at me and then,
telling people who are arses to screw off!
When did I forget to do that?  It is my nature! 

Update:

I hope to get back to reading favorite blogs…

And I have a goal, which is to finish a book.

Tonight we are going to do a Closer marathon — murder and mayhem —
then may switch to Monk, though we’ve seen them all.
I was trying desperately to get through all my mother’s boxes gone before 2020
and walked into M in the workroom near tears at 4:30 when I saw I wouldn’t.
He is my hero and said. “Let’s do it together”
and we finished the whole damn thing in 20 minutes. I am walking into 2020
with that behind me, sorted and trashed as it is appropriate.
Tomorrow I will do a bit of cooking and we will sleep in!  

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
Daniel Smith watercolors.

  w15-6-27-gratitude-journal-003-sq

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal | 10 Comments

VSW: San Francisco, 6

Posted on December 30, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


View of SF showing Coit Tower, Washington square,
and the Bay Bridge in the distance. 

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
FPR Mufti with Monteverde Horizon Blue ink,
FPR Himalayan ULTRAflex nib with Robert Oster’s Smokescreen.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, landscape, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lojong 42: Patience!

Posted on December 29, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve studied through the slogans a dozen times in my life;
these are my musings on the slogan currently, what comes up on the day that
I am posting the slogan, not a formal interpretation.
For that reason they are less about straight Buddhist teachings,
and I think able to be shared with most practitioners of other faiths or no faith
(unless yours doesn’t allow you to read any other tradition.)
If you have time and the inclination, I published the WHOLE  thang here!

“#42: Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.”

Trungpa Rinpoche speaks of karma, understanding that extreme suffering or happiness
is the result of karma and one should be patient with both.  This is not what I struggle with, though I have mixed feelings about the whole karma thing — for another day.

Pema Chodren says: “Patience means allowing things to unfold at their own speed
rather than jumping in with habitual response to pain or pleasure.”

Patience is not my strong suite.
My journal notes tell the tale well.

Patience is not attention to detail… I am attentive to detail. Looking at the marks above — if I am doodling, lost int eh marks, I can do them for a long time.  That is attention to detail.  But if I have a vision of using this pattern in the situation above, as a background pattern, I see the end vision, I know what it should look like, I can SEE it, and all I can feel is the impatience building… I want to get THROUGH it for the effect.  I have trouble enjoying creating the marks.

Transfer this to personal relationships.

I am either cursed or blessed in these situations, depending upon timing.  When it is time to resolve, when I come to knowing what I need to do — whether moving forward in a relationship, let’s say, or ending one — I want to rip the bandaid off, break up, be done with it (and have a HUGE problem faking it in any way to make nice until I do that) or jump in, tell someone I love them, move in, get married!  Having to be patient makes my head explode, turns me on end.  I become cranky and/or weepy or/and moody until I can resolve it.  It is one of the few reasons I get moody.  I can handle what the response from the other person may be, but I have to get to what I know is in my heart NOW NOW NOW.

And I am impatiently in such a place now, so, depression, cranky, waddeva.
And I HAVE TO BE PATIENT…  gads.

In this weekly commentary on the lojong, I am not open comments becoming
a debate for people to nitpick Buddhism or my interpretations of Buddhist concepts.
(There are lots of places for debates.)  I am more interested in hearing about
YOUR life or how the lojong affected you or your practice awakening in some manner.
For more info about why, go here.

☾

 

Okina Journal, Opus 88 Koloro pen with Robert Oster inks
mixed — Muddy Sand and Green Olive.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art, Buddha, journal, lojong, meditation, pen & ink, ritual, tonglen, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

SoCS: Worst. Year. Ever.

Posted on December 28, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I  journal mornings with stream of consciousness exercises, and
I’m again participating in Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday 
whenever I have time.  I write to a timer, 15-20 minutes, no editing except spelling,
and of course I add my art!  You can do it too!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “year.”
Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

This post comes with a warning.  Read only if you can handle DEPRESSING. ~the Editor

Worst. Year. Ever.

Betrayals.  I am still not ready to write about it.
I mean, I am just too old for this shit to happen to me, shocked at how it affected me,
as I am still sad and reeling from it.

Bad clients.  Not one but THREE, and usually our clients are not like this at all.
Didn’t pay, held up payment, screwed with us.
We are a small business and don’t have a hundred small clients
to take up the slack so when several don’t pay all at once that is HUGE.
THREE.  One may come back and want to work with us again
and I just don’t know what to do…
Great potential projects, but the payment thing is just not okay.
Extremely stressful.


It was the year that Gibbs went in for a simple xray and they gave him versed,
the drug they gave my mother which flipped her out and made her hallucinate for three months.  It changed him, apparently forever, from a confident brave cat to a frightened cat who acts like he is autistic.  The drug which is given COMMONLY.
It apparently affects humans and animals the same way, messes with the brain —
gads when has that ever gone wrong — so instead of knocking an animal (human) out for a procedure, they make them “forget” it happened.  It doesn’t work well or consistently,
and I have family members in the medical profession who agree with me on this for both themselves and their animals.  It was given to me for a minor surgery.
I kept telling the assholes that I could still feel THAT  and they didn’t listen until I told them I was getting off the damn table and walking out with my body open.  Yup.
I am one of those that is immune to the damn drug working I guess.
I am sure Gibbs was traumatized in some way.  He came out of that terrified —
much more terrified that being taken into the back room should have caused
(we know this vet well).  On top of that many people (animals) also have side effects.
He has the side effects… it took him three days to stop being a bit drunk.
Now is a a sweetie who is scared of so many many things, and
occasionally gets spacey and looks at us blankly, and it is not normal.

And the vet, who should have been more concerned, wasn’t.  They have instructions never to ever use that damn drug on any animals of ours and I don’t care what the reason is…
Many vets have stopped using it altogether.  You’ve all now been warned.

And this is the year that I realized that it isn’t that we’ve had bad doctors,
it is that many doctors now are just bad, hospitals are negligent,
we have no FDA that PROTECTS THE PUBLIC, the AMA is a joke,
and shit, this coming at a time when we are getting to the age
that people might NEED the profession…

Okay, maybe I am just having a bad year.

I am thankful for the small joys of this year… Mitchell and the cats.
Mitchell and the cats and a few great friends…
I write gratitude daily and might not have made it through without it.

I am glad to see the back of it.

For the rules, go to Linda’s blog;  feel free to join the fun!

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Inky Thots: Robert Oster Charcoal

Posted on December 27, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


I love sketching with soluble grey inks, and touching them with a waterbrush
to move the inky colors in interesting directions.  Greys are rarely neutral,
leaning toward warm or cool.  Robert Oster Charcoal is one of five favorite greys,
leaning into deep purple and blues when touched with water.

My hibachi was drawn with a FPR Himalayan with an ultra-flex nib on cold press watercolor paper, then the lines were touched with water using a Pentel Aquash waterbrush.  The lines do not stay visible but quickly lose themselves in wet color;
The lines were added back in after the water moved the ink and dried!

Remember that others review these inks just for writing;
I am also interested in how they are used for ink-painting!


Properties of Robert Oster’s Charcoal:

This ink is well-behaved,
and does not feather on
any of the papers I normally use, even Post-its.  I consider it a medium ink, neither wet nor dry, and it evaporates quickly with a wet nib.  It has never smeared on me during a sketch.  It has a hint of a
pink-red sheen, impossible to image.  It contains amethyst, dark blue edging into turquoise when wet.
When hit with water it
moves easily with no resistance or ghosting.
It is not water resistant.

CARBAZOLE VIOLET
INDIGO
PHTHALO BLUEGREEN
SLEEPING BEAUTY TURQUOISE

*Above, watercolors, from Daniel Smith.*

The paper towel test
shows how many colors
lay beneath the grey!
When the edge is touched with water it moves easily
into violet, dark blue,
blue-greens. Looking at watercolor comparisons,
I offer Daniel Smith’s Carbazole Violet, Amethyst, Indigo, Turquoise and Pphthalo Blue-Green.
The pigments fall into in
the following Munsell
ranges: PV23, PB27/PV19,
PB 15:3, PG36.


*For more info on the munsell system, go to this page.  Knowing the pigments can
help you not to duplicate watercolors made of the same pigments.*

RO is experimenting and testing lightfast properties…
MOST water soluble ink companies do not pay attention to these things
because most artists who use ink are making prints of their work.

On smooth Hahnemühle paper I created a very fast sketch of
de la Sainte Trinite in Paris, designed by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte,
then came back and touched the tree lines and shadows… adding color on my
waterbrush in the spires, and a little more in the trees.  I love the deep purpley grey.


Playing with a San Francisco cityscape…

A polychrome Egyptian chair I sketched when I was working
on the painted finish… A thicker line will lay down a lot more color
when touched with the FPR Himalayan with an ultra-flex nib.

Other Robert Oster Inks reviewed in this manner to date:
Robert Oster Jade, Robert Oster Melon Tea,
Robert Oster Fire Engine Red, Robert Oster Thunderstorm,
Robert Oster Fire Engine Red, and Robert Oster Aussie Brown

The non-toxic inks come in 50ml plastic bottles that are environmentally friendly, using recycled plastic.
They can be tippy, so I usually put them in a more solid container
to decant. All my pens fit easily into the bottle opening to fill.

I bought Robert Oster Charcoal at Vanness.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 Hahnemühle journal, Pentel Aquash waterbrush,
FPR Himalayan withan Robert Oster Charcoal.

 

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

VSW: San Francisco, 7

Posted on December 26, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


View of SF showing the city center from the bay.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
FPR Himalayan with Robert Oster Charcoal ink.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, landscape, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baby Yoda (for a contest…)

Posted on December 23, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Don’t hate me….
Not a Baby Yoda fan… kinda creepy, frankly.
I am an original Yoda fan!
But there was a contest for a very nice pen and so, TWO Yoda beings
within a couple weeks! 

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Green at Night ink,
FPR Himalayan with Papier Plume House of the Rising Sun ink.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lojong 41: Two Activities

Posted on December 22, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve studied through the slogans a dozen times in my life;
these are my musings on the slogan currently, what comes up on the day that
I am posting the slogan, not a formal interpretation.
For that reason they are less about straight Buddhist teachings,
and I think able to be shared with most practitioners of other faiths or no faith
(unless yours doesn’t allow you to read any other tradition.)
If you have time and the inclination, I published the WHOLE  thang here!


“#41:  Two activities,
One at the beginning, one at the end.”

I  love this slogan.

I feels like a slogan about fresh starts, renewing vows daily.
In the morning, you wake and make your commitment to be conscious of your activities.  In the tradition, they talk about promising to be gentle with yourself and others,
to not blame the world for your problems,
to keep your heart open and to remain curious.

I also use it to bolster myself with gratitude especially on the most difficult days.

Then at the end of the day, you look back.
How did you do?  If you didn’t do well you vow to do better the next day.

And I give thanks for the best time of day, with Mitchell and the cats curled into bed.

Be gentle with yourself and others during this joyous, depressing, sad, stressful, fun, full-of-expectations
time of year!

In this weekly commentary on the lojong,
I am not open comments becoming
a debate for people to nitpick Buddhism or my interpretations of Buddhist concepts.
(There are lots of places for debates.)
I am more interested in hearing about
YOUR life or how the lojong affected you or your practice awakening in some manner.
For more info about why, go here.

☾

Okina Journal, with pen and ink,
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art, Buddha, journal, lojong, meditation, pen & ink, ritual, tonglen, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

SoCS: Jingle

Posted on December 21, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I  journal mornings with stream of consciousness exercises, and
I’m again participating in Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday.  whenever I have time.  I write to a timer, 15-20 minutes, no editing except spelling, and of course I add my art!  You can do it too!
The Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ingle.” Find a word that contains “ingle” and use it any way you’d like in your post. Have fun!


Jingle bells, Santa smells, Rudolph ran away!

Not in a jingle mood… not this year.
So this is a good song for today…

Above, Mitchell’s Mom’s Santa; below, my Mom’s Santa.

For the rules, go to Linda’s blog;  feel free to join the fun!

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, furniture, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Lojong 40: Correct all Wrongs…

Posted on December 15, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I’ve studied through the slogans a dozen times in my life;
these are my musings on the slogan currently, what comes up on the day that
I am posting the slogan, not a formal interpretation.
For that reason they are less about straight Buddhist teachings,
and I think able to be shared with most practitioners of other faiths or no faith
(unless yours doesn’t allow you to read any other tradition.) 
If you have time and the inclination, I published the WHOLE  thang here!


“#40: Correct all wrongs with one intention.”

I always think of this one as going hand-in-hand with
Lojong 39: All activities should be done with one intention.

Pema Chodron, in “Start Where You Are”,
reminds me of of activities that lead to compassion,
which is why I love her book to read before the pithy texts on the Lojong.
From my notes on reading her long ago:

“The one intention it to exchange oneself for another…
hear what is being said…
see the person in front of you…
rest in not knowing what to do…
live with the differences.” 

It was a good one for me this week, however, because it is more about
how you are dealing with “them” — and I had to deal with many of “them” this week.
Not having knee-jerk reactions to people who are acting nutty probably helped one come to a natural resolution without lawyers.  She is less nutty and more dementia.

Seriously, those times when another is not even making enough sense to have a disagreement or agreement with in any way because they are all over the place — nutty!
I have no place to even begin wiht her because she changes her mind, denies doing it,
and keeps adding to the lists of what she wants for nothing.
All I could do was to be centered, to breath in a beat before reacting, to listen to what
did not make any sense — and to move into my days without resolution.

I prefer resolution, not leaving it hanging… drives me crazy!


But with centering I was able to move into enjoying the stitching work
I was completing on a month-long quilting project for a delightful client, which also allowed me to remember what having a delightful client was all about!

☾

In this weekly commentary on the lojong, I am not open to comments becoming
a debate for people to nitpick Buddhism or my interpretations of Buddhist concepts.
(There are lots of places for debates.)  I am more interested in hearing about
YOUR life or how the lojong affected you or your practice awakening in some manner.
For more info about why, go here.

Okina Journal, with
FPR Himalayan with Pilot Murasaki-shikibu ink mixed by accident
with Robert Oster Bishop to King ink.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art, Buddha, journal, lojong, meditation, pen & ink, ritual, tonglen, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

SoCS: Loud! HATE BLOCK EDITOR!!!!

Posted on December 13, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

I  journal mornings with stream of consciousness exercises, and
I’m again participating in Linda Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday.  whenever I have time.  I write to a timer, 15-20 minutes, no editing except spelling, and of course I add my art!  You can do it too!
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “loud.” Find any word that means “loud,” and use it any way you’d like in your post. Enjoy!

Okay I have only one thing say.

HOW MANY ARE LEAVING WORDPRESS?

They’ve ruined the old, and I hate the Block editor.
they have made it so that I can’t publish galleries now without them looking stupid:

(oh btw, if you want to see the terrible images and how they lay
them out scroll to the bottom.  No ability to have them lay out nicely,
and I could not get it to land HERE.)

HATE.

BLOCK.

IS THAT LOUD AND ANGRY ENOUGH?

For the rules, go to Linda’s blog;  feel free to join the fun!

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!


 ©D. Katie Powell.
My images/blog posts may be reposted; please link back  to dkatiepowellart.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

VSW: San Francisco, 5

Posted on December 13, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Debi Taylor organized our virtual walk, and this is her
standing with a statue of John McLaren, the father of Golden Gate Park.
He was the supervisor for 53 years.

Contour drawings are fun, and for me, stress relievers.
I don’t publish them often because they usually don’t look at all like the subjects!
LOVE this Robert Oster Blue Sea ink…

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
FPR Himalayan ULTRAflex nib with Robert Oster Blue Sea ink.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

VSW: San Francisco, 4

Posted on December 12, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


The Yoda statue in San Francisco is filed in my virtual deity file, next to Buddha…
How can I not?  He helped young Skywalker on his mission.
Extraterrestrial Buddha!

Also my first time out with my new Himalayan with the ULTRAflex nib.
I don’t think this is the ink that will stay in it but I do love Robert Oster’s Smokescreen … still, I think a straight graphite needs to go into this beauty!

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
FPR Himalayan ULTRAflex nib with Robert Oster’s Smokescreen.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, Buddha, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Inky Thots: Robert Oster Aussie Brown

Posted on December 11, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


I love a great brown ink; Robert Oster Aussie Brown
is a favorite sketching and writing ink, suitable for the office.  It is a rich dark
brown leaning red, and
has a touch of graphite
sheen, seen left.  The ink shades, but I don’t think
of it as a shading ink.

Others review these inks just for writing; I am also interested in how they are used for ink-painting!


Properties of Robert Oster’s Aussie Brown:

This ink is well-behaved,
and does not feather on
any of the papers I normally use, even Post-its.  I consider it a medium ink, neither
wet nor dry, and it
evaporates quickly. It has never smeared on me
during a sketch. It has a hint of a graphite sheen,
barely seen above, and
when hit with water it moves easily with no ghosting,
so is not water resistant.

*Above, watercolors  from Daniel Smith and QoR.*

When the edge is touched with water it moves easily
with no resistance into
rust tones with a touch of green at the edges.
Looking at watercolor comparisons, above, good color matches are Van Dyke or Burnt Umber.  The pigments in the following Munsell ranges: PBr7 / PR101.
*For more info on the munsell system, go to this page.
Knowing the pigments can help you not to duplicate watercolors made of
the same pigments.*

RO is experimenting and testing lightfast properties, but none have ratings at this time.
MOST water soluble ink companies do not pay attention to these things
because most artists who use ink are making prints of their work.

.

The scallop shell was drawn with a TWSBI Eco 1.1 on cold press watercolor paper,
then the lines were touched with water using a Pentel Aquash waterbrush.
The lines do not stay visible but quickly lose themselves in wet color; I was able to gently build up layers of color if I did so quickly, otherwise the ink below moved.

The lines were added back in after the water moved the ink and dried!


In the sketch after the photo by JC Merryman, I let the lines completely dry
on smooth Hahnemühle paper in my Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook.
I came back and touched the lines, adding color on my waterbrush
and layering once or twice, and surprisingly, again, the ink stayed in place and
allowed me to overlayer as long as I did not tarry.


I sketched Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris.
The sky was not supposed to bloom quite so much, but thankfully with skies it is fine — makes them look like stormy cloudy moody skies.

Other Robert Oster Inks
reviewed in this manner to date:
Robert Oster Jade;
Robert Oster Melon Tea
Robert Oster Fire Engine Red,
Robert Oster Thunderstorm,
Robert Oster Melon Tea, and
Robert Oster Fire Engine Red.

The non-toxic inks come in 50ml
plastic bottles that are environmentally
friendly, using recycled plastic.
They can be tippy, so I usually put
them in a more solid container to
decant. All my pens fit easily into
the bottle opening to fill.

On tan paper.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 Hahnemühle journals for sketches, Pentel Aquash waterbrush,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Aussie Brown ink.

 

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

VSW: San Francisco, 3

Posted on December 9, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Ink painting from pictures from Debi Taylor’s last visit to San Francisco.


Sketch over watercolor pencil in Diamine Ancient Copper.


Hard to control inks… they need to do what they need to do!
Colors I used below.

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
or check out my new, improved dkatiepowellart.com

“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook,
Lamy Al-Star with Diamine Ancient Copper ink,
FPR Himalayan with Robert Oster Graphite ink,
Nemosine pen (no longer in production) with
Waterman Havana  (also known as Absolute Brown) ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Green at Night ink (not Velvet Storm),
Knox pen with Papier Plume‘s “the Blues”.

 ©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.

☾

W14 4 27 WC PALMS PAT SQAs my Patreon supporter, you will have
access to some content not on this website,
sneak previews, goodies, discounts on classes.

I teach architectural sketching,
art journaling (art+writing), creativity, watercolors.
That annoying loud-mouth editor/critic in your head?  GONE!  How great would that be?

Posted in architecture, art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, landscape, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment