Cat Squares, 3

Posted on February 11, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

There was Cat Squares 1…
And Cat Squares 2…
and the stories continue!


5. THE BAND

“Ehh-ehh. Ehh-ehh.”  The sound of the band game…
I make a hair band fly fifteen feet!
Sometimes they “WAP!” on the ceiling, oh, delight!

And when Yaman is tired of the chase he sits within earshot of my desk.
I hear “Whap!  Whap!  Whap!”
He spends hours snapping the band against the floor.
Finally the band breaks.

The band is dead.
Yaman is the Hero.
He lays it at my feet, nibbling on my toes to make sure I am paying attention, “Meorw.”

To hear about classes, follow me on Facebook
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“Memory is more indelible than ink.”
Anita Loos, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
“I think not….”
Me… why I journal!

 Hahnemühle D & S Sketchbook,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges.

 

 ©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 animals, art journal, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, ritual | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

SoCS: Stealthily Slinking Savitri

Posted on February 9, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

As I am pulling my zenkatwrites blog into my dkatiepowellart blog,
and as I am getting back into regular blogging with my blogging buddies
(I have missed you guys) I am committing to Stream of Consciousness Saturday.
Rules at the bottom if you’d like to play along.
The idea is to write with a prompt without editing.
I set a timer.  I am also picking an image for the prompt…

stealthily she slinks up the bedcovers every time i pull my lap pad out to draw, coming right up and under my right arm, bumping it and sending ink across the page if I don’t stop in time…. does she know that I am captive or is it her female contrariness (and oh she has a lot of those feminine wiles and pushes those boundaries in so many ways) that makes her come just when i settle on sketching?  Between Savitri and Gibbs I am not getting my middle-of-the-night sketching done and because I have NO time during the day right now I’m stuck as to when I get my mark-making time in… my sanity relies on it!  Gibbs is forthright and obvious about his timing, and comes to me whenever…  He wakes, he comes for cuddles, gets tired of cuddles, leaves…. i swear she waits until she sees me pull out the pens… or does she hear their sketching sounds?  i managed to get a sketch done last night but then when i wanted to push the ink around with the waterbrush
wow she loved that and began pushing it with her paw.  that is usually a Gibbs move, pawing the pencil and the pens and the phone especially now that he and Mitchell have
the ritual of watching cat videos in bed at night when he comes for a cuddle… Gibbs wants cat videos from me as well but I am looking at art which does not interest him at all no meows no movement of cat tails and toys batted around.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ends with -ly.”
Start your post with any adverb that ends in “-ly.”
Bonus points if you end with an adverb too. Have fun!

Here are the rules, as posted on Linda’s blog;  feel free to join the fun!

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

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,
Platinum Plaisir with Birmingham Riot Ember.

 ©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 challenge, creativity, ink painting, pen & ink, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Tools: Birmingham Inks

Posted on February 8, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

Over Christmas I took advantage of a huge sale on
Birmingham’s own line of inks, scoring 30ml bottles for the price of samples!
*btw i am sending you to their ink page site as they are a small company
that makes their own and sometimes inks disappear for a short time*

They have a free shipping at $40;
I appreciate free shipping and am happy to buy a couple
more things than I normally would and spend that money on product,
in this case, buying colors I would NEVER purchase, seen bottom!
I’ve been playing with a few inks for a month now…
Time for the first review… the second will be as they stack against all-time favorites…

And BTW, they win for best names
of any ink company ever!

I had to have Railroad Strike Riot Ember…
*gads the name alone made me want to buy it — do you do that too?*
It is in a line with another favorite ink of mine and
right off I will say that in the pen it is not as bright as the swatch,
however, the shading is excellent even on paper that is not meant for wet washes…
I love it!

Homestead Steel Works Slag Grey was the first ink I put into a pen, and
wow wow wowwee!
It joins a number of great greys (post coming later this month)
on how I love grey inks and what I do with them…
and I am literally putting it off so I can play with this ink more before posting.
Above, you can see it with Riot Ember in a post, and then look at the colors it gives off when wet!  Water-resistant, shades beautifully, and then moves into blues and pinks.

*i love this ink!*

I also bought Jonas Salk’s Serum Umber.
Mine is not as lovely as their image, so a bit disappointed,
and yet it is nicer than several other sepias and umbers
I’ve sampled from other well-known companies and not bought…
I’ve wanted a rich umber ink …
We’ll see how it plays when I ink a pen!

*ps remember the dot in the middle shows how well the color lifts when
water is placed onto a dry swatch… several of these show water-resistance*

I tried two blues, purchasing the Pennsylvania Railroad Boiler Steam first,
then in a second order going back for the Andrew Carnegie Steel Blue.

The Boiler Steam I played right away, as it is a grey-blue…
It is a nice blue to sketch with as it has some water-resistant properties
but also moves and allows shading with a wet brush.
I’ve not found it to shade as well in a pen,
but then I don’t have it in a wide-nibbed pen YET!

I love this blue-grey!

The Andrew Carnegie is bluer, from a second shipment.
It also has water-resistant qualities and may shade beautifully.
I am holding off on a blue ink review until I can play with this one as well!

 Fred Rodgers Red Cardigan is what drove me to their site —
a gift for Mitchell, who loves Fred Rodgers.  I had the wrong shade, and Nick sent me a replacement. The ink is very pretty, a deep woolly red.
I haven’t played with it nor has Mitchell, who is running a pen cartridge down so he can use it in his Lamy. However, one caution about Birmingham’s site: assume that all their colors are a bit greyer, grittier than their swatches.  Fred Rodgers looks  bright red on their site… NOT!

 George Westinghouse Alternator Crimson is only red in name…
I will play with it as a taupe-grey.  Unfortunately, I had to work hard with a watercolor brush and layer to get the shading, so I don’t think it is a good shade color.
Because it is water-resistant, I was able to layer the colors and that was interesting.
Thankfully their image is good for this color so I was not totally surprised when it arrived!
The more I play with it the more I like this strange color…

Colors I would never normally purchase!
*i’m not a purpley-pink gurl, but !!sale!! pulled me to try!*

Gulf Tower Gerbera Pink is all over the place in my testing.
I guess this will have to land it in the mauve-pinky-purpley range.
I doubt I will keep it unless I decide ink-paint flowers…
Not bad if you like this sort of thing, but I’m likely to give it a good home.
Shows water-resistant qualities.

The Phipps Conservatory Verbena is so beautiful I need to get it a pen of its own!
Not quite what I saw on my monitor, greyer — but not a disappointment.
The purple shades nicely, and I can get away with using this color to write with at work.  Not water-resistant.

This sale led me down a path with
Birmingham inks that I am happy about!

Anyone else have input on this small company?

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,

Moonman Dip Pen for sampling,
Pilot Metropolitan with Birmingham Slag Grey,
Platinum Plaisir with Birmingham Riot Ember,
Pilot Plumix with Birmingham Railroad Boiler Steam.

 

 ©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?

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“Cookies” and Jai and Savitri

Posted on February 6, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

Reading my posts on zenkatwrites is taking a trip down my last few years.
There has been a lot of loss… and I guess that is part of what happens at a certain age.
I am in my sixties, and so family members are dying.
FRIENDS  are dying.
*hang in here with me, because my whole blog is not going to
become death death death all death all the time*

I posted my blog the other day from the day Jai died this week.
Then after having a good cry I walked onto the bathroom to pee
and Savitri followed me in,
all aflutter with her morning sassiness, and we did “swishigurl”…
she has me cornered and she writhes like Mata Hari and
I have to rub her tummy and
stroke her or she jumps up on my bare legs…
*love her, not loving her nails as they hit my bare legs*

When I left the bathroom, I stopped crying.
I thought about how if I had to give up one of these guys
to bring Jai back I would not, could not.
*the choice would break my heart but there it is*

The secret is in moving forward,
and finding the way to stand with one foot in two worlds.
You start by getting up each day and taking the steps to move outward,
and then many days go by and you have grown a bit.
You say yes to an invitation.
You move outside your comfort zone.
If you are lucky you have friends who push you gently toward life.
*if you don’t get new friends!*


Another thing about going through my old posts is that
I posted a few friends videos or writings on zenkatwrites…
Jilanne Hoffmann’s was revisited (below).
Now I’ve lost my mom and there are things I wish I hadn’t let go,
I can relate even more fully.
*but the car was full and so there it is —
the biggest being that silly life-size (almost) santa*

Jilanne, I want to know if you made her divinity yours.
Did you ever make her cookies?
I have many of my mom’s recipes, BUT, I had to steal them from her —
literally, I stole her recipes years ago and copied them because
she was not forthcoming about giving them to me!
I can make her chocolate cherry bars and pineapple cheesecake
and Christmas balls and spaghetti sauce.
*oh but I can’t, I will not use many of the ingredients, so like Jilanne,
i will make my own and use better ingredients and i will nod to her when i do*

There are many ways to move forward.

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.
Watercolors.  Platinum Carbon pen.

   

©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, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

New Moon

Posted on February 5, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


New Moon, New Journal.
I love it when that happens…


Parvati is starting this journal.
Inked, and wouldn’t you know it after a couple years
I decided to change the ink in my Metro and so she is drawn in the wrong color —
Encre Classique Vert Moyen!
I forgot and thought I had KWZ Foggy Green.
*i changed the color back… will stick with what i know
and put the Vert Moyen in another pen* 
Mitchell said that was the color he saw her in, so I figure it was meant to be!

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,
Pentel Aquash waterbrushes.
Pilot Metropolitan with Encre Classique Vert Moyen (Irish Green) ink,
Pilot Metropolitan with (again) KWZ Foggy Green ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Emerald.

 

 ©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, Buddha, color, gods and goddesses, ink painting, paint brush, waterbrush | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers

Posted on February 4, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

W14 7 11 Jai Govinda The Love 300dpi

Two years later I am still missing him.
I am beginning the process of unraveling my other blog site, zenkatwrites;
not going to use it anymore.
I don’t want my writing to be separate from my artwork,
and there was too much division of me — split in two parts.

Now my writing on Buddhism, family, cats,
politics (oh gads not much what is there to say?),
and the entire enchilada will be here.

And I came across this on zenkatwrites.
We just passed the anniversary of his death yesterday.
This was what I posted the day he died, and I still feel it today;
get out your hankies….


“There are no happy endings.
Endings are the saddest part,
So just give me a happy middle
And a very happy start.”
― Shel Silverstein, Every Thing on It

Saying goodbye to Govinda Jai today.
Heart is breaking open.
Unplugging for the day.  Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

It was hard to be in the studio after.
I love all our guys but you know how every so often a really special cat comes along?
He was that.
Crying again.  Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

I keep looking for him because frankly we humans are the most bumm-fuzzled beings.

He had very very bad IBS at the end no thanks to Newman’s Own
for mislabeling their carageenan-riddled “organic” cat food for five years
so they didn’t have to reprint labels.
Breathing in anger, sending sunflowers.
We are washing three huge loads of washrags and bed covers and
oh gads and I’d do it again if it wasn’t for the simple fact that he was miserable.
He wasn’t completely miserable for too long — a few days —
but he wasn’t going to come back from it, we just knew.
Two nights ago we had to put him on special food which looked like astronaut food.
He looked at us with big eyes as if the whole thing was a bad joke.
Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.
He made his point by vomiting behind my desk chair —
I can’t handle the smell.  Give me shit to clean up any day but I vomit when others do!

We are having Annie’s Enchiladas because we’ve been cooking for him too and I just can’t tonight.  He ate something cat appropriate off our plates every night, even if we had to fool him, which we were not often able to do, then he would stare at us, betrayed.
Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

Last night I woke to a dream about an airplane — huge super sized bigger than life
plane — landing on the runway in front of me with a thud that woke me straight up out of my sleep.  Some things went on at that time with him and then we knew.
Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

He came up to spend time with me cuddling, which frankly he has not done for a few weeks.  I think the  steroids made him more aloof, and the discomfort.
But he came for kisses-on-his-head (a ritual for him, done anywhere he wanted them) and cuddles and I napped with him in my arms and my head on Mitchell’s shoulder,
smelling his head which smelled like cookies for some reason.
Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

He had whatever the hell he wanted for breakfast, no tortuous space food.

He was right by my side in the middle of the night when I was up
and painting and roaming about.

I am asking the Great Is to send him back to us.

Breathing in loss, sending sunflowers.

Heart broken wide open.

2005 11 29 JAI©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, art journal, journal, memory, watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Mom, Again

Posted on February 3, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


This journal I’ve not shared as many pages.
Death and family — the latter being what I could not share.
Some of them are still alive.


Her empty jewelry box says something to me, as I get an emotional
and physical reaction to it every time I walk into the finish room.
I am going to clean and polish it, and repair the green silk — and use it!
I bought it for her when I was sixteen.
I am not sure why I have the reaction… I am sure it will come to me one day.

And, I finished the journal with this today,
and while I may post other images I’ve done later,
I find it auspicious when a journal ends/begins on the New Moon.

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 a mix of Robert Oster ink!
Pilot Metropolitan with Birmingham Slag Grey,
Platinum Plaisir with Birmingham Riot Ember,
Pilot Plumix with Birmingham Railroad Boiler Steam,
Da Vinci, and Daniel Smith watercolors.

   

©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, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

King Vomit

Posted on February 2, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


He’s my hero.

Need I say more?

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!

Random piece of scrap paper.  Markers.

 

©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, cards, creativity, drawing, ink painting, memory, painting, pen & ink | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Studio Cats Growing Up!

Posted on January 31, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


They are getting old enough and BIG enough that it is time for them to
learn to be in the studio unsupervised for short times…
We clip their nails and their are rules…
*hahahahahaaaaa rules will be broken in our absence*
but it is nice to be able to walk down the hall to the finish room
and not have to round them up!

So this day we were working in the finish room
*always a no-cats zone — chemicals can hurt them*
and they stayed out!  BUT…
There was a beetle bug on the ceiling and that was their focus!
All three sat on the cat tree or on the edge of the table, watching the bug…
not a good test of their well-behaved-ness!
Yaman also howled for an hour because it is his job to not only catch the bugs
before they get us but to make sure we KNOW he is on the job.

They didn’t like it when we disappeared… It’s nice to be missed.


BTW, Hari-Gibbs-Fred is not a favorite, nor is he easier to sketch
*though all-black Yaman can be tough sometimes*
It is, simply, he doesn’t run from the camera or walk away when I am sketching!
Sam is an old man who spends his days curled in the travel container
with bursts of wild energy where he runs around like a kitten again!
Yaman and Savitri must have the deep rooted belief that capturing their likeness
is going to steal their soul; they will wake if the camera is near
and run, look away, or turn their butts to you!!

I take commissions!

☾

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, with a Pentalic HB woodless pencil,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges.

©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 animals, art journal, creativity, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Cat Squares, 2

Posted on January 28, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

Continuing on from Cat Squares 1…


4. SOCCER BALL

Savitri’s a world cup champ!  She brings the ball to me in the mornings.
the game begins when I throw it in the air…
It sails over the studio tables to land where she deftly corrals it
and plays it between her paws,
pushing it thirty feet to the goal, a Depression Era chair.

Again and again….

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 D & S Sketchbook,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
Daniel Smith Watercolors.

 

 ©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 animals, art journal, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Comforts

Posted on January 26, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Bread is a comfort food.
My mom made fresh bread; I never got the hang.
Maybe I need to try it again?

Freshly baked, a piece ripped from the end…
or sliced and baked with butter and garlic.
Yum.  I am letting myself have this comfort these days.


It is like wearing a warm blanket that stays put as you move about.
When I am stressed and feel pushed like today I put this on
It is a protective cocoon that magically solves the emotional problems of the world.

It is darned and a little thread bare, well loved for thirty years.

Note: all the “painted” colors came from Robert Oster Motor Oil;
it had a mind of its own, and I could not pull the
brown or green out willfully, it just sort of did that..

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,
Pilot Metropolitan with Robert Oster’s Motor Oil ink,
Pilot Metropolitan with De Atramentis Tobacco ink,
Edison Nouveau 1.1 stub nib with KWZ Grapefruit,

 

 ©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, challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Deadlines

Posted on January 25, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Deadlines are stressful, and partly it is because of my age;
I am not as young as I used to be, and when hand stitching an item like the sofa,
my arthritic hands feel it, as I am going through several layers of thick gimp and silk.

Thankfully I get to stitch side-by-side with Mitchell;
we stitched together at opposite ends of the sofa.
We listened to Michelle Obama’s autobiography, read by her!
(A great read, and having little to do with her life as first lady.)

I thought you might like to see the real thing this time…
The actual antique sofa below, and earlier sketches.

It is wonderful to have this visual remembering!

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,
Pilot Metropolitan with Super5 Frankfurt ink,
Jinhao with Goulet 1.1 stub nib and Super5 Frankfurt 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 journal, challenge, creativity, drawing, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Crazy Busy

Posted on January 24, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Before my mom died I was feeling stressed by deadlines;
I wrote this at that time and it is even more true today…
but I am no longer worried about her.

I’m glad we took the extra time down over New Year’s;
It was worth it to fully recover from one of the hardest years yet.

Oddly, I think our Christmas cactus knows we need his cheer and he is still blooming — now about 45 days of blooms!  When we walk into the lobby we are greeted by swirling color and cheer, between the Monterey pieces and the horses and the colorful cactus.
*sorry i only had time for a line drawing, but, you know, deadlines!
he deserves a glorious watercolor!*

Journaling saves me, even if it is a quick drawing at the end of the day
to think about what has transpired and draw a little.

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,
Pilot Metropolitan with Super5 Frankfurt ink,
Pilot Metropolitan with Platinum Lavender Black Ink,
Moonman Wancai with Goulet 1.1 nib with Robert Oster Emerald 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 journal, drawing, journal, pen & ink, sketchbook | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ice Cream Cones

Posted on January 23, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

The best way to eat an ice cream cone is to put just enough
ice cream in the cone to top it off, because think about it,
isn’t the best part of eating and ice cream cone to have bites of cone+ice cream?

Mitchell and I don’t agree on this.
Sadly, the ill-informed man thinks cones are just holders for ice cream.
He keeps topping more ice cream on the same cone
until he’s eaten a pint of dripping vanilla.

What you favorite way to eat and ice cream cone?.

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 Watercolour Journal,
De Atramentis Document Brown ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes,
Lamy Joy with De Atramentis Document Black 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.

☾

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, challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Letting Go

Posted on January 19, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


Disclaimer: This is not a Marie Kondo post…

I’ve always been pretty good about giving up things I don’t use or that don’t fit.
Where I’ve been slow is a few precious things that are memories of another me, a younger me, a sexier me (in my mind) before things sagged and so forth.
Women have this part of them that ages in surprising ways, and it is not the wrinkles!

So here are these fringed cowgirl gloves, flirtaceous, lovely dusky blue leather
with white painted fringe… I fell in love with them in that way where you know an
article of clothing is your soulmate… guys I don’t know if you do this.

Anyhow, my arthritic hands don’t fit them anymore  *sob*
and I have held onto them for five years but really, someone should be loving them.

As part of my art journaling, which I am so ready to teach now, I lovingly painted them, wrote about them, and can now gift them to someone who will love them.

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,
Noodler’s Lexington Grey Ink in Pentel Aquash waterbrushes,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges,
Edison Nouveau 1.1 stub nib with KWZ Grapefruit,
Da Vinci and Daniel Smith watercolors.

 

 ©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, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, ritual, sketchbook, watercolor, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

VSW: Kythira, Greece, Two

Posted on January 17, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

Mmmm, beaches, a good thing to want to visit
when you are in Portland in January!
Beautiful photos from Demi Kalfa!


Cheery flowers all by themselves……

Finished pages!

Photos used with permission as reference are from Demi Kalfa!  Thank you!

If you want to join a virtual sketchwalk,
all from pictures, come join us!

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 Watercolour Journal,
Jinhao with Goulet 1.1 stub nib and Super5 Frankfurt,
Pilot Metropolitan  with Super5 Frankfurt ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Australian Sky Blue,
Da Vinci, Schminke, MGraham and  DS Primatek watercolors.

 

©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 animals, architecture, art journal, challenge, ink painting, pen & ink, sketchcrawl, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mom’s Service

Posted on January 15, 2019 by D. Katie Powell

My mom’s memorial mass is today.
I recreated a nicer drawing from the
sketch I had in my journal,
but left it blank so I could write in her prayer.
I”ll have some of her ashes…
A strange thing to be sure.

This is the finished product.
When I was done I realized I might like to
send this card just as a card,
so I removed her personal information.


The version of this prayer without my Mom’s
dedication is now available on Redbubble.

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 Watercolour Journal,
Platinum Carbon Pen with Platinum Carbon ink waterproof cartridges.

 

 ©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, challenge, creativity, drawing, ink painting, journal, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, virtual sketching | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

VSW: Kythira, Greece, One

Posted on January 13, 2019 by D. Katie Powell


This sketchwalk of Kythira, Greece is from beautiful photos from Demi Kalfa!

The blues fill my heart and eyes and spirit…
They take me home!


I want to live right here…


Photos used with permission as reference are from Demi Kalfa!  Thank you!

If you want to join a virtual sketchwalk,
all from pictures, come join us!

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 Watercolour Journal,
Jinhao with Goulet 1.1 stub nib and Super5 Frankfurt,
Pilot Metropolitan  with Super5 Frankfurt ink,
TWSBI Eco 1.1 with Robert Oster Australian Sky Blue,
Da Vinci, Schminke, MGraham and  DS Primatek watercolors.

 

©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 animals, architecture, art journal, challenge, ink painting, pen & ink, sketchcrawl, virtual sketching, watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments