Tag Archives: MPF Conservation

USk: MPF Conservation’s NW Neighborhood

Posted on July 13, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

I haven’t sketched outdoors much lately. I wondered what I might make of our buildings. Our studio is in an industrial area in NW Portland. This is the approach from the freeway. We share space in the building with Portland … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art journal, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged Alphabet District Portland, art journal, Calbag, Daniel Smith watercolors, De Atramentis Document ink, Grimm, MPF Conservation, Nicolai St, NW Industrial Sanctuary Portland, Pentalic HB woodless pencil, Platinum Carbon pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Opera, Portland Oregon, Primatek, QoR watercolors, Rejuvenation, Strathmore journal, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor | 4 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Chippendale Conservation

Posted on January 23, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

Above, Mitchell thinking about the various things he has to do to this family heirloom in order to resurrect it from the broken state. The Chippendale sofa’s arm was broken and sagging, leg broken, parts of the frame broken, and … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, pencil, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Chippendale, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, MPF Conservation, Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Portland Oregon, sofa, Stillman & Birn, Urban Sketchers Portland, watercolor | 13 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Aesthetics Movement Pieces

Posted on January 20, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

You may remember these sketches; they started me thinking about how many beautiful objects we see daily. I decided to dedicate one of my new Stillman & Birn sketchbooks to our business. My first two watercolor sketches were in the … Continue reading →

Posted in art, art journal, drawing, furniture, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged aesthetic, American, art journal, bustle chair, captains chair, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, MPF Conservation, satinwood, settee, Stillman & Birn, Urban Sketchers Portland, walnut | 3 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Webbing Stretchers

Posted on January 3, 2015 by D. Katie Powell

My commitment to documenting the upholstery studio is ongoing; a challenge prompted this watercolor sketch. I said no more challenges but this list is too much fun. I chose Mitchell’s webbing stretchers because they happened to be setting on his … Continue reading →

Posted in art journal, challenge, drawing, furniture, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, MPF Conservation, Platinum Preppy pen, Portland Oregon, Stillman & Birn, upholstery tools, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, watercolor, webbing stretchers | 6 Comments

My Business Sketchbook: Our Holiday Card

Posted on December 18, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

It was fun to create a holiday card this year, the end of my first year of watercolors! I had good models in a late 19th century chair from a set that will be conserved next year, and our cats, … Continue reading →

Posted in art, cards, drawing, furniture, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor | Tagged armchair, art journal, bow, Cat, chair, Christmas, Christmas lights, Daniel Smith watercolors, Delta journal, edwardian, gentleman's chair, Hanukkah, holiday cards, MPF Conservation, New Year, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Santa, Stillman & Birn, Victorian | 7 Comments

Brushes: Moving to Watercolor

Posted on November 23, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

The brushes I use with watercolor are very different from the brushes I use when painting with acrylics. When painting with acrylic, my life revolves around flats with an occasional liner or small round for detail. When I started out, … Continue reading →

Posted in paint brush, painting, tools, watercolor | Tagged Blick's, Escoda Long Liners, flats, Leow-Cornell Golden Taklon Series 7900 Miracle Wedge, liners, MPF Conservation, Platinum Preppy, rigger, rounds, shellac brush, Stillman & Birn, watercolor brush | 2 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: North Entrance Chandeliers

Posted on November 5, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I think these are my last lamps for a while. I’m not sure I want to become Kate-light! To draw this last Tiffany chandelier I could stand and rest my notebook on the marble railing, next to Big George. All … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, drawing, history, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, chandelier, Daniel Smith watercolors, Holbein, Lamy Safari pen, MPF Conservation, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, quinacridone gold, quinophthalone yellow, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, Tiffany, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building | 3 Comments

My “Business” Sketchbook: Tiffany Chandeliers Mark Pathways

Posted on November 2, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

It is unusual for me to start my sketchbook posts with photographs, but this Tiffany chandelier is simply too beautiful. I did not do them justice! They line the hallways and mark entrances to the various rooms, providing a delicate … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, drawing, furniture, history, journal, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor | Tagged art journal, chandelier, Daniel Smith watercolors, Mason Monterey, MPF Conservation, QoR watercolors, Sennelier, Tiffany, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building | 7 Comments

A is fo Asphaltum, A-to-Z Challenge

Posted on April 1, 2014 by D. Katie Powell

I discovered asphaltum when I was conserving/restoring two dozen pieces of Mason Monterey furniture for the National Park Service. Being a painter who up until that time primarily used acrylics, I had never heard of it before. Asphaltum (also called … Continue reading →