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Tag Archives: Stillman & Birn
Architects Have Techniques in Common
I’m taking an online course right now from another architect turned artist. This artist is quite protective about her coursework staying within students, so I hesitate to discuss her by name. As our drawing styles are similar, I am taking … Continue reading
My “Business” Sketchbook: The Lion Torchéres
At the end of our last day working in the Senate Offices of the Legislative Building on the Washington State Capitol Campus, we crossed the grass in the pouring rain to the Justice Building. As you walk into the building … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, color, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, pencil, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Caran D'Ache, Delta journal, lamps, Lamy Safari pen, lions, Platinum Preppy, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, torchére, urban sketchers, USk, Washington State Capitol Justice Building
1 Comment
Our Antique Burro Chair, Monterey Style
I started out to do a little post on painting one of our chairs. Then I realized I was posting about a chair I had also painted — so figured I should post about both restoration, painting the chair and … Continue reading
Posted in color, creativity, furniture, memory, oil paint, painting, pen & ink, process, watercolor
Tagged A-Frame chairs, Alpha Journal, antiqued, antiques, art journal, Gamblin, leather, Mason Monterey, oil paint, restoration, Stillman & Birn, upholstery
1 Comment
My “Business” Sketchbook: Symmetry + South Entrance
I love it when an architect moves you through spaces, making you experience an environment as it was meant to be seen or felt. I also love symmetry, especially in the hands of architects who know how to use it. … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, creativity, history, pen & ink, sketchbook, timed painting, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, central axis, circulation, Delta journal, Lexington Grey Noodlers ink, marble, Pentalic, Platinum Preppy, Prichard Building, rotunda, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building
3 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Selfie in the Senate Hallway
I tend to lay down to get ceiling shots. I also tend to take my shoes off anywhere I can. Mitchell caught me taking a picture of the chandelier on my back on the Senate Hallway floor. I have on … Continue reading
Sketching Eames House of Cards
Charles Eames House of Cards, above, bought in NYC at the Whitney, I think, in 1973; I bought them on my first traveling assignment as a young architect, to management school at IBM in New York. I chose them as … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, drawing, graphite, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Charles Eames, Daniel Smith watercolors, House of Cards, Koh-I-Noor Rapidograph pen, Platinum Preppy pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Ray Eames, Stillman & Birn
2 Comments
Back to Architecture: Chiesa di Ognissanti, Italy
Chiesa di Ognissanti, Florence, Italy. I wanted to draw something comforting last night, and pulled out images from Italy. This is comforting to me — portraits are NOT! This is the “doodle” I did to understand the building relationships. Understanding … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, drawing, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged architect, architecture, art journal, Chiesa di Ognissanti, Daniel Smith watercolors, Heart of Darkness, Italian churches, Matteo Nigetti, Noodlers ink, Platinum Preppy pen, Stillman & Birn, symmetry, Tombow pens
4 Comments
Our Vase
Mitchell and I bought this vase from an antique store in Rogue River when we were first together, out exploring. No label. The cup is one of many brightly colored pieces from Mamma Ro. It has that watery quality, and … Continue reading
Posted in art, color, journal, memory, painting, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged Art Deco, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Mamma Ro, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn
2 Comments
Quick Studies
I haven’t done these kinds of formal studies since college, drawing shapes for buildings in the abstract. BTW, USC taught me nothing about drawing. Ed “Big Daddy” Bowen from Laguna Beach High School drafting classes taught me everything I used … Continue reading
Posted in art, color, drawing, graphite, painting, process, sketchbook, waterbrush, watercolor
Tagged color-block, Daniel Smith watercolors, Lyra, negative space, QoR watercolors, shadow, Stillman & Birn, Texas star, water-soluble graphite
7 Comments
Color Mixing: Four Primatek Colors
I bought a few more Primatek (Daniel Smith) watercolor paints from Merriartist; they are having an amazing sale on watercolors this month (ask for the sale code.) I had to play with them, of course, and think I have fallen … Continue reading
Posted in color, painting, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged Alpha Journal, Amazonite, art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, kyanite, Piemonite, Platinum Preppy, Primatek, Stillman & Birn, Yavapei
1 Comment
Brushes: Moving to Watercolor
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
My “Business” Sketchbook: North Entrance Chandeliers
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: AYA Sushi
Aya Sushi sustained us during our days in Olympia. I am a sushi aficionado; I was hooked during university. Aya Sushi is the best sushi I’ve had since Lalaland! I reserved a page in our business sketchbook because we ate … Continue reading
Posted in art, drawing, journal, memory, pen & ink, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Aya Sushi, Olympia restaurants, orchid, Stillman & Birn, Super Washington
3 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Sketching the Senate from the Floor
Like my earlier post on drawing the Senate gallery details, I came around to draw the Senate from a different angle. I sat on the floor of the first entry arch looking up into one of the corners, in order … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, color, drawing, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, Heart of Darkness, Noodlers ink, Senate, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building, waterproof
4 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Senate Gallery Details
More drawing challenges in the Washington State Legislative Building. Before I went running around, I asked where I could go with the pass we used to get into the Senate office area. It was nice to sit in the Senate … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, color, drawing, furniture, journal, memory, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, Daniel Smith watercolors, dogwood, egg and dart, oak, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Senate, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, urban sketchers, Urban Sketchers Portland, USk, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building
4 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: The Rotunda
This week at the Washington State Legislative Building I had a good deal of free time, as it was Mitchell doing the lion’s share of the work on the Senator’s offices. In the middle of a dark downpour, (the building … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, drawing, history, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, chandelier, Daniel Smith watercolors, dome, Noodlers, QoR watercolors, rotunda, Sennelier, Stillman & Birn, Tiffany, Urban Sketchers Portland, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building
19 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Tiffany Chandeliers South Entrance
The chandeliers are a crowning point in the Washington State Capitol Legislative Building. The architects felt the most important fixtures were those in the north portico, in the rotunda, and in the entry in the south porte cochere, as well … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, drawing, history, journal, making a living, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, urban sketchers, watercolor
Tagged art journal, bronze, chandelier, Daniel Smith watercolors, Lamy Safari pen, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, QoR watercolors, Stillman & Birn, Tiffany, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building, water
21 Comments
My “Business” Sketchbook: Ballroom Rug
Posting a page I am not 100% happy with. I may even try again . . . We’ll get to that! The carpet in the State Reception Room floored me. It is so oddly modern when in fact it is … Continue reading
Posted in architecture, art, art journal, color, furniture, journal, painting, pen & ink, process, sketchbook, watercolor
Tagged art journal, ballroom, Daniel Smith watercolors, Lamy Safari pen, largest carpet, Polar Brown Noodlers ink, Stillman & Birn, urban sketcher, Washington State Capitol Legislative Building
8 Comments
D.Katie Powell Art 