Monday, December 31, 2018

Celebrate!

10.25 x 4.25 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, another in my New Year celebration series.  The thin ribbons are leftover Christmas trim and bottle of bubbly is long gone. For this one, I did use masking fluid.  I may have to buy a bottle of something as my birthday is coming up in January.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Brave Buffalo

24x18 watercolor done this past week for another online 2 hour time limited challenge.  I managed to complete this fellow in under the clock; love these prairie animals.  Photo courtesy WetCanvas/Bill Smith.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Thawing Snow

5x6 5/8 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today, a made up scene of snow thawing and long tree shadows.  Using mostly browns and blues with thalo green cool colors this winter landscape should chill us all.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Friday, December 28, 2018

Lazy Polar Bear

4x6 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, that is today's work on another WetCanvas challenge. Image courtesy tyree.  I've changed the bear's zoo background to be one more in line with snow and icy conditions.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Metallic Weed

9x6 mixed media on black Crescent matboard finished today.  I used white and gold metallic alcohol inks, white acrylic, and white gel pen on this abstract, imaginary shape that was started months ago.  Not sure what else to do I left it alone to simmer on the back burner.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Roses in Indigo Vase

4.5x4 watercolor finished today on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.  After painting winter snow scenes this is more in line with my character.  Using brush only, shapes of various colored roses were put in then each hue from pink to dark pink to orange.  An abstract background completes the simple miniature still life.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Frosty Morning Cabin

12x9 watercolor that is a previous scene. All the trees and end of log cabin are imaginary and were drawn loosely first. I put in pale washes diagonally across the sky using Prussian blue as it is a cool blue unlike others.  Background trees had to be softer and out of focus. Aspens and other foreground trees painted last as was the frozen water in immediate foreground.  By trial and error I did stumble upon a neat trick to painting masses of leaves that works better than anything.  Just lay your rigger (script liner) brush fully loaded across damp or dry paper and twist it; don't use its pointed tip.  It will be horizontal, almost flat.  This is painted on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Monday, December 24, 2018

Secret Santa

10.25x9 watercolor and ink (Pigma Micron 01 pen).  I sketched this wacky Santa one morning around 5:30 then added paint later.  He looks like he is up to something or can't find his reindeer for the trip.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Christmas Cyclamen

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done a few days ago, a close up view of one of my red plant's blooms.  Using a complementary scheme of red and green, the hues emphasize also the signature colors of the Christmas season.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 22, 2018

December Berries

9x12 watercolor completed today on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary nature scene I've been working on for two days.  Beginning with a light variegated wash of pale yellow, green, and blue that served as an underpainting, I then did multiple glazes and used every red, orange, and pink in the palette for berries.
They are not holly but a unique December red berry bush.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Friday, December 21, 2018

First Day of Winter

15x22 watercolor of the first day of winter solstice.  Three trees set the snowy stage in front while a frozen stream and rocks peek up through the icy environment.  This is an imaginary snow scene that is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2018.

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Antique Store Petunias

11x15 watercolor of a downtown Big Spring antique store owned by the Atkins family, complete with potted petunias and a red yucca.  This is from a photograph I took there when my studio was next door. A limited palette of cerulean blue, yellow ochre, and Indian red was used.  I've painted other versions of this old store and all have found new homes.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Christmas Poppies

4x6 alcohol inks on foamcore done over last weekend with multiple red, orange, pink, and yellow inks.
This work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Snow Laden Trees

6x4 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done a few days ago, a snowy evergreen scene somewhere up north.  Photo courtesy mbeckett/WetCanvas and is one of the December landscape challenge images.  This work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

Dewi's Sunflowers

12x9 mixed media on Bristol board 300 series (colored pencils, Inktense pencils, Brusho, watercolor, India ink) from a WetCanvas online challenge.  Photo courtesy Dewi.  I sketched the sunflowers using Magic multi-lead colored pencils then filled in with the other media in this loose floral.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Snowbird Cardinal

22x30 acrylic, white gel pen and wax crayon on Winsor Newton 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary cardinal in snow painting completed yesterday.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Sunshine Woman

6x4 alcohol ink and India ink on glossy photo paper begun with an abstract background using Salmon alcohol ink only.  Today I added the black ink then Flamingo to her lips and nose edge of this imaginary woman in sunglasses.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Friday, December 14, 2018

Country Barn in Snow

12x6 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper done as another winter snowscape. An imaginary scene leads the viewer into the vertical composition up a slight hill to the old deserted barn covered in nature's white blanket.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Actress Woman

9x6 mixed media (ink, watercolor, and gouache) on vintage book text done last week, another in my woman series with ink on book pages.  I used India ink and a chopstick to sketch in the facial features and lines.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Tree Forest Truck

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done over this past weekend, an imaginary tree shopping experience.  The little truck is actually a metal toy one and trees are bottle brush.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Heliopsis Fake Sunflowers

14x10 watercolor on Stonehenge 140 lb hot press paper done over this past weekend for another WetCanvas online challenge (photo courtesy Maureen).  These flowers resemble rudbeckias (blackeyed Susans and sunflowers except their petals face downwards and flare out at the bottom like little skirts.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Monday, December 10, 2018

Tufted Titmouse

6x4 watercolor and gouache on vintage book text done over this past weekend, a pencil sketch of this fat little bird then paint to follow.  Background was left as text.  Image courtesy Virginia/WetCanvas.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Alpacas

5.5x8 watercolor and ink line on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media done last weekend for another weekend drawing event on WetCanvas.  Participants have 2 hours to choose an image then paint it.  There are 5 alpacas in this scene.  Image courtesy of Beth in Oklahoma.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Currant Colored Bloom

4x6 alcohol inks on glossy photo paper painted this past week.  I used a chopstick to guide me through the stems and leaves in this imaginary flower art.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Friday, December 7, 2018

Bells of San Xavier

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb Canson cold press paper done day before yesterday from one of my San Xavier del Bac mission photos located in Tucson, AZ.  Years ago these three bells were painted but in a horizontal format.  Only three colors used for a limited palette of quinacridone gold, ultramarine blue, and alizarin crimson.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Natural Woman

6x9 India ink, spray antique-look ink, coffee, alcohol inks, white gel pen done yesterday on old vintage book text, another in my woman series.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Lil Critters

15x22 watercolor of an imaginary woodland scene of foxes and a baby goat, unlikely friends, but exploring nature together as wild lil critters.  I added coneflowers in front of them and an abstract background for this wildlife scene.
COPYRIGHT KAY SMITH.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Pink Woman

6x4 alcohol inks and India ink on acid free foamcore done yesterday of another imaginary woman in a series. First a background of pale pink was put down then the next day a stronger hue.  Black India ink was used to sketch with a chopstick the main features, then green for her eye.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Monday, December 3, 2018

Colorful Trees and Leaves

10x9 alcohol inks on paper done last week, an imaginary autumn scene of many colors.  A chopstick was used to pull the ink down to make trunks, then spread the foreground across, and lastly for falling leaves.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Flirty Woman

6x3.5 mixed media collage on archival foamcore begun Friday then completed yesterday.  Beginning with alcohol inks several warm colors were added then a blue green.  India ink and a chopstick started the facial features with eyebrow first, then eye, hair strands, mouth and nose.  I messed up the nose with an ink spill so simply cut out vintage book text and collaged over it, then painted that with acrylics.  Colored hair strands are blues, reds, and pink acrylic as is her eye and lips.  White gel pen was used on her mouth and highlights of her eye.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 1, 2018

Rainbow Bee-eater Bird

4.25x7 watercolor over ink sketch of a rainbow bee-eater, done last week for another WetCanvas online challenge on a Birds&Blooms magazine subscription card.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Friday, November 30, 2018

Maroon Mums

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, a floral done last weekend for an online challenge in which we had to choose chrysanthemums.  This maroon large bloom with its smaller almost opened ones was a nice composition for a fall flower painting.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Thursday, November 29, 2018

November Apple

9x5.5 mixed media on vintage book text done last week from life as a companion piece to November Pear posted 2 days ago.  I used white acrylic for the highlights and partial background, then watercolor for the fruit and shadows, and sketch done with Staedtler 0.3 pigment liner ink.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Tempting Woman

9.5x6.5 India ink on vintage book text from old dictionary of an imaginary woman who might have tempting eyes to go with her tangled hair.  This was done last week using only a wooden chopstick.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

November Pear

9x5.5 mixed media still life on vintage book text done last week.  I started this Bosc pear out as a simple ink sketch with a Staedtler 0.3 pen, the added watercolor.  White areas are acrylic for highlights.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Monday, November 26, 2018

Leftover Geraniums

9x10.5 alcohol inks on freezer paper done today of an assortment of leftover geraniums I have in a southern window, a bright cheerful floral.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Poinsettia with Plaid Bow

30x22 acrylic and wax crayon floral watermedia painting done from life of a large red poinsettia with a unique plaid bow to decorate it for Christmas holidays.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Saturday, November 24, 2018

No Stone Unturned

12.25x18.5 watercolor done with a palette knife for the most part except the sky.  Colorful trees added in this imaginary landscape of rocky terrain.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Friday, November 23, 2018

Dinnertime Dog

8.5x6 watercolor of a small reddish brown and white short-haired dog who seems to be asking “What’s for dinner?” This pet portrait is drawn with graphite and rendered with Daniel Smith pigments.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

Trees in Fall

5.5x8 watercolor on Dick Blick 140 lb cold press paper done last week for another online challenge. This featured one main tree then a million other smaller ones and a multitude of branches.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2018.

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Pink Ink Hydrangea

7x5 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper done a few days ago as I'd not done any of that medium in awhile. These florets resembled the hydrangea bloom; only one color was used, then one color for the stem.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Reptilian

4x6 alcohol inks on glossy photo paper done yesterday and the two greens used resembled some type evil reptile...so much for my imagination.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Monday, November 19, 2018

Twilight Trees

6x9 watercolor of an imaginary clouds and trees landscape painted over the weekend.  Too much was cropped off the bottom land as it is a bit wider.  This is on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Free Lunches mixed media collage

5.5x8 mixed media collage on pink archival art paper done today during our Odessa Art Association meeting where we were given supplies and about 30 minutes or less to make something.  I used washi tape, special deckle edge scissors, magazine and book clippings, scrapbook paper, children's book page, and food advertisements.  It was my first time to use washi tape; you can see it in two different patterns along the bottom and sides.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Goat in the Sun

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line (Lictin STA pigment liner 0.3) on Masters paper sketched last night then painted today for another online weekend drawing event on WetCanvas.  Participants have 2 hours to select their reference and paint it.  (Image courtesy Wendy)
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Friday, November 16, 2018

Wary Woman

9x8.5 India ink on paper, another imaginary woman's face that looks suspicious or wary of something as she's definitely watching.  I used a wooden chopstick to sketch this figure's face.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Pup in a Cup Baby Chihuahua

5.5x8.5 watercolor over ink (Micron 01 pen) in Masters sketchbook done last week as part of a WetCanvas challenge.  The tiny baby chihuahua was too cute to pass up in his tea cup on the grass.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Bulldog with a Flower

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink (Staedtler 0.3 pigment liner) pen on Masters sketchbook paper done yesterday, based on an advertisement I'd seen.  This fellow looks none too happy even carrying a flower.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Fat Pumpkins

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done over this past weekend from one of my pumpkin photos shot in downtown Ft. Worth last fall.  I liked the twisted stem on this big fat one.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Monday, November 12, 2018

Gap Tooth Woman

7x5 India ink and colored pencils on collaged vintage book text done over the weekend.  This imaginary woman could've been me as I had a gap tooth problem until about 30 when a local dentist did his magic. In photos I would never smile with an open mouth being very self conscious.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Dry Desert Icons

30x22 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper painted earlier in the month. I have painted this southwest landscape mission more ...