Studio Black Hollyhocks

28x20 watercolor on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper completed yesterday.  These black hollyhocks grew along the classroom side of my studio along with pink, red, and white ones.  Many colors went into the deep purple almost black hue:  Quinacridones violet and magenta, permanent rose, alizarin crimson, carbazole violet, indigo, UB, thalo green and blue, etc.  Since the blooms were transparent for the most part I used opaques for the background:  Periwinkle, Mint Julep, and Peachy Keen (American Journey).
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Fluffy Sparrow

4x5 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper painted yesterday, a sparrow whose feathers appear fluffed out maybe due to the cold weather.  A very limited palette was used with this painting, mostly burnt sienna, quinacridone burnt orange, sepia, and Blue Bice by American Journey.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Actual color is below:

COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Sweetheart Seagull

5x7 mixed media collage on paper begun on Valentine's Day Friday then finished today.  I used the inside of my sweetheart's card envelope which was brown to sketch the gull in ink with Micron 01 pen.  Then collaged white paper for its head.  Oil pastels, gouache and watercolor were other media used.  The gull was then adhered to matboard with matte medium a brayer to smooth out air pockets.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Naptime Kitten

8x8 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper done over the weekend from one of my kitten photos. This sweet baby is sleeping on white linens so she blends in well.  Cats sleep so much so that they can have enough energy for the short bursts of increased activity.  The term cat nap or catnap is derived from their behavior and sleep patterns.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Sleepy Basset Hound

6x6 watercolor and ink line wash on Masters paper with Micron 01 pen/Daniel Smith paints from an old photo of mine I'd been planning to draw a long time of a tired Bassett hound lounging and sleeping on the nearest couch.  This image was sent for possible publication recently.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.

Inca Doves in Love

6x6 watercolor and ink line wash on Masters paper drawn and painted quickly in the afternoon of a pair of mourning doves huddled together to stay warm.  This is more work done in neutral tones.  Sepia, Coastal Fog, and a bit of indigo blue was used with this composition.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.

Valentine Collection

6x9 mixed media on paper of various heart shapes just in time for Valentine's Day on Friday!  The heart upper left is modeled after a necklace of mine while others are imaginary.  See if you can find the EKG strip.
Have a lovely day!
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Spring Nest Eggs

4x4 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper sketched and painted this afternoon in between working on a very large piece.  In this imaginary still life, three different birds put their eggs all in one little nest.  Hurry up Spring!
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Chilly Cardinal

3.5x2.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Kilimanjaro paper done today, another cardinal out in the chilly snowy landscape.  This fellow seems to be searching for some red berries to eat or for his mate.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Snowy Spotted Towhee

4x6 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper sketched in pencil today then painted from some of my towhee photos shot in New Mexico.  A member of the sparrow family, these birds seem to prefer ground feeding I've discovered, and are larger than the ordinary house sparrow.  This fellow was feasting on birdseed scattered on the snowy patio tiles.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

February Peony

4x6 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper, some hot red abstractions mixed with purple for the background, just in time for Valentine's Day on Friday.  This white peony is enjoying colder weather and shines just for you and your love.  This work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Ginger Tabby in the Sun

7.25x8 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper sketched yesterday then painted today.  This cat belongs to fellow artist Sandy in Australia and she featured him in this weekend's drawing event on WetCanvas.  I love the look of disdain on his face as if he is asking why he has to pose for his picture.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Snowy Tufted Titmouse bird

4x5 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper completed today of a lone titmouse bird amidst snowflakes.  The winter bird paintings always intrigue me with their puffed up feathers and endless search for food.


Actual size is below:

COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Las Cruces Yuccas

7x9.5 watercolor on Ecosystem sketchbook paper completed today.  Photo courtesy Jo Castillo/WetCanvas for Southwest forum's February challenge, minus the telephone pole. The tall yucca plants with their spiky leaves reach upward in the hot landscape.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Wrinkles ~ Day 26 of #30Faces30Days challenge

11x8.5 colored pencil, Magic by Koh-i-Noor, on Crescent sketchbook done last week for one of the Sktchy faces challenges.  The muse had multiple forehead wrinkles which was the focus of the lesson.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith