Saguaro Spirit

22x15 watercolor on Saunders Waterford 140 lb cold press paper and Daniel Smith paints done end of April. Notified yesterday from Southwestern Watercolor Society (SWS) in Dallas that my redo of Shasta Daisies has won an award! I drew various cactus shapes over the original daisies then developed the composition. Juror at the SWS 63rd exhibition currently showing is Stephen Zhang. Thank you, Stephen, and SWS! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Hot August Sunflower

10x8 watercolor and inks on Fabriano Bristol 100 lb paper done last week. Using one of my older sunflower photos that's been painted many times, this was an exercise in line with emphasis on that rather than color as much. Focus is on its leaves, stems, and branching out parts in an abstract way. Inks used were black Tombow brush pen, Micron 05, and black Winsor Newton 0.3 fine liner pen. COPYRIHT Kay Smith 2026

Sandstorm Sky

6x4 watercolor and Brusho crystals in Joggles sketchbook, 80 lb paper, done last week using leftover Brusho to make a dramatic imaginary sky with sandstorm approaching. This is an all too familiar sight here in west Texas. I've used Daniel Smith paints. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

A Burrowing Owl

10x8 watercolor on Aquabee 140 lb cold press paper done last week from online WetCanvas weekend drawing event. In this owl with landscape, I've shown the very small owl in his own backyard. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

The Cat Knows

9x7 watercolor in sketchbook (Master's Touch) done last week of a close up tuxedo cat face. After distorting my photo the focus became on his eye, nose, and side of his face. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Open Hollyhock

12x9 watercolor using Daniel Smith paints on Aquabee 140 lb cold press paper done week before last as a follow piece to the ink hollyhock/Tombow brush pen one. Using my dark pink hollyhock photo this floral bloom is much more loose than a previous version, focusing only on three values. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Open Hollyhock in Ink

12x9 ink using black Tombow brushn pen on Fabriano Bristol 100 lb paper done week before last as a quick floral exercise to show darkest darks, then midtones, then white of the paper. This is in preparation to painting the hollyhock in color with less detail. After putting in blacks with brush pen tip simply add water using #1 rigger brush to pull from blacks to make greys. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026