Pale Yellow Sunflower

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink on Canson 117 lb using White Nights paints and Grabie 005 pen. This simple floral was done while on a trip in late September. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Caballero and Cactus

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints on 80 lb sketchbook paper done the third week of September while on a trip. Another southwestern mix of landscape plus figure in this imaginary work. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Mocking Bird Auto

11x15 watercolor on Fabriano Artistico 140 lb rough and Daniel Smith paints done first of September. I had not painted this deserted old building before. It was in with other landscape photos of various trips through rural Texas and I did not write its location on the back. If anyone recognizes it let me know. Tried an internet search of the business with no luck. This vignette won first place last night at the Watercolor Horizons Group annual show in Odessa, TX. Juror: Tim Oliver of Lubbock. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Shell Collection

7.5x5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Moleskine for watercolor sketchbook. A collection of various shells gathered from different coasts display their vivid colors of the sea. From a sand dollar to urchin to conch to clam, etc., you can see the sea harvest is joined together by dried kelp in this illustrated journaling. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Beer and Onion Rings

5.5x8 watercolor and ink on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media featured on a past WetCanvas Weekend Drawing Event. In this event, a host will upload images and participants have only 2 hours to select, draw, and paint their choice. Mike Beckett had some great pictures and I chose this pub scene from Canada where he lives; my time was 1.5 hours. I've rearranged some of the photo elements such as a back table and chairs, then added a chair back behind the food. I used a Lamy Safari pen with Noodler's grey ink. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Zoo Elephants

9x12 watercolor with walnut ink on Canson 140 lb cold press paper; other colors used were raw umber and Payne's grey. Sketch done with Staedtler 0.3 pigment liner pen in black. This limited palette I think captured the elephant hide hues well and walnut ink provided the dusty clouds. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Coffee Grinder & Pear

7x5.5 watercolor over ink line with Micron 0.3 pen. The ink sketch was done for a previous #InkTober for the prompt word 'ancient' which the coffee grinder certainly is. The red pear adds a nice modern day kitchen touch to this simple still life. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith