Hot July Horned Toad

8x10 watercolor on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done first week of July while out of town with the New Mexico Art Loop. I used White Nights paints wet on dry with this little spiky fellow. These are flat bodied reptiles, not toads, known for the crown of horns on their heads which are actually modified scales. In Texas it is illegal to capture or possess them. They do live in my studio flowerbeds as there are plenty of red ants for food. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Twisted Cactus

16x20 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done in early May. This one was a newly sketched cactus scene over an older magnolia painting. With this redo, I was focusing on various grasses and weeds surrounding the cactus base. I've used graphite watercolors along with Daniel Smith paints. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Curly Calf

7x9 watercolor and ink using White Nights paints along with Winsor Newton grey 0.3 fine liner pen on Canson 117 lb cp paper, completed first week of July. This cute curly haired calf was featured on another WetCanvas challenge and it was a challenge! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Terrific Tufted Titmouse

8x8 watercolor using White Nights paints on Grumbacher 140 lb cold press paper done first week of July. The titmouse bird is one of my favorites to paint. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Lincoln County Donkey

12x9 watercolor using White Nights paints on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done July 3-5, a demo for the public who visited during the annual Lincoln County Art Loop. This is based on an earlier similar southwestern donkey scene. Sketch was done with Winsor Newton sepia 0.3 fine liner pen. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Clouds over Sheep Farm

5.5x7.5 watercolor using White Nights paints done last day of June, an imaginary farm landscape. This was painted on Fabriano 140 lb cold press paper in a handmade wc book I bought from Etsy. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

New Mexico House

14x11 acrylics on wrapped canvas done in May, based on a house seen in southeastern New Mexico, on a recent trip. The bright colors were added by me to enhance the old stucco home's charm. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026