A Friend's Cat

11x15 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper painted this past weekend over Christmas Eve.  This part ginger part white female cat belonged to a friend and I forget the cat's name but I've painted her before in different poses.  Here she was resting in a flowerbed of leaves in the fall; the dark greens contrasted well with her orange rust colored fur.  I painted this much more loosely than usual.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Silly Sheep

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line (Pitt pen XS by Faber Castell) on Masters sketchbook done Christmas day for WetCanvas weekend drawing event.  Photo courtesy Li Newton.  I cropped her photo to focus on the lambs' faces for a sheepish family pet portrait.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Bizarre Sunflower

8x8 alcohol inks on white paper done last week, another abstract exercise using various warm and cool colors for the background.  Gold tones dominate while a partial orange center displays a hot center of the swirling petals.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Wistful Kitty

6x6 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper done today, a pencil sketch the painting of a part calico stray cat I've worked on in the past, just different poses.  I love this kitty's golden eyes so translucent and her bright pink interior ear.  A few days ago I did a very loose cat in watercolor so will post it soon.  The look in her eyes may be saying 'adopt me' or 'when is my next meal?' Background is a mix of two opaques (they say never to mix more than one) Payne's Grey and Blue Bice which is a nice cool and soft tone to contrast with the golden colors in the cat's fur and eyes.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Sleepy Boston Terrier

7x9.5 watercolor and black Tombow brush pen on Ecosystem sketchbook done today.  First I used a rocks and stones design stencil with opaque and transparent orange tones over the white paper.  When dry, I sketched the Boston terrier with the Tombow and filled in black areas.  My photo had a leopard print behind the dog and a white blanket in front; he had his head on top of a dog toy.  So I filled in the background with Blue Bice (Cheap Joe's American Journey) and Transparent Pyrrol Orange (Daniel Smith), ignoring the rocks and stones shapes.  All in all he made a cute sketch almost as if he is dreaming of being outside.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Christmas Tulip

5x7 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper, an imaginary red variegated tulip.  I used lots of blending solution with this one to get the ink to flow and mix.  The red center was an afterthought when I turned it vertically and added a brighter red hue and let it run down. Initially I had a blue background that didn't work so removed that with 91% alcohol then added Sunbright Yellow.  The dark edges of the flower are that blue that I left on there.  (Yupo is sold by Tim Holtz products available thru www.scrapbook.com)
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Christmas Flower in alcohol inks

6.5x6.5 alcohol inks on paper done this afternoon for a red and green Merry Christmas wish for all of you!
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Chickadees on Abstract Background

9x5 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper drawn and painted yesterday over an abstract background.  The paint marks are from putting this piece of paper underneath smaller works over a period of time.  It has been awhile since I painted any chickadees or birds, but did do penguins earlier in the month.  These cute little blackcapped chickadees are so cute and always bring a smile to my face.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Tulip Treasure

10x7.5 alcohol inks on white freezer paper, done today, one of three paintings on a nice day off.  I did one other ink plus a watercolor.  These are new colors just in from scrapbook.com and are the Tim Holtz brand of inks.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Shhhh! Santa

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink using Uniball Vision Elite pen, sketched last weekend but color added today.  This Santa is wanting peace and quiet as he delivers his loot to every good boy and girl.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Goat Trek

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Uniball Vision Elite pen) on Masters sketchbook finished Monday.  I sketched the goat earlier that is a part of a WetCanvas challenge then added color later.  I love the billy's long beard.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Early 50s Chevy

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink using Uniball Vision Elite pen on Masters sketchbook paper done over the weekend.  This old Chevy is slowly rusting away.  Our family had a similar one but before my time.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Spectacled Caiman

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 05 pen) on Masters sketchbook done last week for a WetCanvas challenge in the wildlife forum. This is a reptile that is very scary and dangerous.  Here he looks ready to snap those long jaws around any unsuspecting prey.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Smiling Snowman

9x6 watercolor on 140 lb Canson paper done yesterday, a whimsical snowman that looks a bit feminine with his twig eyes, mouth, and buttons.  Colorful mitten gloves are its arms with a matching knit toboggan for headgear.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Pinkness (tulip)

9x6 alcohol inks on white foamcore done a few days ago, another abstract floral design made by blowing air on inks.  This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Christmas Cupcake

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line (Micron 05 pen) on Masters sketchbook done yesterday.  This sugary confection is chocolate and vanilla with sprinkles and a maraschino cherry on top.  Just perfect for Christmas!
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Red Sky Snowman

9x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done a few years back of a fun snowman on a red background; it is snowing so he does not care.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Purple Power

8x8 alcohol inks on white foamcore done this past weekend.  With these type paintings no pencil is used but a drinking straw you blow air through to make the ink run and mix.  This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Pixie Puss

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, a pet portrait done today in under 2 hours for a WetCanvas challenge.  This pretty calico Pixie belongs to Christine in Australia.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Mule Deer

9.75x7 watercolor on Fabriano Extra White 140 lb cold press paper done over this past weekend from one of many deer photos.  I like this backside view of the mule deer surveying its fall going into winter domain.  As you can see in my imaginary background I've added aspens and fall foliage including red and orange leaves.  These are a nice backdrop to the freshly fallen snow in the middle ground.  The cold sky is darkening with a pending threat of rain or more snow.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Red Power abstract

8x8 alcohol inks on white foamcore done yesterday, my take on lots of reds over a pink magenta background.  Yellow, blue, and green were added also before the reds for an explosive hot abstract.  It resembles a floral to some extent.  This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Penguin Colony

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday of an imaginary penguin colony scene in the frozen tundra.  This main fellow is strutting along oblivious to the cold.  Every year I paint a penguin so this is it.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Sunset Flowers

5x7 alcohol inks on white foamcore done a few days ago, an abstract floral using many different colors over a light red background.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Finished Last (snowman)

5x7 watercolor completed last week on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper, the second version of an earlier melting snowman. That one had only one leg but I've given this guy two twig legs.  Even though slowing melting he has finished last and has a crooked smile.
This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Frozen Scene

6x9 watercolor and white wax crayon on Canson 140 lb cold press paper begun yesterday with our cooler temps then finished today with even colder air.  Tomorrow heralds our first freeze of the year which hopefully will last only one day.  In this imaginary scene frozen water, river banks, and trees embrace a frigid sky.  Some negative painting was done around the trees.  No pencil drawing or reference was used.  This is another in my frozen imaginary landscape series.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Don't Dodge Christmas!

8x5.5 watercolor and ink on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media done this time last year.  Another old truck, this time a Dodge, is decked out for Christmas with its own wreath and gifts on top, traveling in the snow.  This pale green vehicle is a nice complement to the red truck painted last week.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Snowy Surprise (owl)

4x7 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) sketched on 140 lb paper, a portion of a sheet that I used behind larger works.  The snowy owl had only one wing as his right one was injured and removed; he lived in a wildlife sanctuary and has passed now.  I sketched around the paint marks then filled in empty spaces with other colors, and even gave him a log behind and in front.  This was featured on WetCanvas watermedia forum December challenge as hosted by Virginie in Canada.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Cold Wine on a Warm Day

8x6 watercolor and ink (Faber Castell Pitt XS pen) on Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook for mixed media.  Yesterday when I painted this it was not a warm day but the cold chablis looked inviting.  This was done in an hour approx. for another WetCanvas weekend drawing event hosted by Marie in Belgium.  Our challenge was to add light since their country is fairly dark for winter now. Look closely and you can see reflections at the top of buildings behind the glass.  We have only 2 hours to choose a photo out of 16 presented then draw and paint.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Red Christmas Truck

9x8.5 watercolor and ink (Pigma Micron 01 pen) on Canson 140 lb cold press paper that is yesterday's work. Such a dreary day with cold misty rain I had to find a cheerful subject and this truck in the snow fit the bill. White gouache was used when dry for splatter resembling snowflakes.  This work is now SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Red December Floral

5x7 alcohol inks on white foamcore done yesterday as I needed a warm explosion of color for the dreary day.  First layer was a mix of purple and pink, then green.  Red was applied last along with pink and yellow.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Finished (snowman)

4x6 watercolor on 140 lb paper done last month that is now SOLD.  I was waiting on December to arrive before posting as snowmen are associated with the Christmas holiday season.  This finished fellow went to his new home in Florida and of course would melt there.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.