Milk Cows

9x10.25 mixed media on paper of three curious Jersey cows that is udderly funny.  I used ink to sketch them and watercolor for their bodies, then Montana acrylic markers in blue and green for sky and grass.  The middle ground is the white of the paper.  Yesterday when I painted this I was wanting to use brighter colors but decided to go with local color all the way.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Fredericksburg Farm ~ day 30 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done for the last day of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge.  This cropped scene from a ranch in Fredericksburg, TX was done within a 2 hour time frame for WetCanvas weekend drawing event as well (photo courtesy Karen).  I will be traveling there for a March 2nd demo for Die Kunstler art organization.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Redbreasted Robin ~ day 29 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

4.25x7 watercolor and Uniball 0.7 pen done on a magazine card over the weekend as I forgot my sketchbook.  This nest with a robin was just the thing to signal Spring is around the corner! With this one I am now at day 29 of Leslie Saeta's biannual 30 day challenge.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Goats Galore ~ day 28 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Bienfang for mixed media sketchbook done for day # 28 of Leslie Saeta's challenge she hosts twice yearly; two days left to go.  This goat herd seems to be having more fun than a barrel of monkeys holding a pose for the camera.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Fence Row Sunflowers ~ day 27 of 30 in 30 challenge

5.25 x 4.25 watercolor of wild sunflowers lined up in a row by an old white picket fence.   You can see these type flowering weeds growing everywhere.  This small work is featured for day # 27 of Leslie Saeta's biannual 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and is done on 140 lb cold press paper.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Hilarious Heifer ~ day 26 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

8.5x5.5 mixed media (watercolor, ink, Montana acrylic marker) on Bienfang sketchbook for day 26 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge that ends soon.  This young Jersey heifer is sticking out her tongue at everyone today but she is happy the challenge is almost over.  Red Montana marker is the background color of a barn.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Quiet Time Trees ~ day 25 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

9x6.5 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done for day # 25 of the 30 in 30 Leslie Saeta challenge.  The background was put in first of pale blue washes then the dark marks on trees in this imaginary birches landscape.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Red Explosion ~ day 24 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

2x3.5 alcohol inks on slick card stock, a miniature abstract painting using two reds and a blue, done for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge.  Only six days left and I'm on a roll.  For this I used two red inks:  Watermelon and Sangria and the blue is Aqua.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Birthday Cupcake ~ day 23 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Bienfang sketchbook for mixed media done today not only for my birthday but for Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 challenge.  Seven more days until the finish.  It has been a fun month doing the challenge and a fun day to have a birthday, nice and sunny with little wind in the 70s.  I used Micron 01 pen to sketch this and Daniel Smith watercolors to paint it.  There is one candle here burning at both ends just like my life; see if you can spot it. This work has SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Jaywalk ~ day 22 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

6x7.5 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper featured on day 22 of Leslie Saeta's popular biannual challenge.  Each artist participating pledges to do at least one painting per day.  Some who paint faster than others can complete more than that to have an extra entry for those days painting time is cut short.  In this scene I've added more tree limbs and branches and negative painting was  done. I also have this one showing on WetCanvas weekend drawing event with photo courtesy Robert Rongier of France; see his website HERE.Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.

Top Chef ~ day 21 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

15.5x11.5 mixed media on matboard done today for the 21st day of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge she hosts on her blog twice yearly. This one I cropped from a larger figurine photo (courtesy Li Newton/WetCanvas).  First I stenciled large numbers in white acrylic, let dry, then added watercolor and gouache. India ink added for linework at random then letter stamped ink 'top chef' on middle right.  White acrylic on a pencil head made the circles on his neck scarf.  See how many numbers you can find within this composition.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Inauguration Blossoms ~ day 20 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

9x10.25 inks on paper created by placing large drops of ink, covering and blotting then outlining in ink over an abstract background; this work is for day 20 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days annual challenge.  Ten days to go! These happy blossoms take center stage just as our new president did on inauguration day today, a salute to freedom and our nation.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.

Zebra Zone ~ day 19 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

5.5x7 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper that is today's daily painting for Leslie Saeta's challenge.  Twice a year her blog hosts any artists wanting to pledge to paint one work per day.  Sometimes I do more than one to stay ahead.  The zebra here is being also featured on WetCanvas animal challenge for January hosted by Virginie.  Dark stripes a mix of ultramarine blue and quinacridone burnt sienna, and background was changed from the green foliage to earthy browns and rusty oranges.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

White Cow ~ day 18 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

15x22 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper completed for day 18 of Leslie Saeta's biannual challenge in which participating artists paint one painting per day for a month.  The background is left the white of the paper so the white cow will be more prominent. 
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Angus ~ day 17 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

11x15 watercolor of an angus calf in his pen.  This is a direct approach of laying down colors fairly wetly and letting them blend within the animal while fence and poles are mostly dry brush.  Background however, is wet into wet.  I am doing quite a lot of cows lately and thought this black fellow was too sweet to pass up for adding to the Leslie Saeta 30 day challenge.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Pomegranate Pieces ~ day 16 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Masters sketchbook done for Leslie Saeta's 30 works in 30 days biannual challenge. I bought a pomegranate then opened it to spill the seeds.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Buffalo Gap Surprise ~ day 15 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

5x10 alcohol inks on white foamcore, one of three demos done yesterday for the Abilene Creative Arts Club, that met in Buffalo Gap TX.  This one will be featured for day 15 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days biannual challenge, and this work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Buffalo Gap Tulip demo ~ day 14 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

5x7 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper, today's first demo of three, for Abilene's Cultural Arts Center. The art organization meets in the old historic Buffalo Gap, Texas village.  This one is also day 14 of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge she hosts each January and September internationally.  With this abstract tulip I left the background the white of the paper.  A limited palette was used:  Watermelon, Sunbright Yellow, and Stream.  Stay tuned next couple of days for the other demo pieces and an upcoming all day class on alcohol inks is TBA in Ballinger, TX, hosted by Mid-West Texas Artists Guild.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Roses in a Blue and White Vase ~ day 13 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

10x8 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a quick roses still life I'm featuring for this 13th day of Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge; almost halfway through!  The roses were grown at my studio and the vase is a small one I made look larger here for an imaginary floral.  Peace roses are a favorite due to their different colorations in each bloom.  This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Sunflower Softness ~ day 12 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

11x12 watercolor on collaged paper sketched yesterday and painted today for the 12th day of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 days challenge.  From my photo it was easy to see where a bird had pecked out the upper top portion of its flowery feeding station.  Pale blue skies enhanced the softness of this bright sunflower and lifted the hearts of all who saw it.  Collage is white tissue paper gessoed to 140 lb paper.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Halloween Woman ~ day 11 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

8.5x6 ink using Sharpie fine point pen on ColorSketch pink tinted paper, an imaginary zendoodle face that is frightful for sure.  I call this scary one Halloween Woman and she is featured for this 11th day of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  If you see her around town, run!
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Bare Branches Winter House ~ day 10 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

10x14 watercolor on 140 lb hot press paper that is featured for day 10 today on Leslie Saeta's 30 day challenge. Since mostly white snow against a white frame house the background and some modeling of the trees and windows was all that was necessary.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.

Nuthatch in Tree ~ day 9 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink (Pigma Micron 01 pen) on Masters sketchbook d rawn yesterday and painted today, which is day 9 of Leslie Saeta's challenge.  Artists participating pledge to post one painting per day the entire month with the 31st day allowing a compilation gallery post.  It has been awhile since featuring birds so I was anxious to finish it.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Trees or Flowers ~ day 8 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

4.75x8.75 alcohol inks on white freezer paper done for day 8 of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge blog.  I had intended for these large yellow shapes to be flowers but they came out resembling trees more hence the title.  In this abstract landscape anything goes.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Iron Lamp cityscape ~ day 7 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

5.75x8.5 mixed media on matboard using grey Pitt pen, black India ink, Montana markers, Carb Othello pastel charcoal pencil, white acrylic, and Staedtler pigment liner 0.3 done today.  As part of Leslie Saeta's biannual challenge I chose a cropped image of a cast iron lamp between two city buildings (photo courtesy Kay M/WetCanvas). 
Image COPYRIGHT 1-7-17 Kay Smith.

Daydreaming Cat ~ day 6 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

6x9 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper that is today's work for Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  A semiannual international event has many people participating.  This is Chuy, my grey tabby who will turn 16 this year, and he is such a sweetheart.  Not many colors used with this:  Ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, quinacridone gold, and Payne's Grey.  A very small amount of carbazole violet used at the base of Chuy's ear.  After the background was put in I lightly pulled up some color with a rag while wet, then added quin gold to lighter areas on the cat's fur.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Spruced up for Winter ~ day 5 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

14x10 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper painted partly wet in wet in the snow and spruce tree areas.  I liked the round roof of the front porch of this old Victorian style home.  The cold grey skies add a bit of chill to the wintry scene.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Tulip Fire ~ day 4 of 30 paintings in 30 days

4.5x8.5 alcohol inks on white freezer paper, an abstract tulip shape that took a delightful turn for my daily painting efforts. This is for day number four of Leslie Saeta's biannual monthly challenge in which artists across the globe pledge to create one per day.  No problem for me, a daily painter anyway! I really liked how the ink separated within the petals here.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Fresh Strawberries ~ 30 in 30 challenge day 3

5.5x8 watercolor and ink line (Pigma Micron 01 pen) on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media; this is for Leslie Saeta's January 30 paintings in 30 days challenge on her blog by the same name.  These fresh berries were a handful I washed and grouped together for a small fruit still life.  I also featured my photo on Watermedia forum challenge on WetCanvas for others to paint this month.  So day 3 is over with 28 more to go as the month has 31 days and not thirty.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.

December Chickens ~ 30 in 30 Challenge day 2

5.5x8 watercolor and ink (Uniball Vision Elite pen) and colored pencils on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media begun on new year's eve, hence the title.  I finished it yesterday in time to join in another of Leslie Saeta's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge for January.  Photo courtesy Kordelia/WetCanvas where also I posted it for the current weekend drawing event.  I had cropped the chickens in the reference to focus more on the white hen.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016/2017 Kay Smith.

Happy New Year 2017!

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink, a colored sketch showing blackeyed peas and other vegetables known as Hoppin' John to bring us all good luck for the new year.  So eat your peas and rejoice! It is a fresh time for us all.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.