Border Pup Patrol

11x6.25 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a border collie puppy pet portrait; this cutie is waiting for his day to begin while sitting on his doggy bed.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Spacebird abstract

22x30 acrylics on 140 lb cold press Kilimanjaro paper, an abstract design exploring various secondary color schemes on a white background.  Paint was dripped and thrown onto its surface and black used to anchor the space themed design.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Sunflower Bright

5x7 alcohol ink on white foamcore board completed a few days ago using two different yellows, orange, brown, red and black.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Monet's Bridge

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a scene of Monet's gardens from a friend's photo.  This work is now SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Mission with Statue

30x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a whimsical painting using desert hues and bright colors only seen in the southwestern US.  In this imaginary scene, St. Francis is seen at the left guarding all in his garden.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Hot Dots

8.5x6 alcohol inks on white freezer paper done today using only three colors of Salmon, Sunburst Yellow, and Sangria for the flower then edges and stem done with Willow and Lime Green.  When dry I flicked 91% alcohol on its surface to make the random dots.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Fledgling

9x12 watercolor done yesterday on Canson 140 lb cold press paper of this young fledgling, a possible flycatcher with its unique coloring of the head.  An abstract background was added in blue and green, not covering the entire space.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Calla Lily Cascade

22x15 watercolor and Brusho done last week, a cascade of white lilies surrounded by their dramatic dark leaves.  Brusho is easily seen throughout the entire piece; I used the green crystals that also include dots of yellow and orange, very beautiful.  This is my May floral for a WetCanvas contest online hosted by Christel; ref courtesy her friend Anita.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Sundance Square plein air

5x7.5 watercolor and ink done today in downtown Ft. Worth while waiting on my husband's appointment. Lots of tall pots full of mixed spring annuals were in full bloom so I used Micron 01 pen in my Moleskine sketchbook to draw them.  Perfect spillers are the pale green and dark purple sweet potato vines that cascade over the cement pot edges.  Sitting outside Starbucks was the perfect place and it had just rained.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Southwest Mysteries

5x7 alcohol ink and gel pens on foam core board completed today.  These three dark haired people, seen from the back, have fringed shawls over their long flowing blanket clothing.  Gel pen in white and pink added details of stripes and circles in this southwest mystery figure piece.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Pastel Tulip

4x6 alcohol inks on professional photo paper done a few days ago using only three primaries plus a green for the stem.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Docile Donkey

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper by Dick Blick; this donkey belongs to another artist on WetCanvas and the painting is shown for this month's challenge in the Animals forum there.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Vanity Items

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Bienfang for mixed media sketchbook done today.  As part of another weekend drawing event on WetCanvas, the photo ref of these bathroom items was hosted by Kordelia.  A green pick comb, dark purple fine tooth comb and hairbrush, blue handled scissors, cotton swab applicators, and red cups all are part of the person's vanity.  These everyday item reflections can be seen in the clear glass in this bathroom still life.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Thursday Thistle

4x6 alcohol inks on professional photo paper done today using three ink colors by Tim Holtz:  Willow, Raspberry, and purple amethyst.  As you can see, the purple separated into pink when the pale Willow touched it and even bluer tones also.  I used canned air with this one.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Today's Tulip

4x6 alcohol inks on professional photo paper that is today's work.  I used only three colors of ink:  Willow, Indigo, and Botanical along with canned air to get the petal effect.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Poppy Perfume

5x4 alcohol inks on photo paper done a few days ago when I was actually working with yellow, gold, pale green and orange abstract and got this design that looked more like a poppy. 
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Monet Magic

30x22 acrylic, watercolor and wax crayon on 140 lb cold press paper, a reworked older one that was not working in my opinion.  I spent all one weekend afternoon overhauling this one darkening the pond water, glazing over the top portion to push the middle and foreground lilypads forward for more focus.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Cactus Confusion

4x5 alcohol inks on professional photo paper done yesterday, an abstract arrangement of complementary reds and greens that reminded me of cactus pods and blooms.  Those plants are blooming all over this west Texas area.  Canned air was used to create this abstract work.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Cherry Carton

9x12 watercolor that is today's work, a blue carton of Royal Rainier cherries from my photo. I love the primary colors predominant here of red, yellow, and blue.  The photo did not have three cherries to the left side so I added those for balance and shadows to connect all shapes.  I participated in the current weekend drawing event on the All Media Art Events forum on WetCanvas online.  Those who choose to do the 2 hour timed activity must select 1 of 16 photos within 30 minutes.  This vignette took me 1.5 hours total.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Indigo Sea Life

9.5x10.5 alcohol inks on paper completed yesterday which was an exercise in use of cool hues.  I used indigo, green, aqua, teal, and turquoise blue.  This resembles what the ocean floor might look like in a world all its own no one will see, a vast composition of seaweed, kelp, coral and shells.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Flame and Fortune

9x12 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper done yesterday, a floral abstract using only 3-4 colors.  With a warm color palette I've got a touch of green and aqua in the background while gold, yellow, and orange dominate the foreground.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Blue Song (tulip)

6x6 alcohol inks on foamcore board done yesterday for a cool hues abstract floral resembling a tulip.  Using indigo ink over teal blue background, I directed canned air at the bottom forcing ink to spread out and upwards.  Bubbles were made be spritzing 91% alcohol over its base.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Glittering Geraniums

12x9 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper just finished; no photo reference used so all colors, shadows, and overall composition is imaginary.  I realize I need to buy some of these to plant so they're on my mind.
Enjoy the loose splashy look of these bold garden gems.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Predator Coyote

12x6 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper done today. Pencil sketch about 20 minutes and 30 more to add paint. I grew up around coyotes and know the predatory nature of these canine looking critters. This guy is out looking for his next meal.  I've abstracted the background with various colors and shapes.  The coyote is smaller than its nearest relative the wolf and the canid is native to North America.  A different color combination was used for the sky, rocks and foliage. Ref image courtesy WetCanvas/Virginie in current weekend drawing event.
COPYRIGHT image Kay Smith 2017.

Freshly Baked

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line on Bienfang for mixed media sketchbook completed while out of town this weekend.  This cozy fresh bread and coffee kitchen still life reference is featured on a current WetCanvas challenge in the Pen & Ink forum.  The scene had to be drawn in ink first and you could add color if you wanted.  I love Mr. Coffee so here it is.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Sherbet Tulip

11x7 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper done this past weekend using only two warm colors plus greens. I used canned air to blow ink away from the flower's base upwards.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Donkey Party

15x22 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper done last month or so of a trio of donkeys.  I photographed them in a field north of Vealmoor and south of our farm years ago and this is the third time for me to paint them.  The other two versions have gone to new owners and colors were changed.  As they were in a field there was no interesting background so here I added a long horizontal stucco building reminiscent of the southwest.  This new painting has been entered in the current Wyoming Watercolor Society exhibit so it is not priced on Daily Painters for availability.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Red Chrysanthemum

22x30 watercolor floral of a large red mum and its indigo mottled background, an older painting that was SOLD.  
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

 

Sunflower Jewels

8.5x10.5 alcohol inks on white freezer paper done today.  Using no reference and no pencil the inks were applied by putting drops onto slick surface and adding 91% alcohol or blending solution.  Inks mix best on Yupo or freezer paper as those supports have no tooth.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Indigo Inspiration

9x12 alcohol inks on Yupo done today, an imaginary flower of many layers and mysteries.  I love the abstract quality of this contemporary bloom and all its tiny worlds hidden within.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Wonderful Waxwing

7x5 watercolor and ink on discarded book page done today, sketched with Pigma Micron 01 pen by Sakura.  The cedar waxwing is one of the images (courtesy WetCanvas/Dave Slaughter in the reference image library) I've featured in May's watermedia forum monthly challenge.  The challenge part was to do your painting in sketchbook style.  Here I have made the tree branch an aspen for added pattern.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.