Winter Ice

4x6 watercolor over white wax crayon on cold press Fabriano 140 lb done a few days ago in anticipation of the snowfall today of several feet. A bleak, grey sky looks down on the winter ice and frozen branches and weeds. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Roadrunner Profile

6x9 watercolor and Brusho crystals on 140 lb cold press paper by Italia Magnani done recently, a close up view of the common roadrunner. Running more than flying, these chaparral birds can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the desert Southwest. Roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip, with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs and are of the cuckoo family. Roadrunners can reach a speed of 26 miles per hour. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Till the Cows Come Home

8.25x5.25 mixed media in junk journal done recently using watercolor, Brusho, 0.5 STA Lictin pen, gel pen, and gouache of these country Holstein cows waiting to come home. I always liked that phrase. Collage elements are a grocery receipt from H.E.B. and a torn scrap of paper. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Rainbow Parrot Tulip

7.75x3.75 watercolor on Bristol board 300 series completed today, another imaginary parrot tulip that has hot fuchsia pink, red, orange, yellow and yellow green colors in its petals. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Seagull Swarm

4.25x6.25 watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb cold press rough paper painted a few days ago for an online challenge. There were so many of the gulls so I cropped several out of the composition. They are loud, pesky, and annoying but I do love to see them and paint them. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Little White Chapel

11.5x7.5 acrylics on gessoed watercolor paper 140 lb cold press, sketched today using a white colored pencil first then following with Liquitex paints, an imaginary country chapel by itself waiting for people. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Peaceful Poinsettias ~ Merry Christmas!

15x11 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press completed yesterday. This was sketched and painted from life using a dark red faux potted poinsettia. Merry Christmas to all and hopes for a brighter, better new year! COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Smiling Snowman

9x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary snowman decked out in his bright mittens and knit toboggan cap, trying to stay happy and cold before he melts. This is one in my watercolor snowmen series. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Peace Rose Garden Classic

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done a few days ago from one of my rose photos. French horticulturist Francis Meilland develped the Peace rose and sent cuttings to friends around the world as Germany invaded France. This beautiful rose was given its name when peace was declared on VE Day in 1945. It has since become a garden classic. May peace be in your minds and hearts as we celebrate this season of Christ's birth, and peace on earth, goodwill to all men. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Snowy Road to the Ranch

4x6 watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb rough cold press paper just completed, another imaginary winter snow landscape scene. Here I have imagined the gate posts are open to let us enter the road to the ranch. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith Actual size:

Winter Solstice Treeline

6.25x9.25 Brusho watercolor crystals on Italia Magnani 140 lb cold press paper sketched in pencil then painted today using only one color, Grey. I like how the crystals separate out in their different colors in a very wet wash. This is an imaginary scene for the first day of winter, the winter solstice. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Coyote Pup

8x8 watercolor on Masters premium 140 lb cold press paper completed a few days ago from some wildlife photos that I had saved for a rainy day. Most are taxidermy prepared so it is easy to get lots of close ups. This young male coyote pup seems intent on exploring his territory and learning wildlife ways of being a predator. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Melting

6x5.75 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper painted previously of a snowman someone made from a large snowfall. I liked the backdrop of leafless trees telling us that winter is here to stay awhile. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Winter Wreath

8x5.5 watercolor of a Christmas wreath I saw outside someone's window. It was painted on a trip to the snowy mountains. This one just puts you in the spirit of the holiday season! Support is Strathmore Visual Journal/watercolor 140 lb cold press paper. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Steller's Jay in Snow

5.5x8.5 watercolor sketched and painted last weekend after seeing this fellow foraging for food in the snowy mountains. I like the contrast of his dark brownish black head against the white. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Winter Owl

10.5x10.5 mixed watermedia on cardboard done over the past weekend. After sketching with a technical pen, I used Crayola markers, watercolor, and some white gouache. When dry, black India ink was placed here and there along with splatters. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Crimson Cardinal

11x11 mixed media on cardboard begun yesterday and finished today. First I sketched the cardinal with Micron 03 pen, then used watercolor and gouache along with colored markers. This will be sprayed with a protectant varnish. The first was an owl I did over the weekend so will post it tomorrow. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Four Rembrandt Tulips

14x10 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done last week as a commission. Each section is a 5x7 with space in between each tulip to fit inside a frame made to resemble a real window with panes. Rembrandt tulips are variegated with more than one color in each bulb. This work is SOLD. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Cascade Red Fox

8.5x5.5 watercolor on Masters sketchbook paper done a few days ago, a composite using two different references, of a cold red fox in winter. This was first sketched in pencil and painted using White Nights paints. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Dizzy Gillespie in ink

5.5x8.5 India ink on paper, a graphic depiction of the famous Dizzy Gillespie, done for one of the InkTober days in October. The prompt was 'dizzy' so I opted to do a semi profile portrait in a loose manner with ink. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Crows and Cardinal in Snow

11x15 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a commission I designed and painted based on the customer's request for both bird species in winter. This work is SOLD. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Emily Cat

8x8 watercolor on Masters premium 140 lb cold press paper, a commission recently completed, of someone's sweet cat. This work is SOLD.

Chickadee Courtship

5.75x9 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done the end of November, practicing on chickadee bird paintings, from my backyard photos in New Mexico. These two are lovebirds and wish you the best holiday season. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Donkey Duo

6x8 colored pencil sketch with watercolor in Stillman Birn sketchbook done today for online challenge with WetCanvas. These two donkeys were enjoying a sunny afternoon in their pasture of grass. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Leftover Pear

7.5x5.5 acrylics on 140 lb cold press watercolor paper that was a previously painted abstraction. I sketched the pear in pencil then did it again using different paints, saving part of the original design at the bottom, hence the title. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Santa Gift Bag

13x10 acrylics on brown paper gift bag painted a few days ago with a couple of art association members. This gift bag would not only hold a gift but would make an unusual bag for that special person. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Christmas Ball Bowl

6x9 watercolor on #CansonPaper 140 lb cold press done today from a Christmas photo. Reflections were difficult and very time consuming so this took most of the day to paint. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Geese Gossip

6.25x9 watercolor on #CansonPaper 140 lb cold press done today as part of a timed weekend drawing event on WetCanvas.com Photo ref courtesy of host Tanja. For the background I first stamped paint on a grasscloth piece and stamped its pattern. When dry I put color glazes in green, brown, and blue tones over that. With simple subjects a patterned background is a must. My total time was about an hour out of the allotted 2 hour limit. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Frozen Forest Stream

8x6 watercolor, Brusho, and white wax crayon on Fabriano 140 lb rough paper done today with no pre-drawing, just some outlines with the crayon. This scene from the Lincoln National forest is showing a frozen stream and its snow laden trees standing tall in the winter season. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Cat Scholar

4x4 watercolor on Fabriano 140 rough cold press paper done today. It was time to paint a cat after doing all the winter wildlife art I've been creating lately. A fun ginger or orange marmalade tabby cat always is a pleasure. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Bull Elk in Deep Snow

12x9 watercolor on #CansonPaper 140 lb cold press sketched in pencil then painted today, another in my winter landscape wildlife series of a bull elk leading the way through deep snow. Imagine all the cows following him as he heads off towards other areas of the forest. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Christmas Jimmy

5.75x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper sketched yesterday then painted today using mostly mixed greens and reds in this Christmas tree hauling GMC truck scene. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Antlers

18x24 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done over this weekend of an imaginary buck deer amidst swirling leaves. His eyes are closed indicating sleep during winter approaching with its wind and snow flurries. Note the antlers morphing into tree branch shapes and lines. I mixed dark brown, grey, and black Brusho for some of the darks painting wet on dry. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Margaritas

12x9 watercolor (brush only) painted yesterday as a still life complete with limes and kosher salt on Canson 140 lb cold press paper. This imaginary scene could be any table top or bar anywhere. It was fun to paint the salt crystals and the lime in this still life. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Chickadee Waiting for Winter

18x24 watercolor on Fabriano rough 140 lb cold press paper done over this week, an autumn scene with golden brown trees dimly seen in the background and a lone chickadee watching and waiting for winter on an old broken fence. In this country landscape with a bird, I tried to show the center of interest as it relates to the whole cycle of nature. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Spicy Hot Donkeys

8.5x11 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders paper using an unusual color palette of a hot fore and middle ground with dark navy sky. Both background trees and donkeys are treated as simple shapes in this contemporary southwestern art animal painting. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2020.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters sketchbook done previously. This fat butterball bird is waiting his turn out in the woods in this imaginary scene. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Chicken of Color

6x9 India ink and Brusho watercolor crystals on paper done recently from a previous ink sketch, adding some bright color for pizzazz. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Backcountry Barn

12x9 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary country scene of a rundown old barn. The rocky landscape foreground was fun to paint wet in wet in layers as was the middle ground. The fence is still up so suppose someone is running cattle. Storm clouds are building up overhead. When dry, splattering was done for textural effects. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.

Male Towhee

3.5x6 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders cold press paper done day before yesterday, a small bird art painting of one of the spotted towhees photographed in New Mexico. Mostly they are ground feeders so it is not easy to see one in a tree or a flowering bush. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Calico on a Chair

6.25x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper completed yesterday from another WetCanvas online challenge. Participants in the Weekend Drawing Event are given 2 hours to select an image and draw then paint it. This sweet calico cat was begging to be chosen and I think her markings are beautiful. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Purple Prickly Pear Cactus

12x15 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper. These cactus blooms caught my eye as they bloom in May here in west Texas, and the purple coloration set off the orange yellows. A patch of sthe spiky succulent plants was growing near to the big spring for which our town is named. I used two opaques together, American Journey's Mint Julep and Blue Bice, for most of the softer green areas, with a lot of water. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.

Phoenix Pricklies

3.5x2.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Italia paper, an imaginary set of desert prickly pear cactus done in miniature. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

White Tree Poppies

7x5 watercolor on Masters premium paper 140 lb cold press done today as it has been awhile since I've painted poppies. With this composition I was able to do more negative painting by first putting a light transparent wash in different colors over the background, then coming back in with darker values to carve out leaves and stems. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Easter Sunflowers

10x10 watercolor and ink line on 140 lb cold press Saunders paper, a contemporary grouping of big sunflowers I first painted around Easter but didn't show them. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Wayside Barn

7x12.25 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper sketched yesterday then painted today using Daniel Smith paints of this old ramshackle barn country scene. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Virginia Creeper

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders paper, sketched and painted from a photo I took in the Lincoln National Forest several years ago. The red vine known as Virginia creeper appears throughout the forest. Related to grapevines, the plants are heaven for birds and insects, providing food and roosting opportunities where it grows freely. Native plants host a wider variety of native wildlife, and climbers such as these are shelter. They first begin growing as green leafed then turn to red around autumn. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Frosty Pinecone

12x9 Brusho watercolor crystals on Canson 140 lb cold press paper sketched today in pencil then paint added. I used three Brusho colors: Grey, Black, and Dark Brown. The pigments make excellent softly muted backgrounds. In some areas of the darkest darks I mixed all colors together and the white is the white of the paper. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Rocket Frog

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line using STA Lictin 0.3 pen in Masters sketchbook. This frog was first sketched for #InkTober2020 last month then watercolor added this past weekend. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith