Desert Plants

8.5x5.5 watercolor in Master's Touch sketchbook, 80 lb paper, done last week or so, a scene of desert plants including a century plant, agave, and other cactus or succulents. This landscape can be seen here in Texas or other locales in the southwest. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Hollyhock Shades ~ demo

7x9 watercolor demonstration using White Nights paints on sketchbook 80 lb paper done this past Monday for my art class, a wet on dry direct painting approach with only one application. I did have to enhance one shadow spot on this dark pink hollyhock upper right once it was dry. This is from a photo I took when tall old fashioned hollyhocks were growing around the studio. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Kid Nap

5.5x8.5 watercolor using Rosa Gallery paints made in Ukraine on 80 lb sketchbook paper done a few weeks ago. As part of an online weekend drawing event challenge on WetCanvas.com I appreciated the host selecting this goat kid taking its nap in a sunny spot. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Berry Bowl

4.75x6 watercolor using Rosa Gallery paints on Kilimanjaro 140 lb paper done mid month, an imaginary simple strawberry still life in white bowl. Some of the berries are sliced ready to eat. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Snowed In

4x6 watercolor using Rosa Gallery paints in Joggles sketchbook 80 lb paper done last week, an imaginary rural winter landscape, that was enjoyable to paint. We don't get snowed in here but we can dream about it. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Cactus and Agave

8x6 watercolor on rough handmade paper done over a week ago combining two references into one composition of prickly pear cactus along with large agave plant. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Highland Calf

6x4 watercolor and ink line in Joggles sketchbook done last week or so ago for an online challenge with WetCanvas; an adorable Highland calf. It was fun to see these cows with their long hair when I visited the UK. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Mouse Under House

Mouse Under House 5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints in sketchbook recently done on 80 lb paper as part of an animal online challenge for this month. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Winter Bridge

8x10 acrylics on canvas recently painted, a frozen winter scene somewhere. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Coco

5.25x7.25 watercolor on Canson paper recently done commission. This beautiful cat was ill so her owner's sister wanted to gift it to her as a memorial. Rest in peace, Coco. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Brycen and Dog

15x11 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper do e couple months ago, a commission plus a local wine label design for CaSh. This work is sold. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Regent Bowerbird

9x3 watercolor done earlier in the month in WetCanvas online challenge; ref courtesy of Shane, fellow artist in Australia. This is painted on Fabriano 140 lb hot press paper using Daniel Smith paints. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Snowy Aspens

6x4 watercolor using White NIghts paints on 80 lb paper in Joggles sketchbook done last week from a photo I took in Ruidoso a few years ago. These aspens are close to the Texas Club restaurant and were covered in deep snow. I used this photo as a lesson on how to paint white subjects for our Monday class. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Scotland Highland Cow

6x8 watercolor on rough handmade wc paper done last week; ref courtesy Claire Read from Facebook's Free Reference Photos for Artists page. White Nights paints were used. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Soldier Up

6x8 watercolor using Brusho grey crystals on rough handmade 140 lb cold press paper; done a few weeks ago. I used an old photo taken of a soldier statue. Not sure what uniform he is in or if he is in a cavalry. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Decorated December Tree

8.5x5.5 mixed media on Master's Touch 80 lb sketchbook paper done at Christmas while on a short trip to the mountains. I used oil pastels, graphite watercolors, White Nights watercolors, colored pencils, watercolor crayons, and wax crayons with this imaginary decorated tree for the holidays. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Almost Bare Branches

8.5x5.5 watercolor using White Nights paints done about 2 weeks ago; ref courtesy another artist for an online challenge. Her photo had more spring yellow green in the background and here I changed it to late autumn and early winter. This is on Master's Touch sketchbook paper 80 lb. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

December Crow

5.5x8.5 watercolor on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done a few days past Christmas last month using White Nights paints and one of my old crow references. I stamped various colors of paint onto the background using a torn corrugated cardboard scrap. Later I might use a wet brush and pull some colors out. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Country Church in Snow

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints in Master's Touch 80 lb paper sketchbook; completed on Christmas Day 2024, an imaginary rural winter scene in snow. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Prairie Dog

8.5x5.5 watercolor in Master's Touch sketchbook 80 lb paper done before Christmas. Using Daniel Smith and American Journey paints for neutrals, this fun little ground squirrel/rodent will put a smile on your face. Ref courtesy WetCanvas challenge. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Washington Barn

4x6 watercolor using White Nights paints on Joggles 80 lb sketchbook paper drawn in pencil then painted today; ref courtesy Tim Campbell (Free Reference Photos for Artists Facebook page). Love doing these snow scenes and many thanks to Tim for capturing the barn in a snowy Washington state by Trout Lake. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Allamanda Flower

8.5x5.5 watercolor using White Nights paints in Master's Touch sketchbook done before Christmas for online WetCanvas floral challenge. Ref courtesy Dewi in Thailand. This native flower has a waxy smooth petal look and was fun to paint. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Paper Poppy

5.5x8.5 watercolor collage using White Nights over paper in Master's Touch sketchbook end of December. I used a part of a toilet seat cover adhered onto the support and when dry painted the red poppy. So fun to see where the pigment goes and is not predictable. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Coneflower Mixture

5.5x8.5 watercolor on 80 lb Master's Touch paper in sketchbook done last month, a mixture of various coneflowers, etc. Good to see some blooms in this cold winter weather. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2024

Trout Lake Barn

24x18 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press done today of this Washington state barn in snow. Ref courtesy Tim Campbell. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

Snowman in Toboggan

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints done on Christmas Eve a few weeks ago in Master's Touch sketchbook 80 lb paper. Imaginary snowmen are such fun to paint any time during winter season. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

January

5x7 imaginary watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper of first of the year snow along a country road. The sun has come out and promised clearer skies for those who wait. Colors used: Quinacridone burnt orange and gold, UB, cobalt, Prussian blue, a mixed violet of alizarin and the blues. Copyright Kay Smith 2025

Conniving Coyote

8.5x5.5 watercolor with Caran D'Ache watersoluble wax crayons on 80 lb sketchbook paper (Master's Touch) done mid-December, another quirky animal. With these imaginary animals anything is possible using different mixed media. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Not a Reel Cowboy

10x8 acrylics on 140 lb cold press paper done last month featuring my brother Stan. I had taken a selfie shot of us both inside my studio so for this portrait I cropped myself out. Included in the photo and in this painting are two movie star paintings of Kevin Costner and Val Kilmer in Yellowstone and Tucson respectively, in the background, hence the title. Stan is a real cowboy, not a reel one, as the other guys were. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

New Mexico Roadrunner

4x6 mixed media on magazine card done last month using Micron 01 pen to sketch, then watercolor, and Montana acrylic markers. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Cowboy Up

6x8 watercolor using grey Brusho crystals on handmade rough 140 lb cold press paper, sketched today and painted from one of my real cowboy photos. It is the first painting of the year in the lovely grey monotones. Have a Happy New Year! COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith