August Threatening Sky

5.5x8.5 acrylics on mixed media sketchbook paper done a couple of weeks ago, an imaginary limited palette landscape scene similar to an earlier one in watercolor. Palette: Payne's Gray, Naples Yellow, and a bit of white. In this scene the sky is threatening and bringing rain much like we've seen lately around west Texas. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Mescalero Hollyhocks

22x15 watercolor on Stonehenge Aqua 140 lb hot press paper done week before last from one of my photos taken at the Mescalero Apache truck stop on Alamogordo, NM highway years ago. A pale pink bloom atop a tall hollyhock with its interesting shadows is what captivated me to explore its delicate petals in paint. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Summer Stroll

8.25x9 ink with Micron 01 pen in sketchbook done a couple weeks ago; ref courtesy Wet Canvas for another weekend drawing event. Summer is over next month about 3 weeks away. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Garden Tools

5.5x8.5 watercolor and fineliner grey ink pen on mixed media sketchbook done a few weeks ago as part of a challenge online; photo courtesy WetCanvas. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Shadows and Cactus Blooms

14x10 watercolor done on Stonehenge Aqua 140 lb hot press paper, done at first of this month, emphasizing the importance of shadows to highlight the cactus blooms on the prickly pear. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Lonely Blue Jay

8.5x5.5 watercolor over Winsor Newton 0.3 fineliner sepia pen in sketchbook 80 lb paper; done at first of August. Another artist provided the blue jay image that she had photographed. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Cyclamen and Aloe

8.5x5.5 watercolor using White Nights paints on sketchbook paper, done last day of July. This is from two of my plants I had at work and I loved the morning sunshine as it hit their stems, leaves, and flowers. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Hot Cactus Pears

5.5x8.5 watercolor on sketchbook paper painted at end of July, another imaginary cactus desert landscape featuring the delicious pears they form. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Hummer at the Feeder

6.5x4.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done last month from several hummingbird photos of them at the feeder for sugar water. I used White Nights paints for this bird art scene. Note the bounce light from the red rimmed feeder onto the bird's feathers. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Colorful Cactus Blooms

6x6 watercolor limited palette plus 0.3 fineliner Winsor Newton sepia ink pen and white gel pen. This imaginary desert flowering plant was done last month in my Master's Touch sketchbook, 80 lb paper. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Capitan Hollyhocks

8x6 watercolor using White Nights paints, done last month after a drive to Capitan, NM, to eat at the Oso Grill. Across the street is the Smokey Bear museum and these dark red hollyhocks were blooming at the base of an old tree. This floral watercolor is done on handmade rough 140 lb cold press paper. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Pale Purple Coneflowers

9x7 watercolor on 80 lb sketchbook paper painted last month from some of my coneflower photos. I used White Nights paints in this splashy, loose garden floral. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Pearl with Crossed Legs

8x6 watercolor on handmade rough 140 lb cold press paper done last month, using studio cat Pearl as my model. Here she was with her front legs crossed looking like a lady. She is a dilute calico. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Sunday Prickly Pears

12x9 watercolor using a limited palette of Payne's Gray, Perylene Maroon, and Quinacridone Gold on Canson 120 lb for mixed media paper. With this palette, I'm still exploring color combinations on the imaginary landscape cactus. This one was done in July. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Hollyhock Fence ~ painted rock

2.5x3 acrylics painted on a smooth rock done in July as part of an online landscape challenge. The rock was painted with gesso before sketching was done to provide a smooth surface. This miniature hollyhock garden is blooming for sure. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Mission Tower

12.5x10.5 watercolor and black India ink on 300 lb cold press Saunders paper; an imaginary southwestern architecture scene. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Monday Cactus Pears

8.5x5.5 watercolor on sketchbook for mixed media done last month. Using a limited palette for these imaginary cactus leaves and pears I used: Payne's Gray, Perylene maroon, and quinacridone gold. Also I used multilead colored pencils by Koh-I-Noor Magic pencils. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Elegant Callas

9x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Canson XL paper, done last month for an online floral challenge; ref courtesy WetCanvas. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Mustang Trio

18x14 acrylics on wrapped canvas painted during May. With this trio of wild horses, I'm focused on the bond between them as they struggle to exist. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Resa

9x7 watercolor for day 30 in April with the continued challenge of #30faces30days held by #sktchy. This young woman was a coworker of the featured artist and has a sweet smile. It is painted on sketchbook paper using White Nights paints. (Internet down yesterday so blog post couldn't be made. Day 29 was titled Milena's Mom 7x9 also sketchbook/White Nights paints that can be seen on DailyPaintworks.com in my gallery. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Woman in Purple

5.5x8.5 watercolor in mixed media sketchbook using White Nights pigments. This was for day 28 of this April's #sktchy #30faces30days challenge online. An enjoyable portrait! Two more days to post of the portraits. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Woman in Striped Shawl

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints in mixed media sketchbook, done for day 27 of #sktchy #30faces30days April challenge. This woman was wearing a colorful striped shawl and was attractive for artists to do their own rendition. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Red Turban

9x6 watercolor using White Nights paints on Canson 117 lb paper, done for day 26 of portrait challenge in April this year. #sktchy puts these portrait challenges on once or twice per year #30faces30days and such fun but hard work as well. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Wild Dreadlocks

6.5x4.5 watercolor on tan paper for day 25 of this April's portrait challenge on #sktchy #30faces30days. I've used Daniel Smith pigments in this interesting face and hair. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Rob

8.5x5.5 watercolor on Canson paper 117 lb done for day 24 #sktchy #30faces30days April challenge; White Nights paints used in the male portrait. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Woman Hiding Out

Woman Hiding Out 9x7 watercolor using White Nights pigments in sketchbook, done for day 23 of #sktchy #30faces30days challenge back in April. This one was very enjoyable imagining her hiding out. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Gray Hoodie

9x7 watercolor using White Nights paints on 80 lb sketchbook paper done for day 22 of #sktchy April challenge this year. As part of one of their annual #30faces30days challenges, this face was quite interesting. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Toothpick Man

8.5x5 watercolor on brown paper, a portrait of a man with two toothpicks in his mouth done for day 21 of April's portrait challenge #sktchy #30faces30days. This guy was quite enjoyable to paint. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Old Woman in Green Headwrap

8.5x5.5 watercolor in mixed media sketchbook by Master's Touch, a portrait for day 20 of #sktchy #30faces30days challenge that was done in April. This woman was quite an interesting muse. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Ring Man

8.5x6 watercolor plus colored pencil and white charcoal on brown paper, a male portrait done in April for day 19 of #sktchy #30faces30days. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025