Bed of Roses Kitten

15x11 watercolor using White Nights paints on 140 lb cold press paper done a few weeks ago. Using an earlier photo I took when Salty was a kitten, I quickly sketched her relaxing pose by the silk rose pillow. She is all white but for a splotch of dark grey on her head and pale grey at tip of her tail. Those yellow eyes are mesmerizing. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Theater Night

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper sketched and painted this afternoon. Ref courtesy Unsplash which did not identify the image but it appears to be the Orpheum Theater in downtown Minneapolis, MN. I loved the night scene with its partly darkened buildings and bright light from the theater. A man seems to be on his way there. Tomorrow starts a 3 day watercolor landscape workshop with Tim Oliver of Lubbock so am practicing my cityscapes or townscapes. COPYRIGHT Kay Sith 2026

Garden Club Tulip

9x5 acryics on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, done last weekend for a WetCanvas.com challenge of using your nondominant hand, a toothbrush, and a palette knife (with acrylics), any subject. I chose a red tulip but quickly made it a variegated white and red one with the toothbrush. Palette knife used mostly to smooth the mixed green colors. Not too bad but it helps to be ambidextrous as well. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Mr. and Mrs. Rabbit ~ Happy Spring!

8.5x5.5 mixed media using watercolor, Montana acrylic markers, and Micron 01 pen in mixed media sketchbook done at the first of March. So fun to sketch imaginary comical animals wearing clothes. This pair of rabbits are welcoming Spring but not the 100 degrees we had today. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Summer Fieldscape

6x12 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper, a quick demo done on March 2 for the Brownfield Art Association. I partly wet the sky area then laid in ultramarine blue, continuing on down to put in indigo blue then the golds and yellows for foreground. A nice summer field or fieldscape with no pencil drawing needed. Exercises such as this needs no reference photo and are good to get you into the mood for painting and for spring or summer. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Blue Pansy Bowl

5x7 watercolor on Strathmore printmaking paper done first week of March using several refs plus imagination. I've used White Nights paints wet on dry approach in this small floral watercolor. Just in time for Spring! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

March Poppies

8x8 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper (Master's Touch) done March 2 as part of my demo paintings for the Brownfield Art Association. Beginning with the darkest dark first the poppy was quickly developed with the background put in last. Taken from one of my earlier poppy paintings, this imaginary floral took on energy and life as it was completed. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Summer Meadow

5.5x8.5 watercolor in sketchbook 80 lb paper done first of March using no pencil, only a very wet brush over already wet sky. I let the color flow down then added a low horizon line using dark indigo blue. Letting the water touch the #8 round brush allowed the heavier pigment to spread out and blend. Quick colored sketches such as this are often under five minutes and are lots of fun. With this medium you never know what you will get! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Horse in Sunflower Field

15x11 watercolor on Master's Touch 140 lb paper done in February from an earlier horse painting; this one has sunflowers added from a sketch done earlier also. So two images combined to make one composition of a cheerful subject. Painted wet on dry. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Downtown Figures

9x7 watercolor and grey 0.1 Winsor Newton fine liner pen in this city scene at dusk or twilight. Done at end of last month, this urban cityscape was one of the refs in another WetCanvas online challenges. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Blue Shutters Red Geraniums

12x9 watercolor on Bristol paper 103 lb done end of February, an imaginary country windowsill floral still life. Featuring red geraniums, this floral captures the welcome home vibe that only these flowers can generate in their clay pot and stone walls. Weathered blue shutters add to its charm. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Horse Profile

13x10 watercolor and ink on commercial paper done last month, another equine side profile view of a brown bay. I enjoyed creating this partial portrait in profile. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Tilted Titmouse

8x6 watercolor on handmade rough paper 140 lb cold press done last month for another online art challenge on WetCanvas. I enjoyed the tilted tiny bird who seems to be so curious. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Redhat Wildflowers

6x6 watercolor done in sketchbook 80 lb paper last month for another online WetCanvas floral challenge. These common wildflowers grow not only here but in southeastern New Mexico where I shot this photo. They come in different colors and a rare sight is to see a yellow redhat. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Rabbits Gone a- Courtin'

6x6 watercolor and ink line wash with Daniel Smith paints and Micron 01 pen on Masters paper done previously. An ink sketch was done first. These two lovebirds are welcoming Spring with a little bit of romance as he's gone a-courtin' her foot in marriage. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Pinto Pony

18x12 watercolor on Canson XL 140lb cold press done mid-February, another imaginary horse frontal view equine art. For this I used mixed dark browns and middle value black hues and like the loose look it has. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Rufous Hummer

6x6 watercolor in sketchbook done mid- February of a rufous hummingbird; ref courtesy another artist in a WetCanvas online challenge. Sketchbook paper is 80 lb acid free support by Master's Touch. Soon we will be seeing these tiny treasures of the bird world coming back. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Morning Coffee

6x8 watercolor on handmade rough 140 lb cold press paper done last month, another in my series of coffee cups and coffee. I really liked how this one turned out with its more energetic color tones and vibes. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Roundup Cowboy

12x6 watercolor on Grumbacher 140 lb cold press paper done mid-February, an imaginative western cowboy getting ready to ride a roundup. This is loosely based on a photo of my brother. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Summer Landscape

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints done last month in sketchbook of 80 lb paper. This quick exercise was done with brush only, no pencil sketch, and was completed in less than 5 minutes. Just a quick splash across the dry top sky area with a wet #10 round, followed by ultramarine blue. A low horizon line was put in using indigo blue for the darkest dark, pulling some of the line up and some downwards. Middle value foreground is a mix of yellow, quin gold, and UB for greens. Splatters applied when dry for vegetation and/or weeds. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Rust Colored Blackeyed Susan

8x6 watercolor floral on handmade rough paper 140 lb cold press done last month. This is another take on the popular blackeyed susan I have been challenged with painting. With this work, I've used various copper and rust colors (warms) of the color wheel. A little variety as compared to local color. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Southwestern Afternoon

22x15 watercolor on Langton Prestige 140 lb cold press paper by Daler Rowney done mid-January, a still life I set up years ago. That first version was on a full sheet 30x22 and sold at its first show in west Texas. It has always been a favorite. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Sleepy Kitten

5.5x8.5 watercolor on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done mid-February using White Nights paints. The kitten's name is Nova and she belongs to another artist's daughter. This was part of another online WetCanvas challenge. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026