Coneflower Circus ~ First Day of Summer!

Coneflower Circus ~ Happy First Day of Summer! 9x6 watercolor on 140 lb Canson paper cold press just finished for today as it is the first day of summer. With Texas having triple digit heat all our plants and flowers are struggling to stay alive. Have a great summer everyone! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Prickly Pink Saguaro

15x11 watercolor on Grumbacher 140 lb cold press paper done first week of June, another imaginary cactus in my series of desert plants. I added shapes and colors to the background to mimic other saguaros surrounding the main one. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Quiet Donkey

8x5 mixed media done today on paper in old sketchbook. Using my photo ref from a donkey we photographed in Central America, I sketched him using Winsor Newton 0.1 fine liner pen. Marks of yellow, green, and various Brusho colors were already on the paper. Watercolor and grey Brusho used on him and the bougainvillea flowers. Montana acrylic markers had been on the paper originally. Splatters using Halloween Orange were added last. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Apple Tree Antiques

22x15 watercolor on Daler Rowney Prestige 140 lb cold press paper done during first week of June, a commission from my photo of this antique store in Ingram, TX. I was taking a wc workshop at the Hill Country Arts Foundation at that time and took several photos of the various buildings. Daniel Smith paints were used. Doubtful this place is still a store as it did not come up during an online search. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Charming Colt

10x8 watercolor on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done first of this month, an imaginary charming young bay colt. Daniel Smith and DaVinci paints were used and applied wet on dry. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Saguaro Welcome

12x6 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper done last of May. In this imaginary dry desert landscape the tall saguaros seem to be opening their wide arms to any visitors. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Blue-eyed Tuxedo

6x6 watercolor done first week of June on 80 lb sketchbook paper of this lovely eyed black and white tuxedo cat. This was one of the refs featured on a WetCanvas online challenge. I enjoyed mixing different complements to make black such as alizarin crimson + thalo green and ultramarine blue + burnt sienna. Blue-eyed tuxedo cats are pretty rare. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Saguaro Bouquet

5.75x5 mixed media collage on matboard done a few weeks ago as a quick mini demo. In this imaginary desert cactus the saguaro takes on its own flowering top as a fancy bouquet. I've used markers, acrylics, India ink, watercolor, and paper to create this fun fantasy floral. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Pensive Woman

9x8.5 alcohol inks on white freezer paper sketched previously using only a wooden chopstick. The woman was one of the models we had used before during a workshop I took in south Texas. Just another figure in my ongoing woman series. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Cracked Cactus Pot

9x6 watercolor and ink using Winsor Newton grey fine liner pen on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done last of May. This is a simple line and wash exercise using a prickly pear cactus in clay cracked pot. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Street Walker

9x8.25 ink sketch on sketchbook paper done back in September 2025 as part of #sktchy #30faces30dayschallenge. I had not posted this urban scene with its lone man walking down the sidewalk. A tall street lamp post keeps him company. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Lilypad Frog

6x6 watercolor and Brusho depiction of a comfortable frog living its best days parked on top of a lilypad in the water. Ref courtesy Wet Canvas host for a past weekend drawing event (All Media Art Events forum). This is done on 80 lb sketchbook paper/Master's Touch. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Saguaro Shenanigans

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Master's Touch paper done last of May; this one is based on an earlier saguaro cactus that was smaller. With this I've tried to have more abstract strokes. Daniel Smith pigments used. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Daisy Dreaming

8.5x5.5 watercolor on mixed media sketchbook paper done last part of May in an effort to loosen up my florals. Daisies were from my plants at the New Mexico house. Dreaming I was there...Daniel Smith paints used. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Saguaro Goldfinch and Flowers

14x11 mixed media and collage on Crescent matboard done last part of May. Using felt tip, ink, and acrylic markers, I colored in the flowers and saguaro. Various papers were cut and glued to the image. Lastly I cut out a watercolor goldfinch bird from my sketchbook and adhered it to the top floral area. Dilute white acrylic was lightly washed over the too pink background to tone it down. All in all, a fun creative piece that would fit into anyone's decor. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Pink Sky Hummer

6x6 watercolor on 80 lb Master's Touch sketchbook paper done last week of May, another in my hummer series and my pink sky series (with different subjects). Love bird art and especially the tiny buzzing hummingbirds. Daniel Smith and DaVinci paints were used. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Three Trees Road

8.5x5.5 watercolor on sketchbook paper 80 lb done last part of May, an imaginary quiet landscape with poplar trees. One can wonder where the road leads and why only three trees are there in this country scene. A darkening sky sets the mood for a storm or bad weather brewing. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Sunray Saguaros

14.25x7.25 watercolor on Grumbacher 140 lb cold press paper done end of May, another imaginary contemporary desert landscape featuring tall saguaro cactus. Sunrays are exaggerated as they radiate outwards towards any living thing. I especially enjoy the pink prickly pears. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Bottle Beauty

9x6 watercolor on Canson 117 lb paper cold press done about a week ago as part of another online WetCanvas weekend drawing event. I liked the simplicity of the bottles still live and watercolor was the perfect choice of medium COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Desert Vibes

30x11 acrylics on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper done in January, a playful unrealistic cactus depiction. These tall saguaros are welcoming everyone with their open arms, colorful contortions, and desert vibes. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Ocean Rainstorm

9x6 watercolor using Daniel Smith and DaVinci paints on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done mid May. The ref was from WetCanvas ref image library and is a rainstorm in Yucatan, Mexico. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026