Sunflower Style

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press, a demo from yesterday's art class that I didn't quite finish. After sketching various sunflowers using a black watercolor pencil, the paper was wet and washed across using a 3" hake brush. Black lines were encouraged to blend into a gray and fill petals, leaves, and stems. Quinacridone burnt orange was put into the centers and all over water misting done with a fine spray mister to move colors. Undersea green by Daniel Smith was added as was quinacridone gold and raw sienna. Vertical shapes were added top right and bottom left for balance; I continued to put more black wc pencil leaves, stems, etc. at random. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Spring Porch

8x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media. I used a Micron 01 pen to draw the scene and it has been awhile since painting any houses or porch chairs. This was from one of my east Texas photos around Jefferson. I love country porch scenes, houses with shutters, and plenty of flowers waiting for a Spring rain. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Orange Rudbeckia

17x20 watercolor painted wet in wet then wet on dry. This brilliantly hued orange rudbeckia was growing in another pot beside the urn behind so I've positioned it actually in front of the urn. I was at the Casa Decor Mexican import store in Ruidoso, NM when I shot the photo; small pink and magenta vinca also lend their helping hand. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Red Raptor Irises in Oil

24x18 palette knife oil using Winsor Newton Artisan watersoluble paints on gessoed board. From a drawing I did from life of a purple iris I changed into red; this image shows a bit pink as it is more red actually. Background is more abstract and imaginary with various shades of blues, white, and lemon yellow. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Calla Lily with Cherries

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders. This is a still life white calla lily set up with fresh red cherries on one of my tapestries. Photos were taken to paint from later and this is the first one I attempted. The lily was artificial from several purchased at Hobby Lobby. Partly wet on wet and wet on dry direct painting method. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Cowskull Desert Debris

8.5x11 mixed media on paper completed today using an older ink marker sketch and added a cowskull from one of my antique store trips. In my mixed media sketchbook work I have used watercolor, acrylics, and ink line to mimic the desert and its debris. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Birdseed

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink marker finished a few days ago; another neurographic (my 12th) on mixed media sketchbook paper 110 lbs with a realistic subject. With this piece I've included a sparrow from one of my bird photographs. COPYRIGHT kay Smith 2025