No Fly Zone

15x22 watercolor on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper, drawn and painted on one of our famous 90 degrees F days, with no snow in sight. This was taken at my friend Carole's in east Texas and earned a point for me with the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. These sparrows and one goldfinch were trying to keep warm and their frozen birdbath is behind them. I used Coastal Fog, Coffee with Cream, Brown Derby, Sepia, UB, QBO, permanent rose, and wet the back only. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Flirty Flamingos - reworked watercolor

After getting more email inquiries about this painting I thought I'd post it again here, and that will feed into Daily Painters website where most of my work sells.  It is 15x22 watercolor over a failed geranium painting. In the old composition, I'd done geraniums and practiced negative painting leaves.  It was so totally horrible no artist in their right mind would show it.  Either they'd paint on the back or throw in the nearest bin.  But I love to remake and save lost sinners, hence this attempt at a redesign.  It did win Best of Show at one of our Big Spring Art Association exhibits at Howard College.  This fun scene is one of many of my old dogs redone into something else, reworked or recycled to make a better piece of art.  Currently I'm gathering information to submit to North Light books on my rescued paintings.  It is thrilling to note that one of them, Baby Callas, collection Terry and Jan Hansen, won a point with the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies as did another, Alter Egos, collection John D. Jones.  The latter won my 5th and final point with WFWS.

Figure Accepted in Western Federation Show - detail

Detail of Brunette, 30x22 watercolor done from a failed sunflower painting that was juried into the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 2011 annual exhibition.

This year's show will be held in New Mexico and this is the 3rd point earned with WFWS towards signature status. I made up this figure and am thrilled that it is the second reworked/recycled piece that has made it into WFWS. My first one was of yellow wildflowers. So do not throw in the bin any that you don't like. Keep them and eventually a new exciting artwork may result.

The Federation is comprised of 11 watercolor societies who take turns hosting; juror for the Albuquerque show is Dale Laitinen. The show runs 6 May-5 June 2011. The WFWS website can be seen at this link: http://www.wfws.org/