Pine Siskin

9x4.75 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, first done in 2016, then last week I did an experiment with the bird art, pouring pale pink/pale blue acrylic. After letting the acrylics (mixed with silicone) settle, I rinsed off the paint under the faucet before they could dry. In return there is now a nice abstract background and a softening of the elements. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Tall Mini Cactus in Striped Pot

7x5.25 mixed media (watercolor, acrylics, ink, gel pen) done yesterday, another imaginary succulent in a pot over an abstract background. Gel pen in white used to make tiny prickly thorns. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Tall Mini Cactus

5x3 watercolor over pencil sketch done yesterday on 140 lb Grumbacher cold press paper using Daniel Smith paints. In this miniature cactus or succulent still life in a clay pot I have added white gel pen for its tiny prickly thorns. The paper had paint marks on it from other projects. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Bouquet by the Window

9x12 acrylics over an alcohol inks background done today. Previously I'd used the Canson 140 lb cold press paper as a blotting tool for inks on 4x6 photo paper.  Lines and interesting shapes seemed to say vase, flowers, table, and window.  Lightly I glazed diluted acrylic in pale yellow over entire background eliminating whites.  I like how the colored abstractions seem to be reflections now both inside and outside in this imaginary still life.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

February Peony

4x6 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper, some hot red abstractions mixed with purple for the background, just in time for Valentine's Day on Friday.  This white peony is enjoying colder weather and shines just for you and your love.  This work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Midge Sleeping Soundly

3.5x7 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday of my sweet kitty Midget, calmly sleeping amidst a busy abstract background.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Huskey

12x9 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday as part of another week's challenge on Facebook page All Animals Watercolor.  Ref courtesy Crias/WetCanvas.  This is such a beautiful and handsome dog and in order for his fur and markings to shine I placed a multicolored abstract background into the composition.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Yellow Shasta Daisies

22x15 watercolor on Saunders Waterford 140 lb cold press paper finished over the weekend from one of my daisy photos.  This one has a multicolored background that is broken up around its edges in an almost vignette pattern.  Lavender shadows along with pink accents are just the right touch.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Guy in Class

6x4 alcohol inks on professional glossy photo paper done last month using Sharpie markers over the abstracted ink.  The guy in class is looking very focused on what the teacher is saying.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Sparrow Spot ~ National Draw a Bird Day

9x12 Brusho and a small amount of watercolor on the sparrow's feathers of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue.  I first spritzed water at random with a fine mister spray onto dry paper then dusted Brusho watercolor crystals using Olive Green only.  Colors ran and patterns emerged.  When dry I did a pencil sketch using a small bird figurine from life then did the feathers making the imaginary male sparrow come alive for #National DrawABirdDay today.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2019

Proud Egret for National Draw a Bird Day ~ 8 April

4.75 x 6.75 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper done this afternoon for #National Draw a Bird Day tomorrow.  I put an abstract background behind the proud egret's head for flashes of pink and green. Stay tuned for more.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Springtime Sparrow

4x6 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today.  First I used a primary color set of quinacridone gold, Blue Bice, and permanent rose to splash over a dry background creating an abstraction. Next I sketched the bird from a small figurine, painting him in quin gold and burnt orange along with sepia. Shadow was a mix of quin magenta and indigo.  When dry splatters were added with a #12 round brush and Blue Bice (American Journey/Cheap Joe's Art Stuff).
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Redness

4x6 alcohol ink on glossy photo paper with ink line sketched over using Micron 05 pen.  With this red abstract background the focus is easily upon the geranium blooms.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Messy Woman

14x11 alcohol inks and black India ink on glossy paper completed today after getting an abstract background started over the weekend.  Another in my woman series, I used black ink for eyes, a suggestion of a nose and lip midline.  The underpainting can be seen below that was also a pulled print from my foamcore backing board.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Sunshine Woman

6x4 alcohol ink and India ink on glossy photo paper begun with an abstract background using Salmon alcohol ink only.  Today I added the black ink then Flamingo to her lips and nose edge of this imaginary woman in sunglasses.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith