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

Contemporary Chickadee

5x7 acrylic on matboard, another in my chickadee series.  For this background I used a detail section of another painting which featured brocade pillows.  With this view there are actually two pillow patterns used.  In designing this bird it took about 2 days; colors are vivid flat shapes with little if any shading.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Striking Gold (finch)

5.5x7.5 watercolor on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper sketched and painted last night of an imaginary goldfinch over an abstract background.  Hot press paper being so smooth allows for a softer, less hard edged look for this lovely yellow and gray feathered bird.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Cherry Tree and Red Bird

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary fantasy scene.  I used another scrap sheet I place under watermedia to catch drips and brushstrokes as an abstract background.  The symbolic tree, leaves and round flat ones were added next then the bird shape last.  Already there were some of those shapes.  I liked the pink and pale green colors behind the drips and runs.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Quiet Cardinal 2

6x8.5 watercolor, Uniball pen ink, and Caran D'Ache watersoluble wax pencil on pink tinted Color-Sketch paper drawn yesterday and done today, the second in a series of four birds.  I was answering a free lesson #sketchbookskool #art4all in which you look at a subject and draw it by not looking at it.  With this, they cut you some slack and allowed 3 quick glances.  Mid-tone underpainting done first with arylide yellow, Prussian blue, and permanent rose. Colors were more pink-dominant with strong magenta and violet along with permanent rose.  Yesterday's cardinal had more reds.  Background colors applied very wet with constant dropping in of different ones and drips encouraged.  Not many branches this time.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Chickadee Crevasse

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, drawn yesterday with a brush only and painted maybe 1/3 of it, finishing up today.  An abstract pink, orange and green background paired with neutral palette mix/soup greys are a soft foil for the little bird, another in my blackcapped chickadee series.  He appears to be at the edge of a large crevasse looking down, hence the title.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Contemporary Chickadee

5x7 acrylic on board, another in my chickadee series.  For this background I used a section of another painting which featured my grey tabby cat sitting on rich brocade pillows.  With this view there are actually two pillow patterns used.  In designing this third bird it took about 2 days; colors are vivid flat shapes with little if any shading.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.