Chickadee at the Feeder redone

11.5x7.5 mixed media on paper, a redone or reworked piece that had a too busy background. Here I have added white latex paint to the background of the chickadee bird painting, using a brayer and more water to move the paint over most of it. Focus should be on the bird and not on all the extraneous. This was done last week of January and includes collaged items. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Cardinal Birdhouse

5.5x8.5 watercolor on Canson 117 lb cold press paper, an imaginary garden bird, the red male cardinal, by his birdhouse in the backyard. This was painted with White Nights paints the last day of November. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Bluebird's House

8.5x5.5 watercolor using White Nights paints in Master's Touch sketchbook done mid-month, a sweet scene with an imaginary bluebird checking out his new birdhouse. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Red Patio Chair and Geraniums Plein Air

9x10.25 watercolor and ink line on sketchbook paper done today on my patio.  The red wicker chair was moved outside for this plein air paint out I sponsored for all of our Watercolor Horizons Group located in Odessa, TX.  The old metal pail bucket has a crooked handle and is not this large.  The small blue birdhouse and chair cushion are from a dollar store.  Silk faux green ivy is in a black metal basket above the birdhouse.  Sketching was done with Pigma Micron 01 pen.  Splattering was added when dry at the end using Grumbacher true red pigment.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Birdhouse

11x15 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders paper I painted awhile back that is SOLD. 
I was learning how to do negative painting and it is easily seen in the leaves.  This small birdhouse was photographed on the way to the frame shop and it was the second time to paint it from this angle.  At this time I'd been doing watercolor about 3 years.  A large orange trumpet vine framed the little house and the first wash was an underpainting of primary colors.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Bird Neighborhood

15x11 watercolor, brush only, on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today, another total imaginary scene.  The faded pink birdhouse is from one of my travels as are the goldfinch, hummingbird, and blackcapped chickadee inside.  Foliage and picket fence also are made up so hope the bird neighborhood is believable.  I do think my hummer is too large but it will have to do for now.  These three birds are anticipating Spring!
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Birdhouse

11.25x7.5 watercolor of a Ruidoso NM birdhouse photographed years ago.  I've had requests for prints of it so decided to reshoot its image and enable for prints on demand with Artspan website gallery onlne.  Painted partly wet in wet and wet on dry on 140 lb cold press paper with Daniel Smith/DaVinci paints.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2014.