Brusho Sparrow

7x4 watercolor and Brusho wc crystals on 140 lb cold press Grumbacher paper done in the last couple of weeks. I used a stencil of a branch in the upper background then used Brusho for the brown marks on the sparrow for a different approach to bird art. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Western Sparrow

6x12 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper painted yesterday for an online challenge.  In this nature wildlife scene I've put in negatively painted tree branches surrounding the plain little sparrow. An abstract underpainting was done using two colors first.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Earth Day ~ A Common Chipping Sparrow

For earth day this sparrow was perfect at 8x5.5 watercolor on Strathmore Visual Journal.  A pencil drawing was done lightly to mark outlines then watercolor put in over areas wet with #8, #10 round brushes.  A fairly limited palette used of ultramarine and Prussian blues, quinacridones burnt orange and gold, Bice and Periwinkle blues (American Journey).  When dry I used small amounts of white and Coastal Fog (AJ) on the sparrow's breast.  Background is loose and abstract with diagonal lines indicative of branches or twigs; splattering with Blue Bice applied when dry. 
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.

Pine Siskin

9x4.75 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today.  Using a scrap of backing paper that already had multiple marks, I sketched the bird, a pine siskin then painted wet on dry.  Last trip to New Mexico I was able to take lots of bird photos and pine siskins were at a neighbor's bird feeder.  I do like the effect of the abstract background with mingled greys, pinks, and soft mixed greens.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Sora Bird in Birdbath - Day 21

8.5x11 watercolor and ink on paper (Staedtler Lumocolor pen on Crescent sketchbook) painted today.  My friend Carole took several sora shots in her yard; looks as if they fed it some bread, too.  This photo is featured in WetCanvas current weekend drawing event in the All Media Art Events forum.

This makes number 21 in the 30 day challenge from California artist mentioned below.

Since 9-1-15, I've posted daily works on Leslie Saeta's #30paintingsin30days challenge she hosts annually on her blog Slices of Life you can see HERE.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.