Shadows and Cactus Blooms

14x10 watercolor done on Stonehenge Aqua 140 lb hot press paper, done at first of this month, emphasizing the importance of shadows to highlight the cactus blooms on the prickly pear. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Cactus Night

5.5x8.5 mixed media in sketchbook done week before last while on a trip. I used Crayola markers, White Nights watercolors, white gel pen, acrylics, and black India ink. No reference used, only imagination how cactus appears during the night hours. I used Master's Touch sketchbook for mixed media. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Mission Wall Cactus

9x7 watercolor on 80 lb sketchbook paper (Master's Touch) done last week from mission photos I took in Tucson years ago at San Xavier Del Bac. Accidentally I fell into one of these patches of cactus spikes and thorns while there. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Tall Spring Cactus

15x11 watercolor over pencil sketch of an imaginary saguaro style tall cactus in clay pot done week before last. This is done over a backing sheet I put beneath smaller works to catch drips that makes for interesting marks. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Cactus Greens

9x7 mixed media on Bristol 300 series/100 lb paper done recently, another imaginary prickly pear cactus. Media used: Brusho moss green, watercolor, colored pencils, and gouache. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

July Prickly Pears

7x5 mixed media on Strathmore Bristol 100 lb 300 series paper sketched yesterday. Patterned after the previous day's art, these prickly pears were first sprinkled with water then Brusho wc crystals in Sandstone applied. After drying, a mix of turquoise, white, and green Turner's Design gouache was laid in over the background. An orange three colored lead Magic pencil separated the pear leaves pods from each other. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Cactus Stack

6x6 mixed media in Masters Touch sketchbook done last weekend, another imaginary prickly pear cactus patch. I used white wax crayon and watercolor for this colorful country scene. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Purple Prickly Pear Cactus

12x15 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press completed today after about 3 days' work.  These cactus blooms caught my eye as they bloom in May here in west Texas, and the purple coloration set off the orange yellows. A patch of sthe spiky succulent plants was growing near to the big spring for which our town is named.  I used two opaques together, American Journey's  Mint Julep and Blue Bice, for most of the softer green areas, with a lot of water.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.