Kitten Cuteness

. 11.25x5 watercolor and ink on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done end of July from one of many cat photos. This one was just too cute to pass up so I have placed the kitten in a vertical format. Ink line was used to sketch then pigment followed. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Miss Minerva Cat

5.5x5.5 watercolor on Arteza 110 lb. paper done today for a timed WetCanvas event. Ref courtesy of Maureen the host. Participants have 2 hours to select an image and paint it; this cat took less than one hour. Her sister's cat had its mottled pattern of colors then I put a lined squares design beside her then used a rubber stamp for a patterned wall. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Kitty Dreams

5.5×5.5 watercolor, gouache, and acrylics with white gel pen in Arteza for an online WetCanvas.com event. Each weekend up to 16 images are uploaded by the host and participants have 2 hours to do their magic. This ref is courtesy tyree. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

National Cat Day ~ Calico Curiousity

9x12 watercolor done for an online event. Painted on Canson 140 lb cold press paper I used Daniel Smith/American Journey paints. Photo ref courtesy Dewi/reference image library WetCanvas. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Calico Cat Resting

8x5 watercolor and ink on paper done yesterday.  Micron 01 pen used to sketch.  People have sent photos to me of their cats after I painted Glamour Puss, the chimera calico with  a checkerboard face of orange tabby and black with tortoiseshell body.  This one is really a cutie pie!
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Politician Cats

22x15 watercolor of 8 different cats who reminded me of politicians, hence its title.  Some are asleep and oblivious, others chewing on everything, one hiding, one sinking maybe drowning (Obama), one cunning and crafty calico, one smirking, and my favorite is the pale tabby licking his chops and winking.  Too funny for words.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Calico Curiousity

9x12 watercolor done today in about 1 hour for WetCanvas weekend drawing event.  Painted on Canson 140 lb cold press paper I used Daniel Smith/American Journey paints. Photo ref courtesy Dewi/reference image library WetCanvas.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

HRH Minerva cat

8x5.5 watercolor and Micron 01 ink drawing on Strathmore Visual Journal mixed media paper done last weekend.  Her Royal Highness Minerva kitty belongs to a friend's relative and she has the same facial markings as my Halloween kitty "Hallie".
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Hallie Cat in the Studio

6x6 Pigma Micron 01 pen sketch with watercolor washes of my rescue kitty Hallie (Halloween).  She sat on my movie star table surrounded by fake calla lilies, a zebra chair, and other plants.  As a black and orange tortoiseshell I thought her mixed patterns would fit right in that artistic environment.  This was my daily painting yesterday.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Cats and Old Fence

6x8.5 watercolor done last week while on travel in my hotel room.  Probably strays, these two were watchful and yet indifferent, just being cats.  Photo reference featured on WetCanvas.com last month for 5-7 July Weekend Drawing Event.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Oty's Cat

8.5x6 watercolor on Color Sketch oatmeal wc paper, drawn in pencil and painted last night. My artist friend in Greece, Otilia or “Oty”, shared this pretty calico cat with us on WetCanvas this weekend. Our challenge was to show the subject in sunlight.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Neiman Marcus calico cat

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, painted in 2010 from photos of friend Mollie’s longhaired calico named Neiman Marcus. You can see her above right in my blog heading.  Her image is now on my personal checks as marketed by Check Advantage in the calico cat section as seen HERE.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Calico Corner - pet portrait

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, drawn yesterday and painted today.  I did do a previous ink sketch using my grey tabby for a model, then changed to a calico for a little more pizzazz.  The background is left loose and abstract garden shapes morph in mixed greens and blues.
Image is Copyright Kay Smith 2013.

Calico Cat and Fall Leaves

6x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper of a calico cat sitting amongst fall leaves.  She blends right in! I painted this about 2 years ago and named it "I'm Leavin'".  I really enjoyed painting all the negative shaped leaves.

Calico Cat Neiman

15x11 watercolor of my friend Mollie's calico kitty, painted wet in wet on 140 lb cold press paper. Sadly during last year's drought in Texas, this kitty came up missing and is still gone.  I took this photo of her during a visit and she was a beautiful cat and this is why Mollie named her Neiman Marcus!

Norma's Calico

9x12 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper, Daniel Smith paints, of my friend Norma's kitty named Callie.  The geranium pots are imaginary and I positioned the puss between them as if taking a little rest undisturbed.

Stray Calico

6x9 watercolor on Strathmore painted today for a weekend drawing event; photo courtesy WetCanvas! This little stray looked so forlorn that I just had to paint her lovely eyes and face.

Kitchen Kat

15x22 on Arches hot press 140 lb paper of a calico cat watching water go down her owner's kitchen sink. I painted this several years back and my customer had me reframe in different colored mats and moulding. I did not have a quality photo of it so thought I'd share with you. When doing this one I tried for a very abstract quality yet recognizable composition.

Politicians

22x15 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper. Using only b&w photos I drew each fur-person carefully then painted wet on dry using imagination. On right hand side with orange bg is a Siamese and that is Jezebel, studio kitty.

It was hard to find a sleezy name and many nouns such as Scalawags (too doggish), Jailbait, Devils in Fur Coats, came to mind but politicians seemed to fit perfectly. I love the one wet kitty on the left. I hope the cat lovers admire this one as it took awhile to do.

Neiman

15x11 watercolor of Mollie's kitty named Neiman after the famous ritzy Dallas store. Neiman is very gorgeous and she knows it! This calico has cat-titude!