Blue Shutters

7.5x7 watercolor on Canson XL 140 lb cold press paper done today for a timed WetCanvas event.  Using one of 16 photo references provided by Helen in Michigan, participants had 2 hours to select and paint their choice.  This was a window in Provence that I cropped from a larger picture.  Using a #6 round brush only, no predrawing with pencil, it was done within an hour.   I especially liked the striped awnings and red geraniums.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Everybody Loves Geraniums

15x22 watercolor of clay pots of geraniums, which was my demo last Thursday teaching at the Indian Rocks Beach Art Center in Florida.  It is a variation of garden still life I've done a couple of times, and was trying to finish it in 1 hour and think actual time was 1.5 due to late start and answering questions.  Color sanding was done into wet areas with watersoluble colored pencil and fine grit sandpaper for textural effects.  This work is SOLD.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Garden Party Geraniums WIP

15x22 watercolor work in progress (WIP) on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper begun today, patterned after an earlier work I did in 2009 that should be visible in the blog sidebar, Geraniums Garden Party.  That work sold quickly and I've had multiple requests for prints on Artspan, but the photo was not high resolution enough.  Hopefully, this floral still life will turn out all right.  Stay tuned for the next stage of the work.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Cottage Geraniums

5.25 x 4 acrylic, an experiment done yesterday. I used a scrap of tan matboard and covered with 1 coat gloss medium. Let dry, then drew geraniums in a windowsill with Pigma Micron 01 pen. For lace curtains, I used a tiny paper stencil, then brushed dilute white acrylic into its holes. Next painted the white window frame and sill, then the 3 pots of red and pink geraniums. With very dilute mix of red, blue, and green I lightly did sides of the house and below sill. In between curtains you can see the original mat color. Title of it is "Cottage Geraniums". A good experiment. I'll try watercolor or gouache next with GM coated mat for a Yupo-like effect. I think we should be willing, as artists, to try new ideas to keep the old brain cells recharged
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith