Coffee Black

7x9 watercolor and ink line on sketchbook 80 lb paper done earlier in the month. I used Winsor Newton 0.3 sepia fine liner pen to sketch the coffee cup and White Nights paints for pigmentation. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Coffee Break

8x8 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Masters Touch premium paper done last week on a cold morning with a cup of hot coffee, my favorite breakfast beverage. This simple still life is comforting and warming at the same time. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Polka Dot Coffee

5.5x5.5 watercolor in Arteza sketchbook done last month, one of the last ones to finish out the book. I could not resist the cute dots on this set and to fill with coffee was even better. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Fresh as a Daisy

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb hot press Strathmore Gemini paper done today in under two hours.  I was in the mood to paint a morning still life so concocted a country kitchen scene complete with coffee cup, book, and pitcher of fresh daisies.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Perk-fection

8.5x5.5 mixed media on Bienfang sketchbook done last Thrusday of a stainless steel percolator (people still use those? I do) and coffee cup with roses.  After ink line drawing done with Micron 01 pen, watercolor was added to pot, cup, and table.  Background is blue and red Montana acrylic markers.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Blue and White China with Roses

22x15 watercolor on 140 lb hot press paper, a still life set up of gold vases and blue and white china.  Fresh roses set this one off so it is a sunny more cheerful piece than the snow scenes of late.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Torn Paper Collage - step by step

SUPPLIES:  12x12 wrapped cotton canvas, black felt tip marker to draw mug design (mistakes don't matter).

 Glossy magazines with colorful photos you'll tear, not cut, with your hands.  Here are several favorites.

Jar of matt or matte medium to adhere torn pieces, one craft brush, and a table to lay canvas flat.  Decide if you want a warm or cool colored mug; I like hot colors so this'll be mostly oranges, yellows, pinks, and reds with a few cool accents for balance

 Close up of color combinations and black pieces for the coffee or tea; brush thin coat medium onto canvas then brush on top of paper, pressing out any bubbles

Left mug edge was a natural line found in an ad; these are good if you can find lines or curves with a good color on other side

 More warm colors added with cool accents of blues and greens. Don't worry about ragged jagged edges!

 More oranges and magenta pinks added to saucer covering up my bad drawing on left side. Remember you can cover over an area you dislike

 Background coming into focus now that'll be mostly white with pink touches, coffee or tea references, and I added a bunny for Spring. White shouldn't have lots of color on reverse side as it might show through the medium.  I added different blue/green pattern inside of mug rim that was a bracelet ad

 More patterns added here and there; I'm not liking the magenta mug bottom so may collage on top of that.  Sides are done last after finishing up the bottom here.

 

Final step! I added three red strawberries to right side of saucer and one on its left.  Finished! Now to coat with several, maybe 5 brushed on gloss medium varnish layers for shine and to protect/seal the collage.  Sign with black permanent marker, add wire and hooks to the back and it is ready to hang in someone's kitchen!

Coffee or Tea 12x12 torn paper collage on canvas COPYRIGHT March 11, 2014 Kay Smith

Coffee or Tea - torn paper collage

12x12 collage on wrapped canvas using torn paper collaged on with matte medium, started over the weekend and finished yesterday.  Using a line drawing I tore, not cut, scraps of slick magazine piece colors and put into place with the medium.  Avoiding using any straight edges such as page sides, patterned paper was put over the wrapped edges.  I will varnish several times using gloss medium to give this cute mug a special shine.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Coffee and Donuts

11x15 gouache watermedia on 140 lb Saunders cold press paper, painted very rapidly and in a loose direct manner. The powdered sugar donuts are just waiting to be dunked.







Next Class: 8 Jan. 2011 Ignoring Perspective

22x10 watercolor still life painted in April '09 after reading Shirley Trevena's books/video. I drew this from life and imagination ignoring perspective and fracturing shapes, colors, lines and values in a unique tablescape.
For my next Big Spring workshop we will be studying this method of painting to create new and unusual designs. Email me to sign up for this January 2011 class. This painting was SOLD at its first show.