Cottage Garden

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders paper, an imaginary garden scene with its varied shadows and secrets. I first painted this in 2002 in a wet in wet manner so here it is again just in time for spring planting. It has shutters, picket fence, and hanging baskets, all that anyone needs. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Sunflower Garden WIP - finished

 15x11 watercolor completed today, brush only.  More leaves, foliage, and background trees were added then shadows were last, a mix of UB and permanent rose.  I've put pink hollyhocks and blackeyed susans into the composition.  Step 2 is seen below.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith

Tall sunflowers were added in background for height in this second view of the work in progress.

Picket Line Hollyhocks

11x7 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, a quick demo done yesterday in the studio for the class, a totally imaginary scene. I love to paint white subjects and to do another picket fence was right up my alley (no pun intended).  Also hollyhocks are my favorite cottage flower with their tall upright heirloom blooms so reminiscent of another time when the world was calmer and quieter.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.  *PRINTS AVAILABLE on my website http://www.kaysmith.artspan.com/

Hollyhock House continued in progress

Now I've invested about 2 hours total into the garden scene working the entire right side, sky, trees, gate, background foliage and path leading into the composition. I'm still working wetly as I go along, spraying with the mister bottle letting some blending happen. A few hollies will be in sharp focus and others softly blending into their surroundings. Probably 20-30 minutes more and will be done with this one.

Hollyhocks House - Work in Progress

This new one is of an old white house and large garden featuring various colored hollyhocks, and is drawn with a brush on Italia watercolor paper, 15x22. I first spritzed with water here and there then blocked in the main shapes which took about 10-15 minutes.

Poppy Patch

These red poppies were growing across the street from our church building and have wanted to paint them since snapping pix last spring/summer. Wet on dry watercolor, 22x15 Italia paper 140 lb cold press, Daniel Smith paints. I started this Friday and finished up today. Now am too pooped to enjoy my birthday party.

Black Beauty

30x22 watercolor from the studio black hollyhocks, so dramatic and ever the swashbucklers of the garden. This one is SOLD.

Woven Flowers of Passion

15x22 two watercolors painted identically, then cut one in wavy horizontal strips and the other vertical and woven together to make a new painting. I hated the original pink and red roses scene with a white cottage in background so this was a neat way to salvage the work and create a little interest. It has been secured to matboard to keep it straight and sturdy.