Purple Pad Cactus

6x6 watercolor with White Nights paints on 80 lb sketchbook paper done week before last while on our trip. Another imaginary desert cactus scene, I've focused on the purple colored cactus leaf pads seen sometimes growing wildly. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Desert Vistas

5.5x8.5 acrylics in Master's Touch 80 lb sketchbook paper done last week, an imaginary desert landscape such as Arizona. Fun to dream what rock cliffs and desert flora might be surviving there. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Cactus Greens

9x7 mixed media on Strathmore Bristol 300 series 100 lb paper completed today, another in my prickly pear cactus series. After sketching with a black neon colored Magic pencil I sprayed water then scattered moss green Brusho. The mint green background is made up of Turner's Design gouache mixing white, turquoise, viridian, yellow ochre. Small amounts of watercolor are the added spots of oranges and yellows. Lastly, I took a wet #10 round brush and went over the cactus pads carefully blending colors. Some negative painting was done in the background to add more buds and blooms. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith