June Rose

8x6 watercolor on handmade rough 140 lb cold press paper done first week of the month for this not too realistic June rose. Love to paint plants and flowers in water as simple still life subjects. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

November Rose Petals

6x9 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Canson paper, done a few days ago, sketching from life a dark red rose and a peace rose that grow at my studio. After putting both in a vase I noticed a rosebud with the red one so it was included. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

In Full Bloom

12x12 gouache paints on Masters premium 140 lb watercolor paper completed over the past several days, clay pots of geraniums and violets lined up in a sunny spot. In this floral garden still life I tried to show sunlight upon green leaves with just a few yellow daffodils in the background. I really like the texture of the aged pots showing white residue caused by mineral salts or fertilizers. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Bouquet in Blue and White Vase

4x6 acrylics and white gel pen over alcohol ink background on glossy photo paper completed today, another experiment using different media in imaginary floral applications.  A paper doily stencil was used at the bottom foreground for a tablecloth effect.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Bouquet in Plum Vase

6x4 mixed media on paper done last week over a failed alcohol ink abstract.  Using only a 1" flat foam brush I painted acrylic flowers inside a plum colored vase and when dry used white gel pen for added calligraphy. Roses and tulips along with imaginary blooms make up this bouquet.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Lilies and Ribbons

4x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done a few days ago of yellow and orange tiger lilies.  The ribbons were part of an earlier design that flopped.  A white background was left in place.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Hydrangea Vase

14x11 watercolor of a brown glass vase and blue hydrangeas on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper, painted wet into wet allowing colors to blend and mix in this floral still life.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Pear Pitcher Blooms

11x15 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, a floral still life set up with my antique ceramic pitcher, white pot, and a clay pot holding mums, marigolds, and philodendron.  I had grouped these all together on a patio table outdoors.  This work is SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Peace Rose in Blue and White Vase

9x9 watercolor on Bristol paper that is today's work.  After looking at many of my peace rose photos one was selected that had been in full bloom to the point of it almost losing its lower petals.  The paper soaks up color and water quickly so many glazes had to be done to get values right.  The vase is a very small one I've used many times in various still life set ups.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Early Blooms in a Coffee Cup

6.5x4.5 watercolor, gouache, and ink line on brown paper journal done today.  I used Pigma Micron 01 pen to draw my small blue and white china cup that has spring bulbs in it.  A pink doily sits underneath this still life of early paperwhite blooms on a green patterned table.  I am learning to use the Curlz font when printing letters for illustrated journaling, a mixed upper and lower case assortment.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Garden Party Geraniums II

15x22 watercolor completed today, a work in progress over the past few days of several geranium varieties in clay pots.  I've repeated this work as my first version sold.  Prints or the original are now available on Artspan website and original also can be purchased via PayPal on Daily Painters dot com, Kay Smith gallery.  This is painted on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper/American Journey and Daniel Smith pigments.
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

First Day of Summer

7.5x5.5 watercolor imaginary scene of summer in a jar painted a few days ago in my hotel room.  A sprig or branch of pink wildflowers sits in an old glass jar, ready to celebrate the summer solstice.  Support is Arches 140 lb cold press paper with Winsor Newton travel kit paints.

Market Fresh Flowers

22x15 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper.  After I assembled several containers of various bulbs, annuals and perennials I set about organizing my palette to paint them on the patio tables.  There are red roses, peppermint parrot tulips, rudbeckia, hydrangeas etc.
This painting is SOLD!

Irresistible Irises

15x22 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper, that I posted last year, and have now done more work on the piece.  I used fake paper irises in a decorative pot to draw them from life as mine now are not blooming due to Texas' continuing drought.  So for now will have to look at my art instead of outside for inspiration or wherever it can be found.

Red Sky and Sunflowers

Finished! With the addition of partial black India ink line this gave the flowers and leaves some added strength.  All shapes appear more integrated using this common design element.  Size is 11x15, medium watercolor with ink.

Splash 7 Tulips Bouquet

22x15 watercolor of mixed tulips in old white vase.  This still life is remembering the flowers painted I bought myself after getting my work of a white cockatoo included in North Light's Splash series.  It is painted wet in wet on 140 lb cold press paper.

Chili with Pink Zinnia - a pet portrait

15x22 watercolor of my tuxedo kitty named Chili.  He is now 10 years old this month and I've painted him many times.  A few years back I set up a still life of fresh zinnias in a sunflower pitcher, an old quilt and napkin and he jumped on the table top and decided to be part of the not-so-still still life.  Although this painting was not done today I'm posting Chili's portrait in honor of his birthday.  It was painted wet in wet with no masking for his whiskers.  This set up was in my living room that has dark Hunter green walls...there appeared tiny marks in the paint so after it dried I added different pieces of color for an unusual pattern.

Ruffles Red Poppies

15x22 transparent watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, the second time I've painted this floral set up in my dining room.  I sold the first version that was a bit different.  This has more yellow cosmos, forsythia, and purple buds just as my silk arrangement has.  This image was chosen for a poster by one of the largest museums.