Praying Poppy Bloom

12x9 watercolor on Bristol (by Fabriano) paper done last of June. When this was photographed I thought it looked as if it was praying with its head bowed down, hence the title. This poppy bloom was also a demo design for the local watercolor class to try and paint, and they did well. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

March Poppies

8x8 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper (Master's Touch) done March 2 as part of my demo paintings for the Brownfield Art Association. Beginning with the darkest dark first the poppy was quickly developed with the background put in last. Taken from one of my earlier poppy paintings, this imaginary floral took on energy and life as it was completed. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Yellow Poppy

6x6 watercolor using White Nights paints along with sepia fineliner 0.3 pen by Winsor Newton in sketchbook 80 lb paper. Done last month for another online WetCanvas challenge, I liked the cheerful air this yellow poppy has about it. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Blue Poppy

8x8 watercolor on Masters Touch premium wc paper, sketched in pencil then applied Daniel Smith paints using ultramarine blue, Prussian blue, and indigo. A pale yellow background was added along with loosely painted green foliage. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Poppy Shades

5.5x8.5 watercolor on Masters sketchbook paper done today. I first laid Abstract Rosette stencil by StencilGirl Products on the paper then colored in shades of yellows, flipped the stencil and put in gamboge and more orange. When dry, poppy flowers were sketched in pencil, colored centers and shadows, then the background added. A different approach for a change of pace. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Poppy Cup

9x6 watercolor and Brusho on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today.  I did a blind contour pencil sketch for the poppy and made up the rest as that's about the only way to get looser lines.  Brusho was applied first in Orange to its petals, and two greens were used for the foliage.  Background is indigo and ultramarine blue.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Poppy Pose

8x8 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper painted a couple of days ago, still trying out the new wc paper.  This was done wet in wet also and the colors still sink into the tooth too much.  Sorry yesterday's post was absent due to no Internet connection.  I'll be trying another floral wet on dry to see if the paper improves.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Gayla's Poppy

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper completed yesterday for a 2 hour timed painting exercise.  I did change the background of a fence into a more garden environment. 
(Photo courtesy Gayla Bradberry.)
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Sparkling Poppies

11x6 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper that was used as a backing sheet for larger works; it has acrylic marker on it as well as watercolor.  Yesterday when I painted this it was a quick pencil sketch then adding warm colors such as Grumbacher red, transparent pyrrol orange, Halloween orange, permanent rose, Taylor's pink flamingo, quinacridone coral, and gamboge to poppy petals.  Splatters were already on the marked paper.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Dizzy Poppies

15x11 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary red poppy garden scene done yesterday on a rainy dark day.  I was experimenting on a new brand of paper bought at Michael's and used Daniel Smith colors of quinacridone coral, permanent rose, quinacridone violet, indigo, quinacridone gold/burnt orange, Prussian blue & ultramarine, transparent pyrrol orange, green gold; Da Vinci arylide yellow, alizarin crimson; Grumbacher red; American Journey Halloween orange.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Cockingham Poppy

15x22 watercolor of a very large open poppy photographed when visiting England in 2010.  Later that year I painted one of the photos. The blooms were at least 12 inches across, pale mauve, and just stunning.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Plenty of Poppies - Day 8 of 30 Paintings in 30 days Challenge

12x9 watercolor done today, brush only, on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.  No reference was used, mostly negative painting.  First I sprayed water onto the paper then quickly brushed on light warm washes of reds and oranges.  Immediately I put down two crumpled sheets of Saran Wrap then covered with a heavy book and let dry.  Then I began "seeing" poppy shapes, buds, blooms, stems and leaves. 
Also since last Tuesday 9-1-15, I've posted daily works on Leslie Saeta's #30paintingsin30days challenge she hosts annually on her blog Slices of Life you can see HERE.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Pompous Poppy

22x15 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, painted wet in wet several years ago.  It is my favorite poppy painting of all the ones I've done and hope it never sells.  It won a signature point for me with the Dallas group Southwestern Watercolor Society.  With its pure whites and abstract background, it really glows in a frame on the wall.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Poppy Portrayal

6x6 watercolor and ink on Masters paper, done today using Micron 01 pen by Sakura, and Daniel Smith paints.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Red Riot Poppies

6x6 watercolor on Masters paper, a group of red poppies drawn today with Pigma Micron 01 ink.  It is fun to do imaginary scenes with abstract backgrounds.
Image is COPYRIGHT 1-4-14 Kay Smith.