Beer and Onion Rings

5.5x8 watercolor and ink on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media done today as featured on WetCanvas Weekend Drawing Event.  In this event, a host will upload 16 images and participants have only 2 hours to select, draw, and paint their choice.  Mike Beckett had some great pictures and I chose this pub scene from Canada where he lives; my time was 1.5 hours. I've rearranged some of the photo elements such as a back table and chairs, then added a chair back behind the food.  I used a Lamy Safari pen with Noodler's grey ink.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Juicy Fruit Strawberries

10x14 watercolor of fresh strawberries on a plate, waiting to be eaten.  I enjoy these complementary color schemes and my favorite combo is red and green as the use of them side by side intensifies their hues in this simple still life.

Woven Strawberry - watercolor weaving how to do it

15x11 watercolor of a very large strawberry painted twice on separate 140 lb cold press Kilimanjaro paper, then cut one into horizontal strips and the other into vertical strips to weave together.  I'll show the step progression from beginning to end so that you may get up the courage to try a weaving yourself.

 Two drawings side by side on large backing board

 Crowns in mixed greens but not totally identical - wet on dry

 Closer view of first one done and yellow green underneath

 Added a bead wash of transparent pyrrol orange + gamboge

 More paint:  Permanent red by DaVinci

 Continuing on down adding Grumbacher true red, permanent rose

 First berry finished with thalo yellow green at bottom

 Second berry at the crown with small amount quinacridone gold

 Adding pink and reds very wetly

 More permanent red, plus colors above

 Finished berry - water spritzed onto it and gamboge splatters

 Side by side views

 Background mix of UB, cobalt, permanent rose, arylide; one diagonal blue gingham square

 More squares with Prussian, cobalt teal blue, mixed purples

 Both strawberries completed! Close but not identical

Cut one into vertical strips then horizontal 3/4 to 1" in width, with slight wavy lines

 Weaving begun at top of vertical image

 Continuing on downwards


The left one is now the only one with 3 strips left over that I'll save in the collage bin!

Enjoy if you try this technique, just give it a go!  NOTE:  Update! See new post on weaving tulips for April/May 2015 here

 



Chocolate Icing collage

18x18 torn paper collage on gessoed matboard of a chocolate cupcake oozing with calories and happiness for the viewer as well as the foodaholic.