Shell Collection

7.5x5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Moleskine for watercolor sketchbook. A collection of various shells gathered from different coasts display their vivid colors of the sea. From a sand dollar to urchin to conch to clam, etc., you can see the sea harvest is joined together by dried kelp in this illustrated journaling. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Pretty Pear Collage

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage in my junk journal done today on a page already had sprayed with walnut ink stain and a dictionary page part collaged onto it. Left side red letter text was junk mail from Publisher's Clearing House. Sketched using alcohol based markers, the pear was put in using other junk mail and magazine for torn paper collage effects. Pink marker colored in the bottom and at random. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Passion Purple Skies in junk journal

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage in my grunge/junk journal done last weekend. I used a Tazo teabag envelope to collage on with matte medium in the old 1950s book page. I used watercolor, acrylics, fluid acrylics, and markers for the landscape portion of this imaginary,quirky scene. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Fruit Pickles

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Faber Castell Pitt pen) done today, a work on paper practicing the Sketchbook Skool style of illustrated journaling. With this, you can see a recipe for brine to make quick pickles, whether using fresh fruit or vegetables, to place in canning jars. COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith

Val Kilmer as "Doc" Holliday junk journal

5.25x8.25 mixed media sketch in my junk journal done today while waiting on an appointment; color added when back in studio.  Beginning with Lictin 0.3 ink pen, outline put in then watersoluble colored pencils, followed by black Montana marker for his hat, hair, and jacket coat.  Val Kilmer was an excellent "Doc" Holliday in the movie Tombstone (1993), and isn't the first time I've painted him.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith.

Tulip Beauty of Spring

8.25x5.25 mixed media done last weekend in my junk journal, a pink tulip painted with brush only and collaged onto the old book page.  Next followed the letters from a Lipton tea bag at the top in orange and white and lastly ink sketches of tulips growing.  Even though Spring is 2 months away we can still think about it coming.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

One-eyed Outlaw in Grunge Junk Journal

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage portrait sketch of Cole Younger (1844-1916) in my grunge junk journal.  Sketched in hard charcoal pencil and black felt tip pen, on other areas I used colored pencils, marker (flesh tones), pencil, on tea stained old book page.  He was one of the Younger brothers gang who teamed up with the James brothers to rob banks and trains and spread murderous violence right after the Civil War.  Even though he's been dead 101 years it has not been that long ago as my grandmother was 12 years old in 1916.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Moustache Man in Junk Journal

8.25x5.25 charcoal and collage over a book page.  An old discarded book has been reclaimed and pages coated with white Gesso, ready for art to happen in its new life as a junk, or grunge journal.  Anything goes in these illustrated journals! This imaginary man is proud of his curled edges of his moustache.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith                                        Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

#InkTober day 21 ~ Pumpkins for Sale

12x10.5 watercolor and ink line (Pigma Micron 05 pen) on Daler Rowney Langton 140 lb cold press paper done today for the 21st day of #InkTober.  I photographed this fat pumpkin on top of others in a huge box at the Ruidoso WalMart recently.  Also the image was put on WetCanvas weekend drawing event challenge hosted by me last Friday.  Only 10 more days to finish the month with its daily ink offerings.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

#InkTober day 14 ~ Bee

5x8 watercolor and ink using Micron 01 pen on sketchbook paper that is today's contribution for #InkTober.  In this annual October challenge, artists worldwide commit to doing one work per day using some type of ink.  Since a buzzing insect caught my eye today I decided the bee would be an #InkTober subject for illustrated journaling.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

August Apples

6x9 watercolor and ink on paper done week before last on vacation in New Mexico, a state that grows many apples that are evident even in August.  They are famous for their Hatch chiles and cherries and pistachios.  Drawn with Micron 01 pen, this illustrated journal art shows apple varieties Jazz, Gala, and Envy.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Beach Beauty

12x9 mixed media on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done this week for another Sketchbook Skool assignment in the Polishing series of lessons with Nelleke Verhoeff instructor.  In this figure I've used cutout triangle for bikini bottom, striped bikini bra, eyes of a magazine model and hair cut from dark grey tile advertisement.  Watercolor used for ocean or sea behind and sandy beach.  Lots of different combinations can be created from use of ink line, watercolor, and collage elements.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Cat Problems

8.5x5.5 mixed media collage on Bienfang for mixed media sketchbook done this week for a Sketchbook Skool assignment in the Polishing lesson.  Instructions were to use part of a figure, item of clothing, or animal along with sketching in ink and adding watercolor or other media.  Here I used watercolor pencils, Uniball pen, and cutout green tee shirt on the woman and parts of cat bodies.  A fun exercise that can take your imagination and creativity to new heights.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Fat Cop

5.5x8 ink sketch on Strathmore Visual Journal for mixed media done today.  A Sketchbook Skool assignment from Expressing, Sabine Wisman gave us this second homework assignment which was adding text and telling a story.  She finds very old photos of people online then sketches them and makes up a story.  This Victorian policeman was really this large in the photo I saw so quickly got his likeness using a black Tombow brush pen.  Donuts seemed to be the theme and went with his round size perfectly.
Image COPYRIGT 2016 Kay Smith.

Granny Smith Apple

4.5x6.5 acrylic markers on brown sketchbook paper done today from life.  I did not eat the Granny Smith green apple this morning so sketched it instead with Micron 01 pen then added Montana markers of various acrylic colors of green, yellow, blue, dark blue, white and red.  Lettering is using the Curlz font that I'm practicing doing with illustrated journaling.
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.

Shell Collection

7.5x5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Moleskine for watercolor sketchbook done today.  A collection of various shells gathered from different coasts display their vivid colors of the sea.  From a sand dollar to urchin to conch to clam, etc., you can see the sea harvest is joined together by dried kelp in this illustrated journaling.
Image COPYRIGTH 2015 Kay Smith.

Little Green Apples

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink done today.  As we were leaving to travel back to Texas I saw two fully loaded apple trees by our car at the cafe, so I grabbed a handful to sketch along the way.  They are very tiny.  Once back, I added watercolor.  It's doubtful they would be edible so small and green.  Illustrated journaling is always a fun challenge.Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith

Fruit Pickles

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Faber Castell Pitt pen) done today, a work on paper practicing the Sketchbook Skool style of illustrated journaling.  With this, you can see a recipe for brine to make quick pickles, whether using fresh fruit or vegetables, to place in canning jars.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith

Eggs

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink (Pigma Micron 01 pen) line on Masters sketchbook which is today's artwork.  I have not ever painted a carton of eggs and this was a fun journal exercise.  Note the word 'egg' spelled out lower right for a touch of whimsy.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.