Layered Landscape

5.5x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper completed today, an exercise in layering one color over another and finishing with darkest values.  No pencil was used, brush only, in this semi-abstract design of cool hues with warm accents.  This technique was outlined in Veronica Lawlor's new book One Watercolor a Day: A 6-Week Course Exploring Creativity Using Watercolor, Pattern, and Design (Quarry).
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Leaves

4.5x4.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper/Daniel Smith paints, a small square work I began to show students how to do negative painting of leaves, stems, and twigs.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Pear Tree

6x6 watercolor over Pigma Micron 01 drawing on paper, painted a few days ago from some old pear tree photos.  Painting fruit is so much fun as you can exaggerate the colors, texture, and values.
Image COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Sunflowers and Tulips

14x11 watercolor on Ampersand Aquabord, brush only, no predrawing, done today.  Prompted by the wild weeds that resemble sunflowers and a few other yellow wildflowers, I added the red orange tulips, although you wouldn't see them growing together. It is my first time to work on Aquabord and really did like its clay surface; it has a 2" cradle around its edges, so frame and glass unnecessary.

Dragonfly with Poppies

13.5 x 16.25 watercolor and spray webbing on gessoed matboard.  The silver spray created a lacy transparent effect on its wings.  Since I love poppies I added them to the background.  Last summer I painted this, entered into a juried show, but have not posted it here.

Fantasy Flowers

15x22 watercolor wet in wet on Saunders Waterford 140 lb paper painted last night and today of imaginary flowers.  They could be cosmos, peonies, poppies, tulips, you name it.  Look closely and you can see negative painting of leaves, stems and other natural foliage in between its shapes.

Nesters - Birds in Broken Clay Pot

15x22 watercolor on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper of two birds nesting inside broken clay pot.  I had first painted this close up of tiny items a few years ago then took the painting and redid its main areas.  The tiny birds and pot nestle inside a larger clay pot holding a topiary from a florist.  With my camera I shot a macro view for art purposes; the birds are actually made of mushrooms so I had to make them appear realistic.

Party of Two - mixed media collage/rework

BEFORE - collage on matboard

AFTER

Today I took the top piece of collaged papers on matboard, drew two crows, then painted them in black gesso, let dry and reworked into a hopefully better one.  I used Liquitex acrylics, stamping with bubble wrap, scraping with credit card and covering most with glazes letting only a small amount of the original show.  Its size is 14.5 x 21.75 done in 1.5 hours.  Let me know what you think!