Old O'Donnell Vacant House

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders Waterford done years ago of an old vacant wooden structure house off state highway 87 onto highway 1210 north of Lamesa, TX and south of O'Donnell, TX. This one was reworked later and gifted to a family member. The old house has since been demolished. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Overgrown Shack

8.25x9 ink using STA Lictin 0.3 pen on sketchbook paper done mid-January, another WetCanvas challenge. I've tried to show the forlorn and forgotten aspect of this rundown, abandoned structure that probably was someone's home in the past. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Bodie Ghost Town

6x9 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, done this past weekend while out of town.  Photo courtesy Li Newton of WetCanvas, who was the host for weekly drawing events, a 2 hour timed art session.  My attempt here was about 1.5 hours.  Bodie, a ghost town, is located in California.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

O'Donnell Shack w/ Yucca - Demo Kerr Arts & Cultural Center

11x15 watercolor on Arches 140 lb rough paper, a demo done Tuesday in Kerrville, TX at the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center for the Guadalupe Watercolor Group.  Using an old photograph of a rundown shack on Hwy 87 in O'Donnell, TX that I've painted before, I painted wet on dry this west Texas rural scene.  I actually used a black and white photo, flipped it, and added my own color choices of mostly neutrals and browns.  Since the original photo had a windmill, that was put in when the sky had dried.  A new color by American Journey was used for the sky, Blue Bice, that is made by Cheap Joe's Art Stuff.  Tomorrow I'll post the next day's workshop on reworked watercolors using a pink petunia and making a pig out of the design.  Stay tuned.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Old O'Donnell Shack

15x22 wet in wet watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper of this old rundown abandoned shack.  It sits by highway 87 in O'Donnell, TX and I have painted its weary boards before but never tire of giving it one more life in the west Texas landscape. What was odd was the gigantic yucca at the corner rising tall as if to guard its former home from strangers and artists with cameras.