Chilly Pinecones

9x7 watercolor using Kuretake Gansai Tambi graphite paints in Masters Touch sketchbook 80 lb paper done over the weekend for another online challenge. With the WetCanvas' Weekend Drawing Event participants have 2 hours to select an image and paint it. Mine was under 1 hour painting partly wet in wet and wet on dry methods. Ref courtesy Connie. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Red Mailbox

9x12 watercolor painted over last weekend, a mailbox in red with Christmas holly, evergreens and pinecones with a bit of snow.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Chickadees and Pinecones

15x11 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper that is today's work.  This is brush only, no pencil drawing before and no references.  First I used a white crayon to mark the birds' feathers and snow areas. Then began painting with mixed darks first: Quinacridone burnt orange + UB, and quin gold with Prussian blue for green areas.  Midtone greys, a mix of colors already on the palette, were put in then raw sienna, quin gold, quin burnt orange for pinecones.  Splattering was done last when dry.  I tried to show their feathers fluffing against the cold.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Front Entry Nature Decor DIY

During Sunday afternoon's sandstorm I was busy paying attention to the theme of an old decorating book called Use What You Have.  Since this is a creative blog it is time to show some of the other interests up my holiday sleeve.  I had the old metal pail and watercan, pinecones, curly willow branches, and plaster mourning doves.  Hometalk online had recently featured paper snowflakes on straight twigs as flowers.  But I did not have any white paper snowflakes as Dollar Tree was out, so opted for their small and large plastic ones, and paper stuffed stars for ornaments to put on the branches.  Pinecones filled the bucket while the glue gun heated and I was able to either hang snowflakes or glue them.  Tiny silver frosted Christmas balls were put on at random for an outdoorsy natural set up...all for just a few dollars.  Corny? Maybe, but who knows, this do-it-yourself array might find itself my next unique still life.  Now all we need is snow!

Under the Tree - a card a day project

Yesterday I began the start of this new one then finished up today in a Christmas card a day endeavor am not sure I can do for 25 more days! It measures 5.75 x 7.25 inches on Strathmore paper.