Purple Pad Cactus

6x6 watercolor with White Nights paints on 80 lb sketchbook paper done week before last while on our trip. Another imaginary desert cactus scene, I've focused on the purple colored cactus leaf pads seen sometimes growing wildly. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Purple Prickly Pear Cactus

12x15 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper. These cactus blooms caught my eye as they bloom in May here in west Texas, and the purple coloration set off the orange yellows. A patch of sthe spiky succulent plants was growing near to the big spring for which our town is named. I used two opaques together, American Journey's Mint Julep and Blue Bice, for most of the softer green areas, with a lot of water. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith.