Italian Restaurant

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters sketchbook paper finished yesterday.  This scene was presented with 15 others in the current Weekend Drawing Event on WetCanvas where we have only 2 hours to select and complete a painting.  Ref courtesy Kay M.
I had edited out a dark pickup truck that was in lower left corner and added more chairs at lower right outdoor table.  It looks like a fun place to eat.  Micron 01 pen was used to sketch the town scene.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Table for Two

8.5x11 watercolor and ink on Strathmore sketchbook for mixed media; ink used was Lamy Safari with Noodler's grey ink.  Done a few days ago for a WetCanvas contest, the ref was provided by Bonnie, who shared her France trip.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Plein Air Sketch: Alberto's Crystal Cafe Downtown Big Spring TX

9x10.25 ink sketch using new Lamy pen which I didn't realize had blue ink that was not waterproof.  After Thanksgiving dinner, I drove downtown and drew this townscape plein aire in about 30 minutes, focusing on the cafe and leaving back buildings unpainted.
A prominent landmark for decades, this TexMex restaurant is now closed and relocated to north Hiway 87.  Our family ate here weekly while we were in school and many years following.  Note the pigeons on its roof.  Across the street is The Chalet, a resale shop that benefits the state hospital.  Now there is a large ugly weed growing in front of Alberto's on the sidewalk, a silent salute to one of Big Spring's finest and most colorful buildings.  This work has been posted to Urban Sketchers of Texas Facebook page.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Chefs' Surprise

10.75x16 watercolor over India ink drawing of a busy kitchen, done yesterday during the weekend drawing event on WetCanvas. This was drawn with no pencil, ink only, and painted under 2 hours.  Ref courtesy Gail Bowers.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.