January Rosebuds

9x3.75 watercolor on Fabriano 140 lb cold press/rough done last week drawing from life using silk roses. Paintings always look better when sketched from life rather than a photographic image. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Rose Impressions

6.5x11 watercolor and pink/crimson Brusho crystals done today on 140 lb cold press Langton paper.  Yesterday I started it by spritzing water over dry paper at random then applying two new colors, Holbein's Bright Pink and Opera over wet areas.  Then Brusho was sprinkled over that and again water spritzed over the scattered crystals.  I used canned air to blow the wet pigment for an abstract background. When dry today I began isolating white and pink shapes reminiscent of roses and negatively painted those and green leaves and stems.  Quinacridone violet and alizarin crimson are the shadowed areas using a #1 script liner brush.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Roses Dance

6x4 alcohol inks on glossy professional photo paper done this afternoon, some imaginary red roses doing their garden dance.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Garden Gate Roses

24x18 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper block, an earlier work I took out and finished today adding touches needed for values and balance.  I love this combination of old heavy Gothic style ornamental gate paired with soft velvety roses.  A hint of blue sky is seen in the distance.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Love's Gift

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, an older work done by drawing in a silk red roses bouquet behind real creamy golden poinsettias.  I had photographed this combination in my bedroom and decided to add a background that might be indicative of a landscape sky or just a dream-like imagination.  This work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2007.

Rose Bouquet

11x14 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper done today in about 2 hours.  This one is with a group of other floral images I've featured on a WetCanvas April challenge.  I decided to not let the stems touch the paper bottom and might go back into it and add a green background using Brusho.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Everything's Coming up Roses WIP

16x20 watercolor work in progress on wrapped canvas; this is as far as 2 days working on it I've gotten.  The plan is to go over each area with acrylic.  All four sides are painted so framing won't be necessary unless a customer just wants to do so.  I chose this title because right now everything is coming up roses.  Sales are happening as are new licensing agreements so watch this space or my website for more news flashes.  No photo reference was used for this as it is all from memory.  Stay tuned for the finish!

Roses for Valentine's Day

14 3/4 x 15 watercolor of romantic red roses just in time for a romantic Valentine's Day.  If you get these lovelies to give to your sweetheart they will last forever; the wine is waiting to be poured.