Snowed In

4x6 watercolor using Rosa Gallery paints in Joggles sketchbook 80 lb paper done last week, an imaginary rural winter landscape, that was enjoyable to paint. We don't get snowed in here but we can dream about it. COPYRIGHT 2025 Kay Smith

January

5x7 imaginary watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper of first of the year snow along a country road. The sun has come out and promised clearer skies for those who wait. Colors used: Quinacridone burnt orange and gold, UB, cobalt, Prussian blue, a mixed violet of alizarin and the blues. Copyright Kay Smith 2025

Festive Tree ~ torn paper collage on canvas

10x8 torn paper collage on wrapped canvas done week before last, an evergreen tree in the snow with its shadow in foreground. Lots of fun that usually takes a day or two to accomplish. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

White Tree Trunks in Snow

6x8 graphite watercolor blue shade with white oil pastel on Hahnemuhle grey toned 95 lb. paper done last weekend while it snowed. Using a scene previously done, this was quickly sketched and painted for a different take on the same mountain slope. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Cold Water Creek

3x7 watercolor and white crayon on 140 lb Canson paper done last week in anticipation of painting a larger version of this mountain creek in deep icy winter conditions. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Evergreen Creek

12x9 watercolor on Winsor Newton 140 lb cold press paper done week before last with no pre-drawing, a partly imaginative winter scene complete with its frozen creek water and evergreen trees. Painted wet on dry using a large #12 this winter landscape was done within a couple of hours. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

January Snowfall

4.5x9 watercolor, Brusho, and gouache on 140 lb cold press paper done last week thinking about snow. It is based on my reference photo of a snow laden evergreen tree. Winter is just getting started. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Ice Follies

15x22 watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold press paper done today.  It is featured on WetCanvas in the Landscape forum for our January challenge, a frozen unknown river with its snowy banks, patchy fog, and floating ice chunks.  Much of the brush is imaginary as well. One of my resolutions this year is to paint more landscapes.  This one will be also on Leslie Saeta's 30 Paintings in 30 Days blog again so look for it tomorrow there.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Snowy Street

9x12 watercolor which is today's work on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.  Using a brush only in this winter snowy street scene, I began with the house dark areas then on to the trees.  Midtone shadows were last.  This will be featured on the Landscape forum on WetCanvas; reference library photo that I cropped foreground and some trees from both sides for a closer view of the house.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

January Snowy Landscape

5x7 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper of first of the year snow along a country road. The sun has come out and promised clearer skies for those who wait.  We still have ice on our front walk so maybe soon it will be gone.  Colors used:  Quinacridone burnt orange and gold, UB, cobalt, Prussian blue, a mixed violet of alizarin and the blues.
Copyright Kay Smith 2015.

Tree Line Snow

5x7 watercolor of an imaginary snowy landscape with a tree line in distant background and one lone trunk in the foreground.
This painting is SOLD.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Winter Wood

10.75 x 4.25 watercolor using palette knife on Saunders 300 lb cold press paper, done today of this quiet aspen wood in snow. Background trees were painted with a brush; this is another in my forest series of birches and aspens.

Untouched Powder

5x7 watercolor snow scene at dusk showing pristine white powder untouched by animals or humans.  Four birch trees stand guard in front of evergreens in background.  I painted this imaginary scene today on Lanaquarelle 140 lb hot press paper with Daniel Smith paints:  Permanent rose, Prussian blue, sap green, quin burnt orange and gold, carbazole violet and burnt sienna.

Birches in Snow

15x11 watercolor done today on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper using American Journey and Daniel Smith paints and a palette knife for the large tree colorings and marks as well as twigs and branches. Of course I always add my own intuitive or impulsive colors as these here do not exist in nature.

Sierra Shadows

5.5 x 7 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper from one of my Lincoln National Forest Sierra Blanca photos.  It was started yesterday and finished today.  This was an autumn snowfall a few years ago and I'd hiked to the top with my camera looking for subjects to paint.  Plein air that morning was too cold!

December snow scene

15x22 watercolor imaginary landscape with snow I painted about 2 years ago, then it was selected as a card design by a major company. From its frozen stream to the cold grey skies here's hoping your December is a grand one!

Winter Wolves

20x16 watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold press paper, Daniel Smith paints.  In this wintry imaginary scene, three wolves gather to plan their next activity within the snow covered trees and brush.

Meltdown Magic

22x15 watercolor of a melting but happy snowman I painted from imagination a few years ago during my snowman series. Hope you like his animal magic, too!

Emperor Penguin - as seen in Painter's Quick Reference book

15x11 watercolor, which I did a demo for North Light Books PQR: Birds & Butterflies (2008) along with a house sparrow illustration/demo. This imaginary fellow is enjoying his cold domain, lifting his head to heaven so thankful for his snowy world and wishing you all a Merry Christmas. So I can't say this image is one of the cards-a-day but will have a new stunning design for you to see tomorrow. Stay tuned.