Hosta Blooms

9x6 watercolor using White Nights paints on Fabriano Bristol 100 lb smooth done last week. This plant was featured in this month's WetCanvas challenge in the Florals/Botanicals forum. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Bloomsday

15x22 watercolor on Italia Acquerello 140 cold press paper of my old antique watering can surrounded by happy faces of the sherbet-hued pansies. Just waiting to be planted and watered, so I call this one "Bloomsday". Have a bright Spring everybody and thank the Lord for the rain. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Petal Push

11x5 alcohol inks on paper done yesterday using only 3-4 colors for a loose floral.  Since the mourning doves are out it won't be long until Spring arrives.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Cosmos Afternoon ~ Demo Acrylic Inks

8.5x11 acrylic inks floral on watercolor paper done this afternoon as a demonstration for Odessa Art Association.  I have used the same pink cosmos photo and edited out other blooms in it to focus on one large flower and several supporting new ones.  This paint dries almost immediately and it is a slightly opaque look compared to transparent watercolors.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Pink Joy Tulip

4.25x2.75 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done today, a totally imaginary tulip bulb that bloomed in my mind.  Two hues of pinks, Permanent Rose and Wild Fuchsia, were used as was New Gamboge, and a mixed green for the stem.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

I'm into Irises

12x9 watercolor and Brusho on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today, an imaginary garden scene of purple pink irises. I first spritzed a fine mist of water over the paper then shook purple Brusho crystals over the iris blooms.  A pale green mixed of yellow, quin gold, ultramarine blue was washed over the background, and when dry, I came back in with a darker value mix and did negative painting for leaves and stems.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Sundance Square plein air

5x7.5 watercolor and ink done today in downtown Ft. Worth while waiting on my husband's appointment. Lots of tall pots full of mixed spring annuals were in full bloom so I used Micron 01 pen in my Moleskine sketchbook to draw them.  Perfect spillers are the pale green and dark purple sweet potato vines that cascade over the cement pot edges.  Sitting outside Starbucks was the perfect place and it had just rained.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Child's Garden Chair

19x15 watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold press paper, an antique store find in the middle of my imaginary floral garden.  Dark pink hydrangeas, vinca, petunias, impatiens and others bloom in profusion across the paper.  Three clay pots take up residence in immediate foreground.  This one was finished today after starting last week.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Frilly Lily

15x22 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper/Daniel Smith and American Journey paints done today.  Our temps got to 69 F today so warmer days make me think of florals.  Also with so many sketches and mixed media lately I was afraid I'd lost my mojo with transparent watercolor.  Love doing white subjects with the medium and yesterday's white pelican will be shown tomorrow, also a watercolor, but on a quarter sheet 11x15.COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2015.

Happy Hydrangeas

16x28 watercolor, a floral from one of my first pink hydrangeas, drawn from life and painted quickly.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.

Petunia Patch

15x22 watercolor on Italia acquerello 140 lb cold press finished today.  Using one of many petunia photos taken in April during our plein air garden trips, this one was hard to get going as it is a light/midtone with not that many darks.  I might have to go back in and glaze here and there but for the most part this daily painting is done.  It is full of discreet abstract shapes of wilted blooms and twisted leaves if you look closely.