Stag

18x24 watercolor on Canson 140 lb. cold press paper painted previously in about an hour with a #14 round brush and a 1" flat sable. I first spritzed the paper at random with water over my pencil drawing then did the darks first. Antlers were done then the ears, nose, mouth. A very limited palette used of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue. Just a touch of raw sienna and raw umber in minute amounts were used along with lots of water sprayed into wet paint, letting drips happen. A final drip ran down from the background middle and onto the stag's back, creating a run into his back that looks like antler horn shadows. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Christmas Deer

4x6 watercolor on mixed media paper done recently for an online holiday Christmas card exchange; its recipient in Canada really liked the design and sentiment. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Stag

18x24 watercolor on Canson 140 lb. cold press paper painted today in about an hour with a #14 round brush and a 1" flat sable.  I first spritzed the paper at random with water over my pencil drawing then did the darks first.  Antlers were done then the ears, nose, mouth. A very limited palette used of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue.  Just a touch of raw sienna and raw umber in minute amounts were used along with lots of water sprayed into wet paint, letting drips happen.  A final drip ran down from the background middle and onto the stag's back, creating a run into his back that looks like antler horn shadows.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Stag in Snow

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.  I've made the trees and snow background up but saw plenty of male deer or stags since going to the mountains last week, plus lots of elk.  I will attempt to paint more elk.  A very large herd can be seen off Hull road in Ruidoso, NM.  This buck had quite a large rack.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith