Midge Cat Rest

6x9 ink and watercolor of my cat Midge done last month on Canson 117 lb cold press paper. I've used black India ink applied with a wooden chopstick for this pet portrait. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Milky Way Boy

11x8.5 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press paper, drawn and painted today. This is bad boy Chester who cannot resist milk, ice cream, or any dairy products so we cannot leave any unattended. I did this work wet into wet using alizarin crimson and thalo green mix for his black coat, and quinacridones gold and burnt orange for the table and wall. Other colors are permanent rose, peachy keen, and ultramarine blue. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Chili on the Patio

Chili on the Patio 7x9 watercolor on 80 lb sketchbook paper done last week of June, a cat pet portrait of my tuxedo rescue Chili. In this photo on our patio, he is laying with his back to the sun enjoying his day by the clay pots. COPYRIGHT 2024 Kay Smith

Max

8x8 watercolor on Masters Touch 140 lb cold press premium paper painted yesterday for a customer who furnished the photograph. Max did not have a home but was enticed inside and now is enjoying a warmer life with food and love. This work is SOLD. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Happy Cat (Note: Switch from Feedburner to follow.it effective 1 July)

7x5 watercolor, no pencil sketch, done last week as a quickie on 140 lb cold press paper. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith Speaking of quick, effective tomorrow on 1 July, Feedburner is going away. I have switched to follow.it for additional features followers can now use (which didn’t exist on Feedburner), e.g. on https://follow.it/kaysmithbrushworks?action=followPub&filter you can now define filters and have more delivery channels, e.g. to receive your news via Telegram, news page etc. So do check out https://follow.it

Chili Boy

7x5 with 4x3 watercolor artwork on Strathmore printing paper using watercolor with ink. In an Intaglio dry point process this cat outline was produced and printed (sketch courtesy Sue Roberson). I mixed several versions of black watercolor today to get the cat's values correct. Chili was my favorite rescue kitty of all time so this artwork is in his memory. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

On the Prowl

6.25x4.25 black ink with Tombow brush pen on Bristol board 400 series, a value sketch done for a larger work of a black and white cat sneaking through a fence. No pencil drawing, only brush pen. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Kitten Exploration ~ junk journal mixed media

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage just finished in junk journal, a 1950s vintage book using Micron 01 ink pen to sketch. Next I collaged a grouping of red poppies with matte medium, and added watercolor to the tuxedo kitten. White gel pen and tube acrylic paint used on whiskers and white fur. Lastly, red Montana acrylic marker was added to the background. Note the kitten's mama in the background while he explored the flowers. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Frankie and Iggy Cats

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen), and Derwent Inktense pencils on Bienfang sketchbook for mixed media done last week.  These two are another artist's cats that she gladly shared with us to draw and paint.  I have made Iggy's, (the tuxedo cat) eyes warily watching Frankie.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith  Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information or to purchase via PayPal.

Midge Lap Cat

11x15 watercolor vignette done today from a close focus photo taken with my iPhone while rescue kitty Midge sat in my lap.  I was wearing a red nightgown that gave warm reflections in her eye and warm cast shadows on her fur.  Other cast shadows were made with alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue along with quinacridone gold and Grumbacher true red.  Background was a mix of grey made with American Journey Apricot.  Midge was adopted in 2011 and is the only one of four rescues who will cuddle.  This photo was shared with Big Spring Art Association members participating in a summer challenge.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Cat with Green Ball

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink on Masters sketchbook paper done over the weekend.  Our old cat Bootsie who had long thick hair loved to play with the soft spongy balls.  Here I have used a four color combination to make a mixed black:  First pairing was ultramarine blue + quinacridone burnt orange application, and second was alizarin crimson + thalo green.  The ball is thalo yellow green and some of that opaque color is mixed in his tail.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Adoring Cat

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters sketchbook paper done today.  This pet portrait is Boots, one of our cats who is no longer with us.  He was very sweet and even tempered, always adoring and accepting of others we would rescue or save.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Teo - Black & White Kitty

7x8.5 watercolor and acrylic markers on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done in 1 hour this afternoon. Blue areas are the markers as well as the yellow splotch. I had tested it yesterday doing a pigeon and decided to use the scrap paper for Teo; of course watercolor would not cover it so it looks like a sunshiny area. If he had a thin white stripe down his nose he would be the twin to my little Chili who crossed the rainbow bridge in 2011.  This is part of a weekend WetCanvas challenge; photo courtesy of Wendy.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Chester Cat Lounging

12x9 watercolor vignette painted yesterday on Canson 140 lb cold press paper over a pencil drawing.  Chester is a very large and tall rescue kitty who has lived with us since 2011.  No masking fluid used for white fur areas.  He is missing his right whisker above right eye and no clue how that happened.  He was lounging when I took this photo and trying to decide if he wanted to reach over and slap me or not.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Let the Cat out of the Bag

3.5x5.5 watercolor and ink on a magazine insert card done today.  The card is advertising Safe Step Walk-In Tub.  Since I had Chester peeking out of a brown grocery bag or sack, the tub faucet handles appear to belong there as if in a kitchen.  Even the heading Yes! I want my independence back could be the cat's mantra.  The 30 Cats in 30 Days Facebook and WetCanvas challenges are almost up!
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Chester Cat Stare

6x4 watercolor and ink line (Micron 01 pen) done today on a People magazine card insert to add to my series of cats on cards.  This big fellow is Chester, a domestic shorthaired tuxedo cat, as mean and nasty as the day is long.  He loves other people and children but hates us; even loves to go to the vet clinic where they say he is an angel.  As I've said before he is one of our two most recent rescues from Big Spring Animal Shelter, a kill facility.  His partner in crime is Midget whom I've posted about on this blog as well.  I painted a mixed black of quin burnt orange and ultramarine blue that barely covered lower left black splotch that was on the card originally.  It is almost as if he is looking at the object.   This will be featured in the Facebook 30 Cats in 30 Days or Cool Cats challenge and also on WetCanvas in the All Media Art Events forum.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Chester Cat Slap

6x8.5 watercolor of our adopted altered male cat, Chester, who is the meanest cat on the plantet.  Not even Jackson Galaxy could tame him.  I took a photo of him trying to slap me and if close enough, the claws come out.  He has been with us 3 years now along with a very sweet little black and white female named Midget.  Both were rescued from our Animal Shelter aka the pound, a kill shelter.  Chester is missing his top eyebrow area whisker and another prominent one by his nose.  No doubt he was sticking his nose in someone else's business.
Image is COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2014.

Politician Cats

22x15 watercolor of 8 different cats who reminded me of politicians, hence its title.  Some are asleep and oblivious, others chewing on everything, one hiding, one sinking maybe drowning (Obama), one cunning and crafty calico, one smirking, and my favorite is the pale tabby licking his chops and winking.  Too funny for words.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Chester's Cat Treat

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink line with Micron 01 pen on Masters paper completed yesterday, Thursday, for the 1905 Hyperion group who met at my studio.  Chester is one of our 5 rescue cats who cannot resist a Dairy Queen Blizzard treat no matter the flavor.  I set mine down in the kitchen and turned my back only to find him chowing down on the cold ice cream.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Basket Case kitty

2.5x3.5 watercolor ACEO on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today.  This black and white cat named Hamish belongs to another
WetCanvas artist, Ros, in Australia.  I've painted her other cat Jock also.  Hamish likes to get inside baskets and wait for her to come home.  ACEO (Artist Cards Editions & Originals) are tiny miniature paintings that are fun and quick.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.