Flight Delay

11x15 watercolor still life on Arches 140 lb cold press paper done at beginning of the month using Daniel Smith paints. I set up various personal items from home then used a strong lamp for shadows. The small birds on the pink scarf draped over the top served as the theme while the realistic parakeet kept all others in line below. Studying still life arrangements, placements, shadows, and other design elements was my students' assignment this month. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Southwest Still Life

22x30 acrylics on Arches 140 lb cold press paper painted from life by setting up various still life objects and doing very wet in wet brushwork. Wax crayon saguaro images are scattered throughout the painting of southwestern items. CPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Roses Still Life Demo-Trevena Style Class

Here's my 15x15 demo from today's class in the Shirley Trevena style. Of course my work can never compare to her masterpieces but was fun reading her 2 books, setting up still life, and having several artists come to paint all day. These roses were my own, posed in clear glass vases in front of my black lacquer French settee, on a little black coffee table with movie stars photos in it.

Drawn in colored pencil, a white candle was also used for making resist marks, while watercolor was put on dry paper partially coated with texture medium. The Indian pillows with their sequined patchwork help frame the roses and zinnias. Ignoring perspective is Shirley's hallmark style along with very vibrant hues. Colored pencils were sanded into wet paint for texture, and oil pastels added at the end for highlights and additional accents. The coffee table is upright while one vase comes off the page. My favorite part is the photo of Clark Gable upper right of the coffee table.

It was a difficult technique for most of us who are so accustomed to realism to paint a bit looser and not worry so much about the outcome.