Bike Shadows

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper using my ink sketch done first .  Using no photo reference I quickly laid in a background wash of primaries arylide yellow, ultramarine blue, and permanent rose.  When dry, I used dry brush technique to put in flowers (parrot tulips mostly) and do details on this blue bike.  Its shadows were very important so that area painted with a mix of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.  The blue bike's color is cobalt.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Linda's Bike

6x9 watercolor over pencil line drawing on Canson 140 lb cold press paper begun yesterday then finished today.  This is part of our Big Spring Art Association summer challenge and the photo ref is courtesy of Linda Rupard Irvin.  She photographed this old yellow bicycle from above, inside a dark wall with sunlight peeping around the edges and underneath.  I love the old baskets on its handlebars.  We are to post our efforts on the BSAA's Facebook page you can see HERE.  So far I have painted Sandee's Donkey, Frida Kahlo, and Yellow Orange VW.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Ride a Red Bike

22x30 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press finished yesterday, a bicycle illustration with a basket of dahlias added for this vignette.  I used a 3" flat brush for the background of thalo yellow green to set off the reds.  I needed to paint dahlias for a WetCanvas contest so using a bike and basket for them was perfect..
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Blue Bike

15x11 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday in a timed WetCanvas weekend drawing event.  This is a crop of a larger photo, one of 16 the person hosting provides to participants.  Once you make your selection you have 2 hours to draw and paint.  If unable to finish you're asked to photograph and post where you were at the 2 hour mark.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Bike Shadows

12x9 watercolor done this afternoon on Canson 140 lb cold press paper, using my ink sketch as seen below this image.  Using no photo reference, only the sketch, I quickly laid in a background wash of primaries arylide yellow, ultramarine blue, and permanent rose.  When dry, I used dry brush technique to put in flowers (parrot tulips mostly) and do details on this blue bike.  Its shadows were very important so that area painted with a mix of alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue.  The blue bike's color is cobalt.  Happy National Bike month!


Inksketch, 11x8.5, Pigma Micron 01 pen
All images Copyright 2013 Kay Smith

Cruisin' cycle

9x12 watercolor on Daler Rowney Langton 140 lb cold press paper, drawn and painted today, an imaginary sunny street scene.  May is National Bicycle month so this one is quite appropriate with its fresh hydrangeas spilling out of a handlebar basket.