Black Sunflower

9x7 watercolor, ink, and white gel pen in sketchbook done last week for WetCanvas online floral challenge hosted by Virginia. I used STA Lictin 0.8 pen, pencil, Daniel Smith pigments, and a white gel pen on 80 lb sketchbook paper. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Tall Wild Sunflower

9x2 watercolor using White Nights paints on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done over the past 2 weeks. This is from an earlier painting of the wild sunflowers seen along roadsides. It can be matted and framed or used as a simple vertical bookmark. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Sunseeker

15x22 watercolor over partially gessoed matboard sketched in pencil in a rough outline. The gesso gives a slick finish upon which to work and also lends textural effects to the finished painting. This was one of my sunflowers planted awhile back. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Sunflower Time

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters paper done last week while working on Sketchbook Skool assignments.  After a line drawing was done using Micron 01 pen I added the word 'sunflower' around the composition, then loosely splashed various warm golds and ochres across its face.  Cools were put in next and no form was followed.  I could go back with a darker color and do the background to make the flower stand out for a different look.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Dying Sunflower

6x6 mixed media, yesterday's work of this dying sunflower that I photographed in my studio garden before it breathed its last. After ink sketching in its raggedy petals, I color sanded watersoluble pencils into wet watercolor, then used the pencils again here and there.  I was experimenting with combinations of greys for the background rather than always having a blue sky.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Last Sunflower

6x6 watercolor and Micron 01 pen sketch of one of the last studio sunflowers planted in August.  They were photographed in various stages of growth for future references.  With this painting done yesterday I tried to focus more on the background and let that be its focus although strongest value is its head of seeds.  Petals and leaves were left alone for the most part.  When dry I used a tiny stencil to letter sunflower lower left.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2013 Kay Smith.