Frozen Scene

6x9 watercolor and white wax crayon on Canson 140 lb cold press paper begun yesterday with our cooler temps then finished today with even colder air.  Tomorrow heralds our first freeze of the year which hopefully will last only one day.  In this imaginary scene frozen water, river banks, and trees embrace a frigid sky.  Some negative painting was done around the trees.  No pencil drawing or reference was used.  This is another in my frozen imaginary landscape series.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Chickadees and Pinecones

15x11 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper that is today's work.  This is brush only, no pencil drawing before and no references.  First I used a white crayon to mark the birds' feathers and snow areas. Then began painting with mixed darks first: Quinacridone burnt orange + UB, and quin gold with Prussian blue for green areas.  Midtone greys, a mix of colors already on the palette, were put in then raw sienna, quin gold, quin burnt orange for pinecones.  Splattering was done last when dry.  I tried to show their feathers fluffing against the cold.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.