Petals and Stems

9x6 watercolor using Daniel Smith paints on Canson 117 lb cold press paper done mid April, an imaginary loose floral featuring all parts connected or not connected. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

White Cosmos Bouquet ~ a happy birthday

9x6 watercolor on cold press paper 140 lb just completed, thinking of having another birthday today and so grateful for all the real bouquets, cards, messages, texts, and calls from friends. You are blessed and so am I. Many thanks! COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2026

Windy White Cosmos

5.5x8.5 watercolor using White Nights paints, done last week while on a trip in Master's Touch sketchbook from some of my cosmos photos. Such a delicate and graceful flower, too. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Hibiscus Fever

8x8 watercolor with no pencil sketch beforehand, on Grumbacher 140 lb cold press paper; an imaginary loose floral featuring the lovely hibiscus. Mine is white with pink accents and I can hardly wait for them to bloom. This was painted last week in a direct, wet on dry and partly wet on wet manner. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Jar of Daisies

8x8 watercolor using White Nights paints and Daniel Smith on Masters Premium 140 lb paper completed today. These daisies are still blooming at our New Mexico place and were the inspiration for putting cuttings in a jar. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Daisy Thoughts

5.75x5.75 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Strathmore Gemini paper done last week or so ago, another imaginary Shasta daisy loose composition. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Daisy Line

6.25x10.25 watercolor on Strathmore Gemini 140 lb hot press paper done last week after painting a larger version. These loosely painted daisies are cheerful and happy to all who view them in this imaginary floral. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Floral Jumble

8.25 x 5.25 mixed media in junk journal done a few days ago using collaged tissue paper that had alcohol inks stenciled on plus watercolor and gouache. Flowers are all jumbled together in a canning jar in this imaginary floral abstract. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Morning Daisies

8x8 watercolor and gouache on Masters premium 140 lb cold press paper sketched and painted today using one of my daisy photos. Daisy blooms are shining bright white in the morning sun against an abstract cool palette background. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Daisy Petals

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters paper. Using one of my white daisies photos, several were sketched in with Micron 01 pen. These perennials are always such a joy to see come up with the warmth of a pre-Spring sun, through the still cool earth. Splattering of yellow orange (gamboge) was done when dry in this imaginary garden scene. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Tiny Bouquets

2.5x3.5 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper using leftover Ken Oliver fluid/liquid watercolors. I did a pulled print from paint used yesterday, simply placing the paper (wet and blotted both sides) face down then lifted up. The colors reminded me of an array of pink and white blooms so that is what transpired by adding vases and details to define the subject. Brush only, no pencil. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith Actual size:

Twilight Prickly Poppies

13.5x21.5 watercolor on Langton 140 lb cold press paper completed today, inspired by the thousands of prickly poppies growing around here.  Background was painted using Daniel Smith Nickel AzoYellow, alizarin crimson, and phthalo blue primary set.  Shadows on the wildflowers' white petals were mixed with several palette colors for varied greys.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Cosmos and Coneflowers

10x30 watercolor floral on Arches 140 lb cold press paper. I had taken this collection of Spring coneflowers and cosmos from my multiple garden photos to design it in this horizontal format. It  is done wet on dry method with Daniel Smith paints.  A soft background underpainting shows yellows and pale peach colors.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Daisy Petals

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters sketchbook paper done today.  Using one of my white daisies photos, several were sketched in with Micron 01 pen.  These perennials are always such a joy to see come up with the warmth of a pre-Spring sun, through the still cool earth.  Splattering of yellow orange (gamboge) was done when dry.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

White Peony WIP

 11x15 WIP watercolor work in progress of a mature white peony and bloom with abstract background begun yesterday on Italia 140 lb cold press soft paper.  The dark background was started in this view before work this a.m.  I'm using a #12 Escoda round brush, a very wonderful new treasure, and no photo reference.  I use a direct painting style of putting down the color I want it to be when dried first and not going back into it.

With this image, more background colors added which look more purple in reality than the poor iPhone photos show.  Now all that is lacking are the left side leaves.  So stay tuned and maybe tomorrow will finish.
Images COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

White Peony WIP

11x15 watercolor on Italia 140 lb cold press soft paper, drawn and begun today as a work in progress.  I first painted this pristine peony years ago and have misplaced my photo so am going on intuition.  The background will be various darks to make its white petals pop.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Cosmos and Coneflowers

10x30 watercolor floral to perk up the dreariest of days.  This is on Arches 140 lb cold press paper and is done wet on dry method with Daniel Smith paints.  With all the snow scenes I've been doing lately it was time to change to a bright happy floral.  Tomorrow I will return to Christmas and winter themed art, so stay tuned.

Fantasy Flowers

15x22 watercolor wet in wet on Saunders Waterford 140 lb paper painted last night and today of imaginary flowers.  They could be cosmos, peonies, poppies, tulips, you name it.  Look closely and you can see negative painting of leaves, stems and other natural foliage in between its shapes.

White Cyclamen

22x15 watercolor of my white blooming cyclamen plant in sunny south studio window.  White subjects are my favorite to paint as you must inject color and muted tones within the white.  In watercolor you simply use the white of the paper and no white paint as in other mediums.

St. Ives Calla Lilies

15x22 watercolor of pure white calla lilies from one of many floral photos taken last year while visiting Cornwall.  There was no sun that day so here have tried to lighten the blooms as much as possible.