Autumn's End

8.5x5.5 mixed media in sketchbook for mixed media done about a week ago using white wax crayon resist along with watercolor. No reference was used in this imaginary autumn/winter landscape. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Winter Birch and Cardinal

12x9 watercolor on Bristol paper using White Nights paints, done the past weekend. In this imaginary snowy landscape, it is easy to see the remnants of autumn under the white powder. A lone male cardinal sits high in the birch branches watching his environment. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

January Snowfall

4.5x9 watercolor, Brusho, and gouache on 140 lb cold press paper done last week thinking about snow. It is based on my reference photo of a snow laden evergreen tree. Winter is just getting started. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Frozen Forest Stream

8x6 watercolor, Brusho, and white wax crayon on Fabriano 140 lb rough paper done today with no pre-drawing, just some outlines with the crayon. This scene from the Lincoln National forest is showing a frozen stream and its snow laden trees standing tall in the winter season. COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Frosty Morning Cabin

12x9 watercolor that is a previous scene. All the trees and end of log cabin are imaginary and were drawn loosely first. I put in pale washes diagonally across the sky using Prussian blue as it is a cool blue unlike others.  Background trees had to be softer and out of focus. Aspens and other foreground trees painted last as was the frozen water in immediate foreground.  By trial and error I did stumble upon a neat trick to painting masses of leaves that works better than anything.  Just lay your rigger (script liner) brush fully loaded across damp or dry paper and twist it; don't use its pointed tip.  It will be horizontal, almost flat.  This is painted on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Frozen Trees

7.5x5.5 watercolor and white wax crayon on 140 lb Arches paper done today using no reference and no pencil (brush only).  I first applied white crayon at random on dry paper then did a light wash of raw umber and Prussian blue over most areas.  While still wet I used a wadded up facial tissue to blot at the top and over small area of the water.  As it dried too light I added more washes using carbazole violet and sepia; when dry I used the same colors to do negative painting for tree trunks, limbs, and branches.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Old Christmas Tractor

12x9 watercolor of very old rusty tractor in snow I painted a few years ago on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper.  After adding a Christmas wreath to cheer up the old fellow, I put in icy branches and snow splatters.

February landscape

11x15 watercolor snow scene of one cold day in February.  This is painted on Italia acquerello 140 lb cold press paper, Daniel Smith paints.

Wintry Barn

15x22 watercolor painted wet in wet in this imaginary snowy landscape.  This work is SOLD.

Winter Farmhouse

16x20 watercolor scene of white farmhouse decked out for Christmas with wreaths on the doors and its own tree out front in the snow.

December snow scene

15x22 watercolor imaginary landscape with snow I painted about 2 years ago, then it was selected as a card design by a major company. From its frozen stream to the cold grey skies here's hoping your December is a grand one!

Winter Wolves

20x16 watercolor on Arches 140 lb cold press paper, Daniel Smith paints.  In this wintry imaginary scene, three wolves gather to plan their next activity within the snow covered trees and brush.

Spruced up for Winter

14x10 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press block, American Journey/Daniel Smith paints, done today as our weather was cold with that lilac sky. Bare branches peep out behind the snow laden spruce tree. Brrrrrr.