Sunny Seeds

15x11 watercolor using White Nights paints on 140 lb cold press paper, done in December. This is more of a fun sunflower take on the flower versus my usual realism. COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2025

Sunflower Synergy

8x8 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper by Masters Touch done last week of one of my many sunflower refs. With this one I have tried to focus on its relationship with the sun, the reason for its existence. Look closely to see some sunflower seeds poking up in the center. COPYRIGHT 2023 Kay Smith

Blazing Sunflower Sky

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done a few weeks ago, focusing on a sunflower backside and the sky rather than its center. In this imaginary floral scene I've used both cool and warm colors for the sky and its everchanging landscape. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Connie's Sunflower

11x8.5 colored pencils and watercolor on Canson paper in sketchbook done last weekend. Ref courtesy of Connie, the artist who provided it in an online event. I used multi-lead pencils in three colors to sketch the flower first. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

Yay for Yellow Cosmos

5.5x5.5 watercolor on Arteza paper, 110 lb cold press in sketchbook of a fresh yellow spring cosmos done a few days ago. COPYRIGHT 2021 Kay Smith

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

June Sunflower Petals

10x10 alcohol inks and India ink on paper done last week, an imaginary abstract sunflower basking in the heat.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Sunflower Glowing

11x15 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press of a mature sunflower; this was my demo for a workshop.
I have painted several versions of this flower and one of those was all in pinks and is now sold.  Each version is more fun than the last. It was done wet in wet with transparent colors.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Perfect Primrose

14x11 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper completed today.  Evening primroses grow wild here in west Texas and are usually pale yellow to bright yellow with some pink ones.  This close up view shows its interesting center and display of long, slender yellow stamens.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Wide Petals

4x6 alcohol inks on glossy photo paper just completed.  I actually had it upside down then flipped it to this view that was much better.
COPYRIGHT 2019 Kay Smith

Soft Sunflower

7x7 alcohol inks on foamcore, a free-form floral done a few days ago that resembles a kaleidoscope sunflower.  I used Willow, Sunbright Yellow, Tangerine, and Sangria red.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Sunflower Summer

7x9.75 alcohol inks on foamcore board done today using three yellows, two reds, greens and blues. This abstract sunflower with its end of summer face is bowing into the sun as it does its daily duty.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Sunflower SunShine

15x22 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Saunders Waterford paper, of a mature sunflower bending its head down from the weight of the summer sun.  It was painted using one of my sunflower photos.  This painting was a demo, done in about 1.5 hours, and has now been SOLD.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.

Sunflower Bright

5x7 alcohol ink on white foamcore board completed a few days ago using two different yellows, orange, brown, red and black.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Sunflower Center ~ alcohol inks

4x6 alcohol inks by Pinata on glossy professional photo paper done yesterday during the art class I teach.  Colors used were ginger, tangerine, yellow, and green.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

September Sunflower ~ alcohol inks on Yupo

7x11 alcohol inks on Yupo done tonight as a demo for Big Spring Art Association and also for day #20 with Leslie Saeta 30 day challenge.  Beginning with yellow dropped onto alcohol prepped Yupo, quickly added magenta then red.  When about dry, blue was put in for the third primary color, resulting in green.  The group seemed to enjoy seeing new products used to create art.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Sunflower Seeds ~ alcohol inks on Yupo

7x11 alcohol inks; so here is number 4, another so called floral using Pinata brand alcohol inks begun yesterday then finished today. With it, I focused on its centre rather than petals, having patterning and design elements closely focused. This is my last sheet of Yupo so it was cut in half.  I did use a wooden chopstick to apply ink rather than the plastic bottle tip for a lessened amount and smaller dots.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 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.

Yellow Daisy

6x6 watercolor done a few days ago, my last sheet in Masters sketchbook #2.  The first book was a gift from friend and fellow artist Leada Wood.  It had 80 pages I painted on as did this one for a total of 160 images.  Most were done daily.  Some were drawings or sketches while others were ink line, mixed media, dry media or watermedia.  Lots of them have sold and make nice small works to frame and put in that little spot where you need 'something' to go.  But alas! I have bought another Masters from Hobby Lobby so will commence to opening it and drawing something interesting.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.

Wishy Washy Sunflower

6.5x4.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Langton paper done today.  Using my friend Mollie's instructions I put in a fairly thick center, then put clean water towards ends of petals and paint flowed to make a wishy washy floral.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2014 Kay Smith.