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

Sunflower Softness ~ day 12 of 30 paintings in 30 days challenge

11x12 watercolor on collaged paper sketched yesterday and painted today for the 12th day of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 days challenge.  From my photo it was easy to see where a bird had pecked out the upper top portion of its flowery feeding station.  Pale blue skies enhanced the softness of this bright sunflower and lifted the hearts of all who saw it.  Collage is white tissue paper gessoed to 140 lb paper.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Bee on Blackeyed Susan

13.5x5 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders Waterford paper done today.  Using a scrap from a failed painting I turned it over and sketched the rudbeckias, or blackeyed Susans, and bee for this quickie demo for class.  Not sure what to do with the background I began at the top with a 1" flat sable brush and using Blue Bice and Periwinkle (American Journey brand sold by Cheap Joe's).  As I went along I added blues thalo, ultramarine, and manganese and thalo green.  Yellows:  Aureolin, quinacridone gold, new gamboge, Halloween orange, quinacridone burnt orange.  Dark centers are quin burnt orange, ultramarine, and indigo.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.