The Forest for the Trees

15x11 watercolor on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper finished tonight.  This exercise in negative painting has 6 levels, beginning at the front row of trees and stepping up as you work towards the last one.  Its title is actually "I Can't See the Forest for the Trees", which may well be my state of mind on a good day.  I felt like celebrating autumn with this weekend's cold front, the cats cuddled up in their flannel pet beds, and the smell of pizza.  It was a good afternoon to spend painting.  When dry, I splattered new gamboge, transparent pyrrol orange, and Prussian blue.

Kidz Games

9x10 watercolor on Crescent matboard that has been gessoed, drawn yesterday then painted today.  On WetCanvas we are studying subjects in motion this month and this is my endeavor, a first depicting children doing sports.

The Artistic Touch 5 - New Book is Out

Here it is! At long last, Chris Unwin's new book is out featuring primarily watermedia.  I'm lucky she asked me to submit images for consideration, and two were chosen:  Furbaby and Porky.  You can see these animal portraits below.  If you would like to own one of Chris' books, I have them ready to be picked up at my studio at below MSRP.  Email me kay1971smith@aol.com if interested in having one for yourself or for that special person on your Christmas list!

Hen House

22x15 watercolor on Saunders 140 lb cold press paper, a demo done in 2004 for the Yoakum Co. Art Association in Plains, TX.  It was painted wet in wet in one hour, give or take a few minutes.  The Plains group is very active for a small town and invite me back each year for demos.  In August I was privileged to judge their area wide exhibition.  This painting is SOLD.

Happy Pear

8.5x7 torn paper collage on matboard, a demo I started for Monday evening art class, and finished up today.  Using slick magazine pages and matte medium, tear colors needed and adhere to a black marker line drawing.  When dry coat several times with gloss medium varnish for a shine.

Donkey Daze

5x11 watercolor of two donkeys discussing their days over the fence, developed from previous ink sketch.  I'm not a landscape painter but will happily do one if there are animals, old barns, or people included.  This is on Strathmore 140 lb cold press paper with Daniel Smith paints:  Quinacridone burnt orange and gold, green gold, raw sienna, UB, thalo green, alizarin crimson.   American Journey paints:  Midnight Blue, Peachy Keen, Coastal Fog, Periwinkle Blue, and Apricot.

Donkeys sketch

5x8 ink sketch using Tombow brush pens, black and grey, on white index stock paper.  From this work I'll develop a painting in watercolor showing the donkeys' local colors, the fence and background.