Sunday, December 31, 2017

Docile Donkey

22x30 watercolor painted yesterday on Fabriano 140 lb cold press paper.  This was one of the photos presented for a WetCanvas timed challenge for which I was the host.  Background was warmed up using burnt sienna and raw sienna to mimic a hot southwestern day.  Our temps are in the teens now so this one warmed me up.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 30, 2017

I Can't See the Forest for the Trees

11x15 watercolor of an imaginary snow scene surrounded by an evergreen forest done yesterday.  A frozen stream runs in the foreground while leafless trees stand behind, ready for their winter rest.  This is painted on Canson XL 140 lb cold press paper.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:   1971ks@att.net for more information or to purchase via PayPal.

Friday, December 29, 2017

Poppy Pearls

6x4 alcohol inks on professional photo paper painted yesterday using yellow, dark red, orange, pink, and true red colors.  Stems and leaves were put in by adding a light pale green to the tip of a wooden chopstick.
I like how the inks mixed and mingled into each other in this field of poppies art.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Thursday, December 28, 2017

December Days

4.25x5.5 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday of an imaginary winter landscape complete with snow and overcast skies.  I wanted to use color combinations never tried so for the sky burnt umber + phthalo blue were mixed and same colors throughout except for the buildings which was Indian red. That red stays on my palette but is not popular as it is opaque.  I mixed a grey of what colors were in the mixing part of the palette for the frozen water.  Distant hills were softened with a damp brush.  I am trying to paint better landscapes along with portraits, two subjects that are not easy.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:   1971ks@att.net for more information or to purchase via PayPal.




Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Holiday Rose

4x6 alcohol inks on professional photo glossy paper done right before Christmas, so that is why the title is Holiday Rose.  With its red and green complementary colors, this loose floral heralds the holiday season in all its glory.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith    Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Poinsettia Parade

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done over the weekend of two poinsettias, one red and one white.  As part of a WetCanvas floral challenge these were sketched and painted with lots of enthusiasm for the Christmas holiday season.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Monday, December 25, 2017

Smiling Snowman

9x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper, an imaginary snowman decked out in his bright mittens and knit toboggan cap, trying to stay happy and cold before he melts.  This was painted last December and has been submitted to a card company for consideration.
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Partial to Red Poinsettias

15x20 watercolor painted from life very loosely of a poinsettia for Christmas pot.  A neutral grey background was added to the red/green complementary color palette.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith    Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Bad Boy

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage in my grunge/junk journal done over the weekend.  Over a gessoed page I collaged a page from National Geographic that was treated with CitraSolv solution; portions of original text and patterns can be seen.  Acrylics and antique staining ink used on the face and page to age it along with white gel pen in this imaginary gangster in my current outlaw series.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith           Email:  1971ks@att.net

Friday, December 22, 2017

Flowers Everywhere

6.5x5 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done recently as part of an online WetCanvas challenge in the miniature forum.  I loved the floral patterned cup and saucer set holding an hydrangea blossom and the white pitcher vase behind with salmon pink flowers.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith     Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information to purchase via PayPal.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Cattle Rustler

8.25x5.25 charcoal sketch over gessoed old book page in my junk or grunge journal; page was brushed with Tim Holtz antique walnut stain ink.  This imaginary cowboy is about to rustle some free cattle and is one in my current outlaw series.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Merry Mermaid

6x4 alcohol inks abstract on professional photo paper along with Micron 01 ink; I sketched the female figure last to take advantage of the natural curves seen within the abstraction of the two green inks.  This also works as a wood nymph!
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith  Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Thoroughbred

4x6 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Fluid paper done recently and is now SOLD.
I enjoyed the idea of putting a sunset ablaze behind the horse as my photo did not have a background.
COPYRIGHT 2017 KAY SMITH

Monday, December 18, 2017

Baby Face Nelson

Well, I have an eye for a guy and here is one cutie bad ass boy, Lester Gillis, aka Baby Face Nelson. A notorious 1930s bank robber and murderer he was a criminal associate of John Dillinger, having begun roaming Chicago streets as a teen. With his 5'5" stature and innocent looking face, he quickly was dubbed Baby Face, although no one dared to mention it to him. He was assassinated at age 25, a life of crime that didn't pay. Charcoal sketch in my junk journal over gessoed page, pencil, latex acrylic pink paint, Montana acrylic marker in blue (reference to "baby" colors), and collage.  This is #6 in my outlaw series.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith    Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information

Sunday, December 17, 2017

Chrysanthemum Explosion

4x6 alcohol inks recently done end of October using three warm colors and one cool for the green in this imaginary abstract floral.  It is on professional photo paper.  This work is now SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith         Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Christmas Dog

6x4 watercolor on 140 lb Fluid cold press paper done last week as a Christmas gift; this work is SOLD.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith
 

Friday, December 15, 2017

Icy Wind

9x12 watercolor, gouache, and white wax crayon painted yesterday for a quickie winter landscape.  I used a limited palette of sepia, indigo, quinacridone violet for primaries and just a touch of ultramarine and phthalo green in the windy sky.  This is on Canson XL 140 lb cold press paper using the back side which is slicker allowing the pigments to run and mix.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Frankie and Iggy Cats

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen), and Derwent Inktense pencils on Bienfang sketchbook for mixed media done last week.  These two are another artist's cats that she gladly shared with us to draw and paint.  I have made Iggy's, (the tuxedo cat) eyes warily watching Frankie.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith  Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information or to purchase via PayPal.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Christmas Eve Vintage Tree Truck

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink line on Masters sketchbook 70 lb. sheet finished today, another in my Christmas vintage truck series.  It is one of the designs to be submitted for cards so wish me luck!
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:  1971ks@att.net for more information

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Clint Eastwood as the Outlaw Josey Wales

5.25x8.25 charcoal sketch today on junk journal page that had been gessoed.  I used Distress Ink spray by Tim Holtz mixed with water and a large brush to weather the page.  This is another in my outlaw series of notorious wild west guys whether in movies or real life.  As Clint Eastwood has been an idol of mine since watching him portray Rowdy Yates in Rawhide and seeing all his movies, he was the natural favorite choice.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith   Email:   1971ks@att.net for more information

Monday, December 11, 2017

Tiptoe thru the Tulips

14x8 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done a few days ago for an online WetCanvas challenge. Participants are given 10 images and are to select one to draw then paint in 2 hours. I cropped the ref photo courtesy Christine and added my own pink colors and leaves rendering the garden loosely.
Image COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.   Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Miniature Blackeyed Susans ACEO

 3.5x2.5 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Fluid paper recently done as I was in the mood for happy blackeyed Susans or rudbeckias in a miniature format.  Commonly known as artist trading cards, or ACEO (artist cards editions & originals) these tiny treasures are fun to paint and to trade or to sell.  The image below is its normal size in perspective.
Image as it appears in real time.  COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.  Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal @ $25.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Vintage Christmas Tree Truck

8.75x6.75 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done today of an imaginary red vintage truck hauling a Christmas tree home.  The old truck is decorated with a large evergreen wreath and bow while the scene has a backdrop of snow covered pines.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith      Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Friday, December 8, 2017

Classy Santa in junk journal

8.25x5.25 another image done yesterday in my junk/grunge journal. He's a classy Santa in his black trimmed suit. I sketched in hard charcoal pencil over gesso, then added acrylics and three snowflakes collage.  Also I used peach marker for skin tones and watercolor for eyes. Colors should do well to spiff up the old 1959 discarded book I'm using for a journal. Image courtesy Li Newton/WetCanvas in a weekend drawing event. Participants have 2 hours to select an image and paint or sketch it.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Christmas Tree Truck

5.5x8.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on Masters sketchbook done today of an old pickup truck hauling a cut evergreen Christmas tree.  The tree has been strung with large colored old fashioned light bulbs and is on its way to help celebrate the season.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017      Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal or to enable for prints via ArtSpan website www.kaysmith.artspan.com

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Li's Cardinal

4.5x6 watercolor on Bristol 400 series paper completed for the current weekend drawing event on WetCanvas.com (photo courtesy of host Li Newton).  I've winterized the scene instead of how it was and added snowflakes with white gouache when dry.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith         Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Monday, December 4, 2017

One-eyed Outlaw in Grunge Junk Journal

8.25x5.25 mixed media collage portrait sketch of Cole Younger (1844-1916) in my grunge junk journal.  Sketched in hard charcoal pencil and black felt tip pen, on other areas I used colored pencils, marker (flesh tones), pencil, on tea stained old book page.  He was one of the Younger brothers gang who teamed up with the James brothers to rob banks and trains and spread murderous violence right after the Civil War.  Even though he's been dead 101 years it has not been that long ago as my grandmother was 12 years old in 1916.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Sunday, December 3, 2017

Harry

9x6 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done last weekend in a portrait exchange challenge on WetCanvas.  You and your partner you are paired with send photos, select one, and have it completed before Christmas.  Harry lives in the UK and is an excellent artist so hope he approves this likeness.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Heavy Snow

12x9 watercolor on Canson 140 lb. cold press paper done yesterday on Dec. 1st, a mild partly sunny day here.  This is using a brush only, no pencil drawing based on a snow scene reference courtesy of Jenna.  It is one of the images featured on December challenge on WetCanvas in the Southwest/Western forum.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith     Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal      Cost:  $175

Friday, December 1, 2017

Poppy Pouf

7x5 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper done yesterday, an exercise with reds and greens.  I used Poppyfield and Lemonade for the poppy bloom and Lettuce for the greenery.  Greens were applied with a drop of ink on a chopstick tip.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith         Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal            Cost:   $95

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Tall in the Saddle

22x15 watercolor on 140 lb cold press paper done several years ago of my husband's grandfather H.N. Zant.  This work was painted from a small photograph and was SOLD to one of his sons.  I would like to see if it can be utilized to make prints.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Bluetiful

6x4 alcohol inks on professional glossy photo paper done the day before Thanksgiving, just a quick Indigo, pink, and two greens mixed making an abstract floral.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.       Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal           Cost:   $85


Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Soft Pink Purple Flower

6x4 alcohol inks on professional photo paper done a few days ago using only two colors:  Eggplant and Shell Pink.  Stem was etched in using a chopstick with a dot of Lettuce green on the tip.  Canned air used to push the pigmented alcohol upwards from the flower base.  (*NOTE ~ I will be giving a one day ink class Jan. 20 in Big Spring and another tentative date of Feb.3, 2018.)
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith        Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal     Cost:  $85

Monday, November 27, 2017

Longhorn Herd

9x12 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper finished today after a weekend drawing event challenge on WetCanvas.  Host is Susan; ref courtesy her brother Wm. T. Smith.  Since I love painting longhorns this was a pleasure.  Participants have 2 hours to select and finish a work.  The image is uploaded to my website now and is enabled for prints on demand or purchase as seen here.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith                        Email:   1971ks@att.net                            Cost:  $200
Purchase also available via PayPal.


Sunday, November 26, 2017

Tyler House

15x11 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper, an earlier work from my east Texas photo.  I did take liberties with painting it as the photo was shot in January on a very cold day.  Hollyhocks and potted plants on porch were added to this charming white cottage with shutters.
Image COPYRIGHT Kay Smith         Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal              Cost:  $215

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Orange Spider Mum

4x6 alcohol inks on professional photo paper done a few days ago using only two ink colors of Lemonade and Valencia for the flower and Lettuce for the stem and green base.  Canned air used to blow ink out and away from the bottom base.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith         Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal               Cost:   $85

Friday, November 24, 2017

Danny Cat w/ Fake Birds in Junk Journal

5.25x8.25 watercolor, collage over old book page (image courtesy Joanne/WetCanvas) done for current weekend drawing event.  Participants have 2 hours to select an image and paint it.  Her cat was looking at bird figurines on a windowsill, maybe hoping they were real.  This is in my grunge, or junk journal, an old book published in 1959 in which I've put white gesso over its pages.  Background here is made from National Geographic collage page that has had CitraSolv brushed on it to change color and design.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith                  Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Larkspur Lane

11x15 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper, a white house in flowery landscape done awhile back that I forgot to post.  In this imaginary scene, larkspurs grow in abundance in the paths leading to the home that is surrounded in greenery.  Happy Thanksgiving!
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith                 Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal           Cost:   $215

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Moustache Man in Junk Journal

8.25x5.25 charcoal and collage over a book page.  An old discarded book has been reclaimed and pages coated with white Gesso, ready for art to happen in its new life as a junk, or grunge journal.  Anything goes in these illustrated journals! This imaginary man is proud of his curled edges of his moustache.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith                                        Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Pink Glimpse flower

6x4 alcohol inks on professional photo paper, a demo done Sunday at Odessa for their art association.  Beginning with Willow I then followed with a peach and a pink ink, using canned air to push the ink.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Monday, November 20, 2017

Two Chickadees

9x12 alcohol inks on paper, one of two demos done yesterday in Odessa for the art association there.  Is it raining or is it about to snow these two could be asking.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith           Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal            Cost:  $125      

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Blue-eyed Stray Cat

6x9 watercolor on Fluid 140 lb cold press paper done yesterday for an online challenge in Animals & Wildlife forum; photo courtesy Chammi/WetCanvas.com.  This kitty had some Siamese blood due to its beautiful blue eyes.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Spicy Hot Donkeys

8.5x11 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders paper using an unusual color palette of a hot fore and middle ground with dark navy sky.  Both background trees and donkeys are treated as simple shapes and not depicted in my usual realism.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith           Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal            Cost:   $135

Friday, November 17, 2017

Pink Flowering Weeds

9x12 alcohol inks done yesterday on freezer paper, shiny side, as a warm up practice for Sunday afternoon's Odessa Art Association demonstration I'm to give.  It will be at 2:15 p.m. at the Ellen Noel Museum, 4909 E. University Blvd.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith         Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal            Cost:  $115

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Succulent Pot ~ plein air

8x6 watercolor and ink line in Stillman & Birn Zeta series sketchbook, done from life.  I sketched this pot of various succulents on my New Mexico patio back in September.  This was one featured in a florals challenge hosted by me on WetCanvas that month.  Cacti and succulents were the plants highlighted; I really pushed the color here.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith             Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal           Cost:   $115

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Pink Daylilies

11.25x14.75 watercolor on 140 lb Saunders cold press paper, a collection of various pink daylilies grown in one of my earlier flower gardens.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith           Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal             Cost:   $225

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Rocky Cliffs

5.25 x 8.25 ink, watercolor and acrylics done this afternoon as part of the monthly southwest/western challenge on WetCanvas.  This is in my new grunge journal over a partially gessoed page, which is why the acrylics were used as watercolor too thin to adhere properly.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith      Email:  1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal or for more information.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Calla Charm

14x10 watercolor on Kilimanjaro block 140 lb cold press paper.  A lone white bloom beckons the gardener to get busy planting more lovelies.  This realistic lily is one of my featured watercolors in our Caboose group's upcoming show Nov. 18 - Jan 12, 2018 in Breckenridge, TX.  Reception is Nov. 18 @ 5 p.m. at the arts center there.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2017.




Sunday, November 12, 2017

Baby Sister Goats

7x9.5 watercolor/ink (Uniball Signo ultramicro 207pen) sketched last night in about 10 minutes and painted today. These sister goats were too sweet to pass up as one of the WetCanvas weekend drawing event references.  This is done in my Ecosystem sketchbook.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith                               Email:   1971ks@att.net to purchase via PayPal

Dry Desert Icons

30x22 watercolor on Kilimanjaro 140 lb cold press paper painted earlier in the month. I have painted this southwest landscape mission more ...