Old Porch

15x11 watercolor on cold press 140 lb Saunders paper, a scene in our town of one of the old railroad houses.  The tree to the left has now been removed and the old wooden exterior has been replaced or repainted grey.  Shadows in my photograph are one of the appealing parts of the design.  No closets were in the house when I went inside many years ago.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith.

Thawing Snow

5x6 5/8 watercolor on Canson 140 lb cold press paper done today, a made up scene of snow thawing and long tree shadows.  Using mostly browns and blues with thalo green cool colors this winter landscape should chill us all.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

Frosty Morning Cabin

12x9 watercolor that is today's work.  All the trees and end of log cabin are imaginary and were drawn yesterday then I put in pale washes diagonally across the sky using Prussian blue.  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.  I have been doing more lodge and mountain themed works so stay tuned for wildlife coming soon.  This is painted on Canson 140 lb cold press paper.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Step 10 - Finishing up

More rusts, reds, and purple hues were added to foreground. Shadows were glazed as cast from trees using ultramarine blue and quin gold, from right to left across the bottom. A final splattering of pale orange done up in the foliage and a bit at the bottom for balance. Softening edges with a damp brush will complete the backlit aspens.