Prairie Coneflowers ~ Mexican Redhats

8x8 watercolor on Masters 140 lb cold press paper completed today from my Mexican redhat wildflower photos.  This beauty can be seen along roadsides and vacant lots and is also known as the common prairie coneflower with either red, dark red, or yellow 'skirts'.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Mexican Red Hats Fiesta

9x4 watercolor wildflower floral begun yesterday during a class and finished today using some of my Mexican red hat photos.  We did not see too many of them this spring so maybe it was too wet.  Commonly known as prairie coneflower this dark red petaled stunner can also be seen in shades of yellow and gold.  Also known as Ratibida columnaris, this perennial prefers hot, arid and dry conditions.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

WIP - Mexican Redhats wildflowers

8.5x11 watercolor over Micron 01 pen drawing on Masters paper, a work in progress begun today.  I decided to do another one of these Texas wildflowers as a WIP to show the stages and progression.  I do direct painting, so what is seen here is the first and final application.  I want the value to be the strength and vibrancy when dry as watercolor dries 40% lighter than your initial wash.  Photo images were taken a few years ago when we had enough rain for the wild beauties to bloom; this spring the wildflower crop was a scarce display. Redhats are also called prairie coneflower.  I've put a watermark COPYRIGHT KAY SMITH 2013 across my afternoon's work in progress even though it is not finished.  Too many images stolen already this year!