Seagull Shore

3x9 watercolor on 140 lb cold press Canson paper done over this past weekend for an online challenge; photo ref courtesy Deb Cruce. With this image, I cropped the gull's lower body to focus on its head then put foam of the shore water behind showing less beach sand. COPYRIGHT 2022 Kay Smith

Pelican on the Pier

10.5x6.75 mixed media on paper done over this past weekend using crayon, Tombow burnt sienna brush pen nib, watercolor, walnut ink, and charcoal.  For an online challenge we had 2 hours to choose an image and paint it.  These oft-overlooked birds are common around water and I've always loved to paint or sketch them in their comical ways.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Sweetheart Seagull

5x7 mixed media collage on paper begun on Valentine's Day Friday then finished today.  I used the inside of my sweetheart's card envelope which was brown to sketch the gull in ink with Micron 01 pen.  Then collaged white paper for its head.  Oil pastels, gouache and watercolor were other media used.  The gull was then adhered to matboard with matte medium a brayer to smooth out air pockets.
COPYRIGHT 2020 Kay Smith

Pesky Pelican

8.5x5.5 watercolor and ink (Micron 01 pen) on paper done over a week ago.  This is a crop of a larger pelican so as to focus on his head and neck.
COPYRIGHT Kay Smith 2019

Gull Stare

2.5x3.5 mixed media on book page adhered to sketchbook paper completed today from one of many seagull photos.  Sketched in charcoal I also added small amounts of ink with Micron 01 pen.  Watercolor and gouache added for color.  Actual size and sketch below.

Miniature ACEO (art card edition original)

COPYRIGHT 2018 Kay Smith

White Pelican

AFTER

 

BEFORE

 

 

5.5X8.5 mixed media on Bienfang sketchbook.  First version is the BEFORE image where I used only watercolor over graphite drawing.  On the mixed media paper there was not enough contrast.  (This is a cropped view of a flying white pelican).  Yesterday I took Montana acrylic markers and went over the water using green and dark blue, then a light pink over the bird's upper beak.  Next I put white marker in spots on his feathers to brighten him up, and splattered periwinkle blue with a large brush when dry.  Lastly I applied black India ink via dropper for partial outlines and darkest darks.

Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Pier Pelican

8.5x5.5 watercolor pencils and watercolor on Bienfang for mixed media sketchbook paper done today as part of a timed WetCanvas event.  We have 2 hours to choose from 16 images the host provides then do a painting.  This one was hosted by Susan.  I liked the colors in this fellow who was perched on the pier waiting to see a fish.
Image COPYRIGHT 2016 Kay Smith.

Herring Gull - Day 29 of 30 day challenge

9x12 watercolor and acrylic on Canson 140 lb cold press paper which is today's work, day 29.  I used a backing sheet I place behind other watermedia works in progress to protect overruns, that results in lots of random marks.  Next I drew in pencil a herring seagull then painted him in watercolor in a realistic manner.  Also I did Bice Blue and ultramarine blue thin washes over the entire background and yellow ochre + Coastal Fog for the sand he is standing upon.  These large birds are the most widespread pink-legged gull in North America, the herring is common in the east and mainly a winter visitor in the west.  Its pink legs stay that color throughout its life.

Since 9-1-15, I've posted daily works on Leslie Saeta's #30paintingsin30days challenge she hosts annually on her blog Slices of Life you can see HERE.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.

Seagull Profile - Day 23 of 30 Day Challenge

4.25x7 watercolor and ink on a magazine insert card from Birds & Blooms.  I sketched the simple profile with Micron 01 pen then put in color; opaque white gouache used in some areas to block out the barcode.  Only 1 week left of the month challenge!

Since 9-1-15, I've posted daily works on Leslie Saeta's #30paintingsin30days challenge she hosts annually on her blog Slices of Life you can see HERE.
Image is COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.