We call the commissions I paint Collaborations. I take the ideas of our client and weave them with my own to make a painting they will enjoy for generations to come. Bonnie, a longtime collector, loves the Amalfi Coast and the wonderful lemons grown there. After going through the pictures we have of the area I contacted her and asked, “What about a view from the hillside, looking at the Amalfi Coast from under the Lemon Trees?” I heard a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. Then she replied, “WOW, I love it!”
Following my sketch the plan is drawn on the canvas with a brush dipped in a mixture of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. If you would like to see any of these pictures larger just click on the image.
The foliage of the Lemon Trees is washed in with a mix of Ultramarine Blue + Hansa Lemon Yellow + a lot of Liquin. Then the sky is painted around the leaves being careful not to let the light color get muddy. I’ve worked in this sequence because I want the luminosity of the wash over the white canvas for the leaves. This gives a feel of the sun back-lighting the foliage. The farthest mountain is painted bluer so it will fall back.
The top edge of the mountain and horizon line of the ocean are softened. Again, this helps to make them recede. The town of Amalfi is painted next using mixes of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + a lot of White. I use more blue in the mix so it will be cool. The roof tops use the same mix but with more orange and a touch of MUD which grays the color. Breakers crashing against the rocky point are made with a few strokes of a fine liner brush.
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Hope to see you tomorrow! Hugs, Mikki Senkarik
