A String of Garlic

The darkness of the Bougainvillea and stone archway frame the sunlit vista beyond. Several combinations of Permanent Rose, Magenta and White are used to mix the colors for the Bougainvillea. The stone walls are adobe mixtures left over from my previous painting, Blazing Chroma. The flower-pot is blocked in with MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light. White is added to the mixture for the highlight.

This stage of the painting is so exciting. Adding the red door totally changes the feel and just POPS against the azure Mediterranean in the background. After the stone walls are completed I begin to block in the string of garlic. Lavenders (MUD + White) and Blues (Ultramarine Blue + White) are used for the basic shapes of the bulbs. If you would like to see any of these pictures larger just click on the image.

Now I come back in with White + a tiny touch of Cadmium Orange to add the highlights on the garlic, delineating the shapes of the cloves.

The detail of the basal plate or root end of the bulbs is drawn into the wet paint with a mixture of Alizarin Crimson + a liberal amount of Liquin. I brace against a mahl stick to steady my hand. To find out where to get the mahl stick we use just CLICK HERE.

And remember, if you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post you may subscribe to my blog. Go to the upper right side of this page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. Have a great day and Happy Painting! Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

On Top of the World

Eze, Provence, a medieval, hilltop village on the coast of France between Monte Carlo and Nice, is one of our favorite places. We would go back in a heartbeat, spending days sketching and photographing the intriguing nooks and crannies. Wandering through the narrow streets it is so surprising to turn a corner and see the incredible view. A fabulous cactus garden occupies the peak of the mountain, standing there you feel as if you are on the top of the world. What a wonderful feeling!

On a clear day you can see forever. The horizon line is softened and the peninsula of Cap Ferrat is painted with cool greens so it will fall into the distance. The most distant water is a mix of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Ultramarine Blue + White. As the water comes closer mixes of Ultramarine Blue + White and Ultramarine Blue + Pthalo Blue + White are used.

I let the sun illuminate the water in the distant harbor with a stroke of Pthalo Blue + White. The light continues across the small village. Some of the sky color is used to indicate the sunlit buildings.

As the azure water of the Mediterranean comes closer the color is more vivid. I mix Pthalo Blue + a touch of Hansa Lemon Yellow + White to achieve the brightness. The orange of terra-cotta tile on the roofs further down the mountain are the complementary color of the blue water. Placing a color next to its complement makes it appear more intense. Also the darkness of the buildings accentuates the light on the water below. Thank you for visiting today. Hope you will come back to our studio again. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

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Photographing our Paintings

Our readers ask the greatest questions, bringing up subjects that are very helpful to everyone. “How do we photograph our paintings?” was the most recent query. The image above shows my painting setup with the camera in place. Notice the lights above the easel. These are daylight, color corrected, fluorescent bulbs we got at Home Depot. If it’s a really bright day outside we lower the blinds, because there is too much light. If you paint with the light too bright your art will be dark when you view it under normal lighting conditions. Using the daylight bulbs provides us with consistent light, day or night. And it’s perfect for photographing the paintings.

Here is a closeup of the camera setup. We have two cameras, a Leica and an Olympus, both 10 Megapixels. We photograph the paintings on the highest quality setting. I set the timer so there is no jiggle when the shutter releases or whatever Digital cameras do.  We use Adobe Photoshop to crop the images, making small JPEG files for emails and large TIFF files for reproduction of our Limited Original Giclees. We then save backups of everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, on an external hard drive. Jack and I are total technology illiterates. I can’t tell you how long it took for us to get this all figured out (smile). Fortunately we’ve had some very helpful friends along the way.

Molly just couldn’t stand it, she is the ham in the family. After lurking around while I was taking the other pictures she jumped up on Jack’s painting stool and said, “Hey, take my picture.”

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post you can subscribe to my blog. Just go to the upper right side of this page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy.

And, please feel free to ask questions. This blog is for you. As Jack says, “If we don’t know the answer we’ll make something up.” Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Mikki and Jack are giving an Art Seminar

Mikki Senkarik and Jack White invite you to attend an Oil Painting and Art Marketing Seminar in Santa Fe.

Jack and Mikki on a tall ship cruise in the Caribbean

Many of you have asked if we teach our oil painting methods or if Jack does individual art career consulting. At the insistence of our gallery director and several of our readers we have decided to do a two-day Seminar just prior to Mikki’s annual Labor Day Event at the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery. This is a first, we’ve never done any kind of seminar like this before. Our Art Marketing and Teaching Seminar will be in the Historic Hilton Hotel. The dates are August 31^st and September 1^st.  We can only accommodate a very limited number of artists. Please contact the gallery as soon as you know you can come. Gallery number is 505.988.5545. Any of the staff can help you.

Jack and I have come up with a bare bones seminar fee hoping any one can afford to be part of this exciting experience. We decided to charge only $300 for the seminar; this does not include travel, hotel or food. Polly, with the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery, is working with the Hilton on a special room rate for those attending our seminar. They are setting up a contact person to handle all of the reservations. You may share a room with another artist to reduce the cost of your hotel stay. The good thing for you is our Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery will direct you to the person to make your hotel reservations as well as give you assistance in finding the best places to eat. Santa Fe is one of the finest places in the world to dine…bar none.

Don’t wait to call for your seminar seat. We do ask you please be prepared to pay for your spot when you call the gallery as spaces are limited.

Mikki with Breathtaking Retreat 72" x 96"

Mikki Senkarik will paint a demonstration piece, explaining her marvelous and powerful double primary palette paint mixing system. She will teach her painting techniques, brushwork, the mediums she uses and the trick to cleaning brushes so they last for years. Mikki will show you step by step how she makes a painting. One of the unique things you will learn is the power of using a threshold. At the end of the seminar the demonstration painting will be auctioned off with a starting bid of one penny. Mikki’s Website: www.senkarik.com

Jack's portrait of Dallas Cowboys Coach Tom Landry painted especially for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Headquarters in Kansas City

Jack White is a master artist and author of six excellent art marketing books. Many say his art marketing books are the best ever written. He will individually go over your art portfolio, giving suggestions on how to improve and market your work. Jack’s goal is to spend some private time with all artists who attend. He will teach how to get in art galleries and what to do after you are in. Some of you might want to hear him speak about how to sell by listening. There is no question, Jack is a great salesman and knows how to close without putting any pressure on the client. He will teach you how to sell like a three-year old. Think about it, have you ever been able to say NO to a sweet, little child? Jack’s Website: www.jackwhiteartist.com

What to bring?  You will NOT need to bring any painting equipment. In this two-day seminar there just isn’t enough time to have you set up to paint, watch Mikki do a demonstration, have Jack talk about marketing art and get an individual review of your portfolio. Our goal is to provide the basics that will help you grow as an artist. We will teach you how to improve rather than conduct a paint along where you only learn about one painting. So bring an open heart, a note pad and something to write with. You may take photos, tape record the sessions or use a video camera. Use whatever will help you retain all of the career changing information we offer.  We will also provide a packet with a stack of material covering painting secrets and the double primary palette. Our promise to you is if you make the effort to come we will give your our absolute best. Your Seminar fee will be refunded if you are not 100% satisfied.

You are free to ask questions at anytime Mikki and Jack are speaking. Remember, this seminar is for YOU. You are the only reason we are doing this. Our goal is for you to leave shaking your head in wonderment at all the things you have learned. The Seminar will be conducted both days from 9:30 till noon. We will take an hour and a half lunch break, allowing you to go to one of the neat eating spots nearby.  Then start back up around 1:30 and go till 5:00. If there are any lingering questions we will stick around to make sure every one is answered.

Please phone the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery to register.   505.988.5545

We look forward to seeing you in Santa Fe and giving you two Texas sized Hugs, Mikki and Jack

Under the Radar

I’ve been working on a super secret surprise commission so I’m under the radar for a few days. Molly even had to climb up in one of our big oaks to find me (Smile). Like she needs an excuse, she loves climbing up to chase the squirrels. If she gets near one the squirrel leaps to another limb, then sits there chattering at her. She gets so frustrated, you can hear her little, pathetic crying. Jack and I laugh so hard our stomachs hurt.

Tomorrow I’m hoping to begin on a piece I can share. Please do come back and watch. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com

Essence of Taos

Taos, New Mexico is such a charming place. Our gallery there, Walden Fine Art, is in an old, historic adobe building on Kit Carson Road. You almost feel as if you are stepping back in time as you walk through the streets. Especially in the evening after the traffic has died down. With lots of rounded adobe, colorful doors, gates and gardens of bright flowers everywhere, it’s a painter’s paradise.

I’m going to combine most of those elements in this little piece. After completing the adobe wall, door and window I concentrate on the terra-cotta floor. The lights and darks of the tile are blocked in first. While the paint is still wet I draw the perspective lines of the tile with a fine liner brush.

The orange blossoms of the Trumpet Vine are painted, then I come back and work the foliage around the flowers. The same sequence is followed on the pot of Geraniums and the Salvia under the window. Flowers first, Foliage next. If you would like to enlarge any of these images just click on the picture.

The shadows of the Rose of Sharon, in the lower left corner, are blocked in with mixtures of Ultramarine Blue + White and Phtalo Blue + White. The mixes are made dark enough so when the highlights are added there is enough contrast to make the White POP!

Essence of Taos    17″ x 14″   Original Oil Painting

Sunlight slides across the ancient tile floor illuminating the white flowers of the Rose of Sharon. Long fingers of the Salvia’s shadow dance on the Taos Blue door. The cheery Geraniums and bright Trumpet Vine join in, issuing an invitation to the viewer to enjoy the Essence of Taos. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

To subscribe to my blog and receive notifications of new posts by email just go to the upper right side of this page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy.

Beyond the Garden Gate

It’s been a bird convention today on Senkarik Pond. Clicker Bobbie (our Great White Egret), lots of Snowy Egrets, Black Bellied Whistling Ducks and the Two Egyptian Geese were all here. A cacophony of bird voices and flapping wings, we feel so blessed having all of them living on our pond.

Let’s get back to the easel. The shadows of the White Daisies are painted first. Then the gray green foliage is mixed from Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Hansa Lemon Yellow. A few strokes of Pthalo Blue + White are added for variety and coolness in the leaves. When they are done I’ll go back in, put in the centers of the flowers and the bright White highlights on the petals.

Sunflowers are such a happy flower. If I were to come back as a flower it would have to be one of these. They are so cheerful and determined, happily thriving no matter where they are. We plant some every year because they make us smile. Several mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium+ MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Yellow Medium + Alizarin Crimson are used to block in the dancing blossoms.

Beyond the Garden Gate     16″ x 19″     Original Oil Painting

Broad leaves finish out the Sunflowers, then the Clivia in the lower corner completes this special piece. Our collector’s first Senkarik painting was one of my colorful doors. Claire told me they always wondered what was behind the door. Now they’ll know. Their new piece will allow them to explore the landscape Beyond the Garden Gate. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com

Ancient Pavers

After completing the foliage of the Wisteria the details on the blossoms are added. The thick paint is “laid” on top of the green so it won’t pick up the color underneath. The tendrils of the vine are drawn with a fine liner brush. The chili ristra is blocked in first with a thin wash of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin. I then come back and apply thick texture for the individual peppers. To see any of these images larger just click on the picture.

My mixtures for the floor are out on my palette. I’ve used various combinations of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + extra Alizarin Crimson. This makes a reddish tone for the old pavers. White + a little more Cadmium Orange is added for the lighter areas. Extra paint from the rest of the piece is saved on the left side of the palette. The taboret is a culinary cart on wheels. I can keep everything I need close at hand on the shelves. The toilet tissue is to wipe my brush as I paint; a clean brush is the secret to clean, sparkling color on the canvas.

The shadows on the floor are blocked in first. Cooler toward the back, warmer in the front.

The fine liner brush is used to draw the cracks between the pavers into the wet paint of the floor. The perspective lines coming toward the viewer help give the painting more depth. The horizontal lines are then drawn. This is all done freehand. Using a mahl stick would limit my movement, making it difficult to draw straight lines. Have a great day. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

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