Santa Fe Sentry

I’m so glad people like roosters because they are such fun to paint. In the Hawaiian islands the colorful fowl run wild and are called Moas by the locals. We took lots of pictures when we lived on both Maui and the Big Island so I have plenty of rooster reference. Santa Fe needs a new little piece so we’ll just transport this guy to the Southwest. We’ve certainly seen and heard many of them in our travels there. Mixtures of Pthalo Blue + White and Dioxazine Purple + White are used for the background.

The comb is painted with Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta for the shadow and Cadmium Red Deep + a little White for the highlights. The distant edge of the comb is made soft to imply motion. A catch light in the rooster’s eye is placed at 11 o’clock while light shining through the cornea illuminates the iris directly opposite.

I can’t help but make my roosters more vibrant than they actually are in nature. But then, isn’t that what being an artist is all about? The tail feathers are blocked in with a large Bright brush. I like to paint these birds after I’ve done a larger piece. Then I have lots of leftover colors to play with.

Santa Fe Sentry     14″ x 11″    Original Oil Painting

This feisty little fella is ready to head to Santa Fe. And, the coolest thing, he is on the cover and has a part in Jack’s latest eBook short story, Who Killed Leon? To download a copy of the eShort just CLICK HERE. It’s only $1.99 and you will love the surprise ending. Happy Reading! Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

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