California Poppies fill the containers on the window sill and the patina has been added on the bronze rooster by the door, along with highlights where the sun catches the edge of the metal. Now I’m blocking in the foliage of the Daylilies on the left. This is one of the few plants where I paint the green leaves before the brightly colored flowers. To render the blossoms I have to carefully “Lay” the paint on top of the foliage so I don’t pick up any of the green underneath and muddy the flowers.
Geraniums are some of my favorites to plant in containers. Both on canvas and in our garden! We have several I use as models. Jack surprised me with these a few weeks ago to bring some early spring color outside the studio. I go back to my usual sequence of Flowers First, Foliage Second in painting the Red Geraniums.
After planting some Lavender at the base of the Geraniums I move to the Sunflowers. Using a range from Cadmium Yellow + Cadmium Red Light to pure Cadmium Yellow to Cadmium Yellow + Hansa Lemon Yellow the sunny blossoms are blocked in with a Bright brush. Letting a few flowers break in front of the red door adds depth to the painting.
Effervescent Color 24″ x 30″ Original Oil Painting
Warm green leaves finish out the Sunflowers. The rooster is a whimsical touch I like to add occasionally in my paintings. When we traveled in Provence we came across an old saying that I love, “A Rooster brings success in the kitchen and happiness in the home.” And besides that, he was just a lot of fun to paint!
Don’t forget our Saint Patrick’s Day Event, 4 PM to 8 PM at the Fredericksburg Art Gallery. It is going to be a wonderful evening, we have some cool things planned and you will get to see Effervescent Color in person. Plus we will have a chance to give you a Big Texas Hug. Wildflowers are blooming and Saturday will be a great day for a drive through the Texas hill country to the quaint little hamlet of Fredericksburg. The gallery is located at 314 East Main Street, call 830.990.2707 for more information. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik
March 14, 2012 at 11:59 AM |
Oh Mikki, this is just scrumptious! To me this is so what I think of when I think of your paintings over the years. Wish I could be there to give you hugs. So here is a cyber one.
~ Cyd
March 15, 2012 at 11:05 AM |
THANK YOU! Mikki