The basic plan is sketched on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (Ulramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. A few marks are made to indicate the windows and the placement of the door on the background building. These are made lightly so I can change them if needed. I now begin to draw the gate and wall in the foreground. The colors for our Double Primary mixing system are laid out along the back of my palette beneath the painting. To find out more about our Color Mixing System CLICK HERE. The rows of color along the left side of the palette are some mixtures I saved from my previous piece. The oil paint will be useable for three to four days.
The structure in the foreground determines the proportions of the building in the background. Now that the gate is completely drawn in I can go back and begin working to establish the steps, windows and door of the distant building. I’ve reduced the number of steps both at the front gate and to the door in the distance. Many times in transferring my initial sketch to the canvas I have to make changes.
As I sketch I make adjustments in proportions. You can see I’ve moved the windows on the left a little bit, made the wall along the stairs taller and widened the door.
The sketch is complete and we are ready to begin applying the oil paint. Hope you will come back tomorrow and watch. Have a wonderful evening. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik
Website: www.senkarik.com
July 19, 2012 at 9:45 PM |
Sooooo…..I have just loved following your progress as you paint. Would you mind if I copied what you are doing? I am just a painter wannabe……but, I do KNOW good art when I see it….
Peggy
July 20, 2012 at 4:30 AM |
wow peggy..i was just going to ask the exact same thing!..i paint digitally and wanted to ask Mikki if i could use the sketch and try in painter and follow along..
July 20, 2012 at 12:33 PM |
Well, her crisp whites and blues with accent dots of flower colors has really drawn me in. I went to staples and got an 11×14 copy of the drawing. I can’t wait to start. Have to paint my porch first, though. Sigh.
July 20, 2012 at 9:09 AM |
I love your work..I share all the paintings you post and my friends love it…the colors you use are amazing….
July 20, 2012 at 10:41 AM |
I was wondering what you did with leftover paint! Do you cover it at night or preserve it in some other way?
July 20, 2012 at 8:13 PM |
Christine,
I just leave the paint out on my palette. Oil paints are good to use for several days. If I want to save them longer I will put them in a paper cup and cover them with water. Hope this helps. Mikki
July 21, 2012 at 12:55 PM
Thank you!