First Tomatoes

Our FIRST tomatoes of the year! Sissie, one of our shelter kitties, just had to check them out before I brought them in from the garden.

Collaborations are so much fun to do. This one is a little different. My collector wants the image painted around the edges of a gallery wrap canvas. I have to do some advance preparation on the canvas before painting begins. After labeling the back of the piece with the title, code of authenticity, my signature and personalizing it to the client I attach a hanging wire and hanger. I pencil an arrow on the front of the canvas indicating UP. I’ve made the mistake of not doing this step and ended up with the labeling on the back upside down to the painting. Then screw eyes are put in the stretcher bars on three sides. Note the red arrows.

A double ply piece of cardboard is cut that extends beyond the canvas by approximately 3 inches on each side. The canvas is centered on the cardboard and lightly pressed down.

The screw eyes make an indentation in the cardboard. They are enlarged with an icepick.

The canvas is placed back on the cardboard and the screw eyes pushed all the way through the holes. Then a nail is inserted through the screw eye that extends beyond the surface of the cardboard. This securely holds the canvas tightly against the cardboard.

Since the piece will be painted on the sides the cardboard makes it much easier to handle the wet painting. It will also allow us to ship the piece safely before it is totally dry. The thicker globs of oil paint take up to 6 months to dry completely through, I don’t think our collector wants to wait that long to begin enjoying her special piece. Thank you for following along today, hope you’ll come back and watch the progress. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

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Calming Waters

The foreground patio provides a spot for the person looking at the painting to mentally stand and enjoy the view.

The warmth of the terra cotta tiles and flower pots makes the cool colors in the distance begin to drop back. When the intense colors of the flowers are added the depth in the painting will increase even more.

The bright flowers of the Red Penstemon and Nasturtiums are now blocked in.

Greens of the foliage are worked around the blossoms, helping to shape the flowers. Some strokes of the teal blue window color are made into the leaves to give added dimension.

Long dangling tendrils and deep centers in the flowers finish the Nasturtiums. They would add a tasty touch to a summer salad!

Now for Nancy’s Roses. Paul sent some pictures of her favorites from their garden. She especially loves the soft pink and buttery yellow ones. So I use mixes of Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light + White for the pink roses. Then Cadmium Yellow Medium + a touch of Lemon Yellow + White is mixed for the yellow flowers. The two colors are randomly “Smooshed” around to block in the mass of colorful, fragrant blossoms.

Calming Waters      24″ x 30″    Original Oil Painting

Listen carefully, can you hear the music of the water rushing over the falls? Let the Calming Waters sooth the hustle bustle of your day. To enlarge the picture just click on the image. Thanks for following my blog. Hope you’ll come back and visit our studio again soon. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

Reflections of an Old Mill

The entire surface of the water is first painted with a muted blue made of mixes of Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White. The most distant part of the pond is painted darker, it becomes lighter in the foreground. Then using color leftover from the stone building I begin to drag reflections straight down into the wet paint of the water.

When painting water think of it as a mirror. The reflections are upside down from the objects making them. Closer to the foreground I drag some horizontal strokes across the downward ones. This gives the impression of ripples in the water.

The sunlight cascading down the cattails on the left slides across the water and illuminates the lily pads floating at the base of the building.

The water tumbling over the falls is lightly dragged over the dry paint of the rocky wall. The sun highlights the water on the top edge of the falls.

Foam collects at the base of the falls. A few more horizontal ripples into the calm water finish the pond. WHEW! I must admit, this was the most intimidating part of the painting. But after I got over my initial fear and dove in, so to speak, the challenge was actually fun. Thanks for all of your kind comments! Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Warm and Cool Colors

The upper portion of the summery sky is painted with mixtures of Cobalt Blue + White. A combination of Pthalo Blue + White is used closer to the horizon. Next I begin working the trees into the wet paint of the sky.

Following a simple rule helps to give the feeling of depth in my painting: Cool colors go back, Warm colors come forward. The most distant trees are made bluer than the ones directly behind the building. The tree against the wall on the left side of the mill is a brighter, warmer green which makes it come forward. This layering effect helps give the piece dimension.

The shadow patterns are established on the stone building before adding the individual rocks.

After the rock work and roof are complete I move to the windows. I’ve saved the color left over from the door on my last painting to use for both the windows and shutters.

Browns mixed with various combinations of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White are used for the old, wooden water wheel.

It’s fun to fill the window boxes with flowers. I keep the colors muted using Magentas, Reds and Purples. This is another of those simple rules that are so helpful in painting: Muted colors go back, Intense colors come forward. I want the flowers in the distance to say back. To enlarge any of the pictures just click on the image. Thank you for visiting our studio today. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com

Peggy Martin Roses

Our Rose arbor is in full bloom. The mother plants of our Peggy Martin Roses survived Hurricane Katrina. They were growing in the area of New Orleans that was underwater for almost two weeks. The salt water killed almost everything except these hardy roses. A commercial grower propagated them for sale. The tree to the right of the arbor is a Forest Pansy Red Bud.

The best part is the Peggy Martins have NO THORNS. The arbor itself is made of a twenty foot length of stock fencing, arched over and attached to steel fence posts.

It’s so nice outside I could stay in the garden all day but I don’t think our collector would be too happy with that. So back to work. I draw up the basic elements with an oil wash made of equal parts of Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson. Liquin is added to thin the mixture. To any of these pictures larger just click on the image.

My wrist is braced on the mahl stick to steady my hand enough to draw the small details. What is a mahl stick? CLICK HERE to find out.

The mill and water wheel are all sketched in, we’re ready to begin applying paint. We’ll start tomorrow, see you then. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Water Wheel

We’re beginning on a new collaboration today. My collector sent the images above along with the following description. “The setting is basically the wheel and building structure kind of like image one. The flowers and feel of image two with a stone building like image three instead of the wooden one. Love the window boxes. This should all be on a setting somewhat cleaner with less foliage density than one, more like a blend with image four. And lots of flowers!”

So…..here’s my sketch. To enlarge any of the pictures just click on the image.

Paul made a couple of changes to my sketch. He suggested simplifying the building by taking out the door and upper windows, replacing them with attic vents. No Problem. He loved the rest of the sketch and said we’re good to go.

Remember our Christmas Cactus? The one that was blooming so beautifully a few months ago? WELL…………

Sissie discovered a lizard in it and had to go in after her prey. Fortunately the Christmas Cactus survived, albeit with a few less stems but they will grow back. I HOPE! The stick leaning up against the window in the picture on the left is my “Snake Stick”. This time of year I carry it in the garden just in case I come across a Copperhead or Coral Snake. Do come back tomorrow, I’ll be drawing the water wheel up on canvas. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

Peaceful Melody

The light and shadow pattern is blocked in on the floor. The surface is made cooler, or bluer, toward the back which makes it recede.

While the paint is still wet I draw the lines separating the pavers with a fine liner brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. This is done freehand, using the mahl stick would limit the movement of my hand and I couldn’t make the curved lines smooth.

The Iris Reticulata is painted opposite of my usual sequence of Flowers First, Leaves Last. The long, thin foliage would be difficult to paint around the lacy blossoms.

The brushstrokes making the delicate Butterfly Irises (Iris Reticulata) are gently laid on top of the wet paint underneath. I have to be careful not to pick up any of the underlying color, it would dirty the crisp, white blossoms. I return to my normal sequence for the Marguarite Daisies, blocking in the yellow mass for the flowers first.

After the Zinnias and foliage in the lower left corner are finished I realize the light colored fountain takes away from the White Irises. So I go back and darken the fountain so the dancing, butterfly-like flowers will stand out.

Peaceful Melody     30″ x 24″      Original Oil Painting

The pleasant entry is ready for company.  The gentle splash of cascading water offers a Peaceful Melody for anyone walking up the curved path. It’s been fun making a painting using our garden flowers as models. Thank you for visiting our studio today, hope you’ll come again. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: http://www.senkarik.com

Cascade of Wisteria

Since this gate enters into a courtyard a glimpse of the building in the background is shown. The structure remains in shadow, providing a dark mass so the Wisteria blossoms highlighted by the sunshine will glow. I begin blocking in the flowers with several mixes of Dioxazine Purple + White.

Some of the adobe wall has been painted so I can drag the blossoms down over it. Then I begin working the greens of the leaves around the purple to shape the flowers.

Using the corner of a #8 Bright brush individual petals are indicated. I especially like the square shape of Bright brushes. The flat side can be used to block in larger areas. Turn the brush and the corner is perfect for adding smaller details. If you would like to know more about the other brushes I use CLICK HERE.

The Wisteria is finished except for the blossoms hanging over the gate. I’ll come back and paint them when the gate is complete.

The gate is painted with a Turquoise made of Pthalo Blue + Viridian Green + White. After the light and shadow patterns are established the lines separating the boards are drawn with a fine liner brush. The same brush is used to add the details on the gate latch.

Hanging baskets filled with red Geraniums pop against the Turquoise door. Then I begin working on the fountain. Thank you for following along today. Have a wonderful evening and I hope you’ll visit our studio again soon. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com

Butterfly Irises

First of all, Jack has a new article on Fine Art Studio Online. To read Perseverance in the Face of Disappointment CLICK HERE.

Our Butterfly Irises are blooming! This is pretty special as it’s the first time in 5 years they’ve produced any significant blossoms. I guess they like the new HastaGro we’ve started using. Anyway, Jack suggested I take a few pictures.

While taking photos I realized a gate would fit perfectly between the fountain and the grouping of hanging Geraniums, Butterfly Iris and Marguerite Daisy. A rough sketch is quickly made to get my thoughts down on paper. I started to put a window in the wall behind the fountain but decided it would be too crowded. This will be a fun new painting for our Santa Fe Gallery. To enlarge any of the pictures just click on the image.

I begin drawing up the basic elements on my canvas with a brush dipped in an oil wash of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. The canvas is primed with a coat of white acrylic which makes the surface slightly slick. It’s easy to erase any errant lines with a tissue dipped in thinner.

The sketch on my canvas is complete. We’ll begin painting in our next session, hope you’ll come follow along. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

Want to Save 20% on our Books?

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The new Jack White book, Run Oklahoma Run is NOW AVAILABLE. To find out more about this action packed, page turning historical novel CLICK HERE. Oh, that’s Jack’s portrait of Quanah Parker on the cover.

The online distributor of our books has offered a special promotion for our readers. We want to make this available to all of you. Here is your chance to purchase any of our LULU books, including all seven of Jack White’s Art Marketing Classics, at 20% OFF the regular price. To get the savings just use the code SILEO when you checkout. CLICK HERE to see all of our books available at Senkarik Publishing. Have fun browsing through all three pages, most of Jack’s books are available in both hard copy and as downloads. The downloads are on the first two pages, most of the softcover hard copies of the Art Marketing books are on page 3.

Thought you would enjoy this excerpt from an email we recently received. “I just finished reading Magic of Selling Art. It made me realize that there are a lot of things I could do to enhance the sales of my art. For example, your book has caused me to revamp my website. The book isn’t just for artists. I have trained hundreds of salesmen in my life. You have taken a lot of techniques that all salesmen are normally exposed to and adapted them to the selling of art. What I like is the way you have done it with your stories and actual examples. Your book is interesting, thought provoking, easy to remember and written from the heart.”

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Sea to Shining Sea: The Mexican American War and the Manifest Destiny, is the sequel to Jack’s first historical novel, Ten Years in Texas. Sea to Shining Sea covers the two years after Texas became a State, the Mexican American War and the greatest expansion of the United States in our history. Follow the adventures of Bud Miller and Texas Ranger Jack Hayes in this informative page turner. Jack painted the portrait of Jack Hayes on the cover! To order Sea to Shining Sea: The Mexican American War and the Manifest Destiny CLICK HERE.

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In BREATHTAKING RETREAT: Making a Painting I show the step by step process of making a 6 foot by 8 foot oil painting of the picturesque Portofino Harbor in Italy. Step into the studio and watch the painting come alive. Filled with painting techniques and useful tips on setting up a studio, BREATHTAKING RETREAT: Making a Painting is a complete oil painting workshop. The Jack White Double Primary Palette is explained and this book reveals the one tool an artist CAN NOT afford to be without. A must for artists and art collectors alike.

To order BREATHTAKING RETREAT: Making a Painting  CLICK HERE.

This offer at Senkarik Publishing doesn’t last long. It will expire at 11:59PM on Thursday, May 2. Just remember to put in the coupon code SILEO when you are checking out and you will automatically save 20% on your order. Please feel free to share this with ALL of your friends. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik