Icing on the Cake

On to my favorite, gardening. The reds and greens for the Geraniums are mixed and laid out on the palette above. The colors lined up to the left are various mixtures remaining from the rest of the piece. I keep little dabs in case I need to go back to do any touch up or add a “color surprise” here and there. I begin the Geraniums by blocking in the various reds of the blossoms as seen in the flower-pot by the door. In the pots on the window sill the greens of the leaves are painted around the flowers. This method of blocking in the blossoms first allows the flower color to remain bright and crisp.

Moving to the Maximilian’s Sunflowers and California Poppies I employ the same technique. Flowers first, foliage second. Notice in the Geranium leaves I’ve used some of the leftover window color, one of those “color surprises” I mentioned. This adds depth to the foliage and makes it harmonious with the rest of the piece.

Now for the leaves of the Maximilian’s Sunflowers. A mixture of Ultramarine Blue + Hansa Lemon Yellow makes a warm green.

The California Poppies have a more blue-green foliage, therefore I use a mixture of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a little Cadmium Yellow Medium. White is added for the leaves in the sunlight. Above I’m adding the centers of the flowers and highlights.

Like the icing on a cake, the flowers add the finishing touch to the painting. Tomorrow I’ll put the final flourish on the piece, the white Matilija Poppies. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com