Wispy Wisteria

Out comes the laptop to view my reference for the Flower Shop. Painting the side wall of the building I make it warmer and darker as it comes forward. The adobe is my basic mix of Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White with a little bit of Alizarin Crimson added.

The front wall is fun to paint with all of the shadows cast by the Wisteria, roof tiles and the awning. The undulating trunks of the Wisteria are painted wet-into-wet. Under the awning a touch of green is added where it would reflect down on the shadowed area of the wall.

The trick to Wisteria is making it wispy and delicate. The first one I painted definitely was not that. Over the years I’ve gotten better at it. The first step is to block in several shades of purple for the blooms.

Next the foliage is worked in and around the purple with a large bright brush.

Coming back with a small brush the petals of the blooms are added.

The final touch is to draw the little branches and tendrils with a fine liner brush. I try to let several blossoms dangle and hang in front of the sign, roof tiles and awnings. This helps to add to the “Wispyness” of the Wisteria. Hugs, Mikki Senkarik

Website: www.senkarik.com