Magic of the Matilijas

The cheery Yellow Southwestern Chair is next. Mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) are used for the shadows. Those parts of the chair touched by the sun are painted with Pure Cadmium Yellow Medium. You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

The blossoms of the Matilija (Ma-Tee-Ah) Poppies are blocked in with various aquas, blues and purples. This base provides the shadows of the white flowers, I’ll come back later to add the pure White highlights.

The Poppies and Hollyhocks are worked on as a unit. The foliage of the Poppies is loosely painted around the Whites then I rough in the Magenta flowers of the Hollyhocks. Painting the greens of the large Hollyhock leaves around the Magenta helps to shape the blossoms.

Deep yellow centers are added, giving the Poppies their distinctive “Fried Egg” look. Tall stalks with seed pods finish out the Hollyhocks.

The containers of Petunias are various combinations of Permanent Rose + White and Cadmium Red Light + White. The colors are jumbled together to make the mass of flower color, then the bright greens made of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow are painted. The deep centers seen in the finished flowers on the right are made of Magenta.

Magic of the Matilijas      24″ x 30″    Original Oil Painting

Matilija Poppies look as if they are made of crepe paper. I’ll never forget when Jack and I first saw them. We were driving through the mountains near Lake Elsinore, California where they grew wild along the roadside. It was love at first sight. We had to ask several people before we finally found out what their real name was. Most just referred to them as “Fried Egg Flowers”! Hugs,

Empty Gallery Walls

Because of our wonderful collectors I have empty walls to fill in the Santa Fe Art Collector gallery. So here goes on another piece for them.

I decided to make a soft grey green backgound behind the Wisteria covered wall. Mixes of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White are used. I keep the distant colors lighter in value so they will give the feeling of depth through the opening above the red gate. Next the Wisteria is blocked in Flowers first, Leaves last.

After the chili ristra is washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin I paint the rounded adobe wall, carefully working around the Wisteria blossoms.

Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta is used for the shadows on the gate. Pure Cadmium Red Light will make the sunlit portion.

The final touch on the gate is to add the wrought iron latch and hinges. Moving to the terra cotta tile floor the entire surface is covered. Using a fine liner brush the curved perspective lines are drawn into the wet paint.

When the curved lines are complete I come back and add the horizontal ones separating the individual pavers. The edges of the tiles caught by the sun are highlighted. That’s all for today, hope you’ll come back again! Hugs,

Enjoy the Moment

Here’s another commission from our Collector Event based on a painting that had already sold, Take a Moment to Enjoy. By the way if you’d like to see the fun we had at the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery CLICK HERE.

The initial plan has been sketched up on the canvas in a thin oil wash. Painting begins by blocking in the background and then the adobe wall. To view any of these pictures larger just click on the image.

After painting the Trumpet Vine tumbling over the wall I start working on the bench. Mixes of Pthalo Blue + a touch of Pthalo Green + White make up the soft blue. Donita specifically requested a Kokopelli to be added on the back. Don’t you think that’s a cool idea? My wrist is braced against a mahl stick to steady my hand as I draw the design.

The saw tooth Southwestern style bench is complete so I turn my attention to the tile floor. The entire surface is painted with the light and shadow pattern. While the paint is still wet I draw the perspective lines with a fine liner brush. This is done freehand, bracing against a mahl stick would limit my movement and I couldn’t make smooth lines.

The image is painted on to the sides of the cradled panel that has been attached to a cardboard backing. This makes it much easier to handle the wet painting and work on the edges.

Enjoy the Moment    10″ x 10″    Original Oil Painting Embryo

Pink Hollyhocks finish out the cozy garden. The Kokopelli adorned bench beckons the viewer to come sit among the flowers and Enjoy the Moment. Thanks for visiting our studio today. Hope you’ll come back soon.

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Tunnel of Light Revisited

Our grapes have matured even better than we expected. The arbor is full and offers a welcoming embrace to visitors as they walk to the front door of our studio. If you’d like to see any of the pictures larger just click on the image. To step back in time and see my original post on how we made the arbor CLICK HERE.

When we built the arbor Carolyn, our friend I just did the San Gimignano painting as a birthday present for her mom, suggested we add twinkle lights.

Don’t you think the lights are so pretty?

It’s neat to walk under the arbor at night listening to the rustle of the leaves as the lights shimmer and twinkle. Halloween is so much fun, the costumed children make a point to come under the arbor up to our front door to trick or treat. Many times as they leave they’ll walk back and forth several times through the tunnel of light before going on their way! Just thought we’d share a bit of our garden with you. Hugs,

Red Hot Poppies

Today I’m working on a commission from our Collector Event in Santa Fe. Marilyn loved “Muy Caliente” but it had already sold. So I told her I’d be happy to paint a similar piece just for her. I begin by sketching up the individual flowers with a thin oil wash made of Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson + LIQUIN. To view any of the images larger just click on the picture.

I wash in the areas around the flowers with mixtures of Pthalo Blue + LIQUIN and Viridian Green + LIQUIN. This gives a cool, semitransparent base for the foliage.

Standing on a small step stool I paint the top and upper edges of the gallery wrapped canvas. Molly, our rescue kitty, keeps me company as I work.

The foliage is now added with thick, textured brushstrokes of opaque oil paint.

The paint of the flowers is gently “Laid” on the canvas taking care not to pick up any of the green with the brush which would muddy the blossom color. I want the flowers at the top of the canvas to fall into the background so I use Magenta, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Red Deep to block them in. These are cooler reds than the Cadmium Red Medium and Cadmium Red Light used for the blossoms closer to the foreground. This follows a simple rule of painting, Cool Colors go Back, Warm Colors come Forward.

After painting the petals of each flower I add the dark center.

Red Hot Poppies       14″ x 14″     Original Oil Painting

Jack and I love Poppies. These delightful red flowers join the Bluebonnets in our spring garden. As soon as Red Hot Poppies is dry enough we’ll ship the painting to its new home, where it will provide a warm, cheery touch of spring all year long! Hugs,

San Gimignano Poppies

This piece is a birthday gift for the mother of a dear friend. Carolyn said one of her mom’s favorite places is the village of San Gimignano in Tuscany. She wants to give her this EMBRYO as a special remembrance. The first step is to sketch up the basic outline with a thin oil wash.

The main part of the village is blocked in with dark and light shades of mixtures of Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. Strokes of Ultramarine Blue + White are made here and there for coolness in the shadows. After adding rooftops I begin delineating the towers.

San Gimignano (pronounced San Jim-an-yano) has such a distinctive skyline. The ancient towers catch the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

A vineyard blankets the hillside below the village.

Nothing says Tuscany better than a field of Poppies! So let’s fill the foreground with these delightful red flowers. The mass of red is blocked in with mixes of Magenta + White, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light.

San Gimignano Poppies       6″ x 6″    Original Oil Painting

Dark centers, stems and highlights on the petals complete the field of Poppies. Take a moment to escape to Tuscany. Enjoy the view as the lowering sun casts a warm glow on the tall towers of San Gimignano. Can’t you just feel the gentle breeze that makes the brilliant red flowers bob and dance?  Thanks for following along today. Hugs,

Fall in Santa Fe

This commission is for some long time Team Senkarik Members. Gloria fell in love with one of my EMBRYOS but it was already sold. She asked if I could paint one just for her. Of course! So here we go……The basic plan is sketched up with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash. Then the ristras are blocked in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin.

Next the adobe wall is painted. The chili shadows are fun to paint. Next time you’re outside on a sunny day take a moment to observe cast shadows. They are darker closest to the object casting them. They get lighter and cooler, or bluer, the farther they drop away from their source. I add a few strokes of Ultramarine Blue + White to the ends of the shadows cast by the individual chilis.

The yellows and golds of the Sunflowers are painted first. Then I come back and work the green of the leaves around the blossoms. Following this sequence helps to keep the blossom color clean. If I painted the leaves first my brush would pick up some of the green when the flowers were blocked in, muddying the bright yellow hues.

Adding dark centers immediately identifies these as Sunflowers.

Fall in Santa Fe                Original Oil Painting

The Purple Asters are painted in the same sequence as the Sunflowers: Flowers first, Leaves Last. I sign the piece and it’s done. Ready to bring a touch of Fall in Santa Fe to its new home. Thank you for following along today. Hugs,

Enjoy the Serenity

Now we’ll start on the second piece in the “Garden With a View” Diptych. As you saw in yesterday’s post the basic plan was sketched up on the two pieces at the same time. As before, I begin with the sky and then move forward to the building and Trumpet Vine. I’m using paint leftover and saved from Peaceful Courtyard so I don’t have to remix and match all of the colors.

 CLICK HERE if you would like to go directly to the two auctions

We have the greatest readers who come up with super questions. One asked how I save my paint. So here goes; as I paint I line up the leftover paint on the left side of my palette.

Then at the end of the day I put the excess paint into Yogurt cups. Taking each dab of paint on the tip of my palette knife they are pressed against the side of the cup. The cup is filled with water, making certain to cover the paint by at least an inch. The paint will last several days using this method. When you are ready to use it just pour the water off and pick out the colors with your palette knife! You can CLICK on the pictures to see them larger.

Back to the easel. The entire surface of the floor is blocked in first, then the perspective lines of the terra cotta tiles are drawn freehand into the wet paint with a fine liner brush.

I love geckos and this one fits perfectly on the back of the southwest bench.

Sit in your own flower filled garden and Enjoy the Serenity.  Let this happy little EMBRYO give you that special invitation to take a restful break during a busy day.

Why do we call these EMBRYOS? Having earned a Master’s degree in Medical Illustration from the Medical College of Georgia, I’ve illustrated 47 major Medical, Anatomy and Surgical Textbooks. In honor of my Medical background these charming 6 inch by 6 inch baby oil paintings are called EMBRYOS. They are new, fresh ideas that have yet to be “birthed” into a larger gallery piece. Don’t worry about framing, each is on a cradled panel with finished sides, ready to hang up on your wall. Add a spot of color in your home with one or several, these collectible EMBRYOS hang nicely in groups. Do you have a gift giving occasion coming up? EMBRYOS make wonderful gifts that will bring smiles for years to come.

Peaceful Courtyard                       Enjoy the Serenity

Peaceful Courtyard and Enjoy the Serenity are designed to hang individually or as a pair. Bring the serenity of this Garden with a View to your home. These original oil paintings retail in our galleries for $350 each but to make it more fun we are starting the bidding on both auctions at 1 cent. That’s right, ONLY A PENNY! The auctions are staggered 7 minutes apart so you can win the two Original Oil Paintings to hang on your wall. AND…..If you win both pieces we will give you FREE SHIPPING! But don’t wait too long, the auctions end Sunday evening beginning at 8 PM Central Time!

This may be the last eBay auction I do for awhile. After our successful Collector Event in Santa Fe my wall in the gallery is empty and I have a bunch of commissions to paint.

CLICK HERE to go directly to both auctions

Happy Bidding,

Peaceful Courtyard on eBay

Don’t you just love courtyards filled with flowers? So do I! With that in mind I made the theme for my eBay auction this week “A Garden with a View”. I jot down a quick sketch to solidify my idea. You can click on the picture to see it larger.

The basic plan is sketched up on the two pieces at the same time in an oil wash of Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson + Liquin.

 CLICK HERE to go directly to the two auctions

I start painting with the sky and then “Paint Forward” through the distant mountains. Following a basic rule; Cool colors go back, Warm colors come forward, the mountain farthest away is made cooler so it recedes. The trees are blocked in next.

Red doors and gates are so cheerful! Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta is used for the shadowed portion of the gates while pure Cadmium Red Light makes the part in the sunlight.

Wouldn’t you just love to enjoy the vista of the flowering meadow from your own Peaceful Courtyard? Let the brilliant red gates and sunflowers bring you a surge of happiness every time you look at this colorful Senkarik Original Oil EMBRYO in your home.

Why do we call these EMBRYOS? Having earned a Master’s degree in Medical Illustration from the Medical College of Georgia, I’ve illustrated 47 major Medical, Anatomy and Surgical Textbooks. In honor of my Medical background these charming 6 inch by 6 inch baby oil paintings are called EMBRYOS. They are new, fresh ideas that have yet to be “birthed” into a larger gallery piece. Don’t worry about framing, each is on a cradled panel with finished sides, ready to hang up on your wall. Add a spot of color in your home with one or several, these collectible EMBRYOS hang nicely in groups. Do you have a gift giving occasion coming up? EMBRYOS make wonderful gifts that will bring smiles for years to come.

Peaceful Courtyard                      Enjoy the Serenity

Peaceful Courtyard and Enjoy the Serenity are designed to hang individually or as a pair. Bring the serenity of this Garden with a View to your home. These original oil paintings retail in our galleries for $350 each but to make it more fun we are starting the bidding on both auctions at 1 cent. That’s right, ONLY A PENNY! The auctions are staggered 7 minutes apart so you can win the two Original Oil Paintings to hang on your wall. AND…..If you win both pieces we will give you FREE SHIPPING! But don’t wait too long, the auctions end Sunday evening beginning at 8 PM Central Time!

CLICK HERE to go directly to both auctions.

Happy Bidding,

Basket of Gold

I’d just like to take a moment to pause and pay tribute to everyone touched by 9-11. We are extremely fortunate to live here in America. Jack and I want to thank all of those, both military and civilian, who sacrifice so much to keep us safe.

Today I’m working on the companion piece to Ruler of the Roost. The basic plan is sketched up on the canvas with a brush dipped in an oil wash made of Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson + Liquin.

Using paint left over from the rooster the background is blocked in around the areas where the Sunflowers will be. After painting the tablecloth I begin working on the basket.

The base color of the basket is painted first with a dark mixture of Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. Coming back with a lighter shade of the same mix the texture of the wicker basket is made.

The entire mass of red grapes is blocked in first with a rich mix of Magenta + Alizarin Crimson. Circular brushstrokes are made to give the impression of the round grapes.

Adding the highlight on top and the reflected light along the opposite side helps to shape each individual grape. This same method was followed for the green grapes.

The Sunflowers are blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange.

The deep green foliage is worked around the masses of yellow, helping to shape the Sunflowers. Pure Cadmium Yellow Medium with a touch of Lemon Yellow added is used to accentuate the petals glistening in the light. This Basket of Gold is ready to bring a burst of sunshine to its new home.

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