Red Gates are so cheery; our collectors specifically requested that one of the four pieces have one. So here goes….. The shadows are mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson while pure Cadmium Red Light is used for the brilliantly lit area. After painting the flat panels of the gates I add the unique hinges and latch.
Trumpet Vine will tumble over the wall of the courtyard. The color mixes are shown above. #1. Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson. #2. Cadmium Red Light. #3. Cadmium Orange. #4. Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. #5. Three values of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium. #6. Pthalo Blue + White. #7. Pthalo Blue + Liquin. The oil colors left over from the previous session are lined up on the left of my palette. They’ll be usable for two or three days.
Looks like my supervisor, our rescue kitty Molly, is asleep on the job in the background 🙂 Click on the picture to enlarge it so you can see how she is squeezed into the basket that is too small for her. It’s actually for Sissie, her sister, who is considerably smaller than Molly. The only way she can cram in is to let one or two of her legs hang out.
ANOTHER VIDEO TODAY! You can watch how the Trumpet Vine is painted in my usual sequence of FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST.
AND….. sound the Trumpets. The vine is complete!
NO MO’ PALLETS!
This is an exciting day. I’ve completed the last of our flower beds and the pallets are gone! Don’t have to look at them any more. YIPPEE!!!! I’ll admit, there were days I wasn’t sure I’d ever get to this point. There are a few minor projects to do but the bulk of the construction work is DONE!
The stepping stone pathway is laid out and spaced. Next I have to dig them into the ground and level the stones. But at least I can now walk all the way around our home/studio without getting dirty, muddy feet! Those are amaryllis in the curve of the flower bed. We always get them for Christmas decorations. This year Jack suggested planting them……they’ll bloom next spring! We’ll keep adding more after each Christmas.
A dear friend sent us the Snoopy birdhouse. I love Woodstock sitting on his tummy! Don’t they look so cool hanging out next to Ruby, our Forest Pansy Redbud Tree? We found out the other Redbud Tree on the left, Rosie, is not a Forest Pansy. The nursery told us they want to replace it as soon as they get more in. But it probably won’t be until next spring. So….we’ll get to enjoy Rosie I this year, and welcome Rosie II next!
Thanks for following along. Hugs,
Mikki Senkarik 
May 22, 2015 at 6:31 PM |
Great job Mikki!
May 26, 2015 at 11:58 AM |
Mikki, I look forward to your paintings and instructions as often as you are able to send them. Will you please answer question for me. Am just starting to paint again with oils. Do you use Liquin as a medium to make the paint more spreadable? If not, what? With many thanks, Sallie Nardone
May 29, 2015 at 5:01 AM |
Good Morning Sallie,
Yes, I use the Liquin to make the oil paint more pliable or spreadable. But don’t use too much, the paint will become too thin and you won’t get good coverage. It also makes the oil paint dry more quickly. I usually put a small dab of Liquin on my palette. Then as I’m mixing a color I’ll dip the TIP of my painting knife in the Liquin to get the right amount for mixing. The only time I use a lot of Liquin is if I’m making a wash. Then I’ll use a liberal amount of Liquin with a tiny touch of color. Hope this helps and thank you so much for following my blog. Hugs, Mikki