This piece is going to be my showstopper for our Santa Fe Collector Event. The outside dimension is 36 inches tall by 48 inches wide. I begin by drawing up the architectural elements of the painting. A brush dipped in a thin wash of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin is used. Even though a lot of the building is going to eventually be covered by plants I have to make certain the perspective is correct. A lot of my reference material is saved as digital images, I just put the laptop on my palette and my models for the St. Francis sculpture are handy. These shots were taken at Mission San Diego in California. To see them better you can enlarge the picture by clicking on the image.
Our courtyard is beginning to come together. Notice how I’ve left the areas where the plants will be white or almost white. The flowers and leaves will be more luminescent when painted over the blank canvas.
We’re all sketched up and ready to begin applying opaque oil paint in the next session. Hope you’ll come watch!
It’s full heat blast here in Texas, we’ve been hitting 102 and 103 degrees daily. Hard to think of fall but cooler weather is just around the corner. So I’ve potted up our fall tomatoes, that way we’ll be able to enjoy them for Thanksgiving. They’ll go in the ground when the weather breaks but right now they are getting a head start on developing their roots.
Sissie has been a little jealous of all the attention Molly’s been getting lately. The little sweetie posed so pretty for me this morning I think she wanted to say HI to everyone! Hugs,
Mikki Senkarik 
July 28, 2015 at 6:04 PM |
Mikki, do you ever use a projector to transfer your image or is that a no no?
July 30, 2015 at 6:23 PM |
Fran,
I don’t use a projector to transfer the sketch because I use so many different references. But there is absolutely no problem with projecting. If you do though, please keep in mind the camera distortions found in photos. You may have to make adjustments to your subject to get the proportions correct. I’m sure you’ve seen paintings where an animal’s head is too large and the hindquarters are too small. HAPPY PAINTING! Mikki
July 28, 2015 at 8:40 PM |
What a great photo of Sissie. I love the highlights on her black fur. I noticed that you switched the direction of the stairs. It brings the viewer’s eye back into the painting. I can’t wait to follow your progress.
July 30, 2015 at 6:18 PM |
HOW ASTUTE! You have an Eagle eye. When I did that I made a note to mention the change when I wrote the blog. And of course I totally forgot! Thank you for noticing. Thanks also on the photo of Sissie, I got lucky with that one. Hugs, Mikki
July 29, 2015 at 2:58 PM |
Purrrrrty!!!!!!!!
July 30, 2015 at 11:33 AM |
Mikki, will you have a gallery show in SF this fall? If so, when?
Sent from my iPhone
>
July 30, 2015 at 6:16 PM |
Yes, we are having our Annual Collector Event in Santa Fe on September 4 and 5 at the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery. They are located at 217 Galisteo Street. Can you believe, it will be the 25th Anniversary of showing my work in Santa Fe! Hope you can make it. Hugs, Mikki