Crashing Waves

The vine in the foreground, washed in during the previous session, is now dry. I carefully work around the large leaves as I paint the blue field of the sky. The upper portion of which is made of a mixture of White + Ultramarine Blue. The lowest part of the sky, near the horizon line, is White + Pthalo Blue + a tiny touch of Cadmium Orange. You may click on the picture to see it larger.

Hazy clouds, made of White + a bit of Cadmium Orange + a little Ultramarine Blue, are dragged over the wet sky. This allows me to paint the edges very soft, making the clouds recede into the distance.

The ocean at the horizon is painted with a mix of White + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + more Ultramarine Blue. The junction between sea and sky is also made very soft so it will fall behind the bluffs on the right. The ridge farthest away is painted cooler, or bluer, to make it recede. The closest one is darker and warmer so it comes forward.

As we move closer to the front of the piece the water becomes brighter and more intense. This follows a simple rule that helps to give the impression of depth in a painting: “Dull Colors Go Back; Intense, Bright Colors Come Forward.”

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Crashing Waves WAAAAYYYYY down below!

 

We’ll begin working on the domed church in our next session. Hope you’ll come follow along. HUGS,

http://www.senkarik.com

 

Going to Greece

Let’s get on our magic carpet today and zip off to Greece. Santorini to be exact! We’re beginning again on another commission, this one for a collector in New Mexico. Here’s my pen and ink sketch. As you read though my blog please keep in mind, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The painting is framed in our Senkarik-White Signature Frame made of a heavy, textured white acrylic applied to a gallery wrap canvas. The blue painter’s tape covers the frame, protecting it from the oil paint. When I’m done I’ll pull the tape off, leaving a clean edge. Using my sketch and photos on my laptop for reference I start sketching the basic plan on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

A T-Square, resting on the top of the canvas, is used to make the upright lines straight. Working on the gate you can see how it was a bit too short so I made it taller.

Santorini is a town of steps, this walk goes up several.

After finishing the wall and gate along the back of the foreground level, perspective lines for the domed church are made. The two vanishing points are marked with red arrows.

The details of the church are now drawn in.

Vines cascade over the opening into a private little courtyard on the left. They are washed in with mixes of Sap Green + Liquin, Pthalo Blue + Liquin and Magenta + Liquin.

The drawing is complete and all of my flowers are labeled. Both help to guide me through the painting process, much like a road map does on a driving adventure. Thank you for following along. If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

http://www.senkarik.com

 

 

Keeahna’s Dream

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with Laughter, Love and Gratitude. I appreciate all of your thoughtful  comments on my Thanksgiving Post. NOW…I have a question for you. Why is it when you eat until you are absolutely stuffed and swear you will never be able to eat again, that you wake up extra hungry the next morning?

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Blocking in Sueno’s Head

The entire eye is first painted with a mix of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. Since the sun comes in from the upper left the tiny White catch light is placed near the upper lid at approximately 11 0’clock. Then the lower part of the iris is made with a mix of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. The very center of this area at 5 o’clock, directly across from the catch light, is highlighted using the same mix with addition White. You may click on the image to see it enlarged.

Using mixes of Ivory Black + White the neck and forequarters are painted. Shiny highlights are dragged into the wet paint of his shoulder using a combination of White + a touch of Ivory Black.

To give the feeling of roundness to Sueno’s barrel a stroke of Ultramarine Blue + White is made along the lower edge.

The paint of the background trees is still wet, allowing me to easily drag his beautiful, flowing tail over them.

His mane streams wildly as he runs. Again, the paint in the sky hasn’t dried. It would be difficult to make the long mane smooth if the background was no longer wet.

“Keeahna’s Dream”     20″ x 24″

Listen carefully, can you hear Sueno’s hoofbeats as he gallops through the field of happy wildflowers? His name in Spanish means dream. So I decided to call this Christmas gift for a special little girl, “Keeahna’s Dream”! I appreciate you following my blog. HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

http://www.senkarik.com

Giving Thanks

It’s difficult to believe it’s THANKSGIVING! I may be dating myself but I grew up with Norman Rockwell’s Saturday Evening Post covers. This is one of my favorite paintings of his, celebrating this wonderful time to gather with family and friends in gratitude for all of our blessings.

Just living in this great country is an incredible gift from God. I’m so very thankful for all of the men and women who have sacrificed so much so we can enjoy our lives in America. I also want to let you know how much I appreciate you, my readers and collectors; MY FRIENDS. We ALL have much to be grateful for, God has certainly blessed each one of us. But please remember to thank Jesus every single day for his gifts. I’m making it my goal to live by this saying……..Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart, not a day of the year.”

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with Laughter, Love and Hugs. And GO COWBOYS!

Poplars and Poppies

 

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: We begin with the sky….

( I apologize that this video is a bit out of focus. OPPPSSSS!)

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: and continue with the distant hill and Poplar Trees.

(This one is better!)

I start blocking in the field of wildflowers with mixes of Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White and Dioxazine Purple + White. You may click on this or any other the other pictures to see them larger.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Blocking in the mass of color for the wildflowers.

Coming back, the greens of the foliage are worked around the brilliant color of the flowers. Leaves of the Poppies are mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White.

Sunlight splashes across the  middle ground in front of the horse. The light leads your eye over the dark foreground to the focal point of the painting, Sueno! Jack called this effect the “Threshold”. You visually “step over” the shadow in the front of the piece to the light in the middle ground.

The Poppies in the brilliant light are accentuated with Cadmium Red Light + White and Permanent Rose + White.

Large dark centers of the Poppies are made with MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

Thin stems and flower buds are drawn into the wet paint of the foliage with a fine liner brush.

Pink Daises and Purple Larkspur added in the foreground complete our Wildflower Field. I really appreciate all of your kind comments. And always, please feel free to ask questions! HUGS,

http://www.senkarik.com

Back to Horses

 

This is an exciting Christmas Gift commission for a horse-crazy little girl. Reminds me of myself at her age! Keeahna is in on the secret so she can take part in the whole process. We had a delightful conversation as she told me exactly what she wanted in her Christmas painting: a beautiful, shiny black horse running through a field of red, pink and purple wildflowers!

Moving to the canvas, the outline of the horse is lightly penciled in. Then I begin washing the horse in with a brush dipped in a thin mixture of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

Sunlight accentuates the 4 equal divisions of the horse’s head as shown in the following diagram.

I drew this illustration for the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington in 1992. It was one of several equine anatomy charts I did that they used in their Equine Management Program. Using the length of a horse’s head is a convenient way for an artist to make certain the one they are painting or sculpting is proportionally correct. The smaller drawing shows the 4 equal divisions of the head.

 

As the horse is washed in I’m able to go back in the dark areas with a clean brush and “Lift Off” the shiny highlights on his coat.

Bracing my left hand against the canvas gives me a solid support for my right as I work on the horse’s hindquarters.

I really like the action of the horse reaching out in a full gallop!

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Washing in the Background

ALL washed in and ready to begin painting in our next session. Hope you’ll come follow along. If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!”  It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

http://www.senkarik.com

 

2018 SENKARIK WHITE CALENDAR

NEW FOR 2018

Many of you have asked for a full sized calendar featuring both Jack’s and my work. So here it is…… The SENKARIK-WHITE Calendar for 2018!

Each month has a different Jack White or Senkarik painting, accompanied by an uplifting scripture or inspirational message. Here are a few samples of the pages, you may click on the picture to view an enlargement. To purchase or see a complete preview CLICK HERE.

 

Don’t forget….I also have PRINTS in my new store. There are several different options available, from prints on paper, wood, acrylic or metal! And prices begin at only $27. CLICK HERE to go to the PRINTS department of the Senkarik.com Store.

You’ve requested note cards too! There are six designs of my work and one of Jack’s for you to select from. CLICK HERE to go to the store.   I appreciate you shopping with us. Have FUN browsing! HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

http://www.senkarik.com

 

Beautiful in Bluebonnets

 

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Blocking in Quinn’s face

Before doing any more work on Quinn’s face I move to her hand. Bracing against the mahl stick steadies my brush as I paint her tiny fingers.

Now for her left arm and the hand holding the yellow Coreopsis. You may click on this or any of the other images to view enlargements.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting Quinn’s Eyes

The mahl stick comes in handy again as I delineate the line of her lower jaw and chin.

Placing the painted image next to the photograph in Adobe Photoshop enables me to see what details I need to correct to achieve a complete likeness. I’m almost there, just a few minor tweaks…..

Beautiful in Bluebonnets      14″ x 14″

And we’re done. Our pretty little Quinn is “Beautiful in Bluebonnets”! I appreciate you following along. Here’s a special thank you to everyone for your prayers for the Sutherland Springs victims. God Bless You! HUGS,

http://www.senkarik.com

 

 

Prayers Needed

Just got this message in an email from Elaine Kolodziej. She is the dear friend of ours who spoke at Jack’s Memorial. They own the newspapers in Wilson County where Sutherland Springs is located. She knew everyone who was killed or injured in the shooting.

 “Today is the funeral for the Holcombe family. John Holcombe is burying his parents, his wife and four children, brother and his brother’s daughter. 😦   I can’t imagine … Elaine”

 

Please keep John Holcombe in your prayers. Like Elaine, I can’t even begin to imagine what he is going through. And how shattered his life is. I pray Our Lord wraps him in His loving arms, giving him peace, comfort and the will to continue. May God bless him with the strength and courage to face the path ahead of him. We can’t understand, we can only Trust in God. This certainly makes our little issues seem extremely insignificant. Thank you with all of my heart,

 

Wildflowers

Application of opaque oil color begins with the sky and background trees. The line of trees in the far distance is painted with cool greens made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) White which makes them fall back. The closer trees are darker mixes of Pthalo Blue + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium. A bit of White is added for the lighter portions of the oaks.

The field of Bluebonnets is blocked in, starting near the trees. Combinations of Ultramarine Blue + Dioxazine Purple + White is used for this area. The junction between the flowers and trees is softened to make them all drop into the distance. This follows a basic rule to help give depth in a painting: Soft Edges Recede; Hard Edges Come Forward. The sharper, distinct edges will be on Quinn, bringing her forward.

The Bluebonnets nearer the foreground are made of Cobalt Blue + White.

After the foliage of the Bluebonnets is painted around the blue masses of the flowers, Indian Paintbrush are added. These are various mixes of Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light + White.

The flowers continue on to the sides of the gallery wrap canvas.

The whole unit of cardboard + canvas is taken off the easel and laid flat on my taboret to make it easier to paint the bottom edge.

The fabric of the dress in the original photo was adorned with a pattern. However, that would be too busy and distract from her face in the portrait. So the dress is painted a soft turquoise blue made of Pthalo Turquoise Blue + White that will accentuate Quinn’s skin tones.

Now white “caps” are added on the Bluebonnets. Please keep in mind as you read my blog, you may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Coreopsis

Flowers are complete, we’ll begin working on Quinn in our next session. Hope to see you then! HUGS,

http://www.senkarik.com