Winter’s Glory

Painting the house begins at the far end. I let shadows of trees out of the picture fall across the garage and second story here. Covering this part of the home in cooler shadows makes it recede. The washed in areas of the windows are now dry; it’s easy to draw the window sashes over the dark with a fine liner brush. You may click on the images to view them larger.

The snow on the porch roof is painted with a mix of White + Ultramarine Blue. Then the closest edge is accented with Pure White which makes it appear to come forward.

White is added to some of the background tree mixtures to use for the comfortable chair on the front porch. I make it a bit more tan than it is in reality so it won’t disappear into the wall behind.

The sunlit portion of the closest part of the home is painted with a warm white made of White + a tiny touch of Cadmium Orange. The warmth makes the house stand out from all of the cool whites of the snow. Painting a white home in a snowy landscape is a challenge. To successfully do this a wide range of warm and cool Whites are necessary.

The shutters are made of Viridian Green + a bit of Phtalo Blue + White.

When I had the painting to this point I received an email from my collector. She said that very morning the Evergreen Tree and large bush on the far right of the painting had been cut down! Sooooo, have to regroup and figure out the architecture of the garage behind the tree and bush!

While I’m planning what to do on the garage I go ahead and work on the chimney. Mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Alizarin Crimson + a bit of Cadmium Orange + White are used for the red brick. I love the rusted iron farm implement hung on the chimney. I think it may be a cutting blade from harvesting equipment.

Terry said the garage has two openings. We decided it would also be a good idea to take out the white house next door. Removing the large dark tree and bush affects the balance of the painting. So I add some dark evergreens behind the garage to bring some heaviness to the right side of the piece. I also have to extend the garage a little farther to the right than it actually is. But if it is any shorter the painting would feel lopsided to the left side.

“Winter’s Glory” 

Tree shadows stream across the short bushes along the drive and porch roof. Examining the original photo I realized the large deciduous tree is on the other side of the drive. I tuck it behind the distant end of the garage and we are done. I really enjoy the ideas my collectors come up with, they make me stretch and grow as an artist. It’s been a fun challenge changing this stately home from Summer’s Beauty to “Winter’s Glory”! Thank you for following my blog! HUGS,

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BRRRRRR!

Our session today begins with painting the sky. The lowest portion is made with a mixture of White + Pthalo Blue, while the uppermost region is a darker mix of White + Cobalt Blue. Since the house and snow are white the sky is made darker in value than I usually do in order to offer more contrast. The oil wash drawing is completely dry so I can paint “Sky Holes” into the trees without picking up any of the sketch color on my brush and muddying the brilliance of the sky.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Distant Trees

The large, bare tree to the right of the home is painted wet-into-wet over the sky. This allows me to soften the ends of the branches into the blue background.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Snow

After adding a little more detail to the rock wall, I use some of that same color for the part of the front steps peeking out of the snow. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to view them larger.

Snow covered bushes along the front of the house are now painted.

The mailbox is made of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The support post is mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White. Snow covers the rounded top of the mailbox.

Snow DONE! We’ll work on the house in our next session, I hope you’ll come watch! HUGS,

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Challenge for a Southern Girl

Starting a new commission today that’s a real challenge. My collector asked me to paint this home as a gift for friends who live there. BUT…..Terry would like this to be changed from summer time to the middle of winter! That’s a huge leap for a Southern girl who has avoided cold weather, and especially snow, all of her life! Give me sugar sand instead of white snow any day!

The basic outline of the home has been drawn up in pencil on a canvas that was primed with white acrylic. I had make sure to adjust for the distortions of the camera. Notice how the house and chimney on the left is leaning toward the right in the top photo. Using a thin oil mixture of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin the shapes of the trees are washed in with a large Bright brush. You may click on this, or any of the other images, if you’d like to see them larger.

The same mix is used to establish the shadow patterns on the house.

The upright mailbox is a nice element that acts to break the long line of the rock wall in front of the house.

Windows are washed in with both the MUD + Liquin mix and another of Ultramarine Blue + Liquin.

Crisp Viridian Green shutters and large evergreen trees provide dark accents. Our initial value sketch on the canvas is complete; we’ll begin applying opaque oil paint in our next session. 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.

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Captivated!

Bet you thought I’d fallen off the face of the earth! Well, I have to admit I’ve been playing hooky. Went to visit friends and go to a football game! Coach Grant Teaff, retired Hall of Fame Head Coach of the Baylor Bears, invited me as well as Jack’s and my good friend, Ann, to join him and his wife, Donell, in their sky box suite  at McLane Stadium on Saturday. We had a wonderful time, here we are with “Bruiser” and “MariGold”, the Baylor Bears’ Mascots.

Ann and I with Coach and Donell. Grant definitely has his Coach’s game face on.

To say we were high in the sky is a bit of an understatement! I was just a little uncomfortable standing by the open window down in the front row of the suite. I plopped down a few rows up where I had people in front of me, not just open air! That’s Coach’s daughters, Layne and Tracy, in the front row celebrating a Baylor Touchdown! AND…..WE WON the game!

“Bruiser” and Coach with Jack’s Gold Leaf Painting of a Bear he did for Grant in 1972!

Here is Coach Teaff and Jack, WAY BACK WHEN! Notice the paintbrushes in Jack’s hat band, that was his trademark. You may click on the picture to see it larger. That’s how they met; it was the beginning of an incredible friendship. When Jack first introduced me to Coach and Donell in 1991 they immediately adopted me into the family with no questions asked! So that’s what I’ve been up to, NOW it’s time to get back to work!

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Angelonia Flowers

Sweet Potato Vine is added next with mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Lemon Yellow + White.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Kitty Part 1

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Kitty Part 2

A Ruby Throat Hummingbird has zipped in to take a sip of nectar from the Angelonia!

This cute little fella is “Captivated” as he watches the hummer dance from flower to flower, enjoying an afternoon snack! Thanks for following along today! With BIG HUGS,ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

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Garden Kitty

We’re back in the garden with another sweet little kitty. And wouldn’t you know it, a hummingbird has also shown up. Imagine that! My basic plan was drawn up on the canvas with an oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. The rectangular flowerpot is Ultramarine Blue + Liquin, while the tall, spiky flowers have been washed in with Magenta + Liquin. OH! Don’t forget, you may click on the pictures to enlarge them.

Let’s get to painting. First of all, many of you have asked if I use acrylics or oils. I work exclusively in oil paint, I just don’t like acrylics. They dry far too quickly for me. Plus the colors don’t stay the same as when they are applied to the canvas, they darken as they dry. The wall has been covered with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Ultramarine Blue + White. Then the background is a soft grey green made of combinations in various proportions of Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + a bit of MUD + White. I make certain to work carefully around the sketch of my kitten.

The top of the wall is lined with Saltillo tiles, a type of terra-cotta tile that originates in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. First, the light and shadow pattern is painted with mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light +  White. Then the lines separating the individual tiles are drawn with a fine liner brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.

Fragrant Nasturtiums tumble out of the blue container. The fragrant flowers are blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Orange.

Mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium are used for the silver dollar shaped leaves.

The final touch on the Nasturtiums is adding the deep centers with Magenta + Liquin. Hope you come back and visit our studio again soon! 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.

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A Chili Heart

The Geraniums are blocked in using my usual sequence of Flowers First, Leaves Last. The reds are combinations of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light.

The leaves of the Geraniums are made of mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. After painting the leaves, highlights are added to the sunlit petals of the flowers with Cadmium Red Light. Lavender Salvia, painted with Dioxazine Purple + White, nestles at the foot of the Turquoise door next to the container of Geraniums.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Pink Hollyhocks

A Chili Heart     11 inches x 11 inches

This quaint little Santa Fe doorway has a touch of romance, adorned with the spicy warmth of “A Chili Heart.” By the way, if you are interested in purchasing this piece just CLICK HERE. I appreciate you following my blog. Please come visit again soon! I’ll be starting a hummingbird painting in my next session! HUGS,

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Painting the Wreath

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Chili Pepper Wreath

Wreath is DONE! Now let’s move on to the Trumpet Vine cascading over the doorway. The flowers are blocked in first with mixes of Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange, Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Orange. Then the leaves are painted around the masses of red-orange using combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium. A few strokes of Pthalo Blue + White are made here and there to bring coolness to the foliage.

After adding the deep centers in the Trumpet Flowers I begin covering the surface of the floor with mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange. White is mixed in for the sunlit areas of the tile. Some of the color from the door is brought down into the floor below it to give the feeling of faint reflections.

The curved perspective lines of the uneven pavers are drawn into the wet paint of the floor with a fine liner brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.

Some Cadmium Red Light is added to the tile mixtures and used for the rectangular, terra cotta container. Then the lower portion of the Hollyhocks on the right side is washed in with Pthalo Blue + Liquin and a little of the green left over the the Trumpet Vine above. I appreciate you following my blog, please feel free to ask questions. HUGS,

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Back to Work

Well, it’s back to work! My Santa Fe gallery needs some small paintings to replace some of the ones that sold. Lots of people LOVED the piece with the heart shaped wreath made of Chili Peppers, it was taken almost immediately. So I thought it would be fun to do another one, especially since Santa Fe’s annual Wine and Chili Festival is right around the corner. The initial plan is sketched up on the canvas with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

The wreath is washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin. Using a clean brush dipped in Turpenoid Odorless Paint Thinner the individual peppers are “Lifted Out” of the washed in color. You may click on the image to see it larger.

The sketch is finished and we’re ready to begin Painting!

The adobe walls are “Constructed” first. Several mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White are used. More MUD is mixed in for the darker shadows. The shadow cast by the lantern is painted wet into wet over the lighter wall color, enabling me to make the edges soft.

The lintel, or support beam over the door, is made of combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange. The same mixes are used for the lantern and wrought iron holder.

Our final step in today’s session is to highlight the glass in the lantern with a mix of White + Ultramarine Blue. Hope you come back and visit our studio again soon! 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.

Please keep in mind, to move through the blog when you get the posts just CLICK on the small titles at the top of the page. The right one for the next post or the title on the left side for the previous session. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!

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Our 2018 Collector Event was GREAT!

We had a GREAT time at our 2018 Collector Event in Santa Fe. Here’s a few pictures for those of you who couldn’t join us in the fun. Darrell and Phyllis Hilley, the gallery owners gave me the center stage wall, right in the middle of all the activities! I sneaked into the gallery early to get a picture before the opening reception on Friday evening. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

Mitch and Lynne, on the right, began collecting my paintings in 2008. Their first piece was a commission for a wedding gift to each other. And every year since they’ve made Our Collector Event part of their anniversary celebration! Little Cooper was just a baby bump last year when Derek and Allison, Lynne’s daughter, attended.

Jeana flew in from Florida! We’ve collaborated on many commissions, Jeana comes up with the coolest ideas for paintings. We have some more in the works that you’ll see in upcoming blogs.

Tom and Linda visiting with Ed Chacon, another artist represented by the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery. Ed and his wife, Yolanda, came in especially to say HI!

Tom and Linda brought their pretty baby, Platita, with them. She’s also become part of our annual event and loves to get all the extra petting.

How delightful to see Polly! She worked with the gallery for years as a sales consultant. Phyllis and I were so excited she dropped in. Notice the Chili Pepper Earrings I’m wearing in the following pictures at our event on Saturday, Polly gave them to me. They are so fun!

On Saturday, more collectors came. Ray and Jan drove in from Pilot Point, Texas. They first began with Jack’s work, later adding some of my paintings to their collection. What is so great is that our collectors become good friends over the years.

That sweet little Cooper was the STAR of the show. Ann, Jack’s and my dear friend who drove out to Santa Fe with me, loved holding him.

We made Cooper the official “name drawer” for the door prizes.

HMMMMMMMM, he just happened to draw his mom’s name. I think Cooper wanted to make sure she got that puzzle!

When his name was drawn Dick turned to his wife Debbie and asked her, “What would you like me to pick?” She immediately replied, “The House Flag”. Jack would have said, “Dick is VERY well trained! I can tell he passed Husband’s Obedience School with flying colors!”

Then we asked all of the collectors who were there when they began collecting my paintings. Tom and Linda started in 2006, making them the long term collectors of the group. I had one of my VIGNETTE Oil Drawings especially for them.

Meanwhile others were perusing my paintings. Mitch and Lynn were trying to decide which one they’d like for an anniversary present. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Laurie attended a seminar Jack and I gave in 2011. It was so nice to see her and Dwight, visit and catch up on their travels.

One of the fun things about our Collector Events is I get to personalize the pieces our collectors take home.

Rich and Gabbe came all the way from Wyoming! Tom, on the right, is one of our wonderful consultants who works in the gallery.

Debbie and Dick came with Ray and Jan. She fell in love with the piece shown below, “He Took Our Seat”. I overheard her telling Jan that the painting would be even more perfect if it had a Monarch Butterfly.

I couldn’t help but jump into the conversation with a quick, “I can add one!”

To which Debbie responded, “OK, I want it!”

So, I brought the painting home to add the butterfly. Here is the painting before work began……

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Adding the Monarch Butterfly

And….here’s the butterfly.

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came, I so appreciate all of your encouragement and support. Also Darrell, Phyllis, Arlene and Tom at the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery deserve a huge round of applause. They worked long and hard to make our 2018 TEAM SENKARIK Collector Event a success! With Grateful Hugs,

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