A Mother’s Love

 

CLICK HERE to go directly to the eBay auction.

“A Mother’s Love”

It’s hard to believe the special day we honor all of the loving, hard working moms in our lives is right around the corner on May 12. This year give a gift that will bring smiles to that wonderful woman’s heart for years to come, every time she views “A Mother’s Love” on her wall. PLUS, these flowers won’t ever fade and NEVER need watering!

You may click on any of the images to see them larger.

“A Mother’s Love” Detail

Share the JOY of the little Gambel Quail and her precious chicklets with that special MOM in your life! Remember, the bid begins at ONLY A PENNY! But don’t linger, my auction ends on THIS Sunday, May 5 at 6PM PDT.

CLICK HERE to go directly to the eBay auction.

The painted image of “A Mother’s Love” is 15 inches tall by 11 inches wide. The outside dimension, with our Senkarik/White Signature Frame is 20 inches tall by 16 inches wide. A Senkarik original oil painting this size sells in our galleries for $990. However; the auction bidding starts at ONLY 1 cent. That’s right, one penny!

CLICK HERE to go directly to the eBay auction.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Gambel Quail Hen and Chicks

“A Mother’s Love” Detail

Say “You mean so much to me” to that exceptional mother in your life with the gift of this cheery red gate, colorful flowers and the sweet little quail. I will be happy to personalize the back of the painting for you. Just let me know as soon as you win so I can ship it in time to arrive for Mother’s Day.

CLICK HERE to go directly to the eBay auction.

BUT you have to HURRY! The auction ends THIS Sunday, May 5 at 8 PM in Texas. That’s Central Daylight Savings Time. So have some fun with your Mother’s Day shopping this year, HAPPY BIDDING! Hugs,

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Radiant Rooster

The iridescent feathers at the top of the Rooster’s wing are made with several mixes of Pthalo Blue + White. The entire feather is covered with the darkest shade. Then the lighter tones are painted, wet-into-wet, over the dark. You may click on the image to see an enlargement.

The fine feathers cascading over the back of the Rooster are called the “Saddle”! Combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light, MUD + Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson and Alizarin Crimson + White are used. The square end of my BRIGHT BRUSH is turned sideways to make the long, thin feathers. To learn more about the brushes I like to use, CLICK HERE.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Rooster’s Tail Feathers.

The last step is to add the White feathers at the base of the Rooster’s tail. A combination of White + MUD + Ultramarine Blue is used for the darker parts of the feathers. Then the highlights are added with White + a little Ultramarine Blue. Pure White would be too bright.

Radiant Rooster 24 inches by 30 inches

The soft, cool background and grass make the warm, bright hues of the Rooster POP!  Years ago, when I began painting Roosters, Jack discovered an ancient French Proverb that said: “A Rooster on the wall guarantees Success in your Kitchen and Happiness in your Life!” May our “Radiant Rooster” bring all that and more to his new home! Thank you for following along and I really appreciate all of your wonderful comments! HUGS,

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Head and Hackles!

Before painting the Rooster I’ve got to get the background and grass covered. My color recipes are as follows: #1. White + Dioxazine Purple. #2. White + Dioxazine Purple + Pthalo Blue. #3. Three mixes in different combinations of White + Pthalo Blue. #4. 2 shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Please remember, you may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

The lightest shade of the #3 mixes is used in the upper part of the background, behind the Rooster’s head. Moving lower on the canvas I use the darker mixtures.

#1 and #2 are used nearer the grass and directly in back of the multicolored tail feathers.

The soft green mixes make the grass. Some of mix #1 is worked into the grass to the right of the bird’s tail. I keep the colors muted so the transition between foreground and background is subtle. Plus the duller, more muted hues of the sky and grass will accentuate the bright, warm colors on the Rooster.

The sun highlights the grass in front of his feet.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Comb, Wattles, Beak and Eye of the Rooster

The long feathers on a Rooster’s neck are called Hackles! I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “Don’t get your Hackles Up!” If a mean looking dog has his back arched, teeth bared and the hairs on the back of his neck are standing straight up….You’re in BIG TROUBLE. You’ve “raised his hackles“. Roosters do the same thing when they are alarmed or angry; the Hackles on their neck puff out or “Raise”. So now you know where the expression comes from.

Head and Hackles are done! We’ll be working on that colorful tail in the next session, I’ll even have a video! Hope you’ll come watch. Hugs,

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Starting a Rooster

Beginning a new commission today, a ROOSTER! I love painting these cocky barnyard kings and this is especially fun because the only request the collector made is she wants a “Colorful Tail”! I make a quick pencil sketch to plan the placement of the bird on the canvas.

Here’s my setup. Notice the laptop and sketch on the taboret to the right of my palette and easel. This makes it very easy to view my reference material as I work. The tripod is where I placed my camera to record the following video. You may click on this or any of the other images to see them larger.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Starting the Oil Wash drawing of the Rooster

I mentioned in the video that I constantly look at my painting in the mirror placed in back of me. Viewing my piece in the mirror switches it from the inventive side of the brain to the analytical side. This allows me to critique composition, perspective and anatomical correctness. Jack learned this helpful technique from reading about Leonardo di Vinci, the Master Artist also used a mirror to judge his paintings. I do this with all my paintings, no matter how simple or complex.

Several different oil mixtures are made for the wash in. #1. MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin for the initial oil sketch. #2. Alizarin Crimson + Liquin was used for the comb and wattles of the Rooster. #3. Pthalo Blue + Liquin. #4. Viridian Green + Liquin. #5. Dioxazine Purple + Magenta + Liquin. #6. Ivory Black + Liquin.

Mixes #3 and #4 are used to begin making the long tail feathers.

The darker, under feathers are the purple and ivory black combinations.

We’ll start painting with opaque oils in our next session! Hope you’ll come back and follow the process. 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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Serene Evening

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Evergreens and Birch Trees

The outcroppings of rock are painted with combinations in different proportions of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + more Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The square shape of my large Bright brush is perfect to form the individual stones.

The painting, attached to the cardboard, is removed from the easel and placed flat on the taboret to extend the rocks over the lower edge. Now you can see how the backing makes it easy to handle the wet art! CLICK HERE to see how a canvas is attached to the cardboard.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Field of Pansies – Part 1

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Field of Pansies – Part 2

The Buck is painted with mixtures of Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + a bit of MUD + White. The setting sun outlines his ears with warm light.

Lupines in the foreground are blocked in with mixes of Dioxazine Purple + White, Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White and Dioxazine Purple + Magenta + White.

The foliage is made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + Lemon Yellow + White.

The highlights on Mr. Chippers, the Northern Cardinal, are pure Cadmium Red Light. His body is Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Red Deep. His distinctive mask is delineated with Ivory Black. The Reds of the bird POP against the soft, cool green of the Pansy foliage behind him. Placing Green, the complimentary color of Red, next to it makes the Red appear even brighter.

The Fawns are “Piebald” deer. They are born ocassionally to completely solid parents because of a recessive albino gene. Jeana fell in love with them because they look like Appaloosa horses! ME TOO!

She asked me to make both of the baby deer with the unusual coloration. The most interesting thing is they don’t lose their spots like regular fawns and keep the markings their entire adult life!

Serene Evening    14 inches by 14 inches

The coolness of the flowers and landscape makes the sunset appear even brighter, bringing a warm glow to this “Serene Evening” in Upstate New York. I’d like to THANK all of you for your wonderful comments on my Easter Message. With Colorful, Appreciative Smiles,

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Rejoice, HE is Risen!

The beauty God created gives us a tiny glimpse of Heaven and leaves us in total awe. Even more awesome is we can live in peace and tranquility knowing He gave His only son for us.

HAPPY EASTER! Rejoice, CHRIST HAS RISEN!

 

I am so blessed to have every single one of you in my life! Your friendship, continued support, thoughts and prayers are incredibly wonderful. Thank you for being here for me. May you have a blessed Easter! With great appreciation,

 

Reflecting on the Sunset

Let’s get going on that sky! My color mixtures are shown above, the recipes are as follows. #1. MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White. #2. MUD +Alizarin Crimson + White. #3. Mix #2 + Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson. #4. Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange + a touch of mix #3 + White. #5. Two shades of Cadmium Yellow Medium + a bit of Cadmium Orange + White. #6. Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. #7. 4 combinations of MUD + Ultramarine Blue + White for the mountains. By the way, if you ever need to mix Cadmium Orange just combine 2 parts Cadmium Yellow Medium + 1 part Cadmium Red Light!

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Sky and Mountain.

Paint from the sky is used to make the reflections from the setting sun in the still water below. Some of mixes #3 and #4 are brought in behind the buck’s head to accentuate it. Please remember, you may click on any of the pictures to view enlargements.

After bringing some lighter reflections in back of his majestic rack with the darkest #5 mix, the antlers are drawn into the wet paint with some MUD + Liquin. The lighter streak in the water serves to lead the viewer’s eye from the sun to the deer.

Tree tops on the mountain glow with warmth from the sun’s rays. The corner of my square “Bright” brush is used to delineate the details. To learn more about the brushes I prefer, CLICK HERE.

The tips of the buck’s antlers are also highlighted by the setting sun.

Sky, mountains and lake are complete! I’ll be “Painting Forward” in our next session, please come follow along. I’ll even have videos showing how I paint the Distant Trees and the field of Pansies! HUGS,

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Finger Lakes

Today I’m starting a new commission based on one I had previously painted for my collector. Jeana and her sister, Belinda, grew up enjoying the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York. The painting shown above was done for Belinda’s Christmas gift last year. This area is filled with such wonderful memories for Jeana that she asked me to paint a similar piece for her.

The painting is 14 inches by 14 inches on a gallery wrap canvas, the painted image will extend over the edge and onto the sides. The canvas is attached to a piece of double ply cardboard. To see how this is done, CLICK HERE. After penciling in the shapes of the deer in the foreground I begin drawing the basic elements of the composition with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. You may click on the image to see it larger.

A large buck and two fawns are in the foreground. My wrist is braced against the mahl stick to steady my hand as I draw his rack.

Now the fawns are drawn with a brush dipped in the MUD wash.

The curious fawn is investigating a Cardinal perched on an outcropping of rocks in the lower left corner. He is washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin.

Flowers are labeled and we’re ready to begin painting in our next session. Please 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.

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!”

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

www.senkarik.com

Spring in Our Garden!

Since I’m working on some Surprise commissions I’ll share a few pictures of our Spring Garden. The Red Yucca, Rock Purslane and Aloes in front of the studio are in full bloom, attracting lots of Hummingbirds! As you go through the blog please keep in mind, you may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

Geraniums and Bluebonnets provide a HAPPY greeting!

More lush Bluebonnets lead the way from the driveway to the side gate.

Which opened reveals our little Kitchen Garden. The Rose Arbor can be seen from the kitchen window. Just beyond the cactus on the right side, Star Jasmine is planted right outside that window. The beautiful fragrance fills the house this time of year.

Here’s another view of the Kitchen Garden from below the Rose Arbor. The Star Jasmine is directly on the left next to Salvia Greggi and Rosemary.

Coming around the back of the deck you can see the “Snoopy” Garden with the Red “Snoopy” birdhouse in the distance. I’m super excited, the White Soft Yucca has never bloomed before so this is a special treat.

A second Rose Arbor, on the opposite side of the studio, provides a entrance to the Fountain Courtyard. You can see “Snoopy” in the background. The tiny wren babies I mentioned in a recent blog have grown up and flown away!

These are “Peggy Martin Roses”, they have no thorns which is really wonderful when pruning time comes! The mother plants survived under ocean floodwaters for nine days after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Since they are so tough a commercial grower decided to propagate the roses and offer them for sale in nurseries.

More Star Jasmine grows on this side. It’s wonderful to sit on the deck in the late afternoon and take in the delightful scent.

Molly and her pal Bosco, the talavera ceramic kitty, are certainly enjoying!

Gerber Daisies are some of my favorites, especially since they love our hot summers here in Texas.

The tour ends in the Fountain Courtyard. Thanks for coming along with me today. I’ll be back painting in the next session, hope to see you then! With Colorful Smiles and HUGS,

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Safe in the Arms of Jesus

First the background is painted with mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White. Then the dark, heavy outer robe is blocked in with mixes of MUD  + Cadmium Orange + more Ultramarine Blue + White. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The creamy white linen robe is rendered with combinations of White + Ultramarine Blue + a touch of MUD, White + MUD + a bit of Cadmium Orange, White + some of the darker robe color and White + a little Cadmium Orange + a hint of Ultramarine Blue. The highlights on the sunlit folds are just a lighter version of the cream mixture. I want to reserve pure White for the accents on the Lamb.

The Lamb’s front legs drape over Jesus’ arm. His tiny hooves are made of Ivory Black + White.

The color mixes for the skin tones are shown above. #1. MUD + Liquin. #2. Cerulean Blue + White. #3. MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. #4. Four combinations in different proportions of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White. #5. Two shades of White + a little Alizarin Crimson + #3. #6. A light and dark mix of Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting Jesus’ Right Hand

After studying the painting I realized our little Lamb looked kind of uncomfortable with his front legs extended over Jesus’ arm, almost like he wanted to escape. SO……I paint out his legs. I want the sweet baby to appear more snuggled; safe and secure in his Good Shepherd’s arms.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Lamb’s Head

“Safe in the Arms of Jesus “

The last step is to add the scars in Jesus’ hands from where He was nailed to the cross. I didn’t even think about it until just now but Good Friday is a week from today. This painting reminds us that because of Jesus’ crucifixion and death for our sins, followed by His resurrection, we are all “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”. Now and for eternity! Thank you for your wonderful comments about this painting! All of you are such a blessing for me. With grateful HUGS,

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