LOVE is More Precious than GOLD

I received an email from Jeana when she saw the previous post. She loves how the painting is progressing but asked that I make the flowers on the arbor a deeper Burgundy and the chairs darker, more Navy Blue. I’ll be able to do that later, with glazes. The Sunflowers in the foreground are painted with warmer, brighter mixes than those by the arbor. I’ve used Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow Medium and Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow for the cheery blossoms. I’m making 8 blossoms. The number 8 means “NEW BEGINNINGS” in the scriptures!

A pair of white Doves snuggle next to the mason jar filled with Sunflowers; the space between them forms a heart. To see this better, you may click on the image to enlarge the picture.

A wine barrel container occupies the lower left corner, it’s painted in the same manner as the coffee table.

Brandon and Kristie’s names, along with their wedding date, are etched into the metal bands holding the oak planks in place.

Next, the lower portion of the wine barrel is continued on to the bottom edge of the gallery wrap canvas.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Delphiniums

 

White Daisies nestle beside the Adirondack Chair. The shadows of the flowers are first blocked in with combinations of White + Ultramarine Blue, White + Dioxazine Purple and White + Pthalo Blue.

After the leaves are painted with several shades of Phtalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium, the centers of the Daisies are added.

I had to wait a couple of days for the arbor flowers and chairs to dry enough to glaze. A thin Oil Wash of Alizarin Crimson + Magenta + Liquin was made to darken the roses. The Adirondack Chairs were glazed with Ultramarine Blue + Liquin. Digital photography makes the blue appear lighter and brighter than it really is, the chairs in the actual painting are quite a bit darker than this image. This has been a fun piece to design and paint, I loved adding all the special personal touches! I appreciate you following along! I’ll be working on another piece for my Annual Collector Event next, COME WATCH! HUGS,

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A Definite Challenge

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Burgundy Flowers on the Arbor.

The Sunflower bouquet adorning the wagon wheel sports a deep blue ribbon made of Ultramarine Blue + a tiny bit of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White.

The Sunflowers at the base of the arbor are painted with muted yellows mixed with Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD and Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange + MUD. I’m reserving the brighter yellows for the Sunflowers in the front to make them POP forward.

The patio floor is terra cotta tile. The entire surface is painted first, then perspective lines between the tiles are drawn into the wet paint with a fine liner brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin.

The painting is taken off the easel to paint the lower edge of the gallery wrap canvas. You can see how having the canvas attached to cardboard makes it much easier to handle the wet art. The lines separating the individual tiles are continued over the side.

Several shades of Ultramarine Blue + White are used for the Adirondack Chairs.

The edges of the boards are highlighted with a mix of White + a touch of Ultramarine Blue.

The old wine barrel, used for the table, is made of mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. The crevices between the planks are drawn into the wet paint like those on the floor.

The iron straps that hold the barrel together are pulled over the boards with the same mix of MUD + Liquin used for the lines in the floor and coffee table.

OK! Here’s the challenging part, doing the calligraphy “LOVE is more precious than GOLD” into the metal straps on the barrel! This is a line from one of Brandon and Kristie’s wedding songs. If you’d like to enlarge the image to see this better, just click on the picture.

WHEW! That’s it for this session. Thank you for all of your sweet comments, I really appreciate your encouragement! With Cheerful Hugs,

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Distant Lakes

Beginning with the sky I “Paint Forward”. The distant line of hills is made with White + Ultramarine Blue + a tiny bit of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson). The closer strip of land with trees is painted with several combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White, Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD + White and Pthalo Blue + White. If you would like to see the picture larger, just click on the image.

The part of the lake farthest from the viewer is made with Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White. Then a long stroke of a lighter shade of the same mixture is dragged along the base of the land to give the impression of sunlight sparkling on the distant water. The middle portion of the lake is Ultramarine Blue + Phtalo Blue + White, while the nearest part is Pthalo Blue + White. The intensity of this color makes it come forward.

A little Cadmium Yellow Medium is added to the distant tree mixes to use for those along the far edge of the meadow.

I work carefully around the spokes on the wagon wheel in order to preserve my oil wash sketch.

The paint recipes for the grassy field are: #1. Pthalo Blue + White. #2. Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. #3. Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium. #4. Mix # 3 with extra Cadmium Yellow Medium. #5. The #4 mixture + White + more Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The field is painted with Mix #1 in the far back, moving to the foreground in numerical sequence. Then some of Mix #2 + White is used to drag a line of sunshine in front of the trees at the back edge of the grassy lawn.

A little more White is added to Mix #5 to highlight the grass nearest the patio.

My hand is braced against the mahl stick as I delineate the old wooden wagon wheel.

The landscape is complete, we’ll begin adding the flowers in our next session. I hope you’ll come back! With Cheerful Hugs,

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A First Anniversary Gift

This piece is for a good collector of mine, it’s a first wedding anniversary gift for her nephew and his wife. The two photos above are where they WERE SUPPOSED to have their ceremony, BUT IT RAINED! The picture with the wedding ceremony is from the Wedding Venue’s website. Everything for Brandon and Kristie’s wedding had to be moved inside to escape the downpour.

Jeana had some wonderful ideas for the painting, she wanted to capture the beautiful OUTDOOR spot for their First Anniversary Gift. She added some extra touches like special calligraphy, a pair of white doves, an old wagon wheel adorned with sunflowers and a couple of Adirondack Chairs. Here’s my initial sketch. Jeana loved the plan, she just had a couple of changes in flower color and we’re good to go. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the pictures to view them larger.

The painting is on a gallery wrap canvas, the image will extend on to the sides. So I have to wire the painting and write the title, as well as Jeana’s personalized inscription, on the back before I attach the canvas to cardboard. If you’d like to see how that is done CLICK HERE.

After establishing the horizon line and vertical posts for the rose arbor I draw the old wagon wheel leaning against it. A brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin is used to draw the basic plan on the canvas. My wrist is braced against the mahl stick to steady my hand as I delineate the wooden wheel.

The roses on the arbor and flowers in the wine barrel container in the lower left are roughly outlined with the MUD wash. Next are the Adirondack Chairs.

Daises are added in the lower right, then I draw the distant point and hills.

The oil wash sketch on the canvas is complete. We’ll begin painting in our next session, hope you’ll come watch. 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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UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the White Hollyhocks

White Hollies are finished, we’ll begin working on the Salvia next.

Contrary to my normal sequence of FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST I begin the Salvia by blocking in the foliage with mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + Lemon Yellow + White. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the pictures to view them larger.

The reason I work in this manner is because the tall, slender flowers hover mostly above the leaves. It’s easier to paint them after the foliage is complete. BUT, I do have to CAREFULLY LAY my paint over the plants behind the Salvia so I won’t dirty the blossom colors made of Dioxazine Purple + White and Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White. I paint one or two stokes of the Salvia flowers, then WIPE my brush. This is the secret to keeping the lavender blooms bright and crisp.

I decided to add a couple more Hummingbirds, cavorting around the entry garden, to make the painting even more appealing.

“Unexpected Encounter”    24 inches x 30 inches

Searching for more nectar one of the Hummingbirds is shocked to find our little Tiger Kitty in the nicho. I have a feeling the “Unexpected Encounter” is a complete surprise for both! I really appreciate you following my blog and thank you for all of your kind comments. Please feel free to share my blog with your friends and family! With Colorful Smiles,

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Nasturtiums, Sunflowers and African Daisies

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Nasturtiums

The blossoms of the Sunflowers have been blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson), Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium. A few strokes of the darker Nasturtium colors have been added in the deepest shadows of the flowers. The leaves are combinations of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow.

The addition of the large dark centers makes these blooms immediate scream, “SUNFLOWERS!”

African Daisies nestle along the base of the wall to the right of the bright gate. Many of the flowers dance above the foliage, they are painted with mixtures of Alizarin Crimson + White, Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light + White, Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Red Light.

After painting the leaves with several shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White the unique centers of the Daisies are delineated in 3 steps. #1. A dark dot is painted in the middle of each blossom with MUD. #2. A smaller Cadmium Yellow Medium dot is placed in the center of the darker one. #3. A tiny speck of MUD is then put in the middle of the yellow dot. To see this more clearly you may click on the image to enlarge the picture.

I know I promised you a couple of Videos in my last post. WELL….the second one will be in our next session. So ’til then, HAPPY PAINTING!

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Climbing Roses

The little gate is made of two shades of Pthalo Blue + White. Sunshine spills over the wall and splashes a bright, triangular highlight on its brilliant blue surface. As you read through my blog please remember that you may click on any of the images to view enlargements.

I discovered this cool wrought iron gate latch in a Google search!

We’re ready to begin working on the pink Peggy Martin Roses cascading over the adobe wall. COME WATCH as I block them in…..

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Blocking in the Roses

The long canes of the Rose are drawn into the wet paint of the wall with a fine liner brush.

Rambling Roses are complete, we’ll turn our attention to the Kitty and Hummingbird!

The number tiles are added, then the Tiger Kitty is painted with mixes left from the lintel and support posts of the gate. I mixed more Cadmium Orange into the paint for the brown stripes, the darker ones are MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson). His inquisitive eyes are made with some of the green from the distant bluffs.

Viridian Green + White is used for the Hummingbird’s head. His Ruby Red Neck is made with Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson. The highlight is pure Cadmium Red Light.

The entire surface of the Saltillo Tile floor is painted with light and dark mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White and MUD + Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson + White. A few strokes of the gate color are made directly under it to give the impression the tiles are a bit damp, reflecting the blue above them. In the spot where the painting will be signed in Cadmium Red Light I make a stroke of the darker, muted green from the background. The juxtaposition of the complimentary colors, red and green, will make the signature appear a bit brighter.

Perspective lines are first drawn into the wet surface of the floor. Next, horizontal lines separating the individual tiles are made with the same fine liner brush that I used to draw the canes of the roses.

More Cadmium Red Light is mixed into the paint remaining from the floor to use for the large terra cotta containers beneath the Kitty. Check out the lower left corner, you can see my red signature over the muted green floor. That’s all for this session! Hope you’ll come back to help me plant the flowers, I’m planning to have a couple of videos for you! With Colorful Smiles,

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It’s NOT an Easy Job!

Fathers have a very special role in molding and shaping their children’s lives. Walking a fine line to be a guiding light whose love shows them the way is not always an easy job!

God Bless You and Happy Father’s Day to all of you wonderful Dads

in my TEAM SENKARIK Family!

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Airborne Sketch

Last week I went to visit collectors in North Carolina. Armed with sketch pad and images on my laptop, I worked on sketches for my Annual TEAM SENKARIK Collector Event in Santa Fe during the flight. Sitting in an aisle seat gave me a bit more elbow room. Here’s one of my “Airborne Sketches” that is the basis for my next piece.

Using the sketch as reference, I begin drawing the architectural elements on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. I especially like the unusual nicho and tiles for the house numbers to the left of the gate.

The rough shapes of the plants are drawn in and labeled so I won’t forget my original plan when I get to painting.

My initial thought was to have a cat lounging in the unique alcove. But as I was drawing the composition on the canvas the idea of having a little kitten face to face with a hummingbird came to me.

The hummingbird is in and I’ve got a “road map” to follow, now it’s time to start painting! By the way, if you’d like to enlarge any of these images, just click on the picture.

The sky is painted with 2 different mixtures of oil paint. The upper, darker portion is White + Cobalt Blue. A lighter combination of White + Pthalo Blue is used near the top of the distant mountain, which is covered with White + Ultramarine Blue + MUD. The closest bluff is painted with several cool greens made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The rocky ground is White + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange.

The rounded adobe walls are painted with several combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue + White.

Lintels over the doorway and nicho, as well as the support posts on either side of the gate, are painted with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. We’re done for today, thank you for following my blog! 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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Sunny Invitation

Pretty Petunias are first blocked in with several mixes of Permanent Rose + White, Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light + White and Cadmium Red Light + White. Then leaves are painted around the masses of Pink with combinations of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. You may click on the image to see it larger.

The shadows on the bright Yellow Chair are mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium. The sunlit portions are made with pure Cadmium Yellow Medium. The rattan seat back is first covered with a darker mix of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. MUD + Liquin is used to indicate the crevices in the woven surface.

White is added to the seat back mix to highlight the individual canes.

The same mixtures are used for the chair seat. Next, White + Cadmium Yellow Medium is used for the tops of the front legs.

Deep centers made of Magenta finish out the Petunias. Now we’re ready to paint the Matilija Poppies. COME WATCH….

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Matilija Poppies.

“Sunny Invitation”   11 inches by 11 inches

The cheery Yellow Chair, lush Petunias, crisp Matilija Poppies and bright wall tile issue a “Sunny Invitation” to Come on IN! Thank you for following my blog. In the next session, I’ll be starting one of the paintings for my Annual Collector Event in Santa Fe on Labor Day weekend. Hope you’ll come watch! And if you happen to be anywhere near Santa Fe, NM, on August 30 and 31 I’d love for you to join us at the Santa Fe Art Collector Gallery. We always have LOTS of FUN! With Colorful Smiles,

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