Scrumptious Remembrance

I’ve saved all the mixtures from the wall in the background. Now the bricks that are visible between the shelves of the pastry case are painted.

Yummy Red Velvet Cake is made with Alizarin Crimson + Magenta + White. The cream cheese frosting is blocked in with mixes of White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) and White + Ultramarine Blue. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The painting, still attached to the cardboard, is placed flat on my taboret to paint the bottom edge. Having the canvas anchored to the cardboard backing makes it easy to handle the wet painting. Want to know how that was done?  CLICK HERE.

Combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a tiny touch of Cadmium Red Light are used for the “Turtle” bread. White + Cadmium Yellow Medium is added to make the lighter hues.

When I can, it’s always fun to work hearts into my paintings in one way or another. These flaky pasties were ideal, it was very easy to pinch the normally curved front edge of the Palmiers into a point!

Fresh Blueberries, some of my absolute favorites, are painted with mixes of Ultramarine Blue + White.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the “Le Tarte Tropezienne”

Strawberry Tarts line up beside the larger “Le Tarte Tropezienne”. The luscious berries are mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Red Deep. Cadmium Red Light is used for the highlights.

Slabs of rich Chocolate Cake are topped with thick frosting and crunchy waves of white and dark striped chocolate.

Scrumptious Remembrance     20″ x 24″

Mixed fruit tarts fill out the lower right corner of our pastry case. The painting will need to dry for a few days before I can ship it to Deanna.

Our collaboration will reside in Deanna’s kitchen alongside “Market Day in Provence”, bringing her a “Scrumptious Remembrance” of a delightfully tasty visit to that little bakery in St. Tropez! I appreciate all of your kind comments! With Colorful Smiles,

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Sunflowers and Croissants

The Sunflowers are blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson), Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD + Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson.

After making the large centers in the flowers the foliage is painted around the blossoms with combinations of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Basket of Croissants

Mixes of White + Pthalo Blue + a little Viridian Green (from the awning) are used for the Pastry Case.

Plump, red seedless grapes at the base of the ceramic Rooster, tumble over the top of the case.

The Rooster’s red comb POPS with it’s complimentary color green on the stripe of the awning behind it. Mixtures of Ultramarine Blue + White are used on his neck while the Rooster’s chest is blocked in with Ptahlo Blue + White.

Colors left over from the Sunflowers are used on Ric the Rooster’s wing.

Pink cookie bags, made of Permanent Rose + White, complete the display. The bright, cheerful colors on top of the pastry case come forward of the more muted ones in the background. Notice also how the duller white stripes of the awning drop behind the crisp, pure white napkin in the basket of Croissants. Hugs,

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The Old Brick Wall

Since the photo of the pastry case that Deanna provided didn’t show the interior of the bakery I’m going to use that of a delightful Creperie I had breakfast at the last time I was in Santa Fe.

I fell in love with the old brick walls, lined with copper pots and utensils. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to view enlargements.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Color Mixtures for the Wall

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the old Brick

The wall is finished…..

So let’s get started on the awning. The green stripes are mixes of Viridian Green + White.  The lighter ones are White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson), White + Ultramarine Blue and White + a tiny bit of Viridian Green (you don’t want much at all). Adding just a little amount of Viridian Green to the White makes it cooler, it will fall behind the brighter, pure whites that I’ll be using in the foreground. I’ve planned the alternating stripes so a green one will be in back of the Rooster’s comb, accentuating the bright red.

The flatter, top part of the awning is made lighter because the bright light from above hits it more directly.

Tall, thin loaves of bread fill the baskets in the arched niche. Then the antique copper pot is painted with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White. The paint is applied in short choppy brushstrokes to give the impression of a well worn pot with a few dents here and there.

The container for the Sunflowers is made of thin, wooden slats to differentiate it from the wicker bread baskets directly behind. Thank you for following along today, please come back for our next session. I’ll be working on the Sunflowers, Croissants and the Ceramic Rooster. Hugs,

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Off to the Bakery!

Beginning a new collaboration based on a photo taken in a pastry shop in St. Tropez, France. My collector, Deanna had just eaten a slice of the La Tarte Tropézienne (on the front in the far left of the bakery case). She said it was, “To Die For!” and snapped a quick picture.

She sent me the picture, asking if I would do a painting based on it for her kitchen. This is definitely a first for me! Here’s the sketch I developed from Deanna’s idea.

The piece will be painted in the gallery wrap style with the image extending on to the sides of the canvas which is attached to a piece of cardboard. This will make it much easier to handle the wet painting. To see how this was done just CLICK HERE.

Using a straight edge as a guide for my brush I begin sketching the pastry case up on the canvas with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. To see any of the images larger you may click on the picture.

It’s definitely a challenge making the design go over the edge of the canvas while still maintaining the accuracy of the perspective.

A large ceramic Rooster has taken up residence on top of the case! His comb and wattles are washed in with a mix of Liquin + Alizarin Crimson.

Now the large, custard filled La Tartes Tropézienne are drawn in the case. Since Deanna likes the custard so much I’ll put some extra filling in the Tartes when they are painted!

Pastries topped with Blueberries nestle next to Deanna’s favorite delicacy. The plump berries are washed in with a mixture of Ultramarine Blue + Dioxazine Purple + Liquin.

More delicious goodies fill up the case.

On my last trip to Santa Fe I saw this “Bread Turtle”! I thought he’d be fun in our Bakery painting.

So he takes his place on the top shelf!

We’re all sketched in and ready to begin applying opaque oil color. I 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.

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Colorful Chaparone

The tiny Hummingbird casts a shadow on the upright riser of the step. The long beak and tail feathers act as a subliminal pointer to the kitty!

The tall, spiky Angelonia Flowers, previously washed in with thin oil mixtures, are now painted with opaque oil mixtures of Dioxazine Purple + Magenta + White, Magenta + White and Magenta.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Talavera Container

Viridian Green is used for Mr. Hummingbird’s head, his ruby red throat is made with mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Permanent Rose and Permanent Rose + White. Some of the soft greys left over from the white part of the Talavera Container make up the shadow part of his body. Pure White is reserved for the highlight on his neck and shoulder. The Pure White POPS forward of the soft grey whites on the container.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: The Finished Container

The tiger kitty is blocked in with mixes of Ivory Black + White and Burnt Umber + White. The white markings are White + Ultramarine Blue and White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson).

“Colorful Chaperone”

I’ve moved the kitty’s right front leg back, making him more compact and giving the shadow of the Hummingbird a little more space. Our Talavera Rooster is a “Colorful Chaperone”, keeping a watchful eye on the sweet little kitten and Hummingbird! Thank you for all of your kind comments and also for following my blog. HUGS,

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It’s ALL Because of the Talavera Chickens

Lots of times before beginning a new painting I’ll look through some of our many pictures. Without any preconceived ideas I just follow my heart, an image will spark my inventive process. Going through the reference file I came across this page from a calendar that I’d saved many years ago. The Talavera Chickens caught my imagination; excitement filled my artistic soul.

A pencil sketch is quickly made to solidify my plan and I’m ready to begin working on the canvas.

A couple of kitten images are printed out and taped to my easel. Then I begin sketching the planter and kitty with a brush dipped in a thin oil mixture of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. You may click on this or any of the other images to see them larger.

My right wrist rests on my left hand, the fingers of which are braced against the canvas. This provides a steady base, enabling me to draw the details of the Hummingbird.

The Angelonia flowers are washed in with mixtures of Magenta + Liquin and Dioxazine Purple + Liquin.

The wall in the background is painted with my basic adobe mixes which are several combinations, in different proportions, of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Ultramarine Blue + White.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Petunias

The deep, dark centers of the Petunias are added with some of the Magenta + Liquin mixture.

Our Petunias are finished! That’s all for today, I’ll have a VIDEO showing how I paint the Talavera Container in our next session. I do hope you’ll come back and 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. THANK YOU!

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My Newest TEAM SENKARIK Gallery

 

I’d like to introduce you to my newest TEAM SENKARIK gallery in Santa Fe, MASTERPIECE GALLERY! My previously one, Santa Fe Art Collector, closed because my great friends, Darrell and Phyllis Hilley, decided to retire from owning a gallery. But Darrell is not totally stepping out of the business, he’ll be working part-time at Masterpiece Gallery. Located in the El Centro Mall at 102 East Water Street, the windows of Masterpiece Gallery are on the far left in the picture above.

Masterpiece Gallery is owned by another friend of Jack’s and mine, Chris Payne. A wonderful sculptor, Chris (in the hat) is talking with Jack and Ed Chacon as he works on a sculpture. This photo was taken at my annual TEAM SENKARIK Collector Event in 2015. And speaking of my Collector Event. YES…. Our tradition will continue with Masterpiece Gallery. I’ll let you know the official dates soon!

Come on, let’s go in and I’ll show you around the gallery!

Chris’ son, Jonah, is the Director of Masterpiece. It’s such a beautiful gallery with lots of wonderful artwork.

Several of Chris’ sculptures in various stages of progress are displayed throughout the space.

Masterpiece also represents Doug Adams’ unique bells. It’s so fun to walk around the gallery and ring all of them, each has it’s own cheerful voice.

I’m really excited to be represented by Masterpiece Gallery and love how my larger pieces look on the red wall!  They’ve already sold one of my paintings and I’m looking forward to a long relationship with my new gallery. So, if you are in Santa Fe please stop by Masterpiece Gallery and welcome them to TEAM SENKARIK! Hugs,

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A Burst of Sunshine

Geraniums are blocked in with mixtures of Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light. Please remember, as you read through my blog you may click on any of the images to view them larger.

After leaves and buds are painted with combinations of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow, the petals of the Geranium flowers touched by the sun are accented with Cadmium Red Light + White.

More White Daisies cascade out of the Hen shaped terra cotta container. To see how similar Daisies on the gate were painted, you may watch the following video:

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting White Daisies

Moving to the flower bed to the right of the gate I begin blocking in the Hollyhocks. Mixtures of Permanent Rose + White, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light + White and Cadmium Red Light + Permanent Rose + White are used.

Next the broad leaves are painted around the masses of brilliant pinks, reds and oranges with greens made of Ptahlo Blue + Lemon Yellow + a touch of Cadmium Yellow Medium. Coolness is added into the foliage with brushstrokes of Pthalo Blue + White.

Since the Hollies are tall and spindly I’ve reserved some of the wall color to go back and paint the spaces between the towering stalks.

White is mixed into some of the green leaf color to make the distinctive, ball shaped seed pods on the Hollyhocks.

The deep centers of the flowers are delineated with a mix of Magenta + Liquin. Then stamens are added with Lemon Yellow for those in the sunlight and Cadmium Yellow + a touch of MUD for the ones in shadow.

“A Burst of Sunshine” fills this cheerful, Santa Fe entry garden with joy and dancing shadows. Thank you for your wonderful comments, my readers are THE BEST! Hugs,

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Wisteria, Daisies and Sunflowers

Some of the coolest features of Southwestern architecture are the designs carved into the wooden, structural elements. Years ago Jack found a book that showed a plethora of different carvings and motifs; I’m using a couple of them here on the lintel and corbels over the gate. They are etched into the wet paint with a mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

Wispy Wisteria wanders along the top of the adobe building and wall. The dangling blossoms are blocked in with mixes of Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White and Dioxazine Purple + White. The foliage is Viridian Green + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The shadow on the gate is painted with a combination of Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson. Pure Cadmium Red Light is used for the portion illuminated by the sun, pouring in over the top of the building. A little White is added to the Cadmium Red Light to highlight the edges of the individual boards.

The gate is complete, now let’s paint the basket of flowers residing there. Come Watch…..

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Daisies in a Wicker Basket

Next we’ll work on the courtyard floor. The entire surface is covered with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White to establish the light and dark pattern. A few strokes of Ultramarine Blue + White add coolness at the far edge of the floor along the base of the wall.

The lines separating the tiles are drawn freehand into the wet paint with a fine liner brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin. You may click on the image to view an enlargement.

The blossoms of the Sunflowers are blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD + Alizarin Crimson and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium. Large triangular leaves are made with several shades of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow.

After dark centers are added, the petals lit by the brilliant sun are accentuated with Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow.

I appreciate you following along today. We’ll be doing more planting in our next session. Why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and come give me a hand? With Colorful Smiles and Hugs,

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First Painting of the Decade!

This idea came to me about 3AM! I woke up remembering a photo we have of a unique gate right off Canyon Road in Santa Fe that will be perfect for my newest gallery, Masterpiece Gallery! Of course I couldn’t get back to sleep because visions of the painting were dancing around in my head! So I got up and did a quick pencil sketch of my idea. The next morning I decided to FLIP the composition so it will fit better with the rest of my paintings in the gallery’s inventory. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

I’ve taped the photo on my canvas to refer to as I delineate the details of the unique corbels over the gate. I steady my hand by holding the mahl stick with my left hand and bracing my right wrist against my forearm. The architecture is drawn with a thin mixture of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.

Thought it would be fun to add a chicken shaped terra cotta container overflowing with flowers. Brings just a little different southwestern touch to the composition!

The plan on the canvas is complete, giving me a road map to follow as I begin applying opaque oil color.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Adobe Walls

That’s all for today, I’ll be working on the Wisteria and gate in the next session. I do hope you’ll come back and 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. THANK YOU!

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

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