A Glimpse of Tuscany Limited Original

The Bougainvillea is embellished with Permanent Rose + White. My wrist is braced on the mahl stick, hooked over the top of the easel, to steady my hand as I delineate the long, arching arms of the vine. Don’t forget, you may click on this or any of the other images to see them larger.

Geraniums are highlighted with Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Red Light + White. A few of the flowers are repainted with mixes left over from the Bougainvillea above. Gives an extra happy touch to these cheery flowers.

After embellishing the garlic strands the splashing water in the fountain is next. Thick brush strokes of pure White are pulled straight down. The brush is held very lightly, allowing it to skip and hop over the texture of the paint on the wall and fountain. The uneven, broken strokes give the impression of moving water.

Nasturtiums fill the containers at the base of the columns. You can see the thickness of the paint on my brush, which gives the flowers lots of texture.

The edges of the floor tiles, illuminated by sunshine, are highlighted. Those to the left of my hands are finished. Highlights on the floor to my right have not yet been painted.

Thunbergia vines drape down the rugged stone columns. The heart shaped leaves are repainted with mixes of Viridian Green + Lemon Yellow. Then the flowers will be made with combinations of Magenta + White and Magenta + Dioxazine Purple + White.

We’re DONE! Now you can compare the Unembellished Giclee on the left and the Finished LIMITED ORIGINAL of “A Glimpse of Tuscany” at the right! You’ll be able to see the differences more clearly if you enlarge the picture, just click on the image.

“A Glimpse of Tuscany”     18 inches by 24 inches

Why are my hand embellished Giclees called LIMITED ORIGINALS? Since I paint extensively on each colorful, high resolution, digital image with oils; no two are exactly alike. You can see how I’ve repainted much of the painting. I’ve had collectors ask me to change door colors, the landscape, add special flowers or include other items to personalize the art specifically for them. I sign each piece on the front, just like my Original Oil Paintings. So even though each is part of a limited edition, every single piece is original. Therefore Jack coined the term: LIMITED ORIGINAL. He came up with this technique to provide my collectors with an economical alternative to a Senkarik Original Oil Painting of the same size. 

Thanks for visiting my studio. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section. With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Beginning to Embellish a Giclee

 

Today I’m starting to embellish a giclee of “A Glimpse of Tuscany” for one of my collectors. To learn more about my LIMITED ORIGINAL hand embellished Giclees on Canvas CLICK HERE! The unembellished, high resolution, digital reproduction on canvas is shown above. Miguel, my giclee printer in Florida does a wonderful job. But as pretty as the piece looks now, it’s going to look even better when I’ve finished enhancing it with oils. Come see! Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to view enlargements.

More light is added in the sky near the horizon with a mix of White + Pthalo Blue + a touch of Lemon Yellow. I’m working in Winsor Newton GRIFFIN Alkyd Oil Paints. These are completely compatible with the regular Winsor Newton WINTON Oil Paints I normally use; the color mixtures are identical. However, I like to use Alkyds for embellishing because they dry much quicker than regular oil paints. That way I’m able to add lots of texture to the flowers!

Sunlit rooftops in the distant hilltop village of San Gimignano, Italy are accentuated with mixes of Cadmium Orange + a little MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White.

The door and shutters are totally repainted with combinations of Cobalt Blue + White.

Now the stone walls are also painted. Those in the back of the courtyard are made a little cooler so they will recede. I’ve used several shades of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a bit of Ultramarine Blue + White. The arches and columns in the foreground are warmer mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White.

Still a lot more to do, hope you’ll come back for the next session and follow along as I repaint the flowers!

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. Thank you for subscribing! With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Song of the Distant Surf

The arched door and broad band along the base of the building on the left are painted with mixtures of Cobalt Blue + White. Please remember, as you read through my blog you may click on any of the images to see enlargements.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Intertwining Heart Tile

Geraniums filling the large, terra cotta containers on the window sills are blocked in with Cadmium Red Deep + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light. The leaves are Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. Then the Bougainvillea, spilling over the roof, is made of several combinations of Permanent Rose + White. 

Petals of the Geraniums glow with highlights of Cadmium Red Light + White.

Daisies are planted in pots below the heart tile. The cheery flowers are mixes of Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) and Cadmium Yellow Medium. Orange is the complementary color, or across from the color wheel, from Blue. Placing them next to each other makes the Oranges in the blossoms appear even brighter.

Cobblestones are blocked in with rough, textured brushstokes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. The most distant edge of the shadow is painted with mixes of Ultramarine Blue + White and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. These cooler tones make the stones recede.

Crevices between the irregular cobbles are indicated with a brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin.

The stones, splashed by sunlight, are highlighted with White + some of the color left over from the street mixes.

“Song of the Distant Surf”                           11 inches x 15 inches

Our colorful scene of Obidos, Portugal is complete. Listen carefully, you’ll hear the “Song of the Distance Surf” as you take in the fragrance of all the flowers and enjoy the view!

AND… you can enjoy this Senkarik “Billboard of Happiness” in your home or office. It’s available for purchase. Let the “Song of the Distant Surf” magically transport you to the sunlit beach, every single day. 

CLICK HERE to add “Song of the Distant Surf” to your collection!

I sure appreciate you following my blog, thank you also for all of your kind comments.

With Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Blue Sky, Ocean Bluffs and Sunshine

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Sky

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: The Distant Bluffs

“Painting FORWARD”, the tile roofs and white stucco buildings tumbling down the hill toward the ocean are completed. The window sashes are painted with a mixture of Pthalo Blue + a little Cadmium Orange + White. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

Mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue and MUD + Cadmium Orange + White are used for the rounded tiles on the rooftops. 

The Cadmium Yellow trim on the White Stucco building POPS to the foreground when it’s juxtaposed against the cool blues of the ocean in the distance.

Trumpet Vine cascading over the roof and walls is made of combinations of Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, and Cadmium Orange.

We can already feel the warmth of the sunshine splashing across the scene. Thanks for following along today! With Sunny Smiles,ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Let’s Head to Portugal

YOU HAD ME AT HELLO, the first time I saw pictures of Obidos, Portugal on an episode of “House Hunters International”!

Whitewashed buildings accented with red, yellow and blue made my heart sing.

This quaint, colorful village perched on the hills overlooking the Atlantic Ocean just called to my artistic soul.

Using several different pictures I composed a street scene, high up on the hillside, with the beach and ocean in the distance. Using a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin I begin sketching the basic plan on the canvas.

LOTS and LOTS of flowers will bring extra color and interest to our painting.

We’re all sketched up and ready to begin applying Oil Color in our next session. Hope you’ll come watch, I’m planning to have some VIDEO DEMONSTRATIONS!

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. Thank you for subscribing! With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Refreshing Oasis

Mike and Bea’s anniversary is just around the corner, so I etch their wedding date into the wall of the planter 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.

UPSIDE DOWN Again! Now the walls of the planters and the tiles along the tops of them are painted over the edge, on to the lower edge of the gallery wrap canvas.

Gladiolus are planted at the base of the wall, next to the Geraniums. These are one of the few flowers that I don’t paint in my regular sequence of FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST. The flowers grow mostly above the foliage on tall stalks so the long, strap like leaves are painted first. 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Gladiolus Flowers.

Nasturtiums nestle at the base of the Glads. The fragrant flowers are blocked in first with mixes of Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Orange. Then the leaves are made with several shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The distinctive round leaves of the Nasturtiums have a dot in the center of them where the stem attaches on the under side.

Heart shaped leaves of the Sweet Potato Vine bring an extra touch of romance to the Anniversary painting. 

The tiny Hummingbird hovers above our curious kitten!

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting that precious tiger Kitty.

Yellow Daisies fill the planter in the foreground. The happy flowers are blocked in with mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange + MUD and Cadmium Yellow Medium. 

After painting the foliage with several different mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White, Red centers are added to the Yellow Daisies. Cadmium Red Light is used for those illuminated by the sun, the centers in the shadows are made with Cadmium Red Deep.

Refreshing Oasis

AHHHH…..Sit back, breathe in the fresh ocean air, take a sip of wine and enjoy the magical music of the crashing surf just beyond the terrace of this “Refreshing Oasis”! Your wonderful comments and encouraging words are very appreciated. Thank you for being part of my Team Senkarik Family! With Colorful Smiles and Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Geraniums and Tile Floor

The chair cushions are painted with several mixes of Ultramarine Blue + White.

The upright part of the steps (the riser) is painted darker than the top, flat part. Combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White are used for the steps.

The lower, curved portion of the tile floor is covered with the same mixes as the upper terrace. Then the lines separating the tiles are drawn into the wet paint.

To continue the floor on the lower edge, the entire unit of canvas and cardboard is taken off the easel and placed, upside down, on the floor next to my easel. You can see how having the canvas attached to the backing cardboard makes it easy to handle the wet painting.

The Geraniums in the distant container are blocked in, FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Geraniums planted under the Pygmy Palms.

A few Geranium petals are allowed to fall to the floor. You may click on this, or any of the other pictures, to see enlargements.

We’ll be doing some more planting in our next session. Why don’t you grab a paint of gardening gloves and come give me a hand! Thank you for following along today. With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Big Change Today

The beach behind the chair is carefully painted around the scrolls of the wrought iron. Please remember, you may click on any of the pictures to see enlargements.

Next the curly cues of the design are drawn into the wet paint of the sand with a brush dipped in an oil mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. This is much easier to do while the background is fresh, if the underlying paint was dry it would be difficult to make the lines smooth.

The table top is made of White + a touch of Ultramarine Blue and White + a little Cadmium Orange. The Blue mix, which is cooler, is used at the back of the table’s surface to make it recede. Lines separating the tiles are delineated with the same MUD mix as the chair backs and arms.

My collectors asked if I could extend the Bougainvillea all the way to the right so it appeared to go behind the Wisteria. NO PROBLEM!

Now, let’s work on the terra cotta tile terrace. The entire surface is painted first, establishing the shadows and sunlight spilling across the pavers. Several combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a little Pthalo Blue + White and Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White make the floor colors. The cooler mixes are used closest to the back edge. Moving forward the mixes become progressively warmer, or more orange.

Perspective lines, indicating the edges of the tiles, are drawn freehand into the wet paint of the floor with a fine liner brush dipped in the MUD + Liquin mix.

Horizontal lines, separating the individual pavers, are delineated next.

The leading edge of each tile is highlighted. This helps to “lift” the front of the terrace floor.

Getting the floor painted makes a BIG difference! The warm, terra cotta tiles make the blues and aquas of the water appear even more intense! The painting will make another dramatic change when we get all the flowers planted! Hope you’ll keep following along! HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com