MERRY CHRISTMAS 2020!

 

 

A wonderful friend surprised me with this beautifully hand-crafted nativity. Even though the base measures only 3 inches by 3 inches, the tiny piece of art embodies the “ESSENCE OF CHRISTMAS”. Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child; accompanied by the lamb representing the shepherds who were the first to receive the glorious announcement of Our Savior’s arrival! 

Can’t you just imagine the artist, hunched over the worktable in their dark studio, painstakingly but lovingly delineating the intricate details of the miniature faces?  

“Into the hearts of all who are skillful, I have put skill.” Exodus 31:6 

I’ll never be able to tell the skillful artist who made this charming nativity how much their work has touched my heart. The art may be small, but it carries a powerful and profound message. The Good Tidings of Great Joy that fill the darkness of our life with the bright, shining light of Jesus’ Love. 

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness; but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12 

Wishing you a SAFE, JOYOUS, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

I pray that Our Lord will fill your heart, and the hearts of your family, with Peace, Joy and the Light of His Love. Allowing it to shine on everyone around you, every single day of the New Year!

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© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

 

TOUGH TASKMASTER

THAT MIKKI! She is an incredibly TOUGH TASKMASTER. Here Sissie and I were taking a nice long winter’s nap in the sun when she WOKE ME UP! That’s me on top of the microwave.

She wanted ME to tell YOU that she’s working on some surprise Christmas Commissions.  Since they can’t be revealed she won’t be posting them on her blog. SO THERE, I’ve done my job. Now, I’m heading back to my nice warm spot in the kitchen! Hope you have a PURR-FECT Day, Molly

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© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

 

 

 

Early Morning Serenity

The rising sun illuminates the crown and rim of the brim on the cowboy hat. To enlarge any of the images just ClICK ON THE PICTURE!

Chance’s shirt has been painted with mixes of Cobalt Blue + White. Ultramarine Blue + Ivory Black + White is used for his jeans.

Mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue+ + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White are used for the saddle.

NOW, let’s start painting Kristen, come watch the Video…

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Blocking in the Horse’s Head

Sunlight tips the ends of her mane. Having the dark bluff behind Kristen accentuates the light.

The sun’s rays also catch the point of her hip, in back of the saddle.

“Early Morning Serenity”    12″ x 16″

I love watching the sun rise, everything at that time of day is so quiet and still. I can’t think of a better place to be than on horseback, in a field of bluebonnets, to enjoy the “EARLY MORNING SERENITY”!

Thanks for visiting my studio! Please come back and see what I’ll be up to next! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Bluebonnets and Cactus

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Bluebonnets

The light from the rising sun illuminates some of the tall grass growing in between patches of Bluebonnets. A mix of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White is used here.

The white ‘caps’ on the Bluebonnets are dotted in next. Pure White is used for those in the sun, closest to the foreground. You may click on this or any of the other images to see enlargements.

Pads on the distance cactus are made with the corner of my square tipped ‘Bright’ brush. The colors are all mixed from Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

The early morning sun warms the left edge of the Mesquite Trees behind Chance and Kristen. 

Outcroppings of limestone are commonly found in the Texas Hill Country. The large slabs have been painted with mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White. Brushstrokes of Ultramarine Blue are added here and there to give the impression of reflections from the cool sky overhead. Some of the lighter colors from the sky are used to highlight those rocks touched by the sun.

The foreground cacti are painted with several different mixes. Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White, Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium, Pthalo Blue + White and MUD + Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Orange + White + a little of the green from the other mixes. 

The last step for this session is to add the prickly thorns on the individual cactus pads. The ones caught in the glow of the sunrise sparkle and shine! I forgot to take a picture of the full painting at this stage, OPPPS! Guess you’ll just have to come back tomorrow. BUT it’ll be worth it. I’m going to have a video showing how I block in the horse’s head. See you then!

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© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Texas Sunrise

 

We’re staying right here in Texas on my easel today. This is another commission, a portrait of the recipient on his first horse, Kristen. My collector sent me a picture of him sitting on a different horse, watching as the sun welcomed a new day. As you can see there’s not much detail. Meagan and I discussed various options and she gave me free rein to develop the composition.

We decided to have Chance and Kristen in a field of bluebonnets in the Texas Hill Country. I have lightly drawn horse and rider with pencil on the canvas. Now I begin sketching the background with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. 

I’ve printed out my reference photos and taped them to the easel. The painting is 12 inches by 16 inches on a standard canvas. After blocking in the rocks in the foreground I start working on the horse. Please remember, you may click on this or any of the other images to see enlargements.

My goal at this stage is to establish the basic anatomy of the horse with the oil wash that was used for the background. I’m very careful to get Kristen’s distinctive blaze correct.

Now I begin drawing Chance.

The oil sketch is complete. I raised the hills up, so they come in behind Chance and Kristen. This will provide a dark background that will accentuate the sunlight tipping Kristen’s mane and rump.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the sunrise sky!

The closest bluff is painted with a wide range of colors. All of the different greens are made with combinations, in various proportions, of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. I’ve added MUD into some of those mixes to make them duller. Blues from the distant hills are also used as well as some mixtures of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White.

Notice how the blue hills drop back, while the warmer colors in the closest ones bring them forward. This demonstrates a basic rule of painting: ‘cool hues recede, warm ones come forward’. As Jack would say, “That’s your little lesson for the day!” Thanks for visiting my studio. Hope you’ll come visit again and follow along to see how this painting turns out. 

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 and have a wonderful day! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Treasured Celebration

 

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Trumpet Vine

The cobblestones are blocked in with thick, textured brushstrokes using mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see enlargements.

Next the cracks between the stones are drawn with a thin mix of MUD + Liquin. I don’t outline each and every stone. Rather the deep crevices are just impressionistically indicated, being mindful to keep the lines in perspective. 

The hot pink Hollyhock blossoms are first painted with mixes of Permanent Rose + White and Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light + White. Then the leaves are added with combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

Daisies nestle at the base of the pink Hollies. The flowers are Ultramarine Blue + White, Dioxazine Purple + White and Pthalo Blue + White. Pure White is reserved for the highlights on the sunlit petals.

After the centers of the Daisies are painted I work on those of the Hollyhocks. A mix of Magenta + Liquin is used to make the deep impressions.

Sunflowers are next! The large blossoms are blocked in first, followed by the leaves. Putting in the dark centers with a mix of MUD + Liquin immediately identifies these cheerful flowers as the classic Sunflowers I love.

African Daisies hug the bottom of the wall on the right of the painting. The flowers are painted with mixtures of Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Rose + White and Cadmium Red Light. The centers are made in three steps. 1. A dark oval is made in the center of the flower with MUD. 2. A yellow dot is placed in the middle of that with Cadmium Yellow Medium. 3. A speck of MUD is dotted in the center of the yellow.

This commission is a combination Christmas/Anniversary gift. SO, I make a special tile with intertwining hearts along with the date of the wedding!

“Treasured Celebration”   16 inches x 16 inches

This colorful entry overlooking the Coast of France doubly honors the “Treasured Celebration” of Anniversary and Christmas! Thanks for following my blog. I’ll be starting on a Western painting in my next post, hope you’ll come watch! HUGS,

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© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

Planting and Building Continue

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the cascading leaves of the Giant Birds of Paradise.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Working on the Sweet Potato Vine draping down the rugged stone wall.

I zoomed in a little too close on my video demonstration of the Sweet Potato Vine. You couldn’t see all of the heart shaped leaves dangling down. But here they are! If you’d like to see an enlargement of this or any of the other images in this post, please click on the picture.

After finishing the old rock building with mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White, the Red Door is painted. I’ve used Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson for the shadows, pure Cadmium Red Light makes up the sunlit portion of the door.

It’s fun to paint the twisted, gnarled trunks of Trumpet Vine, Bougainvillea and Wisteria. They are covered first with a very dark mix of MUD + Cadmium Orange. Then highlights are added with the same mixture + more Cadmium Orange + a little bit of White.

That Red Door really pops against all the cool colors of the water in the background. The drama will increase as I begin adding the Trumpet Vine, cobblestone floor and warm flowers in the foreground. COME WATCH in my next session. With Colorful Smiles and Big Hugs,ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com

 

Blue Sky, Azure Water

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Sky

The houses on the distant peninsula are indicated with short brush strokes made of White + Ultramarine Blue + a touch of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson.) You may click on this, or any of the other images, to view enlargements.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Azure Waters of the French Riviera

The terra cotta roof tops of the buildings on the hillside below are painted with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White and MUD + Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White. I also add in some strokes of the greens from the background to give the impression of moss on the old tiles.

The shutters and windows are a special color, Sevres Green. White is mixed in for the sunny part of the window sash.

Mixes of Magenta + White and Magenta + Dioxazine Purple + White are used for the Bougainvillea tumbling over the rock wall.

I begin blocking in the rock building in the foreground with MUD + Cadmium Orange + a little Cadmium Yellow Medium + White and MUD + Ultramarine Blue + White. 

The dark frame of the rugged stone archway makes the sunlit water in the distance glow. Thanks for following along today, hope you’ll come back to visit my studio again soon! HUGS,ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2020

www.senkarik.com