Cathedral Rock

Painting begins with the sky. You can see how the painted image extends over the edge, onto the side of the gallery wrap canvas. Since light comes into the piece from the left, that side of the sky is lighter. It’s blocked in with White + Pthalo Blue. The right side of the sky is darker and made with a mixture of White + Cobalt Blue. Closer to the horizon, above and between the peaks of Cathedral Rock, the sky reflects the warmth of the earth. It’s lighter and a tiny bit greener, so that area is painted with a combination of White + Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. Please remember, as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see enlargements.

My colors are mixed for the distant landscape and iconic Butte. The recipes are as follows: #1. White + Ultramarine Blue. #2. Three shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. #3. Four combinations, in various proportions, of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White. The basic hues of the Double Primary Mixing System that Jack developed are lined up across the top of my palette. To learn more about this easy way to mix an incredible range of pure, crisp colors, CLICK HERE!

My reference picture is attached to the unpainted part of the canvas with Blue, Clean Release, Painter’s Tape. Then I start painting the red sandstone peaks. The light in the photo comes into the picture from behind the photographer, over his/her right shoulder. In order to illuminate Cathedral Rock from the left, I have to change the light and shadow pattern.

The next layer of rocks, closer to the foreground, remain in shadow. Painting the sunlight streaming out from behind them, spot-lighting the majestic Butte, helps to give the feeling of depth in the landscape.

Palo Verde Trees, on the left, are made with the #2 Mixtures. A few brushstrokes of Pthalo Blue + White are added here and there to bring extra coolness to the foliage. Warmer combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White + a touch of MUD are used for the Sage Brush on the right.

A Prickly Pear Cactus, painted with several shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White and Pthalo Blue + White, nestles in front of the Sage. The oval paddles are made by twisting the Square Tipped Bright Brush as the paint is applied to the canvas.

I have always loved these “Open Door” or “Through the Gate” paintings at this stage. I think they look pretty cool with the background fully painted while the foreground is still just sketched in. We’ll be building the courtyard wall in our next session, come give me a hand! With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Mixing up California Mission and Sedona

Beginning a new commission that is based on a gate from Mission San Miguel in California. Jack took this picture in the early 1990s when we visited the mission several times. I’m moving it to Arizona! Sedona to be exact.

After establishing the top and bottom perspective lines of the wall, the arch is drawn with a thin mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. You can see how I’m using a T-Square, balanced on the top edge of the gallery wrap canvas, to help make sure the guide lines are perfectly straight and upright. Fortunately for me, these old stone structures aren’t completely square and precise, but at least my drawing starts out that way! You may click on this, or any of the other images, to view an enlargement.

Adding the gate comes next.

Now to mix in the Sedona, Arizona part of the painting. The majestic towers of Cathedral Rock rise in the background.

Poker Plant, also called Torch Lilies, will nestle along the edge of the courtyard, underneath the long arms of Hot Pink Bougainvillea reaching over the wall!

Chili Ristras are washed in with a mixture of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin.

We’ll start painting in our next session! I appreciate you watching today, do come back to follow the progress.

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post, you may 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 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 2021

www.senkarik.com

SOUTHWESTERN CHARM

Russian Sage is blocked in with mixtures of Dioxazine Purple + Magenta + White. The foliage is made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

Helenium snuggles up to the Turquoise Blue container. Mixes of Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light, Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Orange make up the richly colored blossoms.

The centers of the Helenium flowers are delineated in three steps. #1. A dark blob of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) is made in each flower. #2. A yellow dot (Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange for the blooms in shadow and Cadmium Yellow Medium for the sunlit ones) is added in the middle of the dark blob. #3. A tiny speck of MUD is centered in each yellow dot.

Geraniums of Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light and pure Cadmium Red Light fill the large ceramic pots. Their bright foliage is made of several shades of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow. Now, let’s plant the Sweet Potato Vine casting those romantic shadows. The heart-shaped leaves are combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow + White.

A little White is mixed with Cadmium Red Light to accentuate the Geranium petals illuminated by the sun. The oil paint is applied with lots of thick texture.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Chamisa

Sunflowers are blocked in with Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Yellow Medium. The large dark centers are added with MUD + Liquin. Leaves, made of several shades of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow, will complete these happy residents in this garden.

“Southwestern Charm”         19 inches x 25 inches

AHHHHH, take a deep breath and stroll through this colorful courtyard. Let the warm sunshine, fragrance of the flowers and quaint Santa Fe details fill your heart with “Southwestern Charm”! Thank you for visiting my studio, I really appreciate all of your support and encouragement! With BIG HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

A Different Touch

A “Coyote” fence lines the courtyard. These fences, made of closely placed cedar posts, are very common in Santa Fe. Their unusual name comes from the fact they keep “Coyotes” out of areas they aren’t wanted! If you would like to enlarge this or any of the other images in my blog, just click on the picture.

A mailbox is added on the wall to the right of the door. If you’ll go back to my reference photo in the previous post, you’ll notice I moved it from the left side. It’s almost completely hidden behind the Russian Sage in the photograph. The weathered wood is made of several combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. The same mixtures were used for the vigas and coyote fence.

This piece has a little different touch, I’ve decided NOT to make the window and door a bright color! Painting them in just wood tones is a HUGE stretch for me. But I felt it was fun to step out and try something unexpected! The rich mahogany color is made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson + White. Long before refrigerators, small doors were sometimes incorporated into a shutter as a pass-through for delivering blocks of ice. I’m adding a typical Southwestern motif to dress this one up.

The house number is “carved” into the wet paint of the door with a fine brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.

The courtyard floor is first covered entirely, establishing the sunlight and shadows streaming across the pavers. Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, Ultramarine Blue + White and Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White are used.

Next, the horizontal lines separating the tiles are drawn into the wet floor with the same brush and MUD mix that I used for the house number on the door.

After drawing the perspective lines coming forward, the final step in completing the Saltillo Tile floor is to highlight the front edge of the pavers.

The large ceramic flower pots will be various hues of Turquoise. Those on the window sill are combinations of Pthalo Blue + White. The one on the rock wall is painted with Pthalo Turquoise Blue + White. The leaves of Sweet Potato Vine, cascading out of this container, will cast heart shaped shadows on its curved surface. It’s always fun to add a little bit of romance in my “Billboards of Happiness”!

The same mixes are used for the containers to the right of the door. That’s all for this session. Why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and come back to help me plant the flowers? See you then! With Colorful Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

A Favorite!

Several of you have asked if I make up the scenes in my paintings or do I use reference photos? I definitely refer to pictures we’ve taken over the years to design my compositions. Jack used to laugh and say, “Even if her life depended on it, Mikki couldn’t follow a photograph exactly!” Well, he was right. I’m always adding elements here and there or combining several pictures for one painting. The image above is one of my all time favorite gates in Santa Fe. I’ve painted it many times from various different angles, using a wide spectrum of hues for the gate and window. Today, I’m beginning my newest variation, come follow along.

The first step is to draw the basic outline of the architecture and large ceramic containers with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. The open area of the window is covered using the MUD mixture and another mix of Ultramarine Blue + Liquin. To see an enlargement you may click on this or any of the other pictures.

Vigas, a common Southwestern architectural element, are the ends of the roof beams that protrude from the side of the building. They can be seen everywhere you look in Santa Fe. I have to be careful to maintain the proper perspective as I draw the cylindrical vigas.

Painting begins with the adobe walls. The recipes for the color mixes shown above are as follows: #1. Two shades of White + Ultramarine Blue. #2. All of these mixtures are made from combinations, in various proportions, of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a tiny, tiny touch of Pthalo Blue + White. The colors for our Double Primary Color Mixing System that Jack developed line the top of my palette. To learn more about this system CLICK HERE.

The cast shadows of the vigas become cooler, or bluer, the farther away they are from the base of the beams. Take time to study shadows on a bright, sunny day. You’ll notice they are very dark nearest to the object that is casting them, but are more faded toward the distant end of the shadow.

The wrought iron bracket and basic shape of the unique lantern over the gate are blocked in. I’ll come back later and finish out the details.

Brilliant, hot pink Bougainvilleas cascade over the stair-stepped adobe wall. They are first blocked in with Magenta + Permanent Rose and a range of light to dark shades of Permanent Rose + White (#1). Leaves are then added with mixes of Viridian Green + White, Viridian Green + Pthalo Blue + White and Pthalo Blue + White (#2). Some of you may say, “Hey Mikki, Bougainvilleas won’t survive the cold in Santa Fe!” As a gardener I well know, but that’s the joy of painting. I can make any plant, grow anywhere! AND they’ll never need watering or weeding!

We’ve gotten off to a great start! I appreciate you watching today, do come back to follow the progress.

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post, you may 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 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 2021

www.senkarik.com

COLORFUL ENTRY

Trumpet vine tumbles over the rough adobe walls. It is painted in my usual sequence of FLOWERS FIRST (#1) and LEAVES LAST (#2). Mixes of Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Orange make up the blooms. Sap Green + Lemon Yellow is used for the leaves. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to view enlargements.

The Hollyhocks are blocked in following the same order. The crepe papery blossoms are combinations of Permanent Rose + White, the foliage is various mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow.

Seed pods on the tall, stately Hollyhock stalks are added with a mixture of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White.

Dioxazine Purple + White is used for the Salvia nestled at the base of the terra cotta pot. Different shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White make the soft, gray-green foliage.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: COME WATCH as I paint the Yellow Daisies!

“Colorful Entry”

Take in the magic of Santa Fe as you let your imagination envision what’s behind the brilliant red gate of this “Colorful Entry”! Thank you for visiting my studio today! With Cheerful Smiles and Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Painting Santa Fe!

Working on another new painting for my gallery in Santa Fe, Masterpiece Gallery. Traffic is picking up after the long season of covid, they need more small Senkariks. Jack used to call these 16 inch by 16 inch pieces, “SUITCASE PAINTINGS”. Our collectors could take them home in their luggage, there was no need for shipping! I begin by sketching the basic composition on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

I label all of the flowers so I don’t forget my original plan!

The background, seen though the gate and over the wall, is painted with soft greens made of several shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Mixtures of Cadmium Orange + MUD + White and Ultramarine Blue + White are used for the adobe walls.

The Lintel over the gate is made with MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. A typical New Mexico design is then carved into the wet paint with MUD + Liquin.

One of my favorite things about painting Santa Fe is all of the brightly hued gates that grace the “City Different”. Over the years Jack and I have photographed many of them for my reference files. The sunny part of this one is pure Cadmium Red Light, while the shadow is Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta. The wrought iron latch is added with MUD + Liquin.

Crosses are found displayed on many of the adobe walls. I’ve always loved the red heart on this one!

The Saltillo tile floor is first covered, establishing the light and dark pattern of sunlight and shadows streaming across the pavers. Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White and Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White are used.

Then the perspective lines delineating the tiles are pulled into the wet paint with a thin brush dipped in the MUD + Liquin mix.

Horizontal lines separating the pavers and my signature are added. That finishes the entry floor; we’re done for this session. Hope you’ll come back and see how it looks when I plant all the flowers!

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post, you may 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 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 2021

www.senkarik.com

Romance of the Vines

A Hot Pink Bougainvillea cascades over the roof of the building at the side of the courtyard. The colorful bracts are painted with mixes of Permanent Rose + White. The foliage is made of Viridian Green + White and Viridian Green + Phalo Blue + White. You may click on any of the pictures to enlarge the images.

The surface of the courtyard floor is covered with combinations, in various proportions, of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White + a touch of MUD, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White and Ultramarine Blue + White. After the light and shadow pattern is established, the perspective and horizontal lines separating the individual tiles are drawn into the wet paint with a brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.

Geraniums are painted in my usual FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST Sequence. #1. The blossoms are blocked in with Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light. #2. Then leaves of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow are painted around the masses of red, helping to shape the blossoms.

Distinctive Geranium flower buds are added with Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White.

Sunflowers are blocked in with Cadmium Yellow Medium + a touch of Cadmium Orange + a little MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Yellow Medium. The broad leaves are Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

African Daisies dance around the base of the fountain. The flowers are blocked in first with Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Orange. The leaves are combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White and Pthalo Blue + White.

Romance of the Vines 11 inches by 11 inches

The music of the water splashing in the fountain offers a delightful invitation for the viewer to come stroll through the flower filled courtyard and enjoy the “Romance of the Vines” that glisten in the distance. Thanks for following along! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Back to the Wine Country

Starting another painting for Gallery 1870 in the Napa Valley. This will be a view of the vineyard through a rugged, rock archway. My basic composition is sketched up on the canvas with a thin oil wash made of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. The building is “Built” first. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to view them larger.

The scene in the background is drawn next. The vines are washed in with mixes of Viridian Green + Liquin and Pthalo Blue + Liquin.

Painting begins with the sky and distant mountains. You may have noticed in the previous step that I had some trees along the back of the vineyard on the left side. I decided that the space would be too closed in with the trees, so I painted the mountains over them. Leaving them out increases the openness, giving more depth to the landscape.

The ground under the vines is covered with mixes of Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. Then the posts are pulled into the wet paint with a brush dipped in MUD + Liquin.

Vines are painted with combinations in varying proportions of Pthalo Blue + Cadimum Yellow Medium and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The second, bluer or cooler, mix is used at the distant ends of the rows to make them recede. The warmer mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium come forward.

The old stone walls are blocked in with various mixes of Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + MUD + White, Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD + White and MUD + White. Also brushstrokes of Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White from the vines is added here and there. The color is applied with lots of texture and variation in tone to give the appearance of the rugged, antique rocks. Crevices between the stones are made with MUD + Liquin. The goal is to not outline each and every stone, but rather just indicate the shapes impressionistically.

We should finish up in our next session. Why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and you can come help me plant the flowers! With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Santa Fe Spice

Here’s my latest painting for my gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Masterpiece Gallery. The painted image of “Santa Fe Spice” measures 11 inches by 11 inches.

Come watch the Progression Video…..

Thanks for watching!

If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post, you may 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 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.

I appreciate you following my blog and subscribing. Have a wonderful day! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com