Southwestern Sketch

This painting is going to be for my gallery in Santa Fe, Masterpiece Gallery. I scribbled a quick pencil drawing of my idea in a sketchbook. Notations for flower and/or color choices are made in the margins. You may click on the image to see it larger.

The basic plan is sketched up on the double primed canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. You can see those materials in the foreground of the previous image. The horizon line is established first, then construction of the adobe structure begins.

The fingers of my left hand are placed on the canvas to provide a solid resting place for my right hand. This enables me to delineate the details of the corbels, a unique feature of Southwestern architecture.

Chili ristras, hanging from the overhead beam, are washed in with an oil mixture of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original.

The distant bluffs and landscape are now added.

Flower pots, patio and foreground flowers finish up our Southwestern Sketch. Thank you for following along, I appreciate you visiting my blog today! 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

Together in God’s Love

Now, work begins on George’s hand. I start by blocking in the light and shadow patterns. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see enlargements.

His skin tones are darker and warmer than those on Lani’s hand, her coloring is more delicate.

The central band of George’s wedding ring is painted with several combinations of White + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange. The golden, outer bands are mixes of Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + a tiny bit of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White.

Equally spaced crosses encircle the entire ring. They are delineated with a fine liner brush dipped in the same golden mixtures.

After painting the gold band of Lani’s beautiful ring, the diamonds are added with several shades of Ultramarine Blue + White and Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

Pure White highlights make the diamonds sparkle! The elegant silver cross bracelet and chain are painted with the mixtures left over from the gleaming gems in Lani’s wedding ring.

“Together in God’s Love” 9 inches x 12 inches Original Oil Painting

Lani and George were brought “Together in God’s Love” in 2017. They are a special couple; I’m truly honored I was asked to capture this moment, from their wedding, on canvas for them to enjoy for years to come.

Watch the VIDEO PROGRESSION of “Together in God’s Love”!

Thank you for following my blog. I appreciate you being part of the TEAM SENKARIK FAMILY!

With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Painting Lani’s Hand

We’re ready to begin on the hands, here are my color recipes. #1. These are the mixes for George’s hand. There are five combinations, in different proportions, of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White. #2. The five mixtures for Lani are MUD + Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson + White. Her skin tones are a little paler than George’s. Paint left over from the Gown, Shawl, Coat and background are lined up along the left side of my palette to use if needed. You may click on any of the images to see enlargements.

Light spills into the painting from the upper left. So the first step is to block in the light and shadow pattern on Lani’s forearm and hand.

Establishing the shadow pattern continues along her fingers.

The beautiful stones of Lani’s wedding ring cast a shadow over her little finger. Notice how it’s made slightly pinker at the end and around the fingernail. Because there are lots of blood vessels at the fingertips where the skin is very thin, they are more pink!

The knuckles are more prominent so they are highlighted with the lightest of the #2 mixtures.

Lani’s hand is finished except for her elegant ring and bracelet. I appreciate you following along today, hope you’ll be back for our next session! Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Beautiful Blues

Let’s get to painting, here are some of the colors I’ll be using. #1. Ivory Black. #2. Cobalt Blue. #3. It took a little playing with different mixtures to come up with a combination I liked for Lani’s beautiful Blue gown and shawl. I’ll be using four shades, in various proportions, of Cobalt Blue + Pthalo Blue + White. #4. A medium and dark mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + White for the background. You may click on any of these images to see enlargements.

The #4 mix has been used for the neutral background. Now our attention is turned to Lani’s silky gown. The #3 mixtures are used to paint the bodice and skirt with long, smooth brushstrokes. Around the waistline smaller strokes are made to give the impression of gathers.

I work very carefully around the fingers and hands with the corner of my brush, I don’t want to obliterate my sketch.

Mixes of Ivory Black + White are used for George’s jacket.

The entire area where the shawl falls over the dress is covered with the two darkest shades of the #3 mixture.

I’ve never crocheted or knitted so I apologize right up front if I get this wrong. My first step in painting the delicate crocheted shawl is to indicate the vertical ribs with a lighter shade of the #3 mix.

Next, the starry pattern is added. I don’t want this to be intricately detailed with hard, sharp edges. Instead I paint it very impressionistically and loose to give the feel of the soft, fluffy yarn.

I allow the shawl to drape over the upper part of Lani’s forearm to increase the feeling of softness. Notice how I’ve faded out the light and detail of the crochet pattern in the lower right quadrant and along the lower right edge of the painting. This is to keep the shawl from drawing the viewer’s eye away from the focal point of the painting, George and Lani’s hands and wedding rings. That’s all for this session, I hope you’ll come back and continue following along! HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2021

www.senkarik.com

Wedding Memories

This is a fun piece for a couple of friends of mine, Lani and George. At their wedding in 2017 they had the photographer take of picture of their hands wearing their new rings. Now they’ve asked me to do a painting, using this photo as reference. My first step is to sketch the basic shapes of their hands on the canvas in pencil. I have to make a few minor adjustments as the photographic image was foreshortened just a little bit. As you read through my blog please remember, you may click on any of the pictures to view enlargements.

There is no definite shadow pattern as the photo was taken indoors with a flash. I will have the light coming into the painting from the upper left. So using a brush dipped in a thin oil wash made of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original, I block in the shadows on George’s hand.

Next the light and dark patterns are established on Lani’s hand.

The outline of Lani’s beautiful ring is drawn next. I’m not worried about adding any details at this point, I just want to get the basic form of her ring.

The oil wash drawing is complete. I’ll let this sit overnight and come back fresh in the morning to give my sketch a final critique. This allows me to make certain I have all the proportions correct. I may have Lani’s hand just a tiny bit large but I’ll give it a good look tomorrow. Then I can decide if any adjustments are needed before I begin painting.

Thank you for following along, I appreciate you visiting my blog today! 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

SUNFLOWER SNOOZE

I’m working on one of my EMBRYOS today! Quite a few of my collectors have asked for more of these baby paintings, so I’m happy to comply. This is actually several days easel time compressed into one session. A little kitty is the “Star” in this piece, my first step is to lightly sketch her with pencil on the 10 inch x 10 inch cradled panel that has been covered with a thin coat of white acrylic. The sides are painted with black acrylic so the painting is “Self-framed” and will be ready to hang when it’s finished.

The entire composition is then sketched on the panel with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash made of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

Pink African Daisies are washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original.

Our setting is the Greek Islands, so the shutter is painted with combinations of Cobalt Blue + a little MUD + White and Cobalt Blue + White. The window sill of the white stucco building is topped with terra cotta tiles. Several mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White are used for the warm, rusty hues.

Sometimes I try things that I believe will be pretty cool, but they just don’t turn out that way. That’s what happened with the hinge on the shutter that you probably noticed in the previous picture. It interfered with the spikes of Lavender/Magenta Salvia. The hinge was scraped off with my painting knife, then that area was repainted with the Cobalt Blue mixtures.

The African Daisies are painted with various shades of Alizarin Crimson + White, Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Orange. Centers are added in 3 steps: First, a large blob of MUD + Liquin Original is made in each blossom. Second, a Cadmium Yellow dot is added in the middle of that. Third, a small speck of the MUD mix finishes out the centers of the flowers.

Sunflowers, spilling out of the basket, are blocked in with Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange, pure Cadmium Yellow Medium and some of the paint left over from the African Daisies.

Now for our “Star”, that little Tiger Kitty! The base color of her coat is several combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White.

The stripes on our Sleeping Beauty are painted, wet-into-wet, with Ivory Black over the browns of her soft coat. Her white points are White + MUD and White + Ultramarine Blue + a little Cadmium Orange. Highlights are added with pure White.

VIDEO PROGRESSION: Follow the entire progression of “Sunflower Snooze”!

“Sunflower Snooze” 10 inches by 10 inches

Basking in the warmth of the dazzling Greek afternoon, this precious sweetheart takes a “Sunflower Snooze”, hugged by a cascade of brilliant blossoms.

Thank you for following along, I appreciate you visiting my blog today! 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

HUMMINGBIRD WHISPERS

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend. This is a new piece for my Santa Fe Gallery. I’ve condensed several days of easel time into one post. My basic plan is sketched up on the canvas in a thin oil wash made of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

We begin painting with the background peeking through the arched opening above the gate. Distant trees are made of White + Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange. Then the courtyard walls are constructed using mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a little Cadmium Yellow Medium + White.

The shadows on the wooden gate are combinations of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta while pure Cadmium Red Light is used for the sunlit portions. Scarlet and Rhett, my favorite Ruby Throat Hummingbirds, have decided to visit our garden. Notice the shadow cast by Scarlet, she’s flying high and will be taking a sip of nectar from a Hollyhock flower. You may click on this, or any of the other images, to see them larger.

Trumpet Vine cascades over the adobe wall. The blossoms are various shades of Permanent Rose + White, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange, Magenta + White and Cadmium Orange + White.

The entire surface of the terra cotta paver walkway is first covered with mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, Ultramarine Blue + White and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. More White is used for the portions of the floor illuminated by sunshine. A little red from the gate is brushed into the foreground shadow to give the impression of the gate reflecting onto the floor. Next, curved perspective lines are drawn into the wet paint. To finish up, horizontal lines delineating the individual pavers are made.

Cheerful Sunflowers nestle next to the red gate. The large blossoms are first blocked in with Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow Medium and some of the Red left over from the gate. The large centers are then added with a mix of MUD + Liquin Original.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Come watch and I’ll show you how I paint the White Hollyhocks!

“HUMMINGBIRD WHISPERS” 11 inches by 11 inches

Petunias, made of Permanent Rose + White, fill the containers in front of the Sunflowers. We’re done. AH, take a deep breath and enjoy. If you listen carefully you can hear the “HUMMINGBIRD WHISPERS” as Scarlet and Rhett dance from flower to flower in the warm sunshine.

Thank you for following along, I appreciate you visiting my blog today! 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