Let’s Take a Moment to Remember

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. From the first patriots who died resisting the British crown, to those who have given the last measure of devotion in the War on Terror, every American generation has paid a steep price to preserve OUR liberty. It’s important that we remember those brave individuals to whom we owe so much. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of the brave men and women serving in the military. We appreciate not only the sacrifices they have made but also that of their families. Moms, Dads, Husbands, Wives, Brothers, Sisters and Children. So many have suffered and given their lives so we can be safe in this great country. By the Grace of God we are fortunate enough to have been born in the United States.

We are the Home of the Free BECAUSE of the Brave!

So, as you’re enjoying your special celebrations today please say a quiet prayer and thank Our Lord for these wonderful men and women who gave their lives that we may live in Freedom.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

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© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Personalized Foreground

I’ve collaborated with these collectors in the past and they love to add some personal touches to their special paintings. They called after they had seen the previous blog, CLICK HERE to see it. As I would begin sketching the foreground the next morning, Alisa and Scott asked if there was something we could add that would be just for them. I thought a minute and the idea of a picnic basket popped into my mind.

Let me tell you a little of the back story. Every day at Sunset a Scottish Bagpiper plays AMAZING GRACE, outside in the courtyard, for the guests at the resort. It’s truly magical and my collectors loved it. So the thought is they have hiked up to a spot on the hill overlooking the golf course where they can enjoy some wine, fruit and cheese as they listen to AMAZING GRACE, drifting up from the resort. I’ve done a quick pencil sketch to design the placement of basket, wine and flowers.

They’ve found the perfect spot, nestled among colorful flowers. The rocks and basket are sketched with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. Please remember, you may click on any image to view it larger.

The wine bottle is washed in with Sap Green + Liquin Original, while Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original is used for the Pinot Noir in the glasses.

A Tartan plaid blanket has been laid out on the flat rock for our “Picnic Table”. Grapes and cheese, placed on a white napkin, snuggle up to the basket filled with Sunflowers and French bread.

The rest of the flowers in the foreground are now sketched in and labeled.

We also decided to move the sailboats closer to the bluffs, so they can be made larger. You can see the faint outlines of where they were before.

TA DA! The basic design is sketched up and I’ll begin painting in our next session!

OK, a few days ago I promised you a camel! So here I am on “Jimmy”. This was in Bethany at the House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. I have to admit, the beginning of the ride was quite different from riding a horse!

But once we got going, skills from my long past days of horseback riding kicked in!

Don’t be surprised if you see some camel paintings in the future! With Big Smiles,

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© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Back at the Easel

Starting a new commission today. Here’s my sketch, it’s going to be the golf course at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Half Moon Bay, California. My collectors, who are avid golfers, have stayed there. They wanted to capture those wonderful vacation memories to enjoy every day at home.

Here’s a picture of the resort on a foggy morning. The painting is going to be a bright, sunny afternoon, so the mountains along the distant coastline can be seen. Then I’ll be adding colorful flowers all along the front.

As you can see, this is a HUGE painting, 48 inches tall by 75 inches wide! My first step in sketching the basic plan on the canvas is to establish the horizon. Then the shapes of the mountains are lightly drawn with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

The bluff, upon which the resort resides, has been washed in. Now I’m marking the outer limits of the building to make certain it’s proportional to the rest of the composition. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

My collector and I decided that we wanted to make the resort a little larger. Now I’m drawing the final version in with the oil wash. My reference picture is taped to the canvas, making it easier to refer to. To steady my hand to delineate the architecture, my right wrist is braced against the mahl stick that is hooked over the top of the painting.

We’re also going to show more of the winding golf cart path than is seen in the foggy picture.

Starting to add the details of the undulating golf course.

The entire family of five enjoys sailing. SO, we’re having a mini regatta with a vessel for each of them!

I’ll be sketching the foreground in our next session. Hope you’ll come follow along!

I’d like to invite you to subscribe to my blog, you’ll receive an email every time I publish a new post. 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 one on the right for the next post or the title on the left side for the previous session.

Thank you for subscribing and have a wonderful day!

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© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Bet You Wondered WHERE I’ve Been!

Well, I was on a trip to the Holy Land and Egypt! We FINALLY got to Israel. We were supposed to go last September but travel was postponed due to…you guessed it, covid. What an amazing adventure, made even better because I was traveling with a bunch of my friends from church. This is just part of our group, the rest arrived on a different flight. As you read through my post please remember, you may click on any picture to see an enlargement.

Jack’s and my dear friend, Ann, joined me. Here we are with our toes in the cool water of the Mediterranean at Natanya, where we stayed the first night.

Two days later we had our morning devotion on a cruise on the Sea of Galilee, the same body of water upon which Jesus walked. It was an emotional moment for me, thinking of all that happened here.

After our devotion I took the opportunity to sketch the distant shoreline. I wonder if Peter, James and John saw this same scene as they fished on the Sea of Galilee over 2,000 years ago.

We went to the Jordan River for a remembrance of our Baptisms.

Here I am on the Mount of Olives, overlooking Old Jerusalem in the background.

We visited the Wailing Wall in Old Jerusalem. As I touched the massive, old stones that were warmed by the brilliant sunshine, I wondered what stories they would tell if they could talk.

I’ll be sharing more about our trip in future blogs. I’ll give a little teaser, there’s camels involved! In the meantime I’ve got a big commission to get started on! Hope you’ll come back and follow along! Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Welcome Visitor

“Welcome Visitor” is my newest painting for my Santa Fe Gallery! The colorful, fragrant flowers in this Southwest garden attract a delightful Hummingbird. The whisper of wings and happy chirps announcing his arrival bring joy to my heart!

Here’s a close-up of the zippy fella! You may click on the image to see an enlargement.

Come watch the Video Progression from Start to Finish.

Thank you for visiting my studio today. Hope you’ll come back and join us again. With Colorful Smiles and Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com