Sky and Azure Water

Sun streams into the painting from the left. Clouds, tinted with the soft blush of morning light, drift across the blue sky. The field of the sky has been painted with a light mix of White + Pthalo Blue toward the left and a little darker one of White + Cobalt Blue on the right. The clouds are combinations of White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson), White + MUD + Alizarin Crimson and White + Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.

The azure water is now added. Working from the distant horizon to the foreground the color mixes are, White + MUD + Ultramarine Blue, White + Ultramarine Blue, White + Ultramarine Blue + Pthalo Blue, White + Pthalo Blue and White + Pthalo Turquoise Blue.

Notice how the duller mixtures in the distance recede, while the brighter mixes of White + Pthalo Blue and White + Pthalo Turquoise Blue jump forward. This is a simple rule that helps to give the appearance of depth in a painting: Muted, dull colors go back. Bright, intense colors come forward.

The Cap Ferrat penisula is blocked in with cooler greens made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD + White. I let a splash of sunlight dance across the water to illuminate the village and harbor.

The closest bluff is painted with the same mixes that were used for the far penisula. I just added more Cadmium Orange and MUD to them. The road, snaking along its base, is indicated with a combination of White + Ultramarine Blue.

The columns have been blocked in with several mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White. In our next session we’ll bring more warm colors to the foreground, the cooler hues in the background are really going to recede. Thanks for following along today, please come back and visit my studio again soon. With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Great Memories of the Coast of France

My desktop computer displays a slideshow of my favorite pictures of Jack and me. Glacing up as I was painting, the one above happened to be on the screen! My breath caught in my throat as wonderful memories filled my heart. In May of 2004 we visited Eze, a small, picturesque village, high above the Cote d’Azur. Cap Ferrat is located on the distant point that juts out into the beautiful waters of the southern coast of France.

Immediately inspired, I thought of a flower filled terrace, overlooking this view. Some of my favorite subjects to paint are scenes of places I’d like to live. I can see the composition in my mind, so let’s get started. I begin sketching up the basic architecture with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. Using a t-square, balanced on the top edge of the canvas, helps me to get my upright lines straight and true. You may click on any of the images to see them larger.

Bougainvilleas will drape over the arch, framing the view in brilliant Hot Pink! We definitely need a table and chairs to sit and enjoy the view. The heart shaped backs add a touch of romance.

An Ultramarine Blue pitcher holds a cheery bouquet of Sunflowers and Angelonia.

We’re all sketched up and ready to start painting in our next session. I do 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.

I appreciate you subscribing to my blog! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Your House is on FIRE!

Words none of us want to hear. Those are exactly the words my long time collector heard when she answered the call from their neighbor. Their home had been struck by lightning. Fortunately, Ron had been a Fire Chief before he retired. He immediately shut off power, gas and water, got Cindy and their Girly Girls, Carlie and Gabbie out and then manually opened the garage to save the cars. When the fire department arrived they allowed him to go in to retrieve important items. Along with other valuables, he was able to get all of their extensive art collection out before it could burn.

We’d met in the mid 1990ies when Cindy and Ron began collecting my paintings. We’ve collaborated on several but I didn’t realize they had collected 17 pieces over the years! So when Cindy asked if I would be willing to come to Florida to clean, repair and restore my art, I said, “ABSOLUTELY YES!” The art was covered with soot and debris, they’d be helping me so I thought having matching aprons would bring some fun to the emotional roller coaster they’ve been on.

Frankly, I didn’t have a clue how to clean soot from oil paintings. After doing A LOT of research online, I found a product made in England, FINE ART RESTORATION OIL PAINTING CLEANER. You may purchase it on Amazon. I emailed back and forth with Chris, in London, asking tons of questions. He was very patient and gave me much appreciated advice on the best way to use the cleaner. It worked great, the paintings now look beautiful. Please remember, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The next step was to repaint all of my White Senkarik Signature Frames. We constructed some makeshift work tables to complete the job!

Even though we had cleaned the white frames, you can see how they were stained by the smoke and soot.

SAFE HARBOR is a large piece, 48 inches x 36 inches, that Cindy and I collaborated on. She fell in love with two of my sketches from Jack’s and my travels in Italy, so we combined them into one painting.

It was done on a special painting panel. Water from the fire hoses seeped under the corner of the frame, lifting the painting surface. We were afraid to remove the art from the frame, it may have caused more of the surface to pull away.

Using a razor blade I cut a tiny slit, inserted glue with a small syringe, pressed the painting surface back down, let it dry and then repainted that area. After a couple of days I varnished the painting with Grumbacher Retouch Varnish and SAFE HARBOR was happy again! You can see how it now looks in the full image of the painting, two pictures back.

Portions of several pieces needed to be repainted. The dining room in their temporary home faced north, giving me perfect light to work in.

Also cleaned each of the paintings by other artists in Cindy and Ron’s collection. When all the art was clean I gave the paintings a final coat of varnish and they are now good as new!!! The smiles that filled my collector’s faces made my heart overflow with joy!

We couldn’t work for nine days and not play a little, so we definitely got some beach time in! I learned so much on this unique journey, thanks for following 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.

I appreciate you subscribing to my blog! With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

ZIPPY VISITORS

Nasturtiums, painted in mixes of Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Orange, tumble out of the adobe planter lining the saltillo tile walkway. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.

The characteristic round leaves of the Nasturtiums are made of Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow and Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow + White. There is a lighter dot in the center of each leaf where the stem attaches on the underneath side.

Centers of the Nasturtuim flowers have been made with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original. Then we begin planting the White Hollyhocks. The large blossoms are blocked in with White + Ultramarine Blue, White + Dioxazine Purple and White + Pthalo Blue.

Leaves have been made with several mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White. The crepe papery flowers are accented with White, centers delineated with the same mix used for those of the Nasturtiums, yellow stamens added and the final touch is to paint the towering Hollyhock stalks, covered with seed pods.

Chamisa nestles at the base of the Hollies. ZIPPY VISITORS, attacted by the bright Nasturtiums, bring some delightful Zippity-Do-Dah to this entry garden!

PROGRESSION VIDEO: Watch the entire process from start to finish! I really appreciate you following my blog. My followers are the BEST!!!! With Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Stone, Tile Work and Planting

Well-worn stone steps curl up to the gate. The flat top receives more illumination from above, therefore it’s lighter than the upright sides or risers. You may click on this, or any other image, to see it larger.

The rest of the walkway is Saltillo Tile. The entire floor is covered with light and dark shades of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White and Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White, establishing the pattern of the sunlight dancing across the surface.

Curved perspective lines are etched into the wet paint of the floor with a fine liner brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original.

Terra Cotta Containers are ready and waiting to welcome some colorful, floral residents!

Let’s get to work and plant some bright Red Geraniums in them. My garden always has some of these beautiful babies! Although with the hot, hot summer this year, they aren’t looking quite as cheerful as these will. That’s the joy of gardening in paint, NO Watering, Bugs or Heat to worry about.

The Geraniums are painted in the sequence shown above. #1. Flowers First in mixes of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light. #2. Leaves are painted around the masses of red blossoms with combinations of Lemon Yellow + Pthalo Blue. #3. The distinctive flower buds are added, along with Cadmium Red Light + White highlights on the flower petals accented by the sunlight.

Sweet Potato Vine, with its heart shaped leaves, is made with several mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + a bit of Cadmium Orange and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. The same brush used for the perspective lines on the tile is perfect for the long, dangling vines.

The Thunbergia Vine is many shades of Dioxazine Purple + White. The deep centers of the blooms are Magenta + Liquin Original.

That’s all for this session! Do come back. We’ll be doing more planting, why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and give me a hand? With Big Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Unique Santa Fe Gate

The adobe wall of the courtyard is painted with several mixtures of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + some Cadmium Yellow Medium + a tiny, tiny bit of Pthalo Blue + White. More White is in the lighter mixes while the darker ones contain more MUD. To learn more about MUD and our Double Primary Color Mixing System CLICK HERE.

It’s always fun to add hearts to bring a subliminal touch of romance to my paintings. Sweet Potatoe Vine is a favorite because of the heart-shaped shadows cast by its leaves. To view an enlargement of this, or any other image, just click on the picture.

An adobe planter hugs the edge of the curved tile walk and rugged stone steps.

Now for the lintel of our unique, Santa Fe gate. The long beams and round inserts are made of mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White.

The Southwestern Gate and side post have been painted with mixes, in different proportions, of Ultramarine Blue + White. The wrought iron Ring Gate Handle is made with a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original

Two Hummingbirds have flown into our garden. Viridian Green is used for their heads, while their red throats are Cadmium Red Light.

Thank you for visiting my studio today, please come back for our next session!

With Colorful Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

Another Santa Fe Painting!

Legends of the West Fine Art, my gallery in Santa Fe, is in need of more paintings. So here goes on another one for them. The unusual details of Southwest architecture are interesting and fun to include in my pieces. My collectors really like them too! Jack and I took pictures of this gate YEARS ago. The slide had yellowed and lost a lot detail when it was scanned into a digital format. But doesn’t matter, it still called out to my heart to be painted!

As you read through my blog please remember; you may click on any picture to view an enlargement!

The lintel detail of this gate will be incorporated into my painting.

We begin by sketching up the walls and basic elements of the structure with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

Niches are frequently found tucked into the adobe walls of Santa Fe homes. Perfect places to put planters filled wtih colorful flowers.

Thunbergia Vine tumbles over the courtyard wall. The flowers are washed in with a mix of Dioxazine Purple + Liquin Original.

Leaves were added with oil washes of Viridian Green + Liquin Original and Pthalo Blue + Liquin Original. Thanks for following along today, we’ll start painting in our next session. COME WATCH!

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!

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com