A SPECIAL DAY

Mike’s blue jeans are painted with several mixes of Cobalt Blue + White. As you read through my blog please remember, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.

Various combinations of MUD + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + White are used for Mike’s face. First the shadow patterns are blocked in.

After the details of his face are delineated, Mike’s beard is added with mixtures of Ivory Black + White.

Burnt Umber + White makes up his hat. The band is some of the Ivory Black mix that was used for the beard.

White, in various proportions, is added to the hat mixes to paint the Boy Scout Leader’s shirt.

The deep red of the Kerchief is Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta while the highlights are Pure Cadmium Red Light.

Mike’s arm and hand holding the reins are painted with the mixtures remaining from his face.

The White stripes of the flag are painted first, then the Red ones. I follow this sequence so the Whites will stay crisp and clean. If the Red was covered first and then the White, my brush would pick up the Red as I painted the White stripes and they would turn Pink!

The Blue Field of the Flag is blocked in first, making sure to leave the dots that give me the position of the stars. The White stars are painted into the Blue, making it easier to shape them. I will have to come back later, after they are dry, and add more White on the stars that are illuminated by the sun.

A SPECIAL DAY 16 inches x 12 inches

All of the cool greens of the trees in the background make our beautiful Star Spangled Banner POP! July 4th, 2012 was A SPECIAL DAY for Mike and his son. I feel blessed to be able to commemorate this moment for Mike. Thanks to all of you for your kind and encouraging comments! With appreciative Hugs,

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© Senkarik 2022

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Gypsy and Tack

Before starting work on Gypsy and the Tack (Saddle and Bridle) the street must be painted. Several mixes of White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue are used. The warmer mixtures contain more Cadmium Orange and are used nearer the foreground. Cooler mixes, with more Ultramarine Blue, are reserved for the street farther away. The coolness of the hues in the Bluer mixes makes the street recede. Please remember, you may click on any image to see it larger.

Now we are ready to begin on Gypsy and the Tack. My color recipes are: #1. MUD + Ultramarine Blue + White. #2. Five combinations, in various proportions, of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light + a little Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. #3. Two shades of Ivory Black + White. #4. MUD + Cadmium Red Light.

Gypsy’s hind legs and tail are painted with Ivory Black, wet into wet, over the street behind them. Using the #3 mixes, her hooves are made. Then her hip, flank and belly are blocked in the #2 mixtures. I apologize, I was so excited about starting on Gypsy I forgot to take any progress pictures! Finally remembered when I began the The “Boot” for the flag pole, which attaches to the stirrup.

One characteristic of Gypsy’s Dun coloring is the distinctive “Zebra striping” on her upper front legs. Her expressive eyes are painted in two steps. The left eye shows the beginning, the entire eye is painted with MUD + Liquin Original, then a crescent of the #4 mix is made along the lower portion. On the right, I’m adding the tiny White catch light. Since sun pours into the painting from the right, the catch light is added at approximately a 1 o’clock position.

After finishing Gypsy’s head and delineating the Halter, Bridle and Bosal, the Breastplate is painted.

The Snaffle Bit, Buckles and Ring of the Martingale are first made with a mix of Ultramarine Blue + a bit of Ivory Black + White. Then white highlights are added.

Saddle, Stirrup Leathers and Stirrups complete our work for this session. I started my oil painting career in 1990 doing Equine pieces. Then, in 1992, I painted a Garden/Architecture scene. My gallery sold it immediately, before she had even taken it completely out of the shipping box, and asked for more. Ten of those sold and in the meantime, not one of the horse paintings she had in inventory was purchased. So I made the switch; my collectors were telling me what they liked best. I love doing the Garden/Architecture pieces but it’s really fun to be painting a horse again. Been a long time!

With Happy Hugs,

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© Senkarik 2022

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ALL Those People!

Painting the crowd to the left of Mike and Gypsy begins the same way as before, several different colors are blocked in. Skin tones and darks are added to indicate faces and hair. Then, individual figures are shaped from the jumble of hues. Please keep in mind, you may click on any picture to see an enlargement.

WHEW! I think ALL those people are done! I’ve painted the distant crowd a little more loosely, or impressionistically, than the one on the right. This causes them to drop back even further into the background. I’ve changed the yellow on two of the figures flanking Gypsy and Mike, making the hue more intense. This subtly leads the viewer’s gaze to the main subject of the portrait by “Framing” them.

Mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Ultramarine Blue + a bit of Pthalo Blue + White are used for the upright barrier lining the parade route.

While the wall is still wet, I go ahead and paint Mike’s boots.

After stepping back and studying the portrait, I decide to add a couple more American Flags being waved by the enthusiastic 4th of July celebrants.

Patriotic Red, White and Blue bunting drapes in graceful scallops along the barrier.

Bows and Ribbons are added and the Background is complete! We’ll begin working on the Stars of our Portrait in the next session. COME WATCH! With Big Hugs,

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© Senkarik 2022

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Celebrating Crowd

First of all, we’ll paint the sky and background trees. My color recipes are above. SKY: #1. White + Pthalo Blue. #2. White + Cobalt Blue. TREES: #3. Ultramarine Blue + White. #4. Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White. #5. The remaining seven mixtures are combinations, in various proportions, of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. If you would like to view an enlargement of any of the pictures, just click on the image.

After painting the sky, the trees are blocked in with mixes #3, #4 and #5. I work carefully around my sketch. It’s now completely dry, which makes it easy to wipe off any paint that happens to cover my initial drawing. All I have to do is dip a clean brush in my Turpenoid Odorless Paint thinner, wipe it with tissue to remove the excess liquid and then lift off the errant brush strokes.

Trees done! Let’s begin on the people lining the parade route.

I mix A BUNCH of different colors to use for the crowd. All of the mixes are made with the colors of the Jack White Double Primary Palette that I use. They are lined up across the top of my glass palette. To learn more about this wonderful Color Mixing System that Jack developed, CLICK HERE.

I begin blocking in the basic shapes of the 4th of July celebrants. They are painted in a looser, more impressionistic technique without a lot of detail to make them recede into the background. If I were to add all the tiny details of their faces it would detract and take away from Mike and Gypsy, the stars of our portrait.

Extra red, white and blue balloons increase the patriotic mood.

More crowd to paint in our next session. Hope you’ll visit my Studio Blog to join me again. Have a great day! With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

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Patriotic Portrait

Talk about a drastic weather change, we’re going from a snowy Christmas in Santa Fe to a warm 4th of July Parade in Texas! This was a very special moment for Mike, he was riding in the parade with his son’s Boy Scout Troop. Retired from the Air Force, Mike served our country for over 25 years. We are very blessed to have men and women like him who make so many sacrifices for us.

Please remember, you may click on any picture to see an enlargement.

The first step is to draw Mike and Gypsy, his favorite Quarter Horse mare, up on the canvas.

Next, I begin indicating the crowd lining the parade route with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. I’ve taken out the buildings and added a fence covered with red, white and blue bunting. Trees will be in the background, the greens will make the reds really POP!

The reds are washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original. The blue field of the American Flag is covered with a mix of Ultramarine Blue + Liquin Original. White dots are left where the stars will be.

Mike’s face is washed in with the MUD mixture. This is not meant to be an exact likeness at this point, just helps me to get the basic planes and values of his face established.

I begin working on pretty Miss Gyspy. She’s a “Clay Back Dun” which means her body is a deep adobe color with black mane, tail, lower legs and tips of her alert ears. Their curved points are made with Ivory Black + Liquin Original. One of the things I enjoy most about horseback riding is watching the trail ahead, framed by their expressive ears.

Her legs are now washed in with the Ivory Black + Liquin mix.

The bridle, saddle and Mike’s jeans and boots are now delineated with the MUD oil wash.

The Patriotic Portrait is sketched up on the canvas; we’re ready to begin painting in our next session. Hope you’ll come visit my studio again and 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

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Behold, A STAR!

The Evergreen Trees are blocked in with various mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + a touch of Cadmium Orange + White. You may click on this or any of the other images to see them larger.

The snow has been added, wet into wet, over the greens of the graceful boughs. My brush picked up a little of the color underneath, making the whites cooler. Moving to the foreground, the snow topped adobe wall is painted. Next, twigs and branches of the bush in front of the wall are drawn with a thin oil mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

The moonlit Evergreens are now highlighted.

It’s time to put The Christmas Star in its new location. Previously it was above and to the right of the cross on the Cathedral, I like that it’s more prominent here.

Mr. Chippers, a red Northern Cardinal, nestles on the snowy Evergreen bough.

My collectors and I initially chose Blue for the flower pots. The blossoms, though adding some color, will be covered in snow. The shadows of which are blues and purples. There is so much blue in the painting with the sky and snow, I’m concerned the Blue Flower Pots won’t come forward or add any drama. But just to make certain, I go ahead and first block in the pots with Cobalt Blue + White. Seeing them in the composition, my suspicions are confirmed, Terra Cotta will be so much better. After making the change, the difference is quite dramatic. The rusty warmth brings them forward, giving the painting A LOT more depth.

In the depths of winter, I’m absolutely helpless when I walk into our local grocery store and see the plants with colorful blooms. I’m so hungry for spring, I don’t listen to common sense and always purchase them anyway. You can see I’ve definitely been here and put out Hot Pink Petunias to brighten the terrace wall.

WELL, as always happens, Winter prevails! Snow covers my beautiful Petunias! Even though it doesn’t snow in Central Texas like it does in Santa Fe, I can’t begin to tell you how many flowering plants I’ve lost to freezes. Fortunately this is a painting and not real life! So these pretty babies will survive to bring happy, spring color to the scene for many years to come.

Red berries add another warm POP of color in the foreground.

Chamisa hugs the wall under the Petunias.

Behold! A STAR! Our Savior is with us! The Brilliant Star and the glow of warmth emanating from the bell towers and the Rose Window of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi assures us of Jesus, pouring the Light of His Love onto us.

Thank you for following my blog! God Bless You!

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© Senkarik 2022

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St. Francis Cathedral

While the sky is still wet, the snow covered boughs of the Evergreens are painted into the deep, blue field. Painting them now, ensures that the snowy edges will be soft. As this is done my brush picks up some of the sky color, allowing the snow to take on the hue of the reflected light from the night sky. As you read through my blog, please remember that you may click on the images to see enlargements.

Using several mixtures, in different proportions, of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White, construction begins on St. Francis Cathedral.

Snow, covering the roofs and flat surfaces of all the architectural details, is added with mixes of White + Ultramarine Blue.

Dentil molding cornices are a beautiful detail on the stone cathedral. First the entire surface of the cornice is painted dark, then the lighter “Teeth” are made.

The long shadow of the stately Evergreen tree on the left reaches out across the snow and up, onto the side of the building.

The Rose Window over the front entry of the Basilica was imported from Clermont-Ferrand in France. The stained glass that was originally washed in with a mix of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original is now dry, making it easier to paint the details of the window and snow.

The Bell Towers are illuminated on this clear, snowy Christmas Eve. The columns and arches are bathed in the warm light.

Moonlight dances out from behind the foreground Evergreen and over the snow. OPPSSSSSS! One mistake I can see already, the lanterns by the door are not in the correct perspective. I’ll DEFINITELY change that!

WHEW!!!! Painting all those tiny little architectural details is slow going. This is 2 day’s work compressed into one blog post. I didn’t like where I’d positioned the Christmas Star, it was too close to the Cathedral. So scraping it off with my painting knife, the sky was redone in that area. I saved all of the sky paint so I didn’t have to try to match the mixtures. I’ll put the Star of the Christ Child back in again later. Thank you for following along today! See you next time! With Warm Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

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Clear and Starry Night

We’ll begin painting with the night sky. My color recipes are shown above. #1. MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Ultramarine Blue + a tiny bit of Pthalo Blue + a little White. #2. Two shades of MUD + Ultramarine Blue + Pthalo Blue + White. #3. The #2 mixture + more White + a touch of Cadmium Orange. The colors of the Double Primary Oil Painting mixing system that I use are at the top of my glass topped palette. To learn more about this color mixing system that Jack developed CLICK HERE.

After painting the upper part of the sky with the #1 mix, the darkest of the #2 mixtures is used for the middle portion. To view this, or any other image larger, just click on the picture.

Moving downward, toward the top of the mountain, the lighter mixes are used. The lightest is reserved for the lowest portion of the sky.

Since it’s a clear night, the transitions between each color zone are carefully smoothed out. This was accomplished by lightly brushing over the sky with a clean brush. Then the tiny stars were added with a mix of White + a little Ultramarine Blue. The large Christmas star is painted with the same mix + a bit more White.

The snowy mountains behind the St. Francis Cathedral are covered with mixes of White + MUD + Ultramarine Blue, White + Ultramarine Blue and White + Ultramarine Blue + a little of mix #3 from the sky.

Leafless trees, lining the meadow along the base of the mountain, are painted with soft warm grays made of several mixes, in various proportions, of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. The Cedar Tree growing by the church is blocked in with Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a touch of White.

Snow blankets the Cedar Tree and we’re done for today. After seeing this picture, I realized the transition in the lower part of the sky needs to be smoothed out. SO, I just did that, you see how it looks in the next session. Please come back to visit my studio. I love having you along to join me in the journey of this painting. With Colorful Smiles,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com

From Hawaiian Surf to Santa Fe Snow!

This is a fun and different piece for me, I’m collaborating with long-time collectors on a painting for their Christmas Card. Ed and Cindy purchased one of the paintings from my initial inventory for Marcus Gallery in Santa Fe, my very first gallery! Soon after adding the painting to their collection, Ed came up with the most wonderful description of my paintings, “BILLBOARDS OF HAPPINESS”! Jack immediately gave Ed the title of “TEAM SENKARIK CAPTAIN!” and I still use the slogan today.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, commonly known as Saint Francis Cathedral, is our subject. It will be a wintery snow scene on a clear, starry Christmas Eve. Ed especially liked how the stately evergreen tree at the left cast its long shadow onto the Church. Instead of sunshine, bright moonlight will provide illumination.

Google is amazing, I was able to find a picture of St. Francis Cathedral that isn’t key stoned to use as reference for my pen and ink sketch. You may click on this, or any other image, to see an enlargement.

The Cathedral is lightly drawn in with a pencil, using a T-square balanced on top of the canvas, to ensure that my lines are straight and perfectly upright.

Next, I begin sketching the composition with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. Adding a classic Senkarik touch; Red Berries, Chamisa and Petunias will peek out of snow dusting them in white. The blue flower pots are made with Cobalt Blue + Liquin Original.

The Rose Window is washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original.

Mounds of snow blanket the arms of the tall, evergreen trees.

The basic details on the Cathedral are now drawn.

Work continues on delineating the architecture of the ornate façade.

A Cardinal nestles in the snow covered branches of the evergreen. Painting begins on the sky in our next session, hope you’ll visit my studio again to 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

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WET SANDS – Hawaiian Style!

The Bougainvillea on the rocky point is painted with mixes of Permanent Rose + Magenta + White, Magenta + White and Permanent Rose + White.

In the unembellished giclee, the windows and doors reproduced much darker than they were in the original painting. Therefore I repaint them with a mix of Pthalo Blue + White. You can see the difference between the upper and lower part of the window on the right. To enlarge the image just click on it.

The Bougainvillea draping over the white stucco home is painted with mixes of Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light + White and Permanent Rose + White. The addition of Cadmium Red Light into the mixtures makes the brilliant color warmer, causing this beautiful vine to pop forward from the cooler pinks of the one in the distance.

Magenta + White is used for the Morning Glories cascading out of the terra cotta containers on the balcony. The leaves are highlighted with some of the mixes remaining from the palms on the rocky point.

Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow, Lemon Yellow and Lemon Yellow + White accentuate the cheery Daisies ascending the steps.

After repainting the California Poppies in the foreground, their deep centers are made with Magenta + Liquin Original.

We’re done! Here’s our pretty girl, WET SANDS – HAWAIIAN STYLE!

Check out the Before and After. You may click on the picture to see it larger. I don’t know about you but I’m more than ready to go sit on that terrace, take in the beautiful view and listen to the magical music of the crashing waves. Thank you for coming with me on this journey. I’ll be starting on a painting for a Christmas Card in my next session. We’ll be going from SURF TO SNOW. Grab your ear muffs and mittens! With Warm Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2022

www.senkarik.com