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.

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