Fine Art America, the publisher of my open edition prints, is offering 25% OFF ALL PRINTS UNTIL MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, November 28. Here’s your opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping for those special people on your Santa’s List. OR, maybe even for you!
JUST CLICK HERE to choose from over 60 SENKARIK Billboards of Happiness!
HAVE FUN and Thank You for shopping with me!
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© Senkarik 2022
Today’s session begins by painting the walls. Four combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue + White are used. The basic colors of the Double Primary Palette that I use for all my oil paintings are at the top of my palette. The dabs of paint on the left are those remaining from the background. If you’d like to learn more about the Double Primary Color Mixing System that Jack developed CLICK HERE.
After painting the courtyard wall behind the Wisteria, its wiggly, squiggly vines are drawn into the wet paint with a thin oil mix of MUD + Liquin Original. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.
Sunlight streaming through the Wisteria makes shadows dance down the adobe colored walls.
Antique bricks arch over the opening to the Bluebonnet Field and the Doorway. Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange + White, Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White and Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White are used.
Dioxazine Purple + White, Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White and Ultramarine Blue + White are used for the draping blossoms of the fragrant Wisteria.
Foliage is added with mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White.
The delicate petals of the Wisteria blooms are delineated, using the corner of a small, square tipped, Bright brush.
We’re moving right along! Hope you’ll come back soon to visit my studio and watch the rest of the progress of this painting. With Colorful Smiles,
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© Senkarik 2022
Over the years my collectors, readers and fellow artists have become friends. Many of you I’ve never met in person, but I still feel we have a special bond. I would like to take this opportunity to let you know how thankful I am for you! I’m very blessed with all of your loving encouragement and support through thick and thin! I may not see you physically but it gives me great comfort knowing you’re there!
I’m also very thankful for the men and women who have sacrificed so much so we can live in Freedom here in America. We have much to be grateful for, God has certainly blessed each of us. Please remember to give THANKS every single day for His gifts because “Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart, not a day of the year.”
As usual, we begin painting with the sky. The recipes for my color mixes are shown above: #1. White + Cobalt Blue. #2. Two combinations of White + Pthalo Blue. #3. White + Cadmium Orange + a touch of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson). #4. White + MUD. Just a reminder, you may click on any picture to see it larger.
By the way, those are the basic colors of our Double Primary Palette across the top of the picture. To learn more about this Oil Color Mixing System that Jack developed, CLICK HERE.
The upper portion of the sky is mix #1. The lower part has been covered with the #2 mixtures, using the lightest shade near the horizon. Highlights (#3) dance along the tops of the clouds, the shadow area of which have been painted with mix #4.
The distant field, illuminated by sunlight, appears even brighter because of the dark trees in front of it.
COME WATCH as I block in the beautiful spring Blue, Blue Bluebonnets growing in the meadow outside the courtyard.
A few Magenta wildflowers cavort happily amongst the Blue ones.
Their distinctive white caps are now added, making sure there is no doubt that this is a field of our beloved Texas State Flower, the Bluebonnet!
Jack always loved seeing my “Through the Door” paintings at this stage. He thought it was cool with the background complete and the foreground still in the initial sketch. I do too! What do you think? With Cheerful Hugs,
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© Senkarik 2022
Today, we’re coming back to the beautiful Hill Country of Texas! I’m working on a new piece for Pitzer’s Fine Art, my gallery in Wimberley, Texas. First, the basic architecture of the archway, door and courtyard wall is drawn up on the canvas with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. Here I’m washing in the antique bricks that will line the tops of the door and open archway. To see enlargements of any of the images, just click on the picture.
Stately Hollyhocks nestle in the right corner; on the left of the Red Door cheerful Sunflowers will glow.
Firecracker Penstemon is sketched with a wash of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original. Orange California Poppies will be planted in the adjoining container.
Wisteria meanders over the arch and door. All of the colorful flowers in the courtyard will be accentuated by the cool hues of classic Texas Bluebonnets in the distant field!. Now that the initial oil wash sketch is complete, we’re all ready to begin painting. Hope you’ll come back and follow along!
Thank you for visiting my studio and following along with me. 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,
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© Senkarik 2022
In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. The end of the war happened at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, so that’s why November 11 was chosen. Accordingly, November 11, 1918, was considered the end of “the war to end all wars” and in 1938 it became an official holiday. But then World War II and the Korean War happened. So on June 1, 1954, Congress amended the commemoration by changing the word “ARMISTICE” to “VETERANS” in order to honor American veterans of all wars, whether they are living or dead.
I’d like to share a short poem by Joanna Fuchs, she says it so well.
The Best on Earth:
A Veteran’s Day Tribute
If someone has done military service,
They earn the title “veteran,” and more;
They earn our deep respect and admiration;
That they are special no one can ignore.
They sacrificed the comforts we enjoy;
The list is long of all the things they gave.
Our veterans are extraordinary people;
They’re loyal, dedicated, true and brave.
When terror and invasion were real threats,
They showed us they could handle any storm.
We owe our freedoms and our very lives
To our veterans, who served in uniform.
Our veterans should be celebrities;
They’re exceptional; no other group compares.
We’re grateful for the many things they’ve done;
They’re always in our hearts and in our prayers.
We owe our veterans support and friendship;
Let no one ever question what they’re worth.
These men and women served us and our country,
Our veterans–the very best on earth.
By Joanna Fuchs
So please take a moment to say a prayer for all of those who have and are currently serving in our armed forces. Always THANK A VETERAN; it just doesn’t have to be today. When you see someone in a uniform tell them how much you appreciate their sacrifices to protect our Freedoms here in America. Give them a smile and say, “Thanks for what you’re doing to keep us safe in the USA!”
With Grateful Hugs,
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© Senkarik 2022
Now, let’s go to Santorini! The unembellished Giclee of ENDLESS BEAUTY is up on my easel and we’re ready to begin. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to view an enlargement.
A couple of thin oil washes are made with Severes Green + Liquin Original and Cobalt Blue + Liquin Original.
The water below the church is glazed with the Severes Green + Liquin Original oil wash, intensifying the color.
The Cobalt Blue wash is used on the gates, window and door. You can see how the color of the glazed area on the door, above the brush, is much richer than the hue below it.
The large leaves of the Canna Lilies are glazed with Viridian Green + Liquin Original. This makes them darker and richer, accentuating the brilliant, azure water at the base of the bluffs.
The bright, hot Pink Bougainvillea is repainted with combinations of Permanent Rose + White and Cadmium Red Light + Permanent Rose + White.
After embellishing the flowers of the Canna Lilies and Petunias that reside on the steps, my attention turns to the cheerful Geraniums. Their blossoms are painted with Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Red Light + White.
Dioxazine Purple + White is used for the Lavender Cyclamen nestled below the Geraniums.
Tiger Lilies dance in the gentle breeze drifting in from the Aegean Sea. The Cadmium Orange flowers glow against the Cobalt Blue Gate. Blue and Orange are complementary colors, this means they are across from each other on the Color Wheel. Placing the Orange next to the Blue makes it appear even more intense.
The sun-washed stucco of the building on the right is highlighted with pure White. This makes it come forward of the wall and church in the distance. The lightest White on both of them have a little Ultramarine Blue mixed in, causing them to recede.
Ready to take a stroll along the stone walk and enjoy the ENDLESS BEAUTY of Santorini? I certainly am!
Here’s the LIMITED ORIGINAL Giclee, Before and After the embellishing process. It sure makes a difference, doesn’t it?
Thank you for visiting my studio and following along with me. 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,
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© Senkarik 2022
Today I’m showing how I embellish one of my LIMITED ORIGINAL Giclees on Canvas. The unembellished Giclee is shown above. My collector originally asked for another of my Sedona paintings to be made into a LIMITED ORIGINAL. However “Shimmering Majesty”, the sunset scene he chose, would not enlarge as much as Bruce needed. So, I suggested “Table with a View”; I could just change it to a Sunset! This is several days work compressed into one post. To see this, or any of the other images larger, just click on the picture.
The door is glazed with a thin oil mix of Pthalo Blue + Liquin Original. The area below my brush has not yet been glazed, you can see how much richer the upper portion is.
The sky is repainted, changing it to a brilliant sunset!
Adding the warm glow from the setting sun makes Sedona’s Red Rocks shimmer against the cool shadows of the clouds and distant bluffs behind them.
The cheerful Ultramarine Blue and White striped umbrellas are repainted.
Let’s pour some wine into the glasses, giving an invitation to the viewer to come sit down, take a sip and enjoy the view.
Bruce said one of his favorite wines is a California Primitivo produced by a local Family Vintner, MUNGER VINEYARDS. The unique label is fun to paint!
Wine label DONE! Let’s move on to gardening…
Repainting the Geraniums is next.
Cadmium Yellow Daisies bob their bright heads in the gentle breeze. The centers are painted in three steps. #1. A large dark center is made with MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. #2. A smaller blob of Cadmium Yellow + White is added in the middle of that. #3. In this picture I’m making a small dot of MUD in the center of the yellow.
The Pink and White blossoms of the Rose of Sharon are now repainted.
We’re done. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to take a seat at this “Table with a View”, enjoy a glass of California Primitivo and bask in the beautiful Sedona Sunset!
“Table with a View”, transformed from mid day to late afternoon sunset! 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
Mikki Senkarik 