A Walk Around My Garden

I’ve been busy working on paintings for my One Artist Show in August. Since I won’t be revealing my Show Paintings until then, I thought I’d take a break to walk with you around my garden. You’ve probably heard me say this lots of times before but here I go again, “SPRING is my favorite time of year!” And it’s in full swing here. So COME ON, let’s head out the front door and tour my garden. Please step softly, we don’t want to disturb Mrs. Wren who has made a nest in the birdhouse!

Do keep in mind as we go along, you may click on any image to see it larger.

The colorful blossoms of Red Corn Poppies bob and dance in the gentle breeze.

Hummingbirds love the spiring blooms of the Red Yuccas in the front yard. Last fall, I had only planted Bluebonnets and Orange California Poppies around the Yuccas. The Sunflowers were a complete surprise. These cheerful yellow favorites of mine were a wonderful gift from God!

Next we head to the “Kitchen Garden” where a Rose Arbor and Birdfeeder reside. The tree on the left is a Vitex. It will have beautiful purple blooms come May.

This is the view from my Kitchen window. It’s such a treat to watch all the birds flying in and out to eat at the feeder. I think Snoopy enjoys watching the birds too!

Another Rose Arbor arches over the entrance to the Fountain Garden on the opposite side of the house.

A happy little Pig merrily kicks up his heels amidst the Pink Blossoms of the Peggy Martin Roses.

The Fountain Courtyard borders my back deck, the music of the cascading water makes this a tranquil spot to relax after a long day at the easel. Hope you enjoyed the tour of my garden, thank you for coming along! With Colorful Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Mother’s Day is on the Way!

MOTHER’S DAY is right around the corner on May 14th.

Surprise that hardworking, loving Mom in your life with a SENKARIK “Billboard of Happiness” Print that will bring her smiles and enjoyment for years to come! One of my latest paintings, THE GOOD SHEPHERD has been very popular. I’m offering it in a Print version just in time for Mother’s Day!

Choose from multiple sizes, framed or unframed. Several frame selections are also available for THE GOOD SHEPHERD, just CLICK HERE!

There are LOTS OF SENKARIK PRINTS TO SELECT FROM, over 60 as a matter of fact! You may order them framed or unframed, on paper, canvas, acrylic panels or even metal. Choose just the right piece or pieces for the special Mother in your life. This Mother’s Day give her a reminder of your love that will make her heart dance with joy, every time she looks at the SENKARIK PRINT on her wall!

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE SELECTION OF SENKARIK PRINTS.

GIFT your MOM a SENKARIK TOTE BAG, they are available in TWO SIZES! The image is printed on both sides! Design how large you would like your SENKARIK ART to appear on the bag, as well as select the Background Color!

CLICK HERE for 18 by 18 inch SENKARIK TOTE BAGS.

For 16 inch tall by 24 inch wide WEEKENDER TOTES, CLICK HERE.

Does your Mom love a cup of coffee or tea? Make it even more enjoyable for her with a SENKARIK “Billboard of Happiness” Mug!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP ALL THE MUG DESIGNS!

ALSO AVAILABLE:

SENKARIK Notecards, Phone Covers, Apparel, Flags, Throw Pillows and even Christmas Ornaments!

These special gift items adorned with colorful, cheerful SENKARIK ART will brighten your Mother’s day!

BUT PLEASE, DON’T LINGER!

Most items ship within 2 to 3 business days after you order. So make your selections as soon as possible to ensure delivery by Mother’s Day on May 14th. OR, you can always extend this special day by giving her a card saying an Extra Special Surprise is on the way!

HAPPY SHOPPING and Thank You for being part of my Team Senkarik Family!

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Serenity of Chimayo

HAPPY EASTER! HE IS RISEN!

I pray you had a wonderful Easter, mine was beautiful! Last week was a busy one for me, with preparations for Holy Week and Easter at my Church. So, I didn’t get a chance to post my blog until now.

But I’m back at the easel today and here we go. The adobe wall of the main courtyard is painted with several different mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Pthalo Blue + White. To learn more about the Double Primary Color Mixing System that I use, CLICK HERE!

Trumpet Vine tumbles over the wall. The bright flowers are blocked in with Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Red Light + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Orange. The leaves are made of Sap Green + Lemon Yellow + White. To see this, or any other image larger, just click on the picture.

The deep centers of the flowers are delineated with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original.

Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a little Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Red Light + White are used for the weathered wood of the gate.

The gate, open wide to welcome visitors to the Mission, are done. Let’s begin gardening….

Salvia nestles at the base of the gate on the right. The tall, spiky blossoms are Magenta + Dioxazine Purple + White and Magenta + White. Foliage is painted with combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

Mixes of Permanent Rose + Magenta, Permanent Rose + Cadmium Red Light + White and Permanent Rose + White are perfect for the Hollyhocks, a colorful favorite in New Mexico gardens.

The broad leaves are blocked in with different shades of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow and Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White.

Seed pods on the tall stalks complete the stately Hollies. Next is the Chamisa, another native to New Mexico. The blooms are Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The thin stems are added with a fine liner brush.

Sunlight, illuminating the tall towers of the Mission, beckons you to come into the courtyard and soak up the Serenity of Chimayo. Thank you for following along today. I so appreciate you visiting my studio, please come back again! With Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Return to New Mexico

I’m beginning a piece for my upcoming Collector Event at Legends of the West Fine Art in Santa Fe, August 25 and 26. The painting is based on the picturesque El Santuario de Chimayo, located about 30 miles north of the gallery. Right now, the week before Easter, is an especially busy time at the Mission. Being Holy Week, almost 300,000 people from all over the world make pilgrimages here, especially on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Some seek special blessings, some come to fulfill vows they’ve made.

Traditionally, many visitors to the Mission Chimayo take a small amount of the dirt found there. It’s considered to be “holy”. They hope for a miraculous cure for themselves or someone who could not make the trip, rubbing the dirt on themselves or simply keeping it in a small container. The Church replaces the dirt from the nearby hillsides, sometimes more than once a day. The total comes out to 25 or 30 tons a year!

So, let’s get to work. My basic plan is sketched up on the canvas with a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

The oil wash sketch is complete, we’re ready to begin painting. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to view an enlargement.

The sky has been painted with mixes of White + Cobalt Blue (near the top of the canvas) and White + Pthalo Blue (near the horizon, behind the mountains). Ultramarine Blue + MUD + White is used for the most distant ridge, the hillside closest to the Mission is blocked in with warmer combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

The warm adobe color of the Bell Towers, made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White, comes forward of the cooler hues of the mountains and trees behind them.

It’s fun adding the tiny ladder, leading to the upper part of the Mission.

Dioxazine Purple + White Wisteria cascades over the front entrance.

Various combinations of MUD + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White are used to cover the entire surface of the cobblestone courtyard, in front of the Santuario.

Crevices, between the irregular cobblestones, are made with the same oil mix (MUD + Liquin Original) used to sketch up the initial plan on the canvas. This is done randomly, in an impressionistic manner, being careful not to outline each and every individual stone. My intent is to give the feel of the rough rock surface, not delineate it perfectly.

Large Ultramarine Blue + White ceramic containers cluster around the Cross. We’ll fill them in our next session. Grab some gloves and you can help me with the planting! Until then, thank you for following along and please come back!

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 2023

www.Senkarik.com