Flowers by the Bunch!

Santa Fe has the greatest Farmer’s Market, definitely worth your time to visit if you’re in the ‘City Different’. BUT NO, the picture above is not it. This photo was taken in Nice, France. I’m borrowing the cool striped awnings and umbrella for my version of one of the flower booths at the Railyard’s famous agricultural marketplace.

As you read through my post, keep in mind, you may click on any image to see it larger.

My session begins by sketching up the basic elements on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. Never took a picture of it but I remembered a terra cotta chicken planter we saw somewhere in our travels. On impulse just decided to pop it in, this seemed like the perfect place!

I’ve positively been on a red and white stripe kick recently. My previous painting had a striped awning! CLICK HERE to see Hide-A-Way Cafe. The red stripes are drawn in with thin oil washes of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original and Alizarin Crimson + MUD + Liquin Original. My wrist rests on the mahl stick that’s hooked over the top of my easel. This steadies my hand as I make the red swashes.

Chile Ristras are added with the same mixes used for the stripes.

I almost always label the flowers so I won’t forget my initial ideas as I get to slapping paint around! We’ll start with opaque oils in our next session. Have a great evening and please, always feel free to ask questions. With Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Hide-a-Way Café

Yellow/Orange/Rust Daisies reside below the arched window. If you noticed on my sketch in the first post about this piece, I’d planned to plant Purple Salvia in this corner. CLICK HERE to review that. However, when I painted Lavender Wisteria draping over the building in the background that all changed. This area required warmer, brighter hues to bring it forward and give more depth to the painting. The flowers have been blocked in with Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson), Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD and Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD. The foliage is mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to see an enlargement.

The centers of the Daisies are painted in three steps. #1. A dot is made in the middle of the blossom with MUD + Liquin Original. #2. A smaller spot of Cadmium Yellow Medium is placed within that. #3. Last, but not least, make a tiny MUD + Liquin Original speck in the center of the Yellow.

WARM COLORS COME FORWARD, COOL COLORS GO BACK is a basic rule I follow to give the feeling of depth in my paintings. Therefore the adobe mixture of the structure on the left is warmer than that of the building in the background, causing it to appear to come forward. The rusty iron lantern and bracket are made with mixes remaining from the bricks and cobblestones.

Cobalt Blue + Ultramarine Blue + White is used for this typical Santa Fe door.

The Blue on the door is the complimentary color, or across the color wheel, from the Orange used for the Trumpet Vine. Placing these two complimentary colors close together makes each seem brighter.

The teal planter box is painted with combinations of Pthalo Blue + a touch of Cadmium Orange + White.

Petunias are blocked in with two steps. #1. FLOWERS FIRST using Permanent Rose + Magenta + White, Permanent Rose + White and Cadmium Red Light + White. #2. LEAVES LAST with mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow, Ptahlo Blue + White and Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White. The greens are painted around the pinks, helping give shape to the blossoms.

I let a few flower petals drop to the ground and we can call this painting Done. Our little, cheerful HIDE-A-WAY CAFE beckons you to come sit under the striped awning, relax and enjoy a glass of wine in the midst of all the fragrant, colorful blooms! I’ve enjoyed having you visit my studio. hope you’ll come again soon. With HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Santa Fe-izing a Tuscan Building

The building in the right foreground of my painting is based on the picture above that I found on Google.com. I’m taking this Tuscan structure and making it Santa Fean! As you read through my blog, please remember that you may click on any image to view an enlargement.

Bricks are added along the roofline and over the arched window to make this more of a Southwestern Territorial Style. They are painted with a jumble of mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange, MUD + Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Orange + Pthalo Blue + White and Ultramarine Blue + White. A few strokes of color left over from the flower box are even worked in, here and there. This helps to give the appearance of weathered, antique bricks.

Mixes of Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White are used for the window.

Geraniums and Silver Pony Foot Vine surround the unique window.

I’ve decided to try a little different approach for the plants in this step. I have washed in the entire mass of the Daisies with thin oil mixes of Sap Green + Liquin Original and am using Viridian Green + Liquin Original as well as Pthalo Blue + Liquin Original for the Trumpet Vine.

Moving to the cobblestone walkway, the area is covered using the same mixtures that formed the antique brickwork. The paint is applied in short, heavy textured strokes to give the impression of the rough surface.

Following the shapes of the heavy brushstrokes, crevices are indicated between the individual cobblestones. This is done impressionistically with a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original. I’m very careful not to outline each and every stone.

That’s all for today. I need to wait for the washed in areas of the Daisies and Trumpet Vine to dry. Then I’ll begin painting their colorful blossoms! I really appreciate you following my blog. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments section. Have a wonderful day and I’ll see you soon! HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Stripes, Stripes and more Stripes

I’ve always loved this unique adobe on Canyon Road. In my painting, the design of the background building with the awning is loosely based on this one. You may click on any picture to see it larger.

After painting the sky, I begin working on the adobe structure. I’ve incorporated the top line of the building and the wood vigas, protruding out of the wall over the window, from the previous photo.

I had originally planned to have Red-Orange Trumpet Vine draping this building as well as the one in the left foreground. But changing in midstream as I often do, I’ve decided to go with Wisteria. The cool purples, made of Dioxazine Purple + White and Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White will help make this drop back.

The red stripes on the awning were originally washed-in with an oil mix of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original. They are now dry, enabling me to cover the entire surface of the awning with mixes of White + Ultramarine Blue and White + MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson). The paint is applied VERY thin so the stripes show through the white. Then the shadows of the vigas are made with a darker mixture of White + MUD.

Red stripes are painted over the White with combinations of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Deep + a touch of White. I brace against a Mahl Stick, hooked over the top of my easel, to steady my hand as I make the stripes. What is a Mahl Stick? CLICK HERE to find out!

The last step on the awning is to add pure White highlights on the front edge and scalloped flap. This helps to give the appearance that the awning juts forward. The window and window box are made with various shades of Cobalt Turquoise + Pthalo Turquoise Blue + White.

Magenta + White flowers spill out of the window box. The heart shaped backs of the wrought iron chairs are then drawn over the adobe building, window box and flowers with a thin oil mix of MUD + Liquin Original.

Completing the chairs, table, wine glasses and wine bottle finish out our session today. Thanks for visiting my studio and following along! Please come back soon and see how this piece progresses. HUGS,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Starting Anew

My Santa Fe Gallery needs another painting to fill an empty spot on my wall. This piece was originally planned for my show in August but will now head for Legends of the West Fine Art as soon as it’s complete. My sketch is shown above. Please remember as you read my blog, you may click on this, or any of the other images, to see an enlargement.

I love the little alleyways and hidden corners found in Santa Fe. This one is based on several different references. I begin by sketching the basic plan on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original.

Remember POPO’s Restaurant from my previous post, PLAY DAY? These striped awnings along the side of the eatery planted the seed of the idea for this painting. I thought a little spot with a striped awning, bistro table and chairs would make for a fun Santa Fe piece!

Adding a touch of Romance is always fun!

The intimate setting calls for a bottle of wine. The bottle is initially washed in with Sap Green + Liquin Original. The Merlot in the glass container is added with a thin mix of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original applied over the green.

The rest of the elements are drawn in and flowers labeled. We’ll start painting in our next session. Please come back 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 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Play Day

Well, the last two paintings you saw on my blog have been shipped off to my Santa Fe Gallery. SO, before stepping back up to the easel to work on pieces for my One Artist Show in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 25 and 26, I decided to take a PLAY DAY. Driving the back roads through the Texas Hill Country and stopping to sketch whatever captures my heart is one of my favorite things to do. Saw this cute little restaurant near the Welfare/Waring exit on IH-10 that called out to me!

My sketches never turn out exactly like the subject matter, I take lots of artistic liberty and move stuff around. Just had to add some of the plants, the hummingbird feeder and a couple of dancing hummers that were in the side garden of POPO’s. You may click on any of the pictures to see them larger.

This barn was a little farther up the road on the way to Fredericksburg.

The small shed to the right of the barn was actually in another location on the property. I just felt that spot needed a little something extra.

Meandering along the Main Street of Fredericksburg, I was entranced by the old Hospital which is now home to Der Kuchen Laden, a high end cookware emporium.

There were comfortable benches in the shaded courtyard, providing a wonderful place to sit, eat my Pecan Crunch Ice Cream and sketch the beautiful façade of the old Hospital. Now I’m back at the easel, preparing for my show in Santa Fe. Hope you’re making plans to join us! It’s nice and cool in Santa Fe in August, come escape the heat! Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Abundant Color

The cobblestone walk is covered with several mixes of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White. I also make a few brushstrokes of White + Ultramarine Blue and White + Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange to give the feel of moss covered stones mingled in.

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

Crevices between the cobbles are loosely indicated with a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original. Then the stone wall is painted with mixtures of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

The painting is signed into the wet paint of the stone wall with Cadmium Red Light. I found this cool wicker basket on Google and showed a picture in “A Conglomeration”, my first blog on this piece. CLICK HERE to visit that post.

The Hot Chili Peppers are painted with combinations of Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta, pure Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Deep + White.

Nasturtiums are blocked in FLOWERS FIRST, #1 and LEAVES LAST, #2. The blossoms are Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Red Light, Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium. Their distinctive round leaves are made of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium, Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + White and Pthalo Blue + White.

Daisies line the wall along the right side of the cobblestone walk. The shadow portions of the White blooms are mixes of White + Dioxazine Purple, White + Ultramarine Blue and White + Pthalo Blue. Sage green leaves are Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

Petals, glowing in the southwestern sun, are highlighted with Pure White. Next, the centers of the Daisies are added with some of the flower colors left over from the Nasturtiums.

“Abundant Color” 11 inches by 11 inches

The Abundant Color of the garden, welcoming guests to this pleasant Santa Fe abode, is guaranteed to give their hearts wings of Joy! Thank you for visiting my blog, hope you’ll come back soon. My next post will be something a little different. Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

A Flying Heart

I’m back to my regular color mixtures for the adobe structure in this piece. #1 = White + Ultramarine Blue. #2 = A couple of shades of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White. #3 = Some of the darker #2 mix + Ultramarine Blue + White. #4 = Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White.

As you read through my blog please keep in mind, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.

The background has been painted with three shades of White + Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange. The soft green will make the Pink Bougainvillea and Red Gate appear more vibrant. Next, work begins on the adobe building and courtyard wall.

Permanent Rose + White and Magenta + Permanent Rose + White are used for the colorful bracts of the Bougainvillea. The actual flowers, which are very tiny and white, reside inside the Pink globes of the bracts. Leaves are Viridian Green + Cadmium Yellow Medium, with a few strokes here and there, of Pthalo Blue + White to add coolness to the foliage.

Southwest architecture has many unique designs which are fun to incorporate into my Santa Fe paintings.

Giving the heart on the turquoise cross, WINGS! One of Jack’s and my favorite songs is “Give me WINGS!”

The shadow portion of the gate is Magenta + Cadmium Red Deep, while the sunlit part is pure Cadmium Red Light. Then the wrought iron latch and hinges are drawn into the wet paint with a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original. Highlights are made with White + a tiny bit of Ultramarine Blue.

We’ll finish up in our next session, hope you’ll come help me plant some flowers! Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

A Conglomeration

This new painting for my Santa Fe Gallery is a conglomeration of ideas. The main inspiration for the piece is this picture taken along Canyon Road that I found on Google. I’m attracted to the unique lintel over the gate.

The first step is to sketch up the basic composition on the canvas with a thin oil mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin Original. You can probably tell already that I’m completely changing things around. The finished painting won’t look at all like the photo. To make sure the upright lines are perfectly straight, I run my brush along the edge of a T-Square balanced on top of the canvas. The diagonals lines in the gate run from corner to corner of the rectangular portion. Where they cross, determines where the center line of the gate is in perspective. To see this or any of the other images larger, just click on the picture.

Also found the image of this basket online.

It will be filled with chilis, fresh from the garden. The hot peppers are washed in with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original.

The remaining accoutrements are drawn in and flowers labeled. We’ll begin painting in our next session, hope you’ll come back to my studio 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 2023

www.Senkarik.com

The Pink Adobe

We’re ready to paint the Saltillo Tile floor. My color recipes are: #1 = Ultramarine Blue + White. #2 = Two shades of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. #3 = All six Terra Cota colors are combinations, in different proportions, of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Cadmium Red Light + White. You may click on this or any other image to see it larger.

If you would like to know more about the Double Primary Color Mixing System I use for my Oil Paintings, CLICK HERE.

The entire surface of the floor is covered first, establishing the light and shadows. Next, the lines indicating the crevices between individual tiles are drawn into the wet paint with a fine liner brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original.

Geraniums are blocked in FLOWERS FIRST, LEAVES LAST. The blossoms are Cadmium Red Deep, Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Red Light. Foliage is painted with mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Lemon.

The leaves of Sweet Potato Vine, tumbling out from beneath the Geranium, cast heart shaped shadows down the side of the Terra Cotta container. Moving to the right corner the Hollyhocks are blocked in with several shades of Permanent Rose + White. Mixes of Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium are then used for the Sunflowers.

After blocking in the leaves of the Sunflowers with various mixes of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium, the large centers of the blossoms are delineated with MUD + Liquin Original.

Hollyhock foliage is painted with mixtures left over from the Geranium Leaves. The deep centers of the blooms are defined with a combination of Magenta + Liquin Original.

The weathered sign is first covered with various mixes of White + Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange. I make sure to carefully work around the lettering that was previously sketched in.

Permanent Rose + a touch of White is used to execute the distinctive calligraphy.

Warm sunlight dances and skips across the scene, illuminating the iconic Santa Fe Restaurant that’s hugged by colorful flowers. I so appreciate you following along. Hope you’ll come back to see what I’m working on next! With Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com