30 Days and Counting…….

It’s hard to believe there are only 30 days left until my “HEART OF THE SOUTHWEST One-Artist Show at Legends of the West Fine Art Gallery in Santa Fe. I do hope you’re planning to attend, I’d love to see you!

In the meantime I wanted to give you a little peek at one of my show paintings. The pair of Cardinals, checking out the unique bird house engulfed in a cascade of Trumpet Vine, is called “WAT’CHA THINK SWEETIE? WAN’TA MOVE TO SANTA FE?”

I hope you WAN’TA COME TO SANTA FE to join us on August 25th from 4 to 7PM for the reception. I’ll also be doing an Oil Painting Demonstration on Saturday, August 26th from 11AM to 4PM. You’re welcome to attend one or both days at the Gallery, 102 East Water Street. It would be really fun to see you there so I can give you a big hug and personally thank you for being part of my Team Senkarik Family.

To make a reservation letting us know you’ll be there, just email the Gallery at: Info@LegendsoftheWestFineArt.com

Or you may call Legends of the West Fine Art Gallery at 505.610.5331

SEE YOU IN SANTA FE!!!!!

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Embellishing Hummingbird Whispers

Today I’m working on a commission, embellishing a LIMITED ORIGINAL Giclee of my Original Painting, HUMMINGBIRD WHISPERS. This means that I’m going back and painting with Oils on a High Quality Reproduction on Canvas of my painting. This is part of a Limited Edition but since no two pieces are embellished exactly the same, they are Original within the Edition. Thus the term that Jack coined, LIMITED ORIGINAL. The image above is the Un-embellished Giclee before I’ve done any painting on it.

Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any image to view it larger.

VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Our first change will be to glaze the red gate with a thin oil wash of Alizarin Crimson + Liquin Original to make it darker Red. COME WATCH how I do this!

The edges of the individual boards of the gate are highlighted with Cadmium Red Light + White.

Trumpet Vine, cascading over the arch, is repainted with combinations of Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, pure Cadmium Orange and Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium.

The crepe-papery blossoms of the Hollyhocks are accented with pure White where they are illuminated by sunshine.

The broad leaves of the Hollies are redone with mixes of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow and Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow + White.

Tiny Hummingbirds dance around the towering Hollyhocks, diving in for sips of sweet nectar.

Vicki, my collector, asked me to change one of the Terra Cotta flower containers in the foreground to Turquoise. Repainting it with mixtures of Pthalo Turquoise Blue + White adds a bright pop of color!

After embellishing the pink Petunias with mixes of Permanent Rose + White, I move to the cheery Sunflowers hovering above. Combinations of Cadmium Orange + Cadmium Yellow Medium, pure Cadmium Yellow Medium and Cadmium Yellow Medium + Lemon Yellow are applied in thick brushstrokes, giving lots of texture to the bright petals.

We’re done! Listen closely and you just might hear the WHISPERS of the HUMMINGBIRDS’ fluttering wings. Thanks for visiting my studio today! With Colorful Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Grown with Love

The entire surface of the floor is covered with several different mixes in various combinations of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + White and Ultramarine Blue + White. After establishing the light and shadows, the perspective lines separating the individual tiles are drawn into the wet paint of the floor. A fine liner brush, dipped in a thin mix of MUD + Liquin Original, is used.

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

The terra cotta chicken container is painted with some of the mixtures left over from the tiles below.

Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White and Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD + White are used for the tall, galvanized Gladiola buckets.

It’s always fun to see all the unique, hand lettered signs at the Farmer’s Market, touting the attributes of the agricultural products in each booth. This one especially caught my attention and became the inspiration for this painting! The background was painted first with White + Ultramarine Blue and White + MUD. This paint is applied in a thin layer, so the lettering that was sketched in originally shows just a bit to use as a guide. The final calligraphy is pulled into the soft White field with Magenta + Liquin Original.

Petunias spill out of the little hen.

Tall spires of Gladiolas are made of Permanent Rose + White.

In a technique similar to the floor, the entire mass of each basket is first blocked in with MUD + Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Then the crevices shaping the wicker strands are indicated with MUD + Liquin Original.

The petals of the Sunflowers are first painted with Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD, Cadmium Yellow Medium + Cadmium Orange + MUD and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium. Adding the large dark centers with a mix of MUD + Liquin Original leaves no doubt that these are definitely Sunflowers, some of my all time favorites!

GROWN WITH LOVE – 14 inches tall by 11 inches wide

A breath of breeze causes a few petals from the bright blossoms to float to the ground. The most wonderful thing about these Flowers at the Farmer’s Market, GROWN WITH LOVE, is they will never need watering! Thanks for following along today. With Colorful Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Striped Shade Covers

I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day. I thank everyone for your kind and encouraging comments on my previous post: Oh Say Can You See….. Now we’re back at the easel. After painting the sky with a mix of White + Cobalt Blue, work begins on the awnings. I start with the most distant one. The entire under surface is covered with a mix of MUD (2 parts Ultramarine Blue + 1 part Alizarin Crimson) + Ultramarine Blue + White. Then red stripes are pulled over the wet paint with Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta.

Please remember, you may view an enlargement of any picture by clicking on the image.

The upper surface of the distant awning was completed using the same sequence as the underside, blocked in first with White + some Ultramarine Blue. Then stripes were made, over the White, with Cadmium Red Deep + a little White. Moving to the foreground awning on the left, the underside was painted first. The shadow underneath is a little lighter and warmer than the shade cover in the background. It’s painted with a couple of shades of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White, causing it to come forward. Stripes are the same mix as used on the underside in the previous step. The top surface of this awning is covered with a mix of White + a touch of Ultramarine Blue and a tiny bit of Cadmium Orange.

The red stripes on top of the awning on the left are Cadmium Red Deep + Cadmium Red Light. “Painting Forward”, we move to the umbrella on the right. The underneath is painted with a darker shade of MUD + White, the red stripes on this underside are Cadmium Red Deep + Magenta. Pure White is reserved for the white stripes on top of the umbrella that are illuminated by the sun; sunlit red stripes are Cadmium Red Light.

I’m playing with a new technique of painting my flowers. Using thin oil mixtures of Viridian Green + Liquin Original, Sap Green + Liquin Original and Pthalo Blue + Liquin Original I wash in all of the foliage with a jumble of green and blue. For this particular painting, I have also washed in the background flowers with combinations of Permanent Rose + Liquin Original and Magenta + Liquin Original.

After the oil washes have dried, I come back and paint the distant Cosmos with opaque oil mixes. Alizarin Crimson + White, Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light + White and Magenta + White are used. Leaves are then added with Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. The colors of all these flowers and their Yellow centers are kept muted so they will drop back.

Chili Peppers are painted with thick, heavy brushstrokes of Cadmium Red Deep and Cadmium Red Light, giving them lots of texture.

We’ll be filling up the foreground containers with colorful flowers in our next session. Come back and give me a Hand! With Happy Hugs,

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com

Oh Say Can You See….

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

This wonderful celebration of the birth of America brings ample opportunity to hear one of our Country’s most meaningful songs, our National Anthem – THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER. This beloved tune has its roots firmly planted in our national history and in the experience of one American, Francis Scott Key.

Attempting to negotiate the release of an imprisoned doctor, Key, a 35 year old attorney, sailed out into Chesapeake Bay to meet with the British fleet on September 14, 1814. After obtaining the release of Dr. Beanes, they were detained overnight. Key and the doctor watched, horrified, as 1,800 rockets and bombs rained over Fort McHenry. The British had moved on Baltimore. Defeat seemed imminent, fated even. However, when dawn finally broke after the long night, Key saw a sight we all know well: the American flag; tattered but standing tall, still fighting.

Awestruck, Key scribbled down a poem, “The Defense of Fort McHenry”, whose words would become “The Star-Spangled Banner”. Later that same month his writing found its way into a Baltimore newspaper. The song, ironically set to the melody of a British tune, later became popular with the armed forces, and was formally adopted as the American national anthem in 1931.

It’s a great privilege to live in the United States of America. God Bless our Founding Fathers and all of the Military personnel who protect our Freedom. Thanks to them, their families and the sacrifices they’ve made we can celebrate the 4th of July. As you gather with your family and friends on this holiday, I pray you will take a few moments to think of the importance of our National Anthem. To remember all those courageous men and women who have given so much that we may live in Freedom. Please say a little prayer for our Country and ALL who serve and protect us today. We are incredibly blessed to live in America, One Nation Under God!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Land of the FREE, Because of the BRAVE!

ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW

© Senkarik 2023

www.Senkarik.com