There’s a lotta Terra Cotta Pots in this piece! All are painted with combinations in varying proportions of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + a touch of Cadmium Red Light + White.
Mixes of MUD + Cadmium Orange + a tiny bit of Pthalo Blue + White are used for the tile floor. First the entire surface is covered, establishing the light and shadows. Brushstrokes of Ultramarine Blue + White are made at the back part of the shadow and under the wagon to add coolness.
Next, perspective lines are drawn into the wet paint with a fine liner brush dipped in a mix of MUD + Liquin.
Then the horizontal lines separating the individual tiles are drawn.
Highlighting the edges of the tiles illuminated by the sun completes the floor. I go ahead and sign the painting now, it’s easier to make my signature into the wet paint. If I waited until later the paint would be dry, it would be very difficult to make the calligraphy smooth.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Wine Barrel Wagon Part 1
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Wine Barrel Wagon Part 2
The Pumpkins are painted with mixes of Cadmium Orange + White. Also a little bit of green made with Ultramarine Blue + Lemon Yellow is added into some of the mixtures. MUD + Cadmium Orange is used for the shadows. Some of the Turquoise Blue from the wagon reflects up, on to the Pumpkins.
We’re going to be planting flowers in our next session. Why don’t you grab some gardening gloves and a trowel and come give me a hand? HUGS,
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Grape Vines cascade over the ancient Tuscan building. The foliage is washed in with varying mixes of Sap Green + Liquin. Dangling grapes are made with a variety of reds and purples mixed with Alizarin Crimson + Liquin and Dioxazine Purple + Liquin.
The rough stucco wall is mixtures of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange + Ultramarine Blue + White. More MUD is added for the darker shadows. I carefully paint around the large leaves and luscious grapes on the vine.
Old bricks showing through the cracked stucco are painted wet-into-wet over the wall color. They are made of mixtures of MUD + Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Orange + White, MUD + Cadmium Orange + White and Ultramarine Blue + White.
Next, brick arches over the door and window are added.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Window
The door is painted with the same mixtures as the window, the color recipes are given in the video in the previous step. Then the edges of the individual boards that make up the door are highlighted.
The building is complete; we’ll be working on the floor and the little wine barrel wagon in our next session. Hope you’ll come back and watch! HUGS,
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I am so blessed, several people have commissioned me to do special paintings! SO, let’s get started on my next one and head for Tuscany, Italy. The sketch is shown above, you may click on the image to see it larger.
The first step is to draw the basic architectural details on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin.
Now I begin sketching in the fun elements like the wine barrel wagon that’s filled with pumpkins!
Jeana loves little Purr-Babies so we’ll have one comfortably curled up on the windowsill, taking a nap.
A second stretches out on the front step!
Lots of pots nestle on either side of the arched door. The flowers are labeled so I don’t forget our plans! I’ve been known to do that when I start slapping paint on the canvas, I get so involved I neglect to look at the original sketch! This way my notes are right there! We’ll begin painting in our next session. I do hope you’ll come follow along!
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It’s June 5th and that means FATHER’S DAY is right around the corner! I have 3 pieces of art specially priced just for your gifting this year! Two of them are JACK WHITE Limited Original Hand Embellished Giclees on Canvas that I’m offering for the VERY FIRST TIME! Please remember, you may click on any of the images to view them larger.
“Mallards at Sunset, Safe Refuge” by Jack White 18″ x 24″ SOLD
“Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.” Psalm 61:4
Several years ago Jack taught me how to embellish his work. I’ve had several requests for some of his art, so I decided to make two JACK WHITE Limited Originals available for Dad’s Special Day! I thought “Mallards at Sunset, Safe Refuge” would be perfect for Father’s Day. This is the very first piece in the edition that is limited to 83.
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8
“Morning Serenity” is also the FIRST in a Limited Edition of 83. This size Jack White Limited Original, 18 inches tall by 24 inches wide, would normally sell for $1,590. However, just for Father’s Day I’m offering the two at a special price of $990 each. AND I will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Jack White Character Scholarship Fund for a Fine Arts Student at Howard Payne University, Jack’s Alma Mater! Not only will you be giving your Dad a beautiful piece of art that will express your love for years, you’ll be partnering with me to extend Jack’s legacy of helping artists. I thank you from the bottom of my heart!
“Sunlit Cove” 19″ x 15″ Senkarik Original Oil Painting
I’ve also painted an original oil exclusively for Father’s Day; cheerful Sunflowers and Poppies overlooking a “Sunlit Cove”. In the midst of his busy days that wonderful Dad in your life can stop, take a deep breath and relax, letting his mind escape to the delightful Costa Brava of Spain. If he listens closely he will hear the surf in the distance, the waves sending a soft message of “I LOVE YOU!” The gift of a Senkarik Original Oil Painting brings smiles for years to come, long after slippers have worn out and candy has disappeared.
“Sunlit Cove” is 19 inches tall by 15 inches wide and framed in our Senkarik/White Signature Frame. The outside dimension is 24 inches by 20 inches. The regular price is $1,490 but through June 17 this piece will be $1,290. Our Senkarik/White Signature Frame is durable acrylic, easily cleaned with Windex and a lint free cloth.
I’ll be happy to personalize the back of any of these pieces of art for the recipient; please let me know as soon as possible after your purchase. That way I can get your artwork packaged and on FEDEX in time to arrive for Father’s Day. Thank you for making Jack’s and my art a part of your Dad’s special day! HUGS,
ALL SENKARIK IMAGES ARE PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW
Let’s get started on those cute little stuffed toys, Princess and Wolfie!
Princess is painted with combinations of Lemon Yellow + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Yellow Medium and Lemon Yellow + a tiny bit of MUD. The highlights on the right edges of the crown are Lemon Yellow + White. The paw with the upside down heart shaped center pad is made of MUD + Liquin. You may click on this or any of the other pictures to view them larger.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting Wolfie
Now work continues on our star of the show, HOBO. The shadows on his white markings are made of several mixes of MUD + White + a touch of Cadmium Orange and Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD + White.
Ivory Black is used for his nose, while highlights are made of Ultramarine Blue + Ivory Black + White.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting HOBO’s Eyes
HOBO’s tongue and gums are painted with several mixtures of Alizarin Crimson + MUD + Cadmium Red Light + White. The deeper shadows have more Alizarin Crimson and MUD.
The final challenge is replicating the Texas Tech Logo on the red bandana. WHEW! Had to hold my breath doing that one! This is the really cool thing about commissions, it’s fun adding the personal touches.
HOBO 12 inches by 16 inches
HOBO is a happy boy, surrounded by his toys, beautiful flowers and the “Masked Rider”. And I have the most wonderful collectors. Ed, a long time collector of both Jack’s and mine is also an Oklahoma Sooner. He and his family have become dear friends over the years. Just for those of you who aren’t college football fans Oklahoma and Texas Tech are RIVALS! SO this is a big deal. Ed thought Amanda and I would be interested in knowing more about the original “Masked Rider”, wasn’t that thoughtful of him? Here’s the scoop:
Hi, Mikki!
You and Amanda might be interested in knowing the original Red Raider was Mr. Joe Kirk Fulton. He owned one of the huge cattle ranches in the Texas Panhandle near Channing, TX.
Joe Kirk grew up in Lubbock attending public school and then Texas Tech University from which he graduated with a degree in agricultural sciences. While attending Texas Tech University, DeWitt Weaver, then head coach of Texas Tech Football, eager to have Texas Tech become a member of the Southwest Conference, mentioned to Joe Kirk that Tech needed a mascot. Joe Kirk came up with the concept of the Red Raider, which is now known as the Masked Rider. Since Joe Kirk was an Ag major and an experienced horseman, he was asked to introduce the Red Raider for the first time on Jan. 1, 1954, at Tech’s first ever Gator Bowl appearance. In a red cape and black Stetson, Joe Kirk raced around the stadium to a completely surprised crowd on a black horse named “Blackie,” loaned to him by Bert Eads of the Hockley County Sheriff’s Posse. Texas Tech was a heavy underdog but ended up beating Auburn 35-13, and the tradition was born. The day after the Gator Bowl victory, Atlanta Journal columnist, Ed Danforth, wrote: “No team in any bowl game ever made a more sensational entrance.” Joe Kirk went on to ride as the Red Raider for the next three years, to the delight of fans and to the chagrin of opposing teams. A statue of Joe Kirk, on “Blackie,” graces the grounds of the Frazier Pavilion at Texas Tech University. In 2010, Joe Kirk was inducted into the Hall of Honor at Texas Tech University.
How’s that for a little history lesson from a SOONER, no less.
We begin painting with the background. Even though in reality there are buildings behind the “Masked Rider” sculpture I’m planting trees in the distant. This provides a nice backdrop that isn’t busy and distracting. We want HOBO to be the “STAR”! I carefully work around the drawing of the sculpture with mixes in different combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White. Please keep in mind as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to view them larger.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the fragrant Mountain Laurels
Now the Mountain Laurels are complete I begin working on the bronze sculpture using mixtures of Ultramarine Blue + Cadmium Orange + a little MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + White.
I brace my left hand against the unpainted portion of the canvas, then rest my right one on it. This steadies my hand so I’m able to delineate the details of the horse and rider. A fine liner brush is used for the tiny brushwork.
This post is a composite of several day’s work. It took me almost a full day to paint the “Masked Rider”! WHEW, that little guy is complicated.
Now for the Knock Out Roses. I use mixes of Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Deep to make a rich red. I don’t want it too bright or warm because HOBO will have a Cadmium Red bandana with the Texas Tech logo around his neck.
So the Roses are highlighted with a mix of Alizarin Crimson + White. The flowers in the sun become a cooler, pinkish red that falls into the distance. This will also accentuate the brilliance of the red bandana and the Indian Blanket Flowers in front of the Roses.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting Indian Blanket Flowers Part 1
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting Indian Blanket Flowers Part 2
I decided to add a few Bluebonnets in with the Indian Blanket Flowers and HOBO’s bandana has been blocked in. Now you can see how the Roses drop back. This is a good example of the simple rule that helps to give the impression of distance in a painting: Warm Colors Come Forward, Cool Colors Recede. The same theory is applied to the lawn, notice how the grass is made bluer, or cooler, toward the back. The greens become warmer and more yellow as I come toward the front of the painting.
The foreground is painted in shadow to make the light illuminating HOBO appear even brighter. That’s all for this session. I do hope you’ll come back and visit our studio for the next one! HUGS,
Starting a new commission today, a portrait of a beautiful pup! He’d been in my collector’s family for many, many years and unfortunately went to puppy heaven last month. So Amanda asked me to paint HOBO’s portrait as a surprise for her husband. He is also a huge Texas Tech fan so she had a special request, include the “Masked Rider” sculpture that is on the campus. Here’s my sketch.
The basic plan is lightly drawn on the canvas in pencil. Then I begin sketching the composition on the canvas with a brush dipped in a thin oil wash made of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin. Print outs of HOBO and the sculpture are taped to my easel, making them easy to refer to.
Resting against the mahl stick steadies my hand as I draw HOBO’s wide “Smile”!
The “Masked Rider” is next. I’m also braced against the mahl stick here, it’s just out of the picture. Please remember as you go through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.
HOBO had a few favorite toys, “Princess” and “Wolfie”, that we’re incorporating.
It’s always fun to add such personal touches to a portrait.
The plan is drawn up and we’ll begin painting in our next session. I do hope you come follow along!
If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog.CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!” It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!
The model for the barn is also from Floresville. This quaint one was just down the road from our home. Please remember as you read through my blog, you may click on any of the images to see them larger.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Barn
The wildflower field is blocked in with a jumble of color. Mixes of Dioxazine Purple + Ultramarine Blue + White are used in the back, near the barn. Moving forward I use Magenta + White, Magenta + Alizarin Crimson + White and Alizarin Crimson + Cadmium Red Light + White.
The Cactus in the foreground will act as a dark foil for the brilliant color behind. Mixtures of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Yellow Medium + a bit of Cadmium Orange + White and Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + White are used for the oval pads.
I begin adding Coreopsis interspersed among the red-orange Indian Paintbrush. Cadmium Yellow Medium + MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Cadmium Orange and pure Cadmium Yellow Medium are used for the cheery flowers. The foliage is a brighter green mixed with different combinations of Pthalo Blue + Lemon Yellow.
The Indian Paintbrush are highlighted with Cadmium Red Light + White and Cadmium Orange + White.
The dark centers of the Coreopsis are made of MUD + a little bit of Liquin.
Cobalt Blue Bluebonnets nestle at the base of the Cactus.
Then White “Bonnets” are added to these beautiful blossoms that are our Texas State Flower.
Cornucopia of Color 15.5″ x 19.5″
The last step is to accentuate the petals of the yellow Coreopsis that are illuminated by the sun. There is nothing like Spring in Texas. Don’t you just want to hike across that field and enjoy the flowers dancing in the gentle breeze? Have a wonderful Memorial Day. And please don’t forget to honor all the men and women in the military who make sacrifices for OUR FREEDOM! With BIG HUGS,
From the canals of Venice to the great state of Texas and the heart of the hill country! Better yet, we’re going to be painting the awesome wildflowers we see here in the spring. But first, let’s get the basic plan sketched up on the canvas. I use a brush dipped in a thin mix of MUD (Ultramarine Blue + Alizarin Crimson) + Liquin to draw the composition. The large area of the tree was washed in with a combination of mostly Liquin + a little bit of MUD.
We’re all sketched up and ready to begin painting. The field will be covered with flowers in every shade of the rainbow. I’m into rainbows right now. Don’t know if you’ve been watching American Idol but I started loving little Maddie Poppe the moment I heard her sing the rainbow song! Then, when she started “Brand New Key” I about fell out of my chair, that was one of my favorite songs in high school! I’m so glad she won. And her duet with Caleb Lee Hutchinson of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was delightful! You never know, they may be the next Johnny Cash and June Carter!
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Sky
“Painting Forward” from the sky the most distant hills are made with a mix of White + Ultramarine Blue + a touch of MUD. Then the closest bluff is covered with a jumble of various combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + MUD + White.
Distant Oaks are painted with those same mixes + additional Ultramarine Blue. Bracing against the mahl stick steadies my hand as I draw in the trunks.
The model for the Live Oak Tree by the barn is this majestic one that grew next to our home in Floresville. When we lived there several years ago a tree expert told us it was over 300 years old. WOW, can you imagine the stories that tree could tell? Sure wish it could talk.
Here I use combinations of Pthalo Blue + Cadmium Orange + a little Ultramarine Blue + some Cadmium Yellow Medium + White. The darker areas have more Ultramarine Blue added in.
The massive trunks and limbs are made of MUD + Cadmium Orange + White.
We’ll have a barn raising in our next session, complete with a video! Hope you come watch. If you would like to receive an email every time I publish a new post please feel free to subscribe to my blog. CLICK THIS LINK and scroll to the upper right side of the page. You will see a heading EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Just enter your email address and click the button “Sign me up!” It’s easy. And if you enjoy my blog please CLICK the FaceBook LIKE Button. As we say in Texas, “Much Obliged!
Now we’re planting Geraniums in those containers resting on the base of the fountain. I had originally planned Pink Petunias here but realized I needed the dark value the deep red provides. This accentuates the sun warmed promenade in the background.
The water cascading out of the fountain is painted with mixes of White + Ultramarine Blue. I gently pull the fully loaded brush down, letting it skip over the lumps and bumps of the thick paint of the Geraniums behind. The broken brushstrokes help to give the impression of moving water.
Now, I’ll just plant my Pink Petunias in the foreground container. They are made with mixtures of Permanent Rose + White. Deep centers are indicated with a mix of Magenta + Liquin. You may click on the image to take a closer look.
More Geraniums take up residence in the terra cotta pots lining the upper plant shelf. Some of the delicate vine that was growing in with the Jasmine over the arch, as well as some Sweet Potato Vine, is added into the containers.
I’ve saved my color from the other parts of the courtyard wall. Now I cover the area below the plant shelf. This will allow me to paint the large leaves of the Giant Bird of Paradise Plant wet-into-wet.
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION: Painting the Giant Bird of Paradise Plants
I decided not to add the Bird of Paradise flowers, they would be too crowded by the other blossoming plants I’m putting here. Soft violet Angelonia and Geraniums fill this container. The Angelonia is blocked in with White + Dioxazine Purple, White + Ultramarine Blue and White + Pthalo Blue.
I’m going to plant some more Sweet Potato Vine with the Geraniums and Angelonia. The heart shaped leaves bring another subtle hint of romance to the piece.
African Daisies fill the lower left corner. The rich combinations of Cadmium Red Light + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Orange + Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light and Cadmium Orange add a POP of warm color in the foreground. This helps to make the cool colors in the distance, GO BACK!
Sunset Serenade 30 inches by 36 inches
Reflections of evening lights and colors bursting across the Venetian sky, dance to the “Sunset Serenade”!
UPDATE!
As I was packing “Sunset Serenade” for shipping I realized that blue stripes on the awning would make it a better painting. Blue is the complementary color of the oranges in the sky, so by having blue stripes the sky appears richer and warmer. The moral of this story is; always be looking at your work with a critical eye. AND, if something needs more work, even if the art is in the box, take it out and make the change. I know from experience that if you don’t, every time you think of or see that piece you’ll wish you had! So here is the new, improved version:
“Sunset Serenade” close up with blue awning
“Sunset Serenade” final version
Thank you for ALL of your wonderful comments! You are the BEST! With LOTS of Hugs,
Mikki Senkarik 
“Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.” Psalm 61:4