Skip to main content


Today I played hookey from the studio in order to spend some time with my grandmother, who is one of the most remarkable women I know. Of course, now I’m paying the price, being in the studio at a later hour than usual. It was well worth it, though – every so often the soul needs rejuicing, and this sort of visit was just what I needed.

So, I hope this was worth the wait. Here’s Joci, a Leonberger, shrunken down onto a 5x7. This is a breed that’s relatively new to me, but I am already hooked. Not just because of her delicious coloring, that teddy bear fur, and her incredible size (these dogs are upwards of 100 lbs, with a full coat of fur that resembles a lion’s mane). The clincher was the sheer depth of character in her eyes. I hope I’ve conveyed their wisdom and playfulness.

I’ll be painting a larger version of Joci, too, around the area of 12x16 – a straightforward gaze, with dramatic lighting. This smaller piece provided me the perfect opportunity to work out my palette for the larger painting and to experiment with brushwork.

For those of you interested in following the progress of Joci’s other painting, you may do so at www.turtledovedesigns.com/wetpaint.html. I plan on completing all the preliminary work and beginning the actual painting in late Feb-early March.

Thanks, as always, for looking.
And for sharing these paintings with friends and family,
Kim

PS For more information on this fascinating breed, please visit http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.com/ .


Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings

http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.

Founding member of the Canine Art Guild
http://www.canineartguild.com/
the gateway to canine art on the web
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,   Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.   Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?   And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.   And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue  their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...
33 comments
Read more

Grindstone

"Grindstone", 16" x 20" acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting Grindstone, just a few strides away from winning The Kentucky Derby in 1996. Read more about this painting's story below - it's a good one! And inquiries may come directly  to me .  Paying it Forward Shortly after getting The Derby Gig, which neatly dovetailed my childhood passion for horse racing with my grown up obsession with painting, I started formulating a plan to give back to the universe. As it played out, The Kentucky Derby Museum got involved, and it was decided I would donate a piece to them, something they could use as a fundraising tool to further their education efforts.  "Would I be interested in painting Grindstone, the winner of the 1996 Derby?" they asked. But of course! Little did I know the background story, though. Every year the Museum asks the owners of the Kentucky Derby winner to donate one breeding to the Museum when th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Golden Open Acrylics

I get all sorts of process oriented questions. Most recently I've been getting asked a lot about my paints and palette, which made me realize what a nice blog topic this would make! I use a Masterson Sta-Wet Premier palette box . This is comprised of a box (think Tupperware) with a sponge liner and a slice of palette paper that work together to keep my paints wet. This setup allows me to work with the same palette for about a full week, having the box open for multiple hours every day. You can see what the palette looks like at the beginning of a new session above - below the exact same palette after this week's work. For the last 25 years I have used Golden brand acrylics, mediums, and varnish. I love the overall quality of these paints and the fact that, when I have a question, their customer service department is made up of artists who actually use the products. Until last year, I used their Heavy Body paints exclusively. They have a buttery consistency, a little loose...
11 comments
Read more