"Jack," 6" x 8", Jack Russell terrier pet portrait, acrylic on canvasboard. I believe this painting has a home, but as it's late, and I don't expect to hear back from my clents (because it's late!), I don't want to jump to conclusions. If you are interested, as always, drop me an email at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com , and I'll keep you posted.

But back to Jack.

When you live in a small town, word gets around as to your likes and dislikes. That can work to your advantage. That could be a disadvantage - depends entirely on your point of view. In Jack's case, though, both sides benefitted tremendously.

After Jack was picked up numerous times, the local Animal Protection League called up my clients with the "we hear you like jack russells" line. Turns out Jack wasn't a naughty dog who repeatedly ran away from home - he was deaf, totally unbeknownst to his prior family. Take it as you will, but that family probably wasn't really in tune on multiple levels with what Jack needed.

Irregardless, he is now loved unconditionally, and lives a happy, vibrant life (in spite of his deafness) as one of 6 spoiled terriers and a token non-terrier (a border collie, who holds his own as long as there's a frisbee around). They have an entire farm to roam, and legions of squirrels and other vermin to terrorize (or so they think!). You'll meet 5 of Jack's gang in the coming days, as part of what I proposed to my clients as "Terrier Heaven," but they laughingly renamed "Shark Week."

On another note, I read an interesting article over the weekend. It suggested that artists' should not disclose anything about their process or their personal lives, because that diminished the whole creative process. I thought that was a terribly short-sighted vision - that author-artist, whoever they might be, was missing out horribly on the friendships that evolve from the intimacy that comes when a collector connects with an article that we have painted. I would love to hear your thoughts on this idea, so that I may write an informed note to this author-artist, and begin a debate about the Other Side of creativity. My gut tells me that if I'm painting something special enough that another body connects with enough to purchase (or connects and follows via the internet), that the work has added meaning if you know a little bit about me. Maybe I'm entirely off base here. Maybe I'm egotistical. Let me know, though. I will enjoy reading your thoughts, and thinking more myself, about this topic.

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

See you tomorrow!
Kim

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