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2008 AKC Eukanuba Poster Design Entry


Here's a working copy of one of my proposed designs for this year's AKC Eukanuba Poster Competition (18" x 20", acrylic on gallery stretched canvas). It's close to being done, at that final point where I'll live with it in my peripheral for a week (I do literally carry the painting with me through the house, so that it is always in the corner of my vision), dashing back into the studio to make changes as I discover them. (You think that's crazy? I have a friend who sleeps with his painting-in-progress, so that it is the first thing he sees in the morning! Hey, whatever works, right?!)

The overall design is built of more than 100 dog-a-day paintings, collaged together to create the National Dog Championship trophy which goes to the Best in Show winner. I believe the trophy is called the Tiffany Loving Cup (I would appreciate confirmation of this from those of you in the know, so that I can title the painting correctly!).

Because I repainted the images in a value range that wasn't necessarily the same as the original portraits, this project has been less about the animals' likenesses and more about the contrast built between all their little faces. It was a great learning experience for me; again, a shift from ordinary portrait work to focus on an element of painting (strict value ranges) that I rarely hone in on by itself.

Now off to finesse design #2 - I'll give you a hint: it contains dog-a-day paintings of the most popular breeds registered with the AKC in 2008.

Neither of these pieces are for sale until the results of the poster competition are announced (sometime in early November). Don't worry - I will keep you posted!! Meanwhile inquiries may always come to me at the studio: ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

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


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