Paintings With Soul

"Mona Lisa," 6" x 8", portrait of my newest muse, a wee little gray tabby kitten, available for $329 to the first asking nicely. Polite requests may always come to me . SOLD. I created step-by-step documentation of Mona Lisa's painting progress for inclusion in the exhibition I'm hanging tomorrow at the Orion Township Public Library. The original, along with my supplemental materials, will join another 2 dozen paintings. The show will remain up throughout the month of October. Meanwhile, at 10pm EST tonite, "The Sound of Souls" auction will begin. 100% of the proceeds from this painting will be donated to Best Friends Animal Society. The auction will run a standard 7 days - I challenge you to rise to the occasion and make this donation a worthwhile one! Thanks as always for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Wipe Your Paws," 8" square, commissioned pet portrait of a mixed breed dog, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may always come to me . You've seen Scrappy before - I painted him last week. My client loved the storytelling aspect of the first painting, and asked me to create a second piece highlighting Scrappy's happy face. I was very pleased to have an opportunity to paint this guy's wonderful expression! And by now you've hopefully noticed the new look to the blog I've been busy today - you'll also find facelifts on the newsletter and my website . Let me know what you think! And finally I've built a virtual gallery to showcase the "Happily Ever Afters" exhibition at Best Friends. All the paintings are for sale, with proceeds benefitting Best Friends. There are also photos of the installation on my Facebook page . Meanwhile, thanks as always for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family - Kim k...

"Sniff," approximately 18" x 20", mixed media on Ampersand Gessobord depicting 16 canine noses. This paper painting (I'm stealing Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson's term again!) represents my entry in the 2010 AKC Eukanuba National Dog Championships poster competition. I've been working on this piece for about a month now, maybe longer. The collage is made up of a variety of papers - palette liners, pages from books, tissue, artist paper, wrapping paper, foils, origami papers, lace paper, paper doilies, shopping bags - some of which I've tinted with acrylic paints. The pieces are primarily torn (some were cut with scissors) and pieced together in meticulous layers. It's a time consuming process, but an incredibly fun one. The best part is the hunt for just the right snippet of paper to place in just the right place. I've got additional details, including closeups of each snout, on Facebook . I invite you to step over there and leave me your c...

With a bow to Karin Jurick , one of my favorite daily painters and the one I first saw executing this idea, we'll have an Artist Q&A day tomorrow, Friday the 24th of September. An Artist Q&A Day is just that - a day I've designated to answer all your questions. Your art and studio related questions can be posted via comments right here. I'll work my way through them during the course of the day, doing my best to answer everything to the best of my abilities. I will only respond to questions posted as comments to this particular post on my blog - this will allow for the community of readers to share in the conversation and eliminate any repetition. Because my blog is moderated (darn those spammers!), your comments will not show up immediately, but if you choose to subscribe to the comments feed, you will be notified when there is activity. I don't know if I need to define an end time to the day - we'll play it by ear to start out with and see what the volume ...

"My Roomie, Dottie," 5" x 7", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, pet portrait of a long haired gray and white kitty. Dottie was my roommate when I went to Kanab Utah and visited Best Friends Animal Sanctuary last month. Her health was fragile at that point, but her personality remained huge. It filled me with regret that I didn't get to know the younger version of Dottie. I spent the day at my easel thinking about the antics she would have pulled as Mona - the new kitten - systematically cleared off the top of my taboret and scattered paintbrushes about. Next week, Thursday evening to be exact, I'll auction off another Best Friends painting, also Dog a Day painting #1000 (via ebay). You may recall "The Sound of Souls" - all the proceeds from this painting inspired by BFAS's Angel's Rest will be donated back to them. So that kitties like Dottie get the care and love and homes they deserve. Stay tuned to this newsletter and ...

"Gally," 8" square, Golden Open acrylics on panel, commissioned pet portrait of a Golden Retriever, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Gally's angling to get another cookie. Doesn't she look starved? We'd better find her something to eat, and fast, before she faints from low blood sugar. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini TWITTER: ksantini SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and ...

I've just sent out the studio newsletter via email. If you are not subscribed and would like to be (heck, it's free, and while my signup here says it's bi-weekly, I really only send something every couple months), use the "Fetch" button to the right. If you would like to simply view the newsletter first (and then decide to subscribe!), please visit here . Thanks so much for your support! Now I'm off to the used book sale at my library. See what treasures I can bring home! ~~Kim

"Scrappy's World," 8" x 10", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord commissioned pet portrait of a mixed breed, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Scrappy is part of Schatzi and Coyote's family. He was a two time shelter turn-in, with no real explanations as to why. A true optimist at heart, Scrappy especially savored his first jaunts into his new back yard, stopping to smell the air and soak up sunshine. Who can't relate to that?! (and how could I resist painting such a scene?!) And now he's set for life. This guy will not be returning to any shelters, unless it is to bring a new family member home. Speaking of bringing new family members home...... meet Mona Lisa , or Mona for short, my new muse. She hailed from our local shelter and is settling into our household rather nicely. Thanks, as always, for lo...

"Coyote's Watch," 8" square, Golden Open acrylics on panel, commissioned pet portrait of a mixed breed dog, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Coyote is the self designated General on my client's farm. She keeps all the other dogs in line, supervises play sessions, leads the dogs in daily sing alongs, alerts everyone to activity on the farm road, and ensures the squeaky toys aren't too loud by tearing the squeakers out. Coyote will join her sister Shatzi's portrait , along with Gally and Scrappy's paintings, both of whom you'll get to meet and see next week. Wishing everyone a wonderful and safe weekend. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini TWITTER: ks...

"Simon and Sadie," 9" x 12", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord commissioned pet portrait of two rescued Beagles, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Simon and Sadie are the latest of a long and happy line of rescues that my clients have welcomed into their family. They are also the most recent portraits I've created for one of my favoritest collectors, a husband and wife who moved into the home of a prior client. After receiving several of my mailings, they contacted me, and the fun began! I've painted multiple times for them and as gifts for family members, but my fondest memory stems from a painting I did of a shelter dog here in my home town. It was one of the earliest Dog a Day pieces. I painted a beagle portrait inspired by a sweet little one I met at my local shelter. As is my custom, I pledged proceeds from...

We had so much fun journalling this summer, the Powers That Be at Little Monsters have invited us back!! You are invited to join another 5 week Creative Journalling workshop with me, Kimberly Santini. Come learn new techniques, play with new materials and express your inner Picasso. The classes will introduce K-8 students to Creative Journalling (recording ideas and memories via use of a variety of art and writing techniques). Participants do not need to be artists, nor do they need to have a command of traditional writing skills. Students will be introduced to a variety of art concepts and materials, allowed hands on time each week to actively work on their journals, and encouraged to continue exploring the various approaches outside of class time. Ultimately, participants will emerge with a means of personal expression not solely based in writing or artmaking, but with a developing voice that embraces the elements of storytelling using a variety of tools. Sessions will run every o...

"Kayla," 6" square, Golden Open acrylics on panel, commissioned (and posthumous) pet portrait of a Chocolate lab, private collection (THANK YOU!). I am waiting on pins and needles to hear back from my client as to whether this IS Kayla's likeness - always the worst and the best part of doing commissions. The worst because the client could come back and ask for major changes, and the best because they also could be doing cartwheels. I always fear the worst, though - artists tend to do that to themselves!! Over the weekend I put together two other Creative Journalling workshops - a 5 session one for children this fall, and a several week course for adults to take place in January. I'll be opening registration up (and sending out an email announcement) shortly for the children's workshop - let me know if you want to be in that distribution. As to the adult session, I'm waiting to hear if this fabulous bookmaking artist is willing to start things out with...

"Drip Dry," 9" x 12", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, portrait of a German Shorthaired Pointer inspired by yesterday's photo session with Deuce (thank you Deuce!!). I am saving this painting for an exhibition, so it is not yet for sale. However, I always welcome inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) - send them directly to me . First off, I must give thanks to friend and fellow canine artist Stacey Jasmin for titling this one. Earlier today I shared a vague description of the painting on my studio's Facebook page , and while there were some most excellent suggestions, "Drip Dry" seemed the best sort of fit for the piece. And if you think this is one of my better paintings (I happen to!), that might be due to the huge dose of inspiration I got earliler when I shared a cup of tea and shop talk during a studio visit with children's author/illustrator/genera...

"Deuce," 8" x 10", Golden Open acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, pet portrait of a German Shorthaired Pointer, private collection. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Every year my town elects a new Doggie Mayor. During the course of their term they have serious duties to fulfill like escorting all the parades. And today I had the pleasure of meeting our newest Mayor, Deuce. He did a little duck patrolling down by the park, swam in the creek, and trolled through the woods. Every so often he'd turn and share the goofiest smile with us before he continued checking things out. And like I have for every prior Doggie Mayor, I've painted an official portrait. So, from a casual meeting at Paint Creek earlier today, here is Deuce, all decked out and ready to perform his Mayoral duties. I think his popularity ratings will continue to rise as he does great things for...

"Calico Patchwork," 4" x 6", Golden Open acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a slumbering calico curled up in a patchwork blanket, inspired by a kitty at Cat Headquarters inside Best Friends Animal Sanctuary . This painting is headed tomorrow to an exhibition at Margot's Gallery in Oxford Michigan (nothing like waiting till the last minute, eh?!), and will be available for purchase, exquisitely framed and priced at $309. Special thanks to the returning collector who snagged up yesterday's piece "Orange Tabby's Sunbeam" just a few hours after the paint had dried. I will be wrapping a big warm hug up with her painting. Now off to get this wee one glazed and into her party dress (aka frame). Artwork makes a wonderful gift. Now is the time to begin the portrait process if you want a spectacular holiday gift that is truly appreciated - inquiries may always come to me . Oh, and please don't forget about the ebay auctions of my watercolor...

"Orange Tabby's Sunbeam," 5" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on Raymar panel, cat portrait of a buff colored tabby, $299 naked or $369 complete with custom frame. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come t o me . This painting is headed to an exhibition that opens next week at Margot's Gallery in Oxford, Michigan. The inspiration kitty resides in Benson's Way at Best Friend's Animal Sanctuary - if anyone knows his/her name, please email me (this is the orange tabby on the weight loss program in the lobby). After a couple weeks' hiatus, it felt wonderful today to be back in the studio, painting at my easel, working in a familiar space (that didn't have a red ant infestation like my plein air sites have as of late!). That said, it also was so very wonderful to be able to travel the bulk of August (California and Utah), meeting up with Dog a Day fans and col...

"Purple Piggie," from the Painting a Dog a Day project, inspired by and created during my visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in August 2010, original watercolor pencil on sketch paper, page 8-1/2" x 10", image approximately 5" wide by 4" high, roughly centered on page, available via ebay auction with 20% of the selling price going to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. Did I mention that bidding starts at 99 cents? I created a number of original works on site while visiting Best Friend's Animal Sanctuary last month, and am offering the best of those for sale via ebay, with 20% of the proceeds going back to BFAS. This particular watercolor painting depicts one of their resident pot bellied pigs, sketched in watercolor pencil on paper. There will be other sketches, watercolor paintings and casein paintings listed this evening. Proceeds from all of the pieces will be donated back to Best Friends. Bid on Purple Piggie here, and also take a peek at all m...

"Turtledove," 8" square, acrylic on panel, depicting the artist's deceased calico, part of the "Happily Ever Afters" exhibition at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, $499 to the first taker. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . They Are With Us Still In the ways we move forward in our lives and bring our world forward with us, It is right to remember the names of those who gave us strength. We share a history with those lives. We belong to the same motion. They too were strengthened by what had gone before, drawn forward by compassion. Those who lived with and before us have not melted into the dust and have not disappeared. They are with us still. The lives they lived hold us steady. They remind us and call us back to ourselves. Their courage and love strengthen our own will. We, the living, carry then with us: we are their voices and their hearts. ...