Gabby (A Gratitude Painting)

"Gabby," from The Gratitude Project**, 4" square, pet portrait depicting another special Yorkshire Terrier. This painting was done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord and will shortly be headed to her new home along with big sister Lucy's (and this is probably the first time that 2lb 3oz Lucy has been called "big").

Additionally, proceeds from the sale of Gabby's portrait will benefit Rescue Me Yorkie Rescue. I invite you to visit their website, and if you are so inclined or able, make a donation to further their cause.

Gabby was born with no bladder, all of her abdominal organs jumbled out of position, a full hard and soft cleft palette (an opening the width of a pencil through her mouth all the way into her sinuses from right behind her front teeth to the back of her throat) and a tongue that was too long for her mouth.

Gabby had enough spunk for a dozen Yorkies, surviving and captivating and blessing her adoptive Mom with 6 months, crossing the bridge just after her first birthday.

Seems like Gabby and Lucy's household is full of determination and hope. I am so grateful that both girls were on my easel.

Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family -

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

**What is "The Gratitude Project," you ask? Spurred by a desire to keep the good vibes happening, vibes collected during last year's visit to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, The Gratitude Project is my newest series of paintings. Featuring dogs (and other animals) from shelters across the country, proceeds from Gratitude paintings will be donated to the muse's host shelter, and the blog listings will also include a link for Dog a Day fans to make their own contributions.

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"Yeah, whatever. Wake me up when you're ready to go for a walk."

How Things Work Around Here

There's lots of new folk hanging around (WELCOME!), so I thought I'd explain a little bit about how I roll.

I paint a new furry face 4-5 days a week.

Subscribers to the daily newsletter get to see these paintings first - they are delivered directly via email (one may train one's email to fetch here on the left hand side).

Late afternoon the artwork and animal's bio get posted to the Painting a Dog a Day blog.

And at some point within the following days, if not sooner, the image becomes available as a notecard, with reproductions following once the original sells.

All the daily paintings are archived at the blog, as well.

And I'm getting the remaining unsold originals added to this gallery, to make shopping all the easier.

If you can't stand it and want even more, you are welcome to become a fan of the studio's Facebook page.

I am always accepting commissions, and especially enjoy receiving your suggestions.

Email me and we'll chat.

“Katie’s Moustache,” 6x12, pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $90. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . One glimpse of Katie’s face, and I was hooked. Not only did she fall into my beloved “black & white” category, but she came with a full moustache and doe-like eyes. I first covered the canvas with a variety of blues and purples, using a (mixed) light green and pink for the highlights. (Right now my palette has been expanded to include the following: pthalo blue red, azurite hue, cad red dark, alizarine crimson, cad yellow dark, and then for graying/hazing out I use light green yellow and ultramarine purple.) I lighten with titanium white and darken with one of the blues and a touch of one of the reds. As a side note, at this time last year I was really struggling with my limited palette (I went from about 60 pots of paint to 3), but I have lived the benefits – I am so much more familiar with what I can mix given just this handful of colors. My paintings are also m...

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...

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Paintings With Soul

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