Lucy in the Sky.... (A Gratitude Painting)

"Lucy in the Sky....," from The Gratitude Project, 5" square, dog portrait depicting a very, very special Yorkshire Terrier (read below). This painting was done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord and is headed to her new home shortly (THANK YOU!). Additionally, proceeds from the sale of Lucy's portrait will benefit Retro Doggy Rescue, the group that saved Lucy and works with many other special needs dogs.

Lucy's Mom says, "Lucy was born with multiple birth defects including AAI (atlanto-axial instability - her skull never connected to her neck - hence her colorful cervical collar she wears 24/7 for support), an open fontanel (hole) in her forehead the size of my thumb and liver disfunction (she follows a strictly vegan lifestyle since she cannot process meat or dairy protein). When she was born, Lucy could not even roll over. Nonetheless, with intensive hydrotherapy, regular accupuncture and dietary support, Lucy is beautiful, lively and loving!

We regularly go to regional children's hospitals where Lucy delights in racing the wheelchair-bound kids down the hallways (Lucy says, "Bring It On!" and doesn't cut them any slack because she likes to Win!). For scale, Lucy varies between 2.2 and 2.4 pounds -- she is the size of a soda can."

How's that for chutzpah?

You can watch Lucy in action here on YouTube.

Lucy's Mom has opened her heart and home to many special needs wee ones, and I am grateful for her (and people like her) who make room in their lives for souls like Lucy.

Oh, and by the way, Lucy's painting is my entry in theDaily Paintworks weekly challenge - the assignment was to do one brushstroke per color. I learned quote a bit during today's session and will try the exercise on for size again and again.

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

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Better Than Any Award

I really enjoy hearing from members of the Painting a Dog a Day community. These notes are my lifeline to the types of things the project has spurred others to try.

For instance:

Some have opted to adopt a companion animal that has changed their life for the better.

Some are now fostering homeless pets or volunteering with an animal welfare group.

Some have sponsored a homeless pet that they could not take in themselves.

Some have been encouraged to return to their art, finding solace and renewed passion.

Some have discovered a new favorite artist and added to their collection.

Some are using their business and talents to make a difference in their own community.

Every time an email or letter comes my way sharing one of these beautiful accomplishments, I glow a little more brightly.

Thanks for keeping me warm on the inside! You guys are all the best!!

Picture Book "A Dog Named Blue" - now available!!

The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," now available from Blurb publishers. When I first painted Amelia I never imagined that she would be re-christened "Blue" and inspire a book. In her defense, Amelia had a number of other partners in crime - animals who's portraits seemed to fall into a specific color category and prompt color-centric names. In typical ADD fashion, my brain started spinning 100mph. What if I turned those muses' paintings into a picture book for animal loving kids? I shared my idea with three friends in the industry, and they eagerly offered their expertise. I am truly indebted to them. Illustrator and author Matt Faulkner and children's book author and literacy expert Kristen Remenar edited an early version of the draft. They suggested key plot/conceptual changes that made it oodles better. Designer Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson worked her magic, pairing the images with perfectly color...

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me . Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po...

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...

Paintings With Soul

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