Sigh, A Gratitude Painting

"Sigh," from "The Gratitude Series,"** 10" x 6-1/2", portrait of a silvery Great Dane Pup, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, $449. And since the muse for this painting hailed from Ohio Great Dane Rescue, proceeds from the sale of this painting will benefit them. Inquiries may come to moi.

I had an entirely different concept when I set up to paint today. I wanted the pup smaller on the canvas, with her entire body draped sveltly across the painting. But each time I blocked her in, she wanted to be bigger. I'd rub her out and start over, and every time she returned, she was flowing over the edges.

So I stopped fighting, and just let her be.

This will be another of my entries for this year's Canine Art Guild's "Helping Paws: All Creatures Great and Small" exhibition. This is an online show that supports animal welfare through the artists' philanthropy (each piece's sale benefits a specific animal welfare group) and awards (cash prizes go not to the artist, but to the animal welfare groups).

The online show will go live in December, but meanwhile I am getting my entries ready. I'm looking for one more muse; they have to be a rescued pet hailing from a 501c rescue group that is still functioning. You may email non-flash photos to me for consideration - and THANK YOU!!

Meanwhile, don't forget - grownUPs Journalling class tonite at Little Monsters in downtown Lake Orion, 6-8pm.

Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS In-process shots of "Sigh" are on the studio's Facebook page.

**"The Gratitude Series" of paintings stars rescued animals who have found new homes. Proceeds from the sale of these paintings (including reproductions) are earmarked to support the groups that gave the animals a second - sometimes a third - chance at life.

In Memory of K9 Cade

Last summer, Burton (Michigan) police dogCade was killed in an accident. In his memory, multiple groups in this community have rallied together, hosting a fundraiser tomorrow evening.

Their goal? To raise $10,000 through the sale of sloppy joes and raffle tickets - just enough money to bring a new police dog to town.

I am proud to support this effort (my sister-in-law works for one of the organizations involved) by donating a Painting a Dog a Day gift certificate valued at $250.

If you are in the Flint area, you are invited tostop by and help a community help itself.

Thanks so much!

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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