What the..... ??, In Process

You saw the reference photo yesterday (and it's included below, too) - here's the underpainting for the first painting in my new series "Cherish."

Working title "What the....?", this is 24" high by 14" wide, and it's in acrylics on a museum quality panel.

I don't anticipate that this one will be for sale, but inquiries may always come to me.

For those new to the blog, this is my cattle dog mix Finnigan, who truly had no idea what the little furball kitten Mona Lisa was doing in his house. She, of course, went about as if she had always owned the place, her tail jauntily crooked above her back, her little bell joyfully announcing every move.

I want this painting to convey Finni's gentle curiousity and Mona's trust. It needs to feel warm and cozy, alluded to by the yellow undertones of the floor and rug. And once I get the shadows working properly, the composition will carry a circular motif reminescent of a hug.

Meanwhile, you can see the stages the background went through today by viewing the images I uploaded onto the studio's Facebook page.

And tomorrow it will be back to the paint. After I get an estimate done on repairing my van - someone did a number on it this last weekend, and it wasn't the Easter Bunny.

Oh, and it's Wednesday, too, which means life drawing in ballet class later in the afternoon.

Good thing life gives us far more moments like those I paint and sketch, and far fewer bits like silly fools running into large, legally parked vehicles.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

A Call For Muses

In anticipation of participating in a large scale art event, I am creating a fresh body of work.

Hence my latest request - bring me new muses!!

The concept is "Cherish." I am looking for images of animals depicting a realm of emotions in the hopes of painting a fraction of the sorts of relationships we share with our companions.

Please note that photos do not have to include people - I'd rather prefer to leave the human form out altogether, as this allows the viewer to bring their own personal interpretations.

You are invited to submit non-flash photos for consideration:

Photos must be taken by the submitter - no exceptions.
Photos should be in focus, and the animal must make up at least 1/4 of the photograph.
Please note that by virtue of submitting photographs, submitters are granting me permission to create original artwork from the materials they submit.
Submitters are not required to make any purchase of artwork or reproductions, but will be offered first rights to anything created.
Photos should be sent via email to with the subject line "Cherish"

Photos I plan on painting will be uploaded to the "Cherish" photo album inside the studio's Facebook page. I will also add links to the completed paintings as the series of work progresses.

I am really excited about this opportunity and look forward to sharing the latest leg of the Painting a Dog a Day journey with you!!

“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...

Golden Open Acrylics

I get all sorts of process oriented questions. Most recently I've been getting asked a lot about my paints and palette, which made me realize what a nice blog topic this would make! I use a Masterson Sta-Wet Premier palette box . This is comprised of a box (think Tupperware) with a sponge liner and a slice of palette paper that work together to keep my paints wet. This setup allows me to work with the same palette for about a full week, having the box open for multiple hours every day. You can see what the palette looks like at the beginning of a new session above - below the exact same palette after this week's work. For the last 25 years I have used Golden brand acrylics, mediums, and varnish. I love the overall quality of these paints and the fact that, when I have a question, their customer service department is made up of artists who actually use the products. Until last year, I used their Heavy Body paints exclusively. They have a buttery consistency, a little loose...

Paintings With Soul

Search This Blog