Paintings With Soul

    In Process, "Striped," from the "Cherished" series and the latest Mona Lisa inspired portrait. Done to celebrate her second birthday (happy, happy day, Mo Bug!), this one is 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, and when finished, will sell for $629. Inquiries may come  to me .   If you are a Facebook fan, you will have seen many, many, many, many in process views of "Striped" (some of them actually including stripes!) on  the studio's Facebook page . I've been working on this one the past three days.   And this painting is kicking my butt.   A great example of a reference photo that required a number of adjustments to translate into an equally stunning painting. And instead of stepping back and mapping out a clear plan once I discovered this, I continued to march forward without much direction.   I have a clearer vision now of where to take this, and I'll have a go at it later t...

    "Halo's Heart," from the "Cherished" series, 9" x 15", one of two portraits I'm creating of this gorgeous long haired German Shepherd puppy. This one is acrylics on a museum quality panel, and she will go to the first one raising their hand for $529. Of course, first dibs on both Halo pieces belong to her Mom, but in the meanwhile inquiries may come  to me .   If I still have the painting this fall, Halo will be part of my ArtPrize  installation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   In process views of this piece are on  the studio's Facebook page .   And now I'm rushing back to my easel - I have another very wet piece happening, and want to keep momentum going for as long as I can!   Thanks for following along with me and my art, Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     It's Summer Vacation, Baby!!   Which is a big deal to Clover and Lily, p...

      You have to give me credit - I bid my time patiently before sneaking Mona into the calendar rotation! This painting was the portrait I created to commemmorate her first birthday. In the next week or two, I'll be painting her 2nd birthday portrait...... not that she's grown in stature. Just attitude. But she IS a cat, after all.....   To implement July's desktop calendar, simply download the calendar file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link.   I am by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.    Mona is sized to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I ...

  It's been quiet on the studio front, but trust me, lots has been happening. Just a few highlights: The Caped Crusader graduated 8th grade and is officially a high schooler, and, far more importantly now, a high school football player. The Princess completed 5th grade with high honors, and is headed to rule middle school with a kind and gentle heart. Jetted to El Paso, Texas, to witness the baptism of the newest little Kelly, baby Dylan. The Man Child got his first job, working at his favorite place in the whole world. McDonalds. Had a sunset bar-b-q (NO hamburgers!) and counted the stars as they came out. Spent a day at Wet -n- Wild water park. A 114 degree day. But it was a dry heat. Weathered a fierce storm that brought down one of the tallest, most ancient trees in our yard. Picked - and processed - nearly 20 lbs of fresh strawberries. Had a fish fry. Walked barefoot in Paint Creek. Painted Van Gogh's Irises on my back porch floor. Enjoyed t...

  The welcome postcards for my summer workshop AirMail Journaling will be mailed tomorrow. The cards include a tune-up exercise to get participants primed and ready to go.   What's AirMail Journaling? 5 art journal lessons mailed to your home (or an address of your choosing) - lessons include directions, prompts, ephemera and materials, along with sample images  we start the week of June 25th and will continue through the end of August - the lessons will be mailed every two weeks there's also a private, online classroom where participants can share their images and have a dialogue about processes/ideas So, how much for all this wicked sweet journaling goodness? Only $30.  I kid you not. Only $30 (within the US - additional fees for international addresses apply). Simply paypal funds to journal@turtledovedesigns.com  and I'll get off a materials list and class outline. What will we be doing? I'll give you a glimps...

    "Quincy Sunshine," nearly 7" x 8" (just a little shy of 8"), portrait of a puppy, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, $379 to the first one raising their hand. Inquiries may come  to me .   Quincy is a yellow lab-golden retriever cross, bred and raised within PAWS to be a service dog. He was career changed due to health issues, which meant - hooray! - he could return to the family who raised him.   Career changed doesn't mean couch potato, though. Quincy is a certified therapy dog, visiting hospitals, libraries and nursing homes in his area. He also competes in dock diving, flyball and agility.   This painting is headed to an online exhibition - let's see if Quincy can't also take the art world by storm!!   In process views of "Quincy Sunshine" are on  the studio's Facebook page .   Thanks for following along with me and my art, Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   ...

    "Sadie Belle," a commissioned portrait of a mixed breed dog, image roughly 5" x 6" on an 8" x 10" paper, done in acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me .   Sadie found her family via the SPCA - they thought they wanted a lab mix, but she didn't have to work hard at all to get them to change their minds and open their hearts to a border collie-terrier mix.   This portrait is another gift (do you detect a trend here?). Yes I accept commissions, can work something up in secret, or deliver a gift certificate all on the sly.  Email me for the deets.   Thanks for supporting me and my dream of being a working artist, Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     P S  End of school year: 2.5 days and counting. Start of vacation: 2.51 days and counting.   Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson's "Clarissa Crab," used with permission ...

    "Gus," a commissioned portrait of a bull dog, 8" x 10," done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me .   You gotta love a man who gifts his bride a pet portrait. Talk about starting things off proper!   If you know this man, or this bride, or this dog, please keep this a secret - Gus's portrait will be waiting for them to return from their honeymoon.   And you know, I can do this sort of thing for you, too. But I can't read your mind - you've gotta first  send me an email .   Thanks, as always, for supporting and following along with my artwork! Kim    ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     P S  End of school year: 3.5 days and counting. Start of vacation: 3.51 days and counting.   "Untitled," 1981, photo courtesy of Christies   ...

  "Annie," a painted sketch, approximately 4" square on an 8" x 10" archival board, done in acrylics, depicting a mixed breed dog, private collection (THANK YOU!).   Little Annie is blind and battling heart failure, so her family treats every day as a gift. She enjoys a posh, quality life, though, and is always ready to bestow - or receive - some loving.   Thanks, as always, for supporting and following along with my artwork!   Enjoy your weekend - Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Westen," a painted sketch, approximately 4" x 6" on an 8" x 10" archival board, done in acrylics, depicting a mixed breed red merle dog, private collection (THANK YOU!). I sketched out a second portrait today, but didn't get to her and am quickly running out of steam. Tomorrow, after a morning appointment and a quick trip to the Apple Store, the bank, and the post office. It seems like my painting time is slowly shrinking. And the kids are in school for one more week before it - POOF! - really disappears. Thanks, as always, for supporting and following along with my artwork! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  Detail of "Runt," in process - you can see my struggles with this little one on the  studio's Facebook page . Poor "Runt" is a perfect example of not having a solid painting concept when I picked up my brushes.   That, and my palette was starting to dry out, but I still had a mess of paint laid out I didn't want to waste. So my lack of a plan was further complicated by forcing goo-ey paint to move more than it wanted to.   See? Even I have rough days and make mistakes.   After 1343 paintings.   You think I'd've learned something by now!!   I will save this painting, but after I take a break and can approach her with a fresh eye. Meanwhile, tomorrow I'm going to work on a commissioned piece. With a solid gameplan.   Thanks, as always, for supporting and following along with my artwork! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   Inspired   ...

  "Joy," fresh off the easel, another from the "Cherished" series, 6" square, acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a Chinese Crested Powder Puff, Zephyr (aka Fleef, Fweet and Fleefles). Isn't she the most expressive thing you have ever seen?   Zephyr's Mom gets first dibs, but should she pass, the painting will be offered to the next taker. "Joy" can be yours for $299 to new collectors, or $269 to repeat offenders. Inquiries may come  to me .   Several in process views of this Muppet, err, princess, are on the  studio's Facebook page . Take a peek and comment or ask questions about my process or the ingenue herself - I'll get you answers asap!   And please don't forget that inquiries, including how you can get a portrait of your own dog, can always come  to me .    It's too late to arrange for Father's Day delivery of a painting, BUT it's not too late to coordinate a gift ce...

"Sibling Rivalry," the newest installation in the "Cherished" series, 10" x 18", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a pair of chocolate labs wrestling over a frisbee, only $629 to the first taker.   Check out the detail of the dogs' faces down below.   Lots of in process views of this painting are updated on the studio's Facebook page . You are invited to take a peek and comment or ask questions about my process.   And inquiries, including how you can get a portrait of your own dog, can always come  to me! !! Thank you!!     This painting was inspired by a series of photos taken at Frankenmuth, Michigan's Dog Bowl last weekend. So many dogs, so many painting ideas, and today I got to indulge in one of them!!   Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com