Cannonball!!

"Cannonball!!" 11-3/4" x 19", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a fearless dock-diving Nita. I have big plans for this painting, but if you are interested in purchasing, let me know, and I'll get you on the list. I don't doubt that "Cannonball" will find a home quickly, and I do want it to be yours, but I also want to exhibit her for just a wee bit in the meanwhile, so please bear with me.   I started this painting late last nite - in process photos are on the studio facebook page.   My favorite part of the painting? the water bits, where, close-up, they become entirely abstract, just pure color and shape.   And Nita's squinched eyes.   You might recognize this girl....... I've painted her before. Huge thanks to Nita's mom who shared some most extraordinary photos when I told her of my dogs-playing-in-water-ideas (and there are more of these paintings to come!).   I'm lining works up for a fall series of exhibitions and installations. Then it'll be time to buckle down and focus on holiday commissions (you want in? better email me now!)   Kim, who might just treat herself to a plate full of cookies just because of this painting. And finding the $%^#ing retainer (please see below for full details), which I did, all on my own, because while some people look for things, they look with eyes not entirely opened. ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Fun and Games   Unlimited Fun and Games were had at the Santini household last nite when someone mentioned that they had lost their retainer.   I am not afraid of dumpster diving, and I will freely admit to cementing an appliance into a child's mouth after several such events (with our dentist's approval - don't go calling social services on me). But I was not thrilled at all to hear that dreaded question, "Has anyone seen my retainer?" Especially after we'd only had the darned thing for 6 - count em, 6 -days.   The whole search conveniently overlapped with a neighbor dog's insane 2+ hour bark fest. Which supplied the perfect excuse to uncork a bottle of red and clean out cupboards.   Which is also why I didn't get a painting finished and posted last nite.   However the orthodontics were found, the dog eventually got let into the house, I blocked in "Cannonball," someone went to bed with their blessed retainer in place, and everyone slept like babies.