Paintings With Soul

My digital painting inspired by Claude Monet's "Water Lily Pond, Green Harmony."  The Monet is currently on loan from the Musee d'Orsay (Paris) and on display at the Detroit Institute of Art through this Sunday. My piece was done on an iPad using ArtRage and a Sensu Brush & Stylus . I occupied the bench in front of this painting for about 90 minutes. First I listened to people's reactions - they were talking about the painting's place in history (I heard a great variety of stories!) and taking selfies (non flash photos were allowed in the darkened space). Whenever the gallery emptied, I had a quiet conversation with the piece - from across the room and from within inches. Eventually I pulled out my iPad and began sketching. It was cathartic and enlightening. Today I immersed myself in the Impressionists, first hand. I visited the DIA and hung out with some of the biggest names from the turn of the century - Monet, Ma...

The Caped Crusader (in orange) with his Second Mom and her "boys," as she called them. She loved these kids fiercely, and they stood by her side until the end. This isn't how things were meant to play out. December was supposed to be my gift to myself. Lots of unstructured studio time so that I could pursue and paint new ideas. Nothing but painting strictly for me and my galleries and a couple choice exhibitions.  But that's not what the universe had in mind. I've been mourning the loss of an absolutely remarkable woman (The Caped Crusader's Second Mom, who passed away from ALS at the beginning of the month), trying to pull off two birthday celebrations in the midst of her funeral details, caring for sick kids (one of whom ended up in the ER Friday morning), and unexpectedly car shopping (in the midst of all this, my van was totaled, but what really matters is that all involved are physically ok). And there's all...

The finished version, still damp to the touch! "Hot to Trot," 12" x 12", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting Marzipan, a Barbie Fairytale plastic horse. "Hot to Trot" is available for $599 - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Fridays start with yoga class. I've missed it for various reasons for over a month. My instructor had taken to calling me the "Yoga Dropout," it was that bad! I practice at home, but nobody pushes me as hard as her, so getting back on my mat this morning was a wonderful gift to myself. By the end of the class, my head was clear and my muscles all stretched out and quivery. Yoga was followed up by a massage. The past few weeks have been riddled with stress and I needed to work out the tension I'd been carrying in my back and shoulders. Easy fix - lavender butter, quiet music, and a little snooze. My brain slipped into slo-mo and my muscles were even more quivery by the end of...

In process detail of "Hot to Trot," 12" x 12", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting Marzipan, a Barbie Fairytale plastic horse. "Hot to Trot" is available for $599 - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Continuing exploring some of the possibilities I discovered in the workshop earlier this week, I played with more plastic ponies today. It took me a good hour before I settled on Marzipan - particularly because her pink plastic really glowed when lit from behind, and she cast a wonderfully colorful shadow.  Also, her delicate feathery mane and tail provided an opportunity to try and paint an ethereal texture. And some intriguing edge work, too. There's in process photos here , and a photo of the setup here . And tomorrow I hope to have a finished painting to show off! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Happy holidays! Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.co

"Conversations II," 8" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting two My Little Ponys. This composition has inspired a new series of toy pieces - I am excited to create them! Conversations II is available for $469 - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Today's Lesson ha-la-tion - he effect of light spreading and bouncing, pulling reflected color into surrounding objects. Today I focused on this, paying attention to the temperature of the light and how it bounced about, creating color drenched shadows and licks of brightness. As always, Vianna provided a multitude of lightbulb moments. Ideas are still percolating, and I can't wait to try some new things out in my own space. Tomorrow! Meanwhile, there's a photo essay on the three day workshop on my FB page. If you are interested in painting with Vianna Szabo, take a peek at her teaching calendar - hands down, she is the best I've had the p...

"Corpse," 8" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a vintage porcelain doll from perhaps the 1940s (??). Study done in class, intended for learning purposes, but decidedly pleased with the end result. This one can be yours for $469 (I'll have a better scan of the painting later in the week) - inquire to me . Please and thank you! View Workshop Photos While everyone else is painting fruit and pottery, I'm the one in the corner with a tub of dolls and parts, happily pushing paint. I always was the proverbial Purple Cow. Today we learned that the best still life paintings contain: A design concept superseding the objects painted A whole that is much larger than the sum of the parts Light elevating the setup We talked about the storytelling aspect of a still life, it's symbolic content (whether that's planned or accidental), and how it might read over time (transcendence). We also drew a pa...

"Conversations," 10" x 12", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a collection of vintage doll heads, complete with sleepy  and not-so-sleepy-eyes. Study done in class, intended for learning purposes only. I'm stepping outside my comfort zone, learning about lighting and still life setup, along with a little paint pushing, from none other than colorist Vianna Szabo . View Workshop Photos Here's today's lightbulbs: Nothing created in a workshop is intended for a wall. Or an exhibition. Perfect example: I am not terribly pleased with today's painting, but I am delighted with all it taught me. (That little magical spot between all three heads? it makes me giddy!) Design is of primary significance. The idea should come before the object(s) is/are even placed. (Me thinks this is the difference between a portrait of an object and a still life). Value takes precedence before color. A big challenge for me...

"Forthright," 5" x 7", acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, portrait of a vintage doll, or rather, a vintage doll head. With sleepy eyes. Or are they not-so-sleepy-eyes when they are glued open? Anyway, let me know if you would like a painting featuring a favorite childhood toy  (and yes, there's still time to get a gift certificate by the holidays). R 14 That's what's stamped on the back of this little one's head. She has the most mesmerizing eyes. Coupled with her ratty hair, which at one time appears to have been very fashionably coiffed (I can't imagine dread locks were all the rage in the 50s), she's an interesting face to gaze into. If you can forget for a moment that that's all she is. A head, balanced on a glass vial. I bet she was someone's treasured friend many years ago. I'm happy to be her caretaker now.  Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Happy holida...

"Striped and Soft," 10" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, commissioned portrait of a big boned tabby cat, private collection (thank you!). Let me know if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, there's still time to get a gift certificate by the holidays). A fellow artist used the term "homeschooling" the other day when referring to her own studies. She was spending free time copying master paintings and doing focused work of her own direction. I loved the idea so much that I've coined that phrase for myself. This is my final holiday commission (or at least the last one I can share), which means that the rest of December is time for me to paint just what I want to. I have obligations (gallery inventory and some pieces for exhibitions), but everything that hits my easel will do so for a distinct learning purpose. I'm gonna be homeschooled! Except for the few days next week when I take a still life...

"Riley," 5" x 7", acrylics on a Raymar panel, commissioned portrait of a pointer, private collection (thank you!). Let me know if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, I offer gift certificates which can be delivered in time for holiday gift giving). View In Process Photos It's December, which seems wrong. It should still be, like, August. Not sure where the days went, but they did - and the holidays are upon us! I have 2-1/2 remaining holiday commissions to paint, but don't despair - if you didn't reach out to me in time, we can still do a gift certificate. There is nothing more appreciated than a custom portrait, which start at $399 - inquire via email. Meanwhile, I am making plans to create new works for my galleries. And I have a couple of exhibitions in mind. You'll see horse racing scenes, more still lifes starring toy horses and ponies, and some vintage doll paintings, along with my re...

Detail from a 10" square portrait of a cake. Yes, this is a portrait (as opposed to a still life) because this cake is far more than a mere cake. It's a special Sweet & Savory cake , chocolate with raspberry filling and buttercream frosting. And nobody warned me that setting this beast under a hot studio light would fill the space with the delectable smell of warmed sugar. I could eat the whole thing myself now. Right now. This is not a pumpkin pie, I know, but it's a pretty darned good second choice. Trust me on this - and I have a big ole slice with your name on it, as a thank you for just being you. Nearly 14 years ago, I quit my desk job to be a stay at home mom. I unpacked my studio shortly thereafter, and started painting at the dining room table. Somewhere along the way, you found out about my artwork, decided to check it out, and then decided to stick around. You may be even purchased a painting or told a friend about my work or came to a class. ...

"Millie," 10" x 20", acrylics on a Raymar panel, portrait of an Old English Sheepdog, private collection (thank you!). Let me know if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, I offer gift certificates for holiday gift giving). It's time to make the donuts. Or rather, stuff the turkey! I'm signing out to go play in the kitchen and fill our home with good smells. Hoping you are able to do the same - and if you don't enjoy cooking, then I hope that you are able to go sit in someone's home who does and benefit from their efforts!! Happy Thanksgiving! Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Unbelievable, that it's December already. Unreal. You can download the 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 not an expert on operating systems, so if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

My book of color, "A Dog Named Blue," was released about a year ago. The pages feature full color images of my paintings paired with clever color-centric phrases. You can see inside the book here , and order your own copy (or copies of any of my other publications) here . But keep on reading - you could win a copy, too! Last week the Warrior Princess got her wings. Those of you who have been long time subscribers know The Warrior Princess, a friend of my teenage daughter. When The Warrior Princess was diagnosed with leukemia last summer, many of you rallied by donating blood and platelets, purchasing artwork flagged as a fundraiser for her family, donating items for a charity event, and sending notes/cards /prayers of encouragement. You made a difference. Because of your love and support, she rallied for an extended stay with us. But last week, that time ended, and we said goodbye, fittingly, at a funeral service capped by a community-wide group hug. Be...

Detail of an in process painting, working title "The 9th Race, On the Turf," 8-1/2" x 24", acrylics on Ampersand gessobord, featuring a field of horses crossing the finish line. Available for $1199, inquiries may come to me . My head is still at the track, and clearly not paying attention to the snowfall outside, thinking of sunshiney days and bright green grass. And that First Saturday in May. I'm sure by now you've heard the news that I'm the 2015 Kentucky Derby Artist . I'm still processing what that means, and today I allowed myself to think of nothing but Thoroughbreds, sunshine, and spring like weather. In process photos are on Facebook - feel free to join in the conversation over there! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Ursula and Daisy," 18" x 24", acrylics on cradeled Ampersand gessobord, commissioned portrait of canine sisters, private collection (Thank  you!). Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, I offer gift certificates for holiday gift giving). I've Been Working on These Two For a Couple Days You can see in process photos here . I am especially fond of the soft edge work. It amplifies the tenderness between the dogs. And despite the lack of variety in values, there is plenty of interest in the planes. Many thanks to those who have joined in celebrating my Derby Artist gig! I am delighted to share this honor with all of you - I'll share more info tomorrow on how you can follow along with my journey to the first Saturday in May. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Remember The Big Secret Painting From This Summer? It was the artwork for this coming year's Kentucky Derby. You can see my finished painting here , order a signed poster here , and read the official press release here . Saying this is an honor is an understatement. It is more tremendous than anything I ever could have imagined. And I would not ever have even been a candidate were it not for the love and support of an incredible network of friends and family. I've had a fan club from the very beginning and mentors who were always generous with ideas and inspiration. Add in a little old fashioned elbow grease, and something marvelous was bound to happen eventually. I still can't believe I'm going to The Kentucky Derby! As the artist! Pinch me!  Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

My Suitcase is Packed.... ....and I'm off! Wanna guess where I'm going? I will share photo updates as my weekend unfolds. You can follow along with the beginning of a grand adventure on my Facebook page . Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Finished, complete with studio light glare in upper left, "Hidalgo," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned equine portrait of a stunning paint horse, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . So? is this one of my best ever? It could be the adrenaline, but I'm feeling that way. And now it's on to the next painting adventure. Just you wait! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Sniff," 18" x 21", tissue paper and acrylics collage on Ampersand gessobord, featuring canine noses representing 12 different breed groups. This mixed media piece was created six(?) years back for a poster contest and went into storage afterwards. I think it deserves a home, don't you? So I'll let it go to the first one asking nicely - for an "adoption fee" of $99, including shipping within the US. Excerpt below is truer to color and shows the patterning and detail in each of the noses. SOLD. An antique secretery desk is storage for my unsold daily paintings. It's perfect - all the little cubbies are great for nesting panels. And if a piece is too large for the cubbies, it goes into a portfolio behind my wall-to-ceiling bookshelves. Which means the paintings are out of sight. Which means I sometimes forget what's on hand. Which means that occasionally I need to revisit the out-of-sight-out-of-mind-sto...

In Process, "Hidalgo," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned equine portrait of a stunning paint horse, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . View In Process Photos Remember the paintings Luna inspired ? Hidalgo is picking up where they left off, in a gloriously sized way. I swear I can hear him blowing and snuffing around the easel when my back is turned. And he's not even finished yet. I may FINALLY have the pony I've always wanted! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog (and hope to paint many, many more times), acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . Some faces are so timeless, I could never tire of painting them. Such is Bear's - I hope to get to create many more pieces inspired by him. Provided fate continues to allow that. While running errands today, I was delayed by a feral pregnant kitty. I tried unsuccessfully to lure her close enough for a good look (or a quick drive to a warm bed in my garage), but she outwiled me. After a fruitless 45 minutes, I left her a chicken breast, messaged my friend who's an animal control officer, and went on my way. Only to discover emergency crews caring for the injured at a serious car accident which occurred exactly at the point I would have been ...

In process, "Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of Bear, a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . View In Process Photos I've been working on Bear's wet coat, the reflections of light, and the contrast balance for most of the day. Doesn't he look absolutely wonderful?! The end is in sight, very very close, but I'm starting to get cross eyed. While I am eager to sign this painting, I am also very aware of the dangers of pressing forward when my head isn't totally clear. Which was one of the toughest things for me to learn - when I need to fully embrace patience, and when it is necessary to power through a difficult passage. So I am going to set him aside for a little this afternoon. Perhaps I'll do some journaling or work on a small...

In process detail of "Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . In some ways, it's shockingly wonderful. There are people who care enough about my artwork to pay me. It's crazy! (THANKS!!) And some of them care enough to buy multiples - I am shipping 5 pieces off next week to a home that already holds far more than that. How lucky am I? (THANK YOU!!) And there are those who interact regularly via emails and messages, feeding my muse with their questions, ideas, and generosity. You keep my brain dancing with the possibilities. Again, how lucky am I? (and THANK YOU TOO!) And then there are those, who, for whatever reason, shift from fan to collector to friend. Bear's portrait is going to someone who's done just th...

"Sadie," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of another beagle, also rescued and very beloved, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . The nice thing about working in a series (like this recent collection of beagles) is that once momentum happens, it's easy to keep moving. My palette is full of rich velvety beagle-y colors, the paintings look wonderful as a grouping, and my client (so far) is very happy. It'll be a total change of gears tomorrow when I hit the studio. I'll be working on a water dog commission - for those who aren't familiar with my water dog paintings , well, I suppose you will get an introduction tomorrow. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Simon," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a beloved rescued beagle, acrylics on a museum quality panel. This painting has a home, but I can fit just a few more pre-holiday commissions.  Ask nicely . Number 2 of 4 beagle commissions, this is Simon. I painted ahead a little bit (I had planned on being out of the studio later this week, but that fell through) - you can see in process pics of all 4 over on Facebook . Which means I may be able to start a water dog portrait this week, as opposed to next...... my brain and fingers are tingley at the opportunity! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

You can download the 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 not an expert on operating systems, so if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Simon," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a rescued beagle with the dearest eyes, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. This one already has a home, but I can take on a couple more pre-holiday commissions.  Just ask me nicely . Back to the dogs. And back to my regular palette, too - while I loved working with the grays all week, there was something super reassuring about having the opportunity to make decisions today. Like lime green. And pthalo blue. And cadmium orange. Those colors make me so happy. But I know it's all about finding a balance. I'm working in that direction! Meanwhile, Oliver starts of a pack of beagle faces. You can keep up with them all over on Facebook . Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Grey III," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a dark bay Schleich model draft horse, $329 to the first asking nicely . There's a lot to be said for working in a series - it really gives you the opportunity to lose yourself in an idea. This week , my challenge has been using a limited number of colors (5 tubes of paint), mixing harmonious yet colorful grays, while working up simple still lifes inspired by model horses. I can't stop. I have to - I have some commissions to get to - but I can't stop. I may squeeze another one in later tonite. So far there's three paintings in this series - Gray I and Gray II remain available. All three of these will look gorgeous grouped together and I will give preferential pricing to any collector who wishes to purchase the collection. Message me! Pics of all the Gray paintings, including in process ones, are here . Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Wa...

"Grey II," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a gray Schleich model pony, $329 to the first asking nicely . I told you I couldn't wait to get back into the studio last nite. And this is what I painted, while dinner was roasting. Another model/toy horse, a Schleich dappled gray. Here's the tubes of paint I used: Titanium White Cadmium Yellow Dark Alizarine Hue Ultramarine Blue Carbon Black Been doing computer and paperwork all day, but I've got another one set up, which perhaps I will get to later tonite after a handful of meetings. Fingers and toes crossed it'll work out that way! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Grey I," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a gray Schleich model pony, $329 to the first asking nicely . The light is grim in Michigan today, which meant I could set up a still life in the studio and not have much ambient light change affect my setup. I pulled out this Schleich pony, on loan from a fan who happens to live in my neighborhood AND her daughter dances with mine (go figure! we didn't even know that!), and set out a limited palette. Titanium White Cadmium Yellow Dark Alizarine Hue Ultramarine Blue Carbon Black There is such luminosity here and delicate transitions to my planes - I enjoyed carving this painting out immensely! So much so that I grabbed another pony and got him all lit dramatically. And then realized it was time to start shuttling kids to and fro. But, once we all are home again, I want to have another go at this. Maybe after dinner and homework. In process pics (including Gray II...

Very much in process, "Fall," 12" x 16", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever frolicking in autumn leaves, $629 to the first asking nicely . In process photos can be viewed here . A Typical Day Check voice mail. Check and prioritize emails. Check the studio Facebook page. Return phone calls. Touch base with Art Center and relay tonite's class size. Review needed materials for class and pack. Tweak lesson plan to include last minute ideas. Schedule private lesson (this is a gift certificate winner from fundraiser). Review materials list for my workshop in December. Order what I need. Photograph paintings and archive. Send photos to clients. Connect with new collector to discuss project. Check and respond to email. Paint for 90 mins. Write and schedule blog post. Touch base with two galleries. Review open commission inquiries - follow up on lost details. Brai...

From the Emerging Series, "Ballerina," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a beautiful buckskin filly, $599 to the first asking nicely . I started this piece two months ago , then got caught up in other projects with deadlines, and set her aside. Until now. Because today she spoke up, and asked for me to spend some time with her. I was more than happy to do so.  And I am thrilled with the way she turned out! Thank you to Lisa from Team Husar Photography  for the rights to Ballerina's inspiration photo - Lisa shares the best inspiration with me, and it's always super fun to work from her photographs (remember photos are not free for your taking, whether you find them on the internet or elsewhere - you must ask the photographer for permission to work from them). The painting's progression is right here  - there are lots and lots of photos! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, ...