Still Waters (Bear), In Process

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 smaller portrait, but I'm going to give my eyeballs a break and work on something entirely different.

That way, when I return to Bear (either later tonite or tomorrow), I will be able to clearly see - and paint! - exactly what he needs.

Thanks for everything!

Warmly, Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Comments

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

Search This Blog