Paintings With Soul

One of my favorite unsold paintings from 2008, "Lashes & Corkscrews," 5" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, depicting a tobiano buckskin curly horse, $289. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com (but read further on how you can get a special deal on this painting!). Now it's ridiculously easy to browse my painting archives. All you have to do is visit my Etsy store . Etsy has a Shopping Cart (so you can pile it high with purchases from a variety of artists), is integrated with Paypal (although you may still pay by check if you prefer to), and is terribly simple to navigate. When the week has ended, I will have listed almost 100 of my favorite (UNSOLD!) paintings here, grouped loosely by subject matter. During 2009 I'll update the shop regularly, and add non-Dog-a-Day pieces as a bonus, thus making it easy to search for that perfect gift. Watch my daily postings for announcements, promotions and discount codes. If you do not receive the Dog-a-Day emails (...

FROM TOP: "Golden Grin," 4" x 8"; "Golden Laughter," 8" x 10", $449, SOLD ; "Golden Gaze," 8" x 10", $449, SOLD ; all acrylic on board. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . My client gets her choice of the above paintings. After she takes pick of the litter, the remaining ones are up for grabs. Please send me an email if you are interested in any of these portraits - a paypal payment and priority shipping should get the painting(s) in your hands by the holiday. Thanks, as always, for sharing my artwork with your friends and family. Enjoy your weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.turtledovedesigns.com

"Lopsided (Boston Terrier)," 4" square, Boston Terrier dog portrait, acrylic on boar. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I cannot always share what I paint these days because many are holiday gifts. Today I had to paint an extra face because the first two were surprises for Dog-a-Day readers. Which reminds me - I have a few remaining spaces for commissioned pet portraits for 2009's holiday gift giving - I am reserving them for repeat clients. Send me a note if you are interested, so I can pencil you in and lock down my current prices: ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . We have miserable weather creeping in - 2" of snow, some sleet, and all topped off with a predicted 1" of rain. Sounds like a possible snow day tomorrow. And on top of that I feel a cold creeping in - my brain is waterlogged and sluggish. I refuse to get sick - I have no time for this. Darn germs - why can't the kids keep them to themselves?!! Thanks, as always, for looking a...

"In Profile II (Harley)," 4" x 5", commissioned chihuahua portrait, acrylic on board, private collection (or so I think - don't be afraid to ask if you love her little face). Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This little gem of a painting came about because my client wanted a holiday gift for Harley's breeder. I love doing little pieces like this, especially when I get to work with a face like Harley's, who I have painted before ( http://t.ymlp67.com/ysataubeapamqaaausue/click.php ). And it gave me the perfect excuse to start another painting of her (a 4th one!), aimed for the Art Show at the Dog Show ( http://t.ymlp67.com/yuaraubeavamqapausue/click.php ). This weekend promises to be busy - Annie and I go see the Nutcracker tomorrow (our annual tradition), and our town hosts their holiday lighted parade tomorrow night. We'll decorate the tree and watch the Red Wings game after warming up with huge bowls of steaming chili. And you know wh...

Work in process, 10" x 12", depicting a Gypsy Vanner mare, acrylic on archival artists' panel. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . In the version I posted earlier this week, I had beautiful color happening amidst drawing errors. Correcting these were complicated by porr photo references and my lack of intimate equine anatomical knowledge. I allowed the piece to simmer until today, when I felt a little bit of confidance going back into it. Nevertheless, I still ended up painting the whole thing out and starting over. In order to finish the painting true to my vision, it was easiest to start over. Which is exactly what I did (that doesn't mean the "painting out" bit was painless, though. Or that the second time around wasn't also challenging.). She's not finished yet, but more solidly on the road to being done. There is a sense of mass, movement, and light which personifies the ideas I wanted this painting to express. Another day and she sho...

"Yorkie in the Grass," 12" square, Yorkshire Terrier dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, box framed, $599. She's already been exhibited (and won an award) here in Michigan, and therefore will be one of my entries to next year's Art Show at the Dog Show (in Kansas). That is, if she doesn't find a home first, which in all honesty I would rather see. I can always paint another piece for the show. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SALE PENDING. Yes I am recycling a painting from earlier in the year, but it's justifiable (at least in my mind). My daughter has been sick for almost a week, and today it's been difficult for me to concentrate at the easel. I'm whipped. Therefore, I've decided to give myself a little break, sneak some chocolate from the freezer stash, and challenge Annie to a game of checkers. Are you following me on twitter? not that I share anything more earth shattering than what music is currently cranked in the studi...

"Droopy," 4" x 5", basset hound mix dog portrait, acrylic on board. Won't he look darling framed and tucked into a special place? Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . After painting Droopy, I got the idea to paint the dwarfs from Snow White. Don't ask me how I made that connection - I'm not certain myself. But can't you see it? A bulldog as Grumpy, a golden retriever as Happy, a sheepdog as Sneezy, a mastiff as Sleepy - ahh, this could be really fun. Now all I have to do is carve out the time to paint them!! And to paint the foil wrapped holiday chocolates I picked up, too - truffles, Santas, and other great shapes. Gotta paint those before I eat them. So many ideas, so little time. But first it's off to make dinner. I've decided to grill a steak (in the falling snow, no less). Sweet potatos are in the oven and we'll have a big salad. Thinking of doing all these paintings works up a good appetite! Thanks, as always,...

Untitled work in process ("Fading Light"?), depicting a Gypsy Vanner mare, acrylic on archival artists' panel, 10" x 12". Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . The year is winding down, and that means I have several juried competition deadlines sneaking up. I've had this same mare on my studio wall for several years now - a huge stretched canvas that is at least 40" high - a canvas that I didn't take much further than an initial block in. I've loved the backlighting that tickles her fetlocks, and thought I'd give it a try on a smaller scale, conquer the fear of messing up, and see if I can't get a solid little painting for one of the exhibitions in my radar. I started with toning the panel a pepto bismol pink - it's easier (and way more fun) to paint on a colored ground than a white one. I then began massing in the areas of light and dark. I'll continue to refine the shapes and get her drawn in properly as I lay addition...

"Mastiff Profile," 8" x 16", acrylic mastiff portrait on canvasboard, available for purchase with proceeds benefitting animal welfare. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . A portion of the sale of this painting will go to One Tail at a Time in Ohio. Within the last month, a friend had a very positive experience adopting a dear mastiff from their rescue. I had an opportunity to talk to the director of One Tail at a Time, and her energy and dedication was inspiring. I wanted to help support them and other dogs like Henry (aka Memphis) with a painting. Right now, One Tail at a Time has a litter of special needs puppies, and funds from the sale of this painting will be earmarked for their vet bills. You can read more about the rescue and pups at http://t.ymlp67.com/wjaiaujyafaujwhavausmm/click.php . If the above painting doesn't appeal to you, consider making a donation to One Tail at a Time and helping these pups (and the other dogs in their car...

WHOOPS! Posted to the newsgroup yesterday, but neglected to follow through after dinner and post to the blog. My apologies!! "Princess Cassandra of the Marigolds (also in Charge of Sweet Potatoes and Petunias)," 4" x 6", mixed breed dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, $199 (I'm waiting to hear back - this one might already be sold - but I'll start a waiting list). Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This painting, while small in size, carries the longest title of any Dog-a-Day piece to date. That's really her name. But you can call her "Cassie" for short. I especially love how the painting fades "into" her face - it reminds me of the way a form begins to take shape from a lump of clay. This part was entirely accidental - but a wonderful accident (that's my point of view, at least!). I've been debating the merits of taking some time off next week. I'd love to linger in the grocery (well, honestly, it...

FROM TOP/LEFT: "Fierce Hunter," 4" x 8", $249, SOLD ; "Cleo," 4" x 5", $184, SOLD . Both paintings in acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I've been in a Shih-tzu groove lately - once I realized that, I had to mix it up with an old standby - the black cat. I rustled through old photos of Miah, and came up with one where she was hunting Turtle's tail. You know the game - Cat A is quietly lying there, minding her own business, totally oblivious to Cat B, who is stalking and waiting for the right moment to pounce. That was my two. Hard to believe it'll be a year Saturday since Turtle died, and 6 months gone by since Miah. Sigh. Thanks, as always, for your time in looking at and sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow, Kim

FROM TOP: "All Squared Up," 6" square, and "In Profile," 4" x 8", $249; both chihuahua portraits in acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . BOTH SOLD I tried something interesting with these two. The long and skinny canvas I toned a bright pumpkin orange, the square canvas I toned in a peachy flesh color. Then I laid the paintings down overtop the wet underpainting. Consequently, the smaller painting seems bolder - those snippets of orange add a firey glow to the piece. The square painting carries more softness, I think because of the lighter ground. I also used the exact same structure of colors, painting these side by side and simultaneously. I primarily used blues and oranges (compliments), yet the saturation is very different in each. The bolder underpainting demanded similar points of equal intensity. The softer underpainting allowed for a density and variety of edgework. Oddly (not sure this was intention...

"Fifty-Two Vignettes," 18" x 22", original painting, acrylic on gallery stretched canvas, depicting the top breeds as registered by the American Kennel Club in 2007. This was one of my entries for the 2008 American Kennel Club-Eukanuba Poster Competition. (The design that won was delightfully clever (and sadly not mine) - a child gazing at a sky filled with dog-shaped clouds.) When I shared "Fifty-Two Vignettes" with Dog-a-Day readers last month there were a number of you who asked for the opportunity to purchase this piece when I decided to put it on the market. Well, I've decided. It needs a good home. I'm trying something new - this painting will be auctioned off on ebay - you can see the listing at http://tinyurl.com/6dxn9x . The auction will go live at 6pm PST today (November 11th, 2008) and run for 7 days. Starting price is a mere $99!! This painting was created using over 50 portraits from the Painting a Dog a Day project. It is done on gall...

"Blue Mandalyn", 6" x 12", tuxedo kitten portrait, acrylic on board, $359. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This is Mandalyn, a kitten I will be painting and blogging about regularly over the next few months. Mandalyn is under verterinarian care at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (Kenab, Utah) for a variety of serious injuries. Her little body may be encased in plaster, but that hasn't dampened her spirit. You can read more about Mandalyn on the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary website - http://www.bestfriends.org/ - under the Guardian Angels section. I don't know what it was about this kitten that spoke to me, but she spoke up loudly and clearly across the miles. And within a very short period of time, I was able to iron out a partnership with the staff at Best Friends, who welcomed my idea of painting Mandalyn regularly through her recovery. Every couple of weeks I'll share a new painting with you, and provide a little update on her progress ...

"Dazzle," 6" square, Paws with a Cause service dog portrait, acrylic on board, $249 to the first buyer. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to Paws with a Cause. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Paws with a Cause is a national group dedicated to providing assistance dogs for people with disabilities. They also provide a lifetime of support, fostering independance. I took this from their mission statement - read more for yourself at http://www.pawswithacause.org/ . In the beginning of the Painting a Dog a Day project I met UKON, a Paws service dog. Shortly after that, I got to paint Madison and Sirius, and the list goes on and on. Each Paws dog I meet is uniquely special, and to personally witness the bond they share with their person is humbling. To support the efforts of Paws with a Cause through my painting sales is phenomenal. I met Dazzle last winter at the Detroit Kennel Club dog show. She was all too eager to go thro...

"Gray and White Tuxedo," 5" x 7", long haired cat portrait, acrylic on board, $249 to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD . I've been in the studio a good chunk of the weekend and was so thrilled with this new little painting that I simply couldn't wait to share it with you. Hence, a Sunday Bonus Dog-a-Day. This is a cat who was at my local shelter a few weeks back. Such wonderfully soft fur, like angora, with a silent purr that tickled my bones. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to the Oakland Pet Fund ( http://www.oaklandpetfund.org/ ) to help this cat and hundreds others like him find forever homes. This painting would make a beautiful holiday gift, and in turn, would give also back to the critters at my shelter. Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/

"Lashes and Corkscrews," 5" x 8", buckskin tobiano curly horse portrait, acrylic on board, $289 to the first taker. Do I see any hands? Inquires to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I really DID intend to paint today, but things got out of hand quickly. I think it was the Snickers bar breakfast that me going in the wrong direction right off the bat. Then the mid-morning helping of caramel corn followed by a Kit-Kat lunch.... straight downhill from there. For the last hour I have had my palette open and the brushes out, but trick-or-treaters are coming thick and heavy, and it's becoming very clear that I will NOT be finishing the sheltie paintings tonight (so sorry JB - they are coming, though!!). Instead I'll share with you a piece I did last week for an art competition. I won't find out about the juror's decision until December, but in the meanwhile, please enjoy Percy, my friend's new gelding. Isn't he a dear?! Be sure to make some time for...

"Bangs," 6" x 8", Yorkshire Terrier dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, $199 to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Don't you love this little face?! I am DEFINATELY painting this dog again, only bigger, like lifesize. I want to play more with the gestures created by the clumps and wisps of fur. And consciously work my triad of color - I didn't realize until I was done that I had built this painting with olives, oranges and violets. Can't wait to try him another time around! Thanks, as always, for looking and sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com PS Here I go again, pushing the book. I got the proof today, and it's more beautiful than I dreamed possible. I don't want anyone to miss out on this!! It's titled Painting a Dog a Day - the First Year, and you can get a softcover for $39.95 or a hardcover for $54.95. Orders can...

It's the "Gotta Move It Out" sale! I spent this morning rearranging the studio, taking inventory of all my piles. And I decided that the notecards had to go. I need to make room for some of the still life props (the pull toys are slowly forming ranks and taking over the studio!), so you, my friends, are getting a deal. You can get a pack of 10 notecards and envelopes for $6! That's 1/2 off! The cards are approximately 5" x 4", with a blank interior. Choose from either the Jackpot (Black Lab) or the Silver Tabby design (and no, the copyright watermark is NOT on the cards!). I will be happy to combine shipping on multiple packages - one (priority mail) envelope will ship for $4.95, a (priority mail) box for $9.95. I will be happy to add these to a painting on order. I will be happy to add these in with a book purchase. Just say the word! Orders can come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Ok, back to the cleaning and sorting! Thanks as always for your time in...

"Waiting (Calico Study)," 8" x 16", calico cat portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, nicely framed in a custom molding, $649 to the first taker. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to her host shelter - The Oakland Pet Adoption Center ( http://www.oaklandpetfund.org/ ). Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I gravitate to calicos when I visit the shelter - just can't help myself. This little girl was so friendly and vocal - her body was quivering from the strength of her purr. It was very rewarding to hear that a favorite cat, a very solid black and white guy with an ear lost to frostbite, one who had been at the shelter for many months, finally got adopted. Please, if you are thinking about adding an animal to your family, consider visiting your shelter. They are overflowing with animals who just want love. Furthermore shelters can offer low-cost spay/neuter and veterinarian care to help make adopting a 4-legged family member more affordable....