Paintings With Soul

"Andy," image approximately 5" x 6-1/2" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" bristol board, acrylics, commissioned portrait of a border collie-lab mix. This is one of the last painted sketches I have left to complete. I also managed to get some work done on a couple larger floral pieces. I am preparing a project and samples to submit to this year's ArtPrize. Send me good vibes (or a straight jacket - am I crazy to be painting a 5 foot square canvas?!) Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

From last December, this was a Christmas gift I couldn't share for fear of ruining the surprise. "Buster," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait depicting a family member who is dearly missed.  If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, let me know .  Rough day at the easel. I tried a particular composition at least 5 times, but I might as well just been sleeping at my desk. Still not clear why it wasn't working, but I did fine tune my sanding and wiping skills. Then I went and ate a lot of cheese. I've been on a cheese kick lately. And worked on my new website. Now I'm off to teach art journaling class. The day hasn't been a total waste. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

We're going to call this one "Blackie," so as to protect those who might know his/her real identity. Because Christmas is on the line here. "Blackie" is a 6" x 8" portrait, obviously a black dog, perhaps a lab mix, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. And shortly, Blackie will be shipped, then wrapped and tucked away until Christmas morning. Blackie is the last of my holiday commissions - which means the pressure is mostly off. I say MOSTLY because I still have "13" to finish - a 30" x 40" exhibition piece that is due December 22nd.  But meanwhile I'm playing with ink lines and color and curved canvases . Because one of my superpowers is procrastination. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

I cleaned out my small painting storage yesterday and found a few pieces that I really loved, which, for whatever reason, have not yet found homes. Which means that you win, because I decided to mark those pieces with special pricing, in the hopes of them finding good homes. Adopting a painting is a great way to being love and smiles into your home. And there's no litter box cleaning, poop patrol, or pasture picking involved. Complete info is here . Enjoy your weekend and thank you so much for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

From day one of our workshop, detail of my demo painting, roughly blocked in, with the focal point quadrant fairly well along. This painting stars/was inspired by Rush, a sweet and silly guy owned by my friend and fellow painter Marilyn Sadler (her website is www.MarilynSadler.com,  but as of this posting it appears to be down). Marilyn was kind enough to host us for a brief visit to Lexington (KY) this spring, and together with Yvonne Todd , also took us on a grand tour of all things equine and artsy. This piece is 10" square, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. I plan on finishing it once I return to the studio. All inquiries may  come to me . I Have 17 Victims!! More commonly known as students.  They are brave souls, and so far survived day one of my talking nonstop. Lots of drivel about color and harmony and the sorts of painting details that make my heart sing. This was my demo piece, an exercise in breaking a few rules, d...

In process, working title, "Mousers," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever and a black labrador retriever digging in a snow drift, presumably for a mouse, but one never knows what treasure will be unearthed! The painting carries around the sides of the cradle (aka "gallery wrap" style) and does not mandate a frame (although one is indeed possible if desired). Available for $2399 which includes s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! I Can't Stop! But I will have to soon - I have three portrait projects in the wings here that need to be done next week. Hoping to get a little easel time over the weekend with these two Mousers while the kids are off doing their thing, and then I can buckle down and work work work on those other paintings next week. Cross your fingers and toes for me. And thanks, too, for indulging my kindergarten humor this wee...

From 2005, a gallery stretched painting titled "Pleased to Meet You (Introductions)," a lifesized portrait (20" x 18") of three labs.  All week long, I've been sharing older paintings, talking about what I would do differently today. It's been a great process - really reminding me that, despite my own feelings that I don't know much about painting, I actually do know quite a bit more than I did just a few short years ago. Today's painting, well, if I were to tackle this one again, I simply would choose not to paint it at all. The composition is so bad. The idea is fantastic, but I allowed myself to fall in love with the idea instead of the execution. That's impetuousness for you! But I'll critique it anyway: 1. Compositionally, there is a nice central point, but the yellow dog's head is a tough read, and the chocolate's front leg is awkwardly cropped. Furthermore, the black dog's back mim...

IN PROCESS: "Besties," 18" x 24", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel (with image wrapped around the sides), commissioned portrait depicting a black labe and her new best friend, a chocolate lab pup. In process photos are here .  So despite the best intentions, this piece will not get finished until after I return from my Florida workshop next week. But that's ok - it'll allow me to linger over these two. They deserve some good lingering, I know. Thanks for following along with my artwork,  Kim 

"Frog Dog," 10" x 16", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a very flexible chocolate lab named Ace. This painting is hopefully heading to a juried exhibition in early 2014, but inquiries may always come  to moi . In process pics of Ace are  here  and yes, I do accept a limited number of commissions -  email me . A friend shared Ace's photo on Instagram and I called her up, begging to paint him. Thankfully she gave me permission - I would have been haunted by this composition otherwise! In other news, the studio got a much needed cleaning and reorganizing over the weekend, which means I purged some of my art books and put them up for sale on Facebook. There are a few still available  here . And in still more news, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting one of my idols and long time inspirations, cellist  Zoe Keating , over the weekend. If you don't know  her music , you no longer have an excuse, and if she's...

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...

    "Gus and Darlin," 9" x 12", commissioned double portrait of a Basset Hound and a Black Lab, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!!).   I'm happy to paint something special like these two goofballs just for you -  simply ask .   Lots of in-process photos are on  the studio Facebook page .   Including pics of my special studio visitor today.   Enjoy your weekend!   Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

                                                                    "Vinny," approximately 4-1/2" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, portrait sketch of a black lab mix puppy, done in acrylics. This one may be available, and if so, is only $100 to the first asking nicely.  Email me  and practice your manners!! (Try out that new nifty BUY ME button!!)       Let's see, today's weather has included gloomy skies, sleet, hail, rain and now sunshine. I'm really pulling for the sunshine to stick around a bit. Like 6 months or so.  Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS Spoke too soon - in the time it took for me to edit and proofread this, sunshine is gone and it's omniously dark. Again.

      "Melvin," 6" x 8", commissioned portrait of a black lab done in acrylic on museum quality panel. Melvin's painting has a home (thank you!), but I'm happy to discuss creating something similar for your walls -  email me .   Of course there are a couple in process photos of Melvin's portrait over on  the studio Facebook page  - take a peek at them and ask any questions you might have about my process.   And let me know if there's something you want to see or learn about, too!!   Don't forget about the auction on the heart-shaped dog tag paintings - it ends this evening at 10pm EST.   Just about the same time as the cold front comes in and snow starts to fall here in Michigan.   Visit the  studio Facebook page  to place your bid on any one of the four paintings - you bid simply by commenting on the painting you want.   Now I'm off to put the finish...

"Incoming," 11" x 14", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting two labrador retriever pups, black and yellow, available for $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me . SOLD. Lots of in process pics and a conversation about the painting are  here,  on the studio Facebook page. I'm looking for more water dog muses - Sheldon will be needing fresh paintings in the new year! You can  email your photos to me  with absolutely no obligation to make a purchase. Now I'm off to work on the two commissioned sketches I should have started yesterday. Fondly, Kim, who is becoming far too good at procrastination ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Water Dogs I couldn't be more thrilled to share that  Sheldon Fine Arts  in Naples Florida will be representing my artwork beginning in December 2012. Sheldon will be exhibiting a sampling of my Water Dogs paintings, s...

  "Incoming," 11" x 14", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting two labrador retriever pups, black and yellow, available for $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me .   And in process pics are  here,  on the studio Facebook page.   It was a wonderfully rich day, starting with breakfast with my boys (Wednesdays are late starts at our high school, and our ritual is going out to breakfast), and ending with a revelry of music (we started with a guitar lesson and tied things up over flute practice).    And I chose a marvelously complex painting to complete today - I may not finish till after midnite, but I haven't felt this alive in a long time.   Was it starting my day with the asiago bagel warm from the oven and a hazelnut coffee? getting serenaded with astounding gee-tar picking skills? packing lunches while the kids debated chocolate chip pancakes vs peanut butter cookies? ...

"The Circle," 15" x 18," a commissioned portrait of four family members, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, headed to a private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me.   In process photos, many of them, are on  the studio's Facebook page  - be sure to scroll back, because I've been working on this one since last week.     This weekend I wrapped myself in family and gave thanks for my Grandparents. The perfect prescription for healing.   This morning all three kids got off to school - although The Caped Crusader slept in and joined his classmates a little later in the day. Which means I got in a couple of uninterrupted hours at the easel and started a ginormous pot of ham soup simmering, and that was an excellent prescription as well.   Fondly, Kim, who's looking at her calendar and realizing there's not much more room for holiday commissions - you'de better  speak up now  or...

      "Driftwood," 12" x 16", portrait of a black lab mix, done in acrylic on museum quality panel, $629. This painting needs a home - if you think yours is the right fit, just  let me know !   In process pics of "Driftwood" are on  my studio Facebook page  inside the Mobile Uploads folder - I worked on this one over the course of two days, so scroll all the way back to see it from the very beginning.   Continuing the debate between balancing commissioned with non-commissioned works - yes, the former pays the bills, but the latter enables the former. It's an interesting Catch 22.   Enjoy, Kim, who is very excited to play with her own ideas in addition to playing with the remaining commission scheduled for this week ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS   Warm thanks to those of you offering yesterday's painting  "Smile"  a home - my client loved the piece, so it's spoken...

    "Stick It," 6" x 13", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting two dogs (a black lab and a golden retriever) and a stick, $539. In process pics are on  the studio Facebook page . Meanwhile, inquiries may come  to me .   I did think that this one was going to get trashed**- as I painted and made adjustments, the dogs' faces just kept getting bigger and bigger, and things got out of control.   But, somehow, I managed to reel it in and keep them contained on this little board. And while the resulting close crop was unintended, it makes you feel as though they are right there in the water with you, right in your face. And I sorta like that.   Fondly, Kim, who is ready to for the best stress relief ever - cheering on The Caped Crusader's football team. Go Dragons!!**** ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   **For the record, I DO paint over at least one piece every week. I happen to learn best by messing ...

    IN PROCESS:  "Stick It," 6" x 13", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting two labs, $539 (when finished). In process pics are on  the studio Facebook page . Meanwhile, inquiries may come  to me .   I ran out of potato chips today, so moved onto oreos. Double Stuffs, which really in my opinion, are the only kind of oreos.   I'd like to finish this one tomorrow, and THEN, I'll pick up the commission mantle again.   Fondly, Kim, who's grumbley belly is now wondering what's in the freezer...... ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

    "Snuggles," a painted sketch, approximately 4-1/2" x 6" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, done in acrylics, depicting siblings, private collection (THANK YOU!).   Just like yesterday's painting, this one is another gift. So shhhh.....   And, yes, for those who asked, this morning brought about the return of my wits' end, and suprised me with moments of sheer joy. And, thanks to The Princess and her cohort, I also got homemade cookies - Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com