Paintings With Soul

"Alia," 9"x12"x1", acrylics on cradeled museum quality panel, private collection (thank you very much). Purchase inquiries can always come   to me . Alia learned to smile after being rescued by her new family. It was important that her portrait tell the story of a sweet girl with a new outlook. I was delighted to get to paint her this way, relaxed and happy. If you are looking for something extraordinarily special for yourself or a loved one, reach out. Commissioned paintings are a gift like no other, in that they reflect your own ideals while brightening your home/work space. I work from your personal photos to create a one of a kind portrait that looks - and feels - like your best friend. 8x10s start at $499 -   message me  and let's start planning your project! Thanks for following along with my painting journey, Kim

"Miles," 18" x 24", acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a wonderful Boxer, in process photos here . And of course I can paint your dog - shoot me an email ! I've been working on Miles' portrait since Monday, just in case you thought I whipped him together this afternoon. There will be tears when he ships home. Miles is quite the character! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

      "Bella"," image approximately 5" x 6", roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, commissioned portrait of a boxer, private collection (THANK YOU!)!!   These sketchier portraits are an excellent learning tool, much like contour drawings or gesture studies. But after the end of this year (2012) they will no longer be available as commissions, so if you want one,  let's talk now .   Kim, who is ready to cheer on the Lake Orion varsity football team AND be wowed by the Marching Band's halftime performance - go Dragons!! ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

  "Tanning Bed," from the "Cherished" series, 4" x 12", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting two Boxers, available for $329 to the first taker.   In process views of this painting are updated on the studio's Facebook page .   Inquiries can always come  to me! !! And thank you!!       The Cherished series is shaping up nicely. I'll have to create a space on my website where you can browse all the images, but meanwhile I did add links to the inspiration photos  shared on Facebook.   If you would like to submit your companion animal to the series, send non-flash photos to me. All the details are outlined in  an earlier post  on my blog. And you can see the candidates for the series of paintings on the studio Facebook page inside  the "Cherish" photo album .   Thanks, as always, for supporting and sharing my art with your friends and family, Ki...

      Have you been enjoying the monthly desktop calendars built from my favorite Painting a Dog a Day pieces? I hope so!!   To implement, simply download the calendar 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 by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.    April is sized to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how this 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 impa...

      This year I'm gifting monthly desktop calendars built from some of my favorite Painting a Dog a Day pieces. Ideally I'll send them out on the last Monday of the previous month, so watch for more timely updates!   To implement, simply 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 by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, you don't just email me with your questions. Please consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than lil' ole' me.    However I fully expect there to be some sort of hiccough or two as I sort out the best means to get the Desktop Calendars implemented (meaning I've gotta figure out the most optimal file size and all that other good stuff!), so I appreciate you...

    "Lucy," 10" square, commissioned portrait of a very personable Boxer, done in Golden Open Acrylics on panel, private collection (many thanks to my returning collector!)   Lucy is full of advice and not afraid to share it. She also thinks she's a lap dog (but YOU try and tell her otherwise) and loves her Daddy more than anything.   This is a Christmas gift, so if you know Lucy, please don't go and spoil anything or I'll get in big trouble.   By the way, Lucy's painting was photographed in process and updated to the studio Facebook page in the  Mobile Uploads folder . Just in case you are interested in seeing all the stages between the underpainting and the finished thing.   Thank you for supporting my artwork and providing my livelihood, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Underpaintings   In my studio, underpaintings serve a couple of purposes: They immediately kill any fear of working with a blank surface (yes, I get intimid...

      "Ginger," a commissioned pet portrait of a boxer, 9" x 18". Done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, Ginger will be headed to a new home shortly (THANK YOU!).   I posted some in process photos on  the studio Facebook page  if you are interested in seeing Ginger's progression.   Before you peek, though, see if you can guess what color the underpainting is......   I'll give you a hint - it actually factored in as the third color in my triad of orange, green and [fill in the blank]. Using a triad for the basis of the majority of the paint mixtures allows for a rich and harmonious variety of neutrals (this is something we talk about in my painting workshops! I've got another one scheduled for October......).   Meanwhile, down below is a sneak peek at some of the faces (or backsides, as the case may be) that are lining up for their turn on my easel. I've had great fun meeting new critters and taking their photo...

Please scroll down for a detail ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "No Stopping Her," 11" x 14", from "The Gratitude Project," portrait of a Boxer who's looking for a home, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Proceeds from the sale of "No Stopping Her" will be donated to Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue (BRBR) , the group currently fostering Allie, today's muse. Inquiries about purchasing this painting may come to me . Abbie is a 1-1/2 yr old brindle. She injured her left hind ACL at 3 months of age, and it was repaired. When she re-injured it, her original family turned her and her vet records into a Virginia shelter. Rescued by BRBR at 8 months, it was discovered (by the vet who went in to repair her ACL) that she had also fractured her femur 3 times. Her left hind leg was amputated, which turned out to be a blessing, given that she had stopped using it and it was atrophying. Not long after, Abbie fractured the kneecap on her righ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Goof (Kyle)," from The Gratitude Series , 8" square, boxer dog portrait, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, $399. Inquiries may come to me (and thank you!). As with all the Gratitude paintings , proceeds of the sale of this painting will go to Kyle's host rescue group, Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue. Kyle was picked up by animal control at a North Carolina playground when he showed up to play. When no one stepped up to claim him, Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue stepped in, since the shelter Kyle was at was an all gassing one. In his foster home Kyle has been crate trained, house broken, and learned basic commands. He is laid back, loves to nap at one's feet, and truly adores being part of a family. With luck, Blue Ridge will find him that family, and then, the best chapter in Kyle's story will begin. They've saved over 1500 boxers and boxer mixes in the eight years they've been operating. Learn more about B...

"Andre," 6" x 8", commissioned Boxer portrait, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries regarding booking your own portrait may come to me . Do you remember Andre from last December? I sketched him (below) unknowingly the same day he crossed the bridge. His family decided they wanted a painted version, and so I was delighted to bring this guy back to my easel this afternoon. And I'm also thrilled to share that Andre's family adopted a young boxer from their local shelter. Jake has fit in well and still can't believe his luck - he's got his own couch and a brother and sister! I'm making a donation to my local shelter in honor of Andre. And Jake. Two sweet rescues that got their happily ever afters. Meanwhile, thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS We're in the homestretch here with respect to this month's 10% newly booked commissions. The ...

"Frances," 5" x 7", pet portrait of a rescued Boxer (yes, she has a tail!), done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, $ 289 to the first ones asking nicely . SOLD (thank you!). Frances came to her family via a Boxer Rescue group who had pulled her from a pound. She was a 40 lb 2 year old with heartworms who had spent the majority of her life tied to a stake and virtually no manners. But a strong desire to please her new family. And thankfully her new family understood and was able to provide the training and love that Frances needed. Thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS You haven't forgotten about the 10% off newly booked commissions, have you ?? the project has to be booked during this January, but can happen any time during 2011. Shoot me an email if you are interested! Come on - I've booked 8 portraits this week - I dare you to raise that number! My Newest Acquisitions See the two painti...

"Andre," 7" x 10", ink on multimedia artboard, commissioned Boxer portrait, private collection (THANK YOU!). This is another holiday gift that will be headed home shortly. Andre's health took an unexpected turn for the worst last week, and my collector asked if I could put together a portrait in time for the holidays. We got to talking about the concept and this sweet lug of a boy, and I realized that an ink drawing would be the perfect touch. I used to do these ink drawings all the time when I was a teenager. They are such a great exercise in reducing your subject to values - darks and lights - and are a nice way to deliver an intimate depiction. I hadn't done one in years, and thoroughly enjoyed myself this morning. I like the contrast between the delicate lines and the big ole dog, too. Let's hope that Andre remains comfortable through the next few weeks and blesses his family with one more holiday. My fingers and toes are crossed for them all. ...

"Brutus," 8" square, commissioned Boxer portrait, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a canvas panel. If you recognize this guy, please keep quiet - Brutus's portrait will be a Christmas gift from his family. We don't want to ruin the surprise! While I painted Brutus, I had an extra kitten appendage. I kid you not. Mona's gotten rather spoiled, and thinks it is her right to be cradeled in a warm lap or perched on shoulders at her every waking moment. I'm not complaining - I'm all for a demanding muse that will keep me on my toes. And love that she's a lap magnet when I'm on my butt. But I'm so not a fan of the literal clawing up my legs if I don't pick her up immediately. And the batting from said shoulder perch at the paintbrush in my hand - not such a great thing either. Nor the freefall from said shoulder to taboret, resulting in spillage and a flurry of brushes and palette knives. Finnigan just lies under the easel and ignores...

"Legs II (Boxer Pup)," painted sketch, image approximately 6" x 5", total paper size 8" x 7", Golden Open Acrylics on multimedia artboard, $59. Inquiries (including booking your own Dog a Day pet portrait/painted sketch starting at $29) may always come to me . I was feeling a little drained this morning and couldn't commit to doing a full scale painting so decided to do some painted sketches instead. The first one I tossed (it was too big of a mess to try and save), but this little guy, he shines. And the third sketch (still on the easel) is quickly becoming a full scale painting on it's own. My reference photo was taken at our Homecoming Parade last fall (same time as the Basset painting, Legs I ). I wonder if this little lady has grown into her feet yet.... Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Have a sunshiney weekend - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGI...