Paintings With Soul

"Roxy)," 18" x 24" x 1", acrylic on museum quality panel. This is a commissioned portrait done posthumously and is in a private collection (thank you CW!), however I can work similar magic with your pet and your photos. Interested parties may   reach out to me ; commissioned portraiture starts at $499 Thank you so very much for your interest in my work. I worked on Roxy for about a month before delivering her top secret style, for a fabulous reveal. I am particularly grateful, because in this instance, Roxy's portrait is the second piece of mine this family owns. While the circumstances of their return weren't the happiest, they were utterly delighted in the end to have a wonderful touchpoint for their girl. And I was honored to be the artist entrusted to do so. I have a track record of delivering well over 1000 portraits to satisfied customers since 2001. And lucky you - I can squeeze one more project into July if you reach out now; otherwise...

IN PROCESS "Poppy Puppy," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting the most perfect Frenchie ever, Poppy has a home ( and what a magnificent one it is !), but I am always happy to talk about creating a custom painting just for you - inquires may come directly to me . Oh, and in process pics are here . (PS, I couldn't love that periwinkle in the background shadow any more. Here's hoping I can figure out a way to marry it to the rest of the painting, because right now it's just a tad too saturated.) The Big Easy I have really behaved myself, because Dianna (A.K.A. Stella Gray) and I have been talking for moons about adding my artwork to her bohemian lifestyle offerings. There were all sorts of things rearing their sometimes ugly sometimes painfully beautiful heads, and so we just bid our time. But now, my pretties, now is the time! (and I am planning a Wizard of Oz series of doll paintings, in case you were los...

I took a little break from this one, but finished her up late late late last night. Or was it this morning? oh well, does it really matter?   Here's where we were  last week .   And here's the what I did last night (NOTE: in the interest of full disclosure, in addition to painting, I also consumed the better 1/2 of a package of mint oreos):   I started by pulling Marley's gaze down to the dinosaur toy. I also popped a bunch more color into her face. I spent lots of time studying the background - my initial concept included a sidewalk/concrete showdown, but the value range this created wasn't working.   So I brought the game indoors, literally. I added a stack of board games, thinking that would provide both supplemental context and the appropriate values. But in the long run, I realized this competed with Marley's face. Not acceptable.   So out the games went, and instead I laid down a loose and shadowy interpretation of an interior room in the far...

Here comes the long awaited Dragon Slayer painting!   This is a 16" x 22" gallery stretched canvas - which means the painting will literally wrap around the edges. This also gave me the opportunity to build up some texture when applying the layers of gesso (primer). This texture (which is tough to see right now) will allow for some great brushwork to happen!   The underpainting is a puddle of mostly light ultramarine. That murky spot in the lower left? I ran out of the mixture, so scraped my palette in order to fill the whole surface. Because this is the underpainting part, I'm not too concerned about the variety in color that happened as a result.     I loosely sketched Marley in with a lighter blue paint, placing her intentionally at the vertical and horizontal middle points of the canvas. This creates compositional tension that will keep the viewer's eye right where I want it - travelling from her face to the dinosaur and back again.   Now the dinosaur/dr...

      Meet our first Dragon Slayer, Marley. Doesn't she look perfect for the job? Long claws to pierce directly through tough dragon scales and lots of extra skin to shield her from fiery breath.   Earlier last month, I asked Dog a Day fans to submit candidates for a dragon painting concept - you can see the entrants over on  the studio Facebook page . It was a very difficult decision - so many wonderful options! I immediately decided that what was to be one painting needed to become a series.   And little Marley will be the first muse for the first  Dragon Slayer painting , a piece I will start later this week (it's due at the gallery in 10 days! yikes!).    I stretched and primed a large canvas this afternoon, getting myself ready to invite her and her nemesis into the studio. Once I finish  Mya .   (And I do see the copyright on this photo - rest assured I have  Judy Wood 's permission. I never paint fro...

My demo painting from last night's presentation - I got a good start, despite talking non-stop for over 2 hours! Take a peek at my reference photo down below. IN PROCESS: "Real Men Wear Pink (Chester)," 9" x 12", Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, depicting a Bulldog. This painting will be available for purchase when completed. Live painting demonstrations can be rather daunting - the key is to find a balance between the focus needed to make painting decisions all the while maintaining a meaningful dialogue with the attendees. I think I did so for the most part last night, when working with Chester's portrait. I only lost my train of thought twice. I can see now that I've got to fix the proportions of his face and I still want to lighten the bandanna up, but I remain pleased with what I was able to coherently share and document via my lip-flapping painting process last night. Coherence is soon to dissipate. This time next week, there ...

"Marc Anthony," 6" square, Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, commissioned Bulldog portrait that was SUPPOSED to be a surprise but someone started reading someone else's emails and the cat (or Bulldog, as the case may be) is out of the bag! I've been painting holiday commissions since September, but it's finally starting to feel a bit like Christmas. Was it freezing our pa-tooties off at our Holiday Lighted Parade (GO DRAGONS!! our State Football Champs, wahoo!!)? Was it putting up the (mostly naked) tree (because we were a-feared that Mona would run haywire inside it)? Was it designing the Santini holiday card? Was it starting holiday baking (mmm, chocolate turnovers.....)? Was it placing the first (and homemade) gift under the tree? It might have been those things. But I think the clincher was the fresh snowfall we got this morning. It made everything look like a winter wonderland. So to celebrate, I splurged on a steaming hot gingerbr...

"Rocky (Bulldog)," 6" x 8", commissioned Bulldog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). Inquiries may always come to me . I don't get to paint these dogs nearly enough, and they are wonderfully fun to work with. Their folds are each a loaded brushstroke, and when white like Rocky, the pinkness of their skin glows from underneath. Rocky's painting is going to be a holiday gift. Have you started your list yet? A Dog a Day painting (you can shop them at my Etsy storefront ) is a great gift, as is a Dog a Day gift certificate. I've also had a client release her November portrait spots, so I can fit in a couple commissions if you let me know asap. Oh - and if you send cards out, take a peek at my Imagekind shop and consider ordering your holiday cards with a grinning face like Rocky's on them. ( Let me know if you want a particular painting added to Imagekind and I'll get it up asap.) Thanks, as always, for looking at...

FROM TOP: "Mocha," 6" x 8", sharpei dog portrait; "Emma," 8" square, bulldog pet portrat; both acrylics on canvasboard, both headed to a new home (THANK YOU!). Because my client mentioned Best Friends Animal Sanctuary ( http://www.bestfriends.org/ ) at the time she booked her portraits, a $40 donation will be made in her name to their operating fund. I am currently booking portraits for November 2009 - mention Best Friends at the time you book your portrait, and I'll be happy to make a donation when your turn comes up. Inquiries may always come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . A special welcome to the new dog-a-day readers I met at last night's Washington Art Guild Meeting! Thanks for having me out to talk your ears off, and I hope to see you/yourart work again soon. Thanks, as always, for looking at my art. And for sharing it with your friends and family (yes, that means you can forward this email!), See you tomorrow, Kim ksantini@turtled...

FROM LEFT: "Clyde" and "Bonnie," each 4" x 5", two commissioned bulldog dog portraits in acrylic on board, private collection (THANK YOU!). Perhaps you remember Bonnie & Clyde from the tail end of last month, when I painted their double portrait (see http://www.paintingadogaday.blogspot.com/ for April 28th's painting). My client also wanted to highlights Clyde's tongue and snaggletooth, and we couldn't just paint the one without the other, since they live their lives in tandem. Again, if you are interested in booking your own dog-a-day portrait, please drop a line to me at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I am currently booking new portraits for September 2009. And if you are in the Metro Detroit area this weekend, don't forget that I will be at the Shaggy Chic Boutique in downtown Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday, with 10% of booked portraits and sales getting earmarked for the Michigan Animal Rescue League. Please call the store fo...

"Bonnie & Clyde," 8" x 16", commissioned pet portrait starring two bulldogs, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This painting was such a delight to work on! All the folds of skin and the subtle coloring led themselves to lots of wet-on-wet work. Pushing and pulling the paint around, mixing the colors, even on the surface. I had to pay careful attention to the color of the dog's skin (especially fair Bonnie!), and the lay of the fur, as that impacted the saturation of apricot or pink or lavendar or green. This is the sort of painting that makes me wish I worked in oils, since they stay wet longer and allow for more play time (especially when I mess up, like I did a couple times - hence the later posting). I'm going to try my hand at oil paints with a pleain-air landscape class in June. We'll see how much I like them then! Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintin...

“Bulldog Study,” 8” square, dog painting in acrylic on canvasboard, $80. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . He’s pretty deep in thought, isn’t he? With hindsight, I should have included a little line of drool….. then I could have titled the painting “Anticipation.” (Remember that old Heinz ketchup commercial?!) Of course, I always could go back into it, too…. I love the way his teeth have caught that upper lip. Bulldogs have such expressive faces, and lend themselves to some wonderful paintings. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family. Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild http://www.canineartguild.com/ the gateway to canine art on the web

“Rosie,” 8”x8”, bull dog mix portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $80. 20% of the sale of this painting will go to 2nd Chances Pit Bull Rescue in Charlotte, Michigan. Inquiries can come to ksantinI@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Meet Rosie, a 3 year old bulldog mix, currently sponsored by 2nd Chances Pit Bull Rescue. She is crate trained and housebroken, still full of puppy antics, a cuddlebug, and athletic. In addition to the breed’s trademark stubbornness, Rosie is also deaf, but that has not hindered her learning hand signals or to come when lights/flashlights are flickered. 2nd Chances was started 7 years ago by Debbie Jaworski, who saw a need to save bulldog mixes from shelters before they were euthanized or sold for research. Debbie personally fosters each of the dogs she saves, brings them up to date on all vaccinations, neutering, and microchipping them before making them available for adoption. She also works diligently to make certain adopting families understand their new do...

ARTIST'S NOTE FEB 6th: This painting has been juried into the 2007 Art Show at the Dog Show, and until the show comes down on April 9th, is available for purchase via the event organizers. They can be reached through the show website: www.artshowatthedogshow.com . This piece is exquisitely complimented by a rich, wide, burled wood frame, and priced at $150. ARTIST'S NOTE SEP 25th: This painting was juried into the 47th Annual Thumb Exhibition, where it received an honorable mention. SOLD. Today’s dog was inspired by a bulldog I painted back when I first started accepting commissions. Winston was introduced to me along with a very long list of accomplishments and awards, but none of that mattered – I just wanted to get lost painting him - the dramatic folds of skin, the way his markings had softly faded over the years, that snippet of tongue that was always peeking out, and the intelligence lurking deep in his eyes. This is a square piece, loosely based on the Winston that I rec...

ARTIST'S NOTE SEPT 25th, 2007: This painting has been exquisitely framed in a deep cherry burlwood molding. Consequently, it is priced at $149. Bulldog study, 5x7, dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. Available to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD . Don't forget that you can have the Dog-a-Day's emailed directly to you! Just use the Google boxes at the top (or bottom) of this blog to subscribe! I've also built a Dog-a-Day website , called, imaginatively enough, http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ . At the end of each week, I'll update that site with some of the paintings that are still available for purchase . Because I've also had a number of readers ask about simplifying their hunt for just the right painting, I've added breed specific keywords to this blog. So now you can search away!! Thanks, as always, for looking! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged pai...