Paintings With Soul

    "Double Dribble," from the "Play Ball" series, 8" square, portrait of a Cairn Terrier, acrylics on museum quality panel, $399 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may come to me  - please and thank you!   For a limited time (until Thursday, July 4th), prints of "Double Dribble" are available through  my FineArtAmerica storefront .   In process photos are on  Facebook .   Meanwhile, if you want to see your dog translated to paint, send pics of him/her playing ball  to me! ! (I gotta put in the legal stuff - pics must have been taken by you and by submitting photos you are transferring rights to me only for creating derivative work from said photos and guaranteeing that such rights are yours to transfer.)   Thanks for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PSST , I have all sorts of other images available as reproductions, too,  take a peek  - ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Little Ray of Sunshine (Nettle)," from The Gratitude Project , 5" square, portrait of a former puppy mill mama now turned a much loved and spoilt Cairn Terrier, done in Golden Open Acrylics on gessobord, possibly available (Nettle's Mom get's first dibs on the painting). Email me if you are interested. Puppy mills are a horrible enough place to start life out, but can you imagine if that's all you knew? Never tasting fresh water or feeling green grass under your feet. Never knowing the complete exhaustion of a long hike or the total relaxation of a hearthside nap. Not ever hearing your name spoken gently - or maybe never even having one. Nettle didn't ask for any of that, yet that was all she knew, bearing multiple litters, living in a stacked wire crate. And now it's changed for the better. Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Happy Weekend! Whether ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS Detail of "Josie," image approximately 4" x 6" , on an 8" x 10" piece of Multimedia Artboard, portrait of a Cairn Terrier, done in Golden Open Acrylics, proceeds benefitting Col. Potter Cairn Rescue . Josie's Mom is caught between a rock and a hard place - pondering her sidekick's sketch vs a larger and more detailed full-body portrait. And who knows, she might take both! But meanwhile, if you are interested in this one, shoot me an email ! "Josie" is a charming original priced at $100 - when she's gone, she's gone!! Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Mug Shots The Canine Art Guild , of which I am a proud founding member, has an excellent online exhibition right now titled "Mug Shots." Please visit the show and cast your vote for "The People's Choice" award.

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Murphy Can Dance", 4" x 6", portrait of a (Cairn?) Terrier, done in Golden Open and Heavy Body acrylics on a Raymar panel, $239. Email me if you are interested in buying him. And thanks! I don't know much about this little fella, other than the fact that he's very cute, which is rather obvious. Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Make a Difference Next week's Daily Paintworks challenge will be a fundraiser for the survivors of the Japanese earthquake. It's called "Help Japan" and more information is available on the Daily Paintworks website . I will be participating, both as a contributor and as a buyer. If you have the means, I encourage you to consider one or the other. Or both. Thanks so much.

"Miri's Memory," 8" x 10", portrait of a rescued Cairn Terrier from Col. Potter Cairn Rescue , from The Gratitude Project . This painting was done in Golden Open acrylics on an Ampersand Geossobord and could be yours for $ 469. As with all the paintings from The Gratitude Project , proceeds from the sale of Miri's painting will be donated to Col. Potter. It's just my way of saying thanks for all the dogs - and people - who's lives are better! I had painted Miri before - she's the lucky Cairn getting all the kisses in this painting from a couple years back. Miri was a puppy mill momma rescue with such a bright spark. She arrived at Col. Potters 2/3rds of a way through a pregnancy, in such poor health that the lives of herself and her litter were endangered. Immediate surgery saved her and 5 of her 6 pups. She enjoyed 4 years with her forever home, years that were far too short but fully lived. She succombed to Cushings last fall, shortly af...

"Chopin," 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on canvasboard, commissioned pet portrait of a Cairn Terrier, private collection (THANK YOU!). This sweet girl is another Col. Potter Cairn Rescue from a puppy mill. At 5 months of age and only 4 lbs, she was the same size as her five pups. Gravely ill along with with eyes so infected they were sealed shut, it is a testament to Chopin's rescuers that she even survived. During her recovery, Chopin was diagnosed with Chiari malformation - a life threatening condition that causes hydroencephalitis, kidney issues, and other neurological problems. Of course this is something a responsible breeder would have caught had they allowed Chopin to mature prior to breeding her. But I think we all know that puppy mills shirk at responsibility of any kind. On another note altogether, apparently I didn't do a good enough job touting the results of June's Daily Painter's Contest - I've been asked several times in the la...

"Suzie Q," 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on canvasboard, commissioned pet portrait of a Cairn Terrier, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Suzie Q's portrait will be joining those of her siblings - I painted Sadie, Jeffrey, Vonnie and Brooke earlier this year. Each of these sweet little faces is a rescued dog coming from the selfless souls at Col Potter Cairn Rescue . Seriously, I don't know of a group that is any more accommodating or fun to work with. Check them out - especially if you are looking for a dog with spark, personality, and humor to join your family. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com PS Another thing to check out? An exhibition of kitty artwork , ironically enough, sponsored by ...

"Peeking," 12" square, portrait of two Cairn Terriers, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . SOLD. "Peeking" stars puppy mill mamas Nealie and Kipper, the same two sweeties that inspired last week's "Lazing Around." My client gave her blessing for a second painting to benefit animal rescue (THANK YOU!!), and I wasted no time at all getting to work. I have been feverishly painting for "Happily Ever Afters" and continue to collect faces and stories of rescued companion animals. At this stage I am specifically looking for more unusual types - equines, rabbits, ferrets and other less commonly found pets. Although dogs and kitties are always welcome too. "Happily Ever Afters" is in invitational solo show I will hang at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in August 2010. The show will...

"Lazing Around (Kipper and Nealie)," 8" x 10", acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, commissioned pet portrait of two rescued Cairn Terriers, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Kipper and Nealie are puppy mill mamas who got their second chance through Col. Potter Cairn Rescue Network and my client. It's hard to imagine these little vivacious souls trapped in stacks of crates, allowed the barest of human contact, with absolutely no regard for their physical or mental health as they were bred repeatedly. Yet that's what puppy mills do. It's all about delivering as many puppies as possible, without consideration of responsible breeding, the health of the individual, or even perpetuity of a breed. Please, if you are looking to add a dog to your family, find a responsible breeder or adopt through a shelter or rescue. DO NOT buy t...

Here's a couple of four leaf clovers of sorts for you today. Clockwise from the upper left, "Sadie," 4" x 6", "Jeffrey," 5" x 7", "Vonnie," 4" x 6", and "Brooke," 6" x 6". All commissioned dog portraits done in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . And another one - this grouping was completed last week for a different client. You met Gypsy already, but you haven't seen her sisters. Each painting in this collection is 6" square. Here's hoping your evening includes a wee bit of green, whether it be beer or cabbage! Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUS...

"Brooke," 6" square, acrylic on canvasboard, commissioned pet portrait of a Cairn Terrior, one of four paintings in a grouping (four different dogs), private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Warm thanks to everyone who wrote last night and today with congratulations about the exhibition at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary - I couldn't respond to you all, but that does not mean I did not fully appreciate your sharing this moment with me. And here's some more news - another Virtual pARTy - Linda Shantz has chosen a flashy warmblood gelding as our March muse. I invite you to take a peek at Bellator and join us in creating artwork this week from the same reference photo. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS ...

"Tail-Wagging Fury (Monster)," 8" square, commissioned portrait of a Cairn Terrier, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008) . If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

"Playing Coy (Allie)," 6" x 8", portrait of a Cairn Terrier in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may always come to me . Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to Col. Potter Cairn Rescue , a group that never ceases to amaze me with the size of their hearts. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com PS Want a great gift this holiday season? Then order either one of the Painting a Dog a Day books - they are gorgeous summaries of the Dog a Day paintings. Painting a Dog a Day - the First Year covers 2006-2007, and That's 14 in Dog Years covers 2008. Information on how to order each book is on the Painting a Dog a Day blog and the studio website .

"Cairn Curiousity," 6" x 6", Cairn Terrier dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $249. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to Col. Potter Cairn Rescue , a group I've worked with in the past (they are delightful!). I can always rely on them to send the Best reference photos. Inquiries may always come to me . SOLD. This painting concept was initially a black Cairn on a light ground, and gradually flipped. It's quite different for me, and I like the drama, although it is the opposite of what I set out to paint (a tonal portrait steeped in neutral grays, blues and violets). Surprises like this are great learning opportunities. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com PS Want a great gift this holiday season? Then order either one of the Painting a Dog a Day books - they are gorgeous summaries of the Dog a Day paintings. Painting ...

" Whadda Mug! (Rocky)," 4" x 5", Cairn Terrier pet portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, $184 to the first taker. Proceeds from the sale of Rocky's painting will be donated to  Col. Potter's Cairn Terrier Rescue , a group I love working with. Their volunteers are just as lively and generous as the dogs they work with - it's a great combination! Inquiries may come  to me.   SOLD Long day today - worked till 2am then got up at 6:30 to take oldest to soccer practice, and the nap I had planned for this afternoon never materialized. I'm ready to totter off to bed right now, or else I'll fall asleep at my desk.   Thanks as always for looking at and sharing my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

FROM LEFT:  "Cairn Laughter (Jeff)," 6" square and "A Morning Stroll (Jeff)," 5" x 7", each painting a portrait of the million-dollar Cairn Terrier Jeff (so called because of his many vet visits). My client chose "Cairn Laughter," and a regular Dog a Day reader purchased "A Morning Stroll" shortly afterwards. Did you know you too can have preferential purchasing by subscribing to the Painting a Dog a Day newsgroup? Just train your email to fetch the daily paintings, and you'll receive them in your inbox several hours before they get posted to the blog. As always, inquiries may come  to me .   True Cairn fans can order a limited edition giclee (digital print) of "Cairn Kisses," the  Dog a Day painting from May 12th, 2009 . I picked the giclees up at the end of last week and they are beautiful - there's only 25 of them, and when they are gone, they are gone! (Thank you to those who are patiently waiting for me to sh...