Paintings With Soul

"Curls," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, featuring a palomino Thoroughbred with a festive and somewhat tropically colored forelock of ribbon. $899 and the first asking nicely gets her! As always, inquiries may come to me . Wouldn't this (or any of my Beribboned paintings ) make for an incredible focal point in a nursery or child's room? Thanks, as always, for following my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Elvis," 8"x10", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned memorial painting for one heck of an awesome dog, which means this one has a home (thank you!).  Inquiries may come here  . My heart breaks with these sorts of projects. I remind myself that we say goodbye way too soon to each of our pets, and that I am giving collectors something extraordinary that they didn't have before, a wonderful touchpoint for sharing memories and commemorating their family member. But it's still hard. My heart is just a wee bit too big, I suppose. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim PS In process photos are here .

View Other Recent Sketches "Gracie," painted sketch approximately 4" wide, roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, depicting a Goldendoodle, private collection (THANK YOU).  After a dozen years of painting mostly commissions, in 2014 I gave myself the luxury of painting mostly for me. It's been a challenge on one very unexpected level.  As a portrait painter, my goal was to achieve a likeness and capture some of the subjects' personality. But remove the portrait aspect from the painting, and my message changes.  What do I want to say?  That's a B.I.G. question. I've traveled quite a ways from my original Painting a Dog a Day challenge - and I appreciate you indulging me as I try on new things. Like dolls. Bunnies. The Emerging series. And some other things, like layering . (Which gets my brain thinking about layered cakes and doing some Wayne Thiebaud inspired art) ...

      IN PROCESS:  "Lewis," 18 x 24", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel, depicting a very beloved Golden Retriever. This commissioned portrait will be headed to it's new home very soon - but first, I have to finish it!   In process pics of Lewis are  here .   If you want to talk about commissioning something extra special and extra large (Lewis is larger than life) -  email me . Let's talk.     I'm not very patient, and it's been since the New Year that I have been waiting for this panel to be delivered. Within minutes of cracking the box open, I had the panel on the easel and was slinging paint.   I have plans to go out tonite (gasp!!), so I'm going to clean my brushes and pick up tomorrow. Stay tuned, Kim, who's looking forward to wild shenanigans like only a herd of moms can whip up  

    "Buddy," 8" x 10", commissioned dog portrait, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. Buddy's painting has a home (THANK YOU!), and in process pics are on the  studio's Facebook page .   So, like, this is one of my all time favorite pieces to come off my easel.    I'm feeling rather pleased with myself right now.    Fondly, Kim, who's head might have grown a couple sizes this afternoon ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

    "Chester," a painted sketch, approximately 4" x 5" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, done in acrylics, depicting a mixed breed dog, private collection (THANK YOU!).   Chester is a gift, so if you recognize him, help me keep the secret, ok?   I will be phasing these sketches out by year's end - lately they have been taking nearly as much time to complete as a panel painting and are far more laborious to pack and ship. So if you are interested, please  speak up now  and we can get it scheduled.   Thanks, as always, for supporting and following along with my artwork!   Hoping tomorrow brings along my wit's end, because today I think I lost it - Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com