Paintings With Soul

I've been rather obsessively painting these girls, my Sirens, for 4 months now. Collectively, they line my studio walls, keeping me company, chatting away to each other. We have serious conversations about what color compassion is, how deeply would one's feet sink into clouds, and if it is wrong to consume an entire bag of Hostess chocolate donuts in one sitting. I would jump back and forth from painting to painting (there's over 40 of them now), making adjustments and revisions as I discovered, or rather, understood, what needed to be changed. And now it's time to share the first generation of Sirens with you. There's 17 in this round, each distinctively carrying their own message. More remain in my studio, inspiring new girls and continuing our daily chats. They are each pillars of strength, courage, compassion and dignity. Unapologetically feminine and fierce, they live inside us, some more loudly than others, enveloping our own insecurities with th...

Tiny Dancer I, 24" x 48", acrylics on panel, $1499 plus s&h. Inquiries may come   to me . I have no idea what I'm doing in the studio anymore. I mean, I know I am painting, and obviously I'm painting figures, but other than that, it's a crap shot. I start with a certain idea in my head, like a little girl in a white tutu, and the rest of the composition reveals itself as I go along. This is entirely different than painting portraits and working directly with clients who expect a certain thing. When I'm painting a commission, the end result is predetermined and my progress (including knowing when the piece is done) is measurable. With my girls, it's not so obvious. I take them so far, and then wait to see what they have to say about it. Often it takes weeks before I realize, aha!, there isn't enough contrast/my color is too saturated/the ground and figure need to be more fully integrated/something else altogether. I'm learning to be ok ...

"A Whole New World", 10" x 12" acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting some of my favorite young dancers. This painting has a good story behind it - and posters will be sold - read more below! The painting itself belongs to The Princess (that's her on the left), but as always, inquiries may come directly to me . Oh, and in process photos are here Production Numbers In the world of competitive dance, a production number is a dance that tells a story, and typically features every dancer from the team. Production numbers are nearly double the length of other dances, and are tremendous fun, as they usually include props, fabulous costumes, and incredible music mixes. This year, The Princess's production number tells the story of Aladdin. It's complete with neon orange beaded harem pants, a flying carpet, a marketplace and a magic genie lamp. It also includes lyrical movement, musical theater, acrobatics, pointe and tap, and ...

In process detail from a newly wet painting titled "Grace," 11" x 14", Golden acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord. This is a portrait of my daughter, inspired by a photo I snapped at her dress rehearsal this last weekend. I'm not sure if this one will be put on the market, but nevertheless, inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! She sure didn't get it from me. The Princess's passion is dance. And the last couple weeks have been all about it - between a master class with a cast member from Wicked, attending the show, painting murals on props, pointe shoe fittings, costume fittings and alterations, a makeup clinic, designing face painting for a group number, two full days of rehearsals and a glorious day long dress rehearsal (including run throughs for the face painting and makeup re-dos), it's all we've lived and breathed. And things are about to get real. Her competition season starts this weekend. Mea...

18"x24" posters available for $25 each plus $15 s&h. Posters will be shipped in tubes mid June. Orders must be received and paid in full by May 17th, 2014. Questions may come to me. Orders are now being accepted for this year's Broadway Dance Studio Commemorative Poster. Proceeds benefit their Competition Dance Team's trip to a Nationals convention and competition this summer. Posters are only available until May 17th, 2014. Thanks for following along with my artwork (and supporting the arts!), Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"In the Wings," an 8"x10" portrait of The Princess from last year, acrylics on museum quality panel, $469. Inquiries may come to me . I'm leaving early today for a weekend dance competition with my daughter. She has her Dream Duffel packed and I have my Art Survival Kit.  I'll be watching for perfect moments like this (backstage at last Spring's recital) to turn into paint (and channel my inner Degas). In the meanwhile, I've created an album of my dance paintings - proceeds from reproductions, notecards and cell phone case sales go straight into The Princess's dance fund. And if you would like to talk about commissioning a portrait of your dancer, please, let me know . Thanks for following along with my artwork and supporting the arts, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Kiran's Spotlight, 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a young dancer and friend of The Princess, not currently available. However, inquiries may come  to me .     Sorry about the blurry photo - the best I can do given the current lighting situation! I'll try again tomorrow!   I decided the background needed more warmth, but still had to be cooler than the foreground. Once I figured that out, I was able to go and finish Kiran's body.   I thought I was done, but I see a couple edges I want to soften. I'll hold off on declaring her entirely finished, then, until Kiran's parents get a peek at it and give me some feedback.   And I make those tweaks I want!   Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS   In process pictures are here  on Facebook .

IN PROCESS:  Kiran's Spotlight, 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a young dancer and friend of The Princess, not currently available. However, inquiries may come  to me .     I'm at an impasse. Measuring and wondering if the grays in the background would be better with a glaze of transparent orange overtop, just to amplify the heat of the spotlight. But then again, perhaps I need the contrast (not just from a value standpoint, but from a value AND color temperature perspective).   And until I figure it out (which way is the best compliment to the poised figure? that's a queation only I can answer), I'll hold off on finishing Kiran's profile and putting additional detail into her form, just to keep everything balanced. So yes, the edges are soft and fuzzy, but that's just a temporary stage!   Hoping to see my way clearly very soon!   Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtl...

AT TOP, completed, and below in process, "In the Wings," 8" x 10", a portrait of The Princess in one of her ballet costumes, painted in acrylics on museum quality panel. Inquiries may come  to me  - I'm not sure I'll be able to part with this one, despite having many paintings of her already. This is what I accomplished late last nite. Again, I challenged myself to paint the light. Of course, there were other challenges too. A football scrimmage, dance class, volunteer hours, orientation at two different school buildings. Never a dull moment in these parts. That's why I love my life so very much! In process pics on  the studio Facebook page . Thanks so much for following along with my work, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com