Paintings With Soul

"Black & White (Millie)," 8x10, tuxedo kitty portrait , acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). It's pretty obvious - Millie is a black and white cat, and as such, her painting becomes a mere study in value and line (although I think her precocious personality plays into the equation somewhat too). In order to properly convey an essentially black and white portrait, one has to understand the finer points of drawing, and reducing one's subject matter to a simplified value range. There is little else for the eye to get lost in when the palette is restricted in this way, and errant shapes or incorrect values will seem even more glaringly wrong. Quality draftsmanship, the ability to draw and recognize basic values, is essential when it comes to translating those same concerns into color. One cannot be crummy at drawing and expect to be able to excel at painting. One artist who is exemplary in the art of drawing is artist Sheona Hamilton-Grant from Ger...

“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...

“The Blanket Closet (Sadie),” 6” x 12”, dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $80. 20% from the sale of this painting will go to the Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue in Bellevue, Michigan. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Sadie was found wandering near the Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue in Bellevue, Michigan. Neighbors thought perhaps she had gotten loose from the rescue, but that was not the case. Her body was covered with burrs, she had cuts on her ears, and tumors on her belly. The rescue league contacted animal control and offered to house Sadie in lieu of sending the old lady to the animal controls’ kennel. Animal control agreed. The non-profit organization Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue cared for Sadie during her mandatory 7 day wait period. They cleaned her up, put medication on her wounds, and did everything they could to make her comfortable. After the mandatory 7 day wait period (noone called or inquired at animal control), the rescue too...

Before getting to work on today’s painting, I thought I would share a quick note explaining how this week will work. Beginning this month, the Painting a Dog a Day project will include one week dedicated to adoptable animals from Michigan shelters and rescues. The first full week of each month will include my daily paintings as always, but the subjects will have originated from various shelters or rescue leagues. Proceeds from the painting sales this week will be returned to the host shelters and rescues. Additionally, during the month a shelter or rescue is featured, families having adopted previously from that shelter or rescue and commissioning their own dog-a-day painting will accrue another donation to their respective shelter or rescue. Organizations participating in May 2007 are the Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue in Bellevue, the 2nd Chances Pit Bull Rescue in Ingham County, the Rochester branch of the Michigan Humane Society, and the Michigan Pug Rescue Network. I also hav...