Paintings With Soul

Detail of an in process painting, working title "Snowglobe," 12" x 9", acrylics on copper panel, depicting my childhood Madame Alexander "Victoria" doll holding a snowglobe (not pictured because this is a detail). This piece is not yet available. All inquiries may  come to me . Continuing with my exploration of copper as canvas, this newest painting is headed (hopefully!) for an exhibition. My first obstacle is getting her finished before Wednesday's deadline (I am a professional procrastinator!). My second obstacle is getting her juried into the show (send me good vibes, because it'll all come down to one person's point of view). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim  

You can download the file   directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am not an expert on operating systems, so if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork,   Kim

"The King (Elvis)," 6" x 8", acrylics on a Raymar panel, a portrait of none other than The King Himself, still life done from a vintage doll (stamped "1984 E.P.E" on the back!), $329 to the first one raising their hand. Inquires may come directly to me . In process pics are here .  Today started with a little extra sleep (can never go wrong with that!), then a private art lesson with one of my favorite young ladies, then some loud music and dancing solo at my easel. Now I'm off to deliver a pre-lacrosse practice snack to one kid, collect another from a volunteering gig, and get in a powerwalk all before the sun sets. Hope your day has been just as excellent! Thank you, thank you very much!  Happy Weekend, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Exhausted," 6" x 8", Golden acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord. This painting depicts a small bean bag Madame Alexander doll, and it also reflects my energy level today. The painting is $329, including s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come  to me . This weekend was a loooooong one - The Princess danced at a convention (7 hours of class daily) then opened her dance competition season with a total of 6 dance numbers (5 done within the span of 3 hours, including costume, makeup and hair changes), running into the wee hours of the night (she did fabulously both on and off stage).  Sunday I left the convention early because The Caped Crusader played for the lacrosse tourney league championship, his team's first game since the death of a teammate's mother (which they won while sporting purple bandannas in her memory!). In between and in betwixt I put together this week's journaling lesson, did some volunteer work, and prepped...

"New Year's Queen," 12" x 16", Golden acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, depicting a vintage doll head accessorized with Salvation Army treasures. She can be yours for $768, which includes shipping and handling inside the continental US - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Yes, she's been beheaded, but that won't stop her. This Queen is stepping out proudly, with her love beads and tiara, and she is going to rule 2015. Carrying on with studies from  Vianna Szabo's workshop last month, and inspired by some of the brush and edgework seen first hand at the DIA yesterday , I am starting the year out strong, pushing forward, trying new things and taking notes along the way. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Happy holidays! Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Corpse," 8" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a vintage porcelain doll from perhaps the 1940s (??). Study done in class, intended for learning purposes, but decidedly pleased with the end result. This one can be yours for $469 (I'll have a better scan of the painting later in the week) - inquire to me . Please and thank you! View Workshop Photos While everyone else is painting fruit and pottery, I'm the one in the corner with a tub of dolls and parts, happily pushing paint. I always was the proverbial Purple Cow. Today we learned that the best still life paintings contain: A design concept superseding the objects painted A whole that is much larger than the sum of the parts Light elevating the setup We talked about the storytelling aspect of a still life, it's symbolic content (whether that's planned or accidental), and how it might read over time (transcendence). We also drew a pa...

"Forthright," 5" x 7", acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, portrait of a vintage doll, or rather, a vintage doll head. With sleepy eyes. Or are they not-so-sleepy-eyes when they are glued open? Anyway, let me know if you would like a painting featuring a favorite childhood toy  (and yes, there's still time to get a gift certificate by the holidays). R 14 That's what's stamped on the back of this little one's head. She has the most mesmerizing eyes. Coupled with her ratty hair, which at one time appears to have been very fashionably coiffed (I can't imagine dread locks were all the rage in the 50s), she's an interesting face to gaze into. If you can forget for a moment that that's all she is. A head, balanced on a glass vial. I bet she was someone's treasured friend many years ago. I'm happy to be her caretaker now.  Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Happy holida...

"Peewee Herman (Good Morning, Mr Breakfast)," 8" x 8", acrylics on a museum quality panel, painting of a Herman Toys Peewee Herman action figure (it seems wrong to just call him a doll - Peewee is a man of action!). This painting can be yours for $399 - I'll ship on my dime.  In process photos here  and  inquiries may come to me . I feel a Peewee marathon coming over spring break. And more paintings of him, too.  Props to Facebook fan ST for titling this painting, also. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

IN PROCESS "Mr. Snuggles," 8" x 10", still life painting depicting a teddy bear, acrylics on museum quality panel, $469. In process photos are on the studio's Facebook page  and inquiries may come to me . This guy was hanging out in the Salvation Army stuffed animal bin. He looked like he had planty of love left to spare, so I brough him home. His name was inked on that snazzy red ribbon tie. I'll finish him up later tonite. Right now I'm immersed in a chemistry study session, then have one final dance carpool, and a late dinner with the kids. I'll share photos to Facebook as he progresses. Thanks for following along! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Baby Doll," 6" x 8", still life painting depicting a vintage baby doll, acrylics on museum quality panel, $329. In process photos are here and inquiries may come to me . I've been fretting the last 18 months about my obsession with dolls and finally realized that I don't have to justify anything. I need to just paint them - embrace my compulsion and indulge that creative urge. It's ok to create and not fully understand your attraction to the subject. Just wallow in whatever it is you love. And have fun with the process. You have my permission. And if I figure things out along the way, I'll share them with you! Meanwhile, the doll paintings will be exhibited as a collection later this winter.  Happy weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Doll #3, sketched and loosely painted on scrapbook paper, image roughly 6" x 8", paper 12" square. Preparatory study. Inquiries may come  to me .     I am obsessed with these dolls, and spending all sorts of time thinking about what they mean.   Childhood. Nostalgia. Nurturing. Comfort. Ideal Beauty. Role Playing. Memory. Innocence. Play. Imagination. Story Telling. Growing up. Generations. Life Cycle.   I could go on and on, but I'll spare you.   And I keep painting them, and they continue to creep some people out. And that's part of the doll as subject matter mystery, too.   For example,  I painted this particular doll before , but the painting has a very different mood and feel to it.   Meanwhile, in between working on three larger dog paintings, I'm sketching from life using my doll stash. And asking myself lots and lots of questions. You can  see more of these drawings here  - and feel free...

Bebe, 12" square study done from life, acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a vintage doll head of unknown origin (there is no maker's mark on her anywhere). This painting is available for $299 (it's a study, so the price reflects this) - inquiries may come  to me .     Another treasure from the STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO. This doll head has sleepy eyes that, curiously enough, squeak and groan with each blink.   Somedays I feel like that!!   So what is your consensus? Is this doll creepy?   Kim, who's bound and determined to examine the whole doll thing from every possible paintable angle ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS   Am doing a demo tonite with the  Warren Tri-County Art Guild  - come on out and say hello!

Yoda, 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, still life painting of a Star Wars Lucas Film hand puppet. This painting is available for $329 - inquiries may come  to me . SOLD (thank you!) I squealed when I found this doll at the STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO (no, that is not a typo, there really is an STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO). I mean, come on, who DOESN'T love Yoda? And he's a great, calming presence in the studio. So I'm shooting to have a good number of doll paintings for an exhibition this coming April. And I'm open to suggestions - when you were younger, who/what was your favorite doll or toy? Like always, in process pics are  on Facebook . Enjoy your weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS   Did you hear about  my painting giveaway ?

    "Innocence," in process, 9" x 12", portrait of a vintage doll, acrylics on museum quality panel, available when completed to the first one asking nicely for $549.   This painting is a perfect example of the beauty of neutral colors - or "ish" colors, as artist  Vianna Szabo  would say. Without the "ish" colors, there's too much visual noise   Have a cherished doll or toy from your childhood? I'd love to paint it for you!! inquiries can come  to moi !    Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Sparkles," 6" x 8", portrait of a vintage clown doll head, acrylics on museum quality panel (so that this little guy creeps you out FOREVER!!). Only $329 to the first one brave enough to hang him in their home!  Inquiries may come  to me .     Here's to a fun-filled summer.   Bwah ha ha ha ha.   And I promise to return to the dogs next week!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Ann and Annie," 16" x 16", portrait of two Raggedy Anne dolls, done in acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, intended for ArtPrize 2013. Continuing the doll paintings and conversations about their symbolic content. It would seem that Raggedy Anne is a safer face than the ones I've painted previously. Not that safe is better, mind you. And not that Raggedy Anne can't have a breakdown and come at you from behind either.... (hee hee!!)   All my ArtPrize doll portraits are here (along with the creepy vs sweet debates) on  the studio Facebook page.  I want to finish these two and another one this week.   And paint a couple dogs while I'm at it as well.   Meanwhile if you like the Ann's, you might also like  this one  I painted last week, which is now available in prints and notecards.   Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

    "Tiny Anne II," 6" x 6", portrait of an old Raggedy Anne doll, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, not for sale.    There is the popular belief that we artists just sit back and the paintings just paint themselves, and I want to assure you that this isn't further from the truth!   Artists work hard, honing how they see the world, practicing with their tools, and throwing out a LOT of art in the process. You don't see it because you aren't in the studio with us, but trust me, it happens. And even when I'm not in the studio, I'm painting in my head. Always mixing colors and rearranging form.   Ok, but I digress - back to Anne.   I repainted her (and cursed profoundly while doing so) probably 6 times yesterday. I knew that my issue was separating color from value, and because my doll was mostly flat, I needed to be paying extra attention to the values NOT the colors. And I also had to be studying color...

BID ON "RUTHIE" ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Ruthie", 6" x 8", portrait of a vintage Ruth B. Newton baby doll, done in Golden Open and Heavy Body acrylics on a Raymar panel. This painting is being auctioned via the Daily Paintworks "Help Japan" fundraiser . 100% of the proceeds from the sale of "Ruthie" will be donated to Save the Children . "Ruthie"'s opening bid is only $49 , and she will be going to a new home, regardless of her ending price, in 7 days. Please show your support for the children in Japan by bidding on Ruthie (or any other of the beautiful pieces making up the "Help Japan" event ). And bookmark the "Help Japan" site and continue visiting - because artwork will be added through Friday March 25th, with the auctions extending into early April. You may b id on "Ruthie" here. (did I say thanks?) Because not everyone can afford to purchase an original, I will also dona...