Paintings With Soul

In honor of what should be Kentucky Derby Week, I am sharing my original equine work, which is something I've done this time every year since 2007. "She Bows Her Head and Honors the Light in All of Us," 24"x30", acrylics on panel, $899 plus s&h. This painting is cleated and wired on the backside, so the buyer has the option of hanging it floating-style on the wall. It can also be framed. I accept Paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Purchase inquiries can always come   to me . So what does one do after painting the official Derby art (scroll below to see that painting along with a short video about it's making)? Well, I sought a way to paint more expressively, more dynamically, to capture emotion and other sensory responses in my work beyond the mere capture of a scene or object. And that's pretty much what I have been pursuing in the last 5 years. I've studied with some extraordinary creatives, learned how to push my materials ...

I just went to send my (mailchimp) newsletter today, and I was surprised to see how many new subscribers I have - thank you so much for that!! I'll have to wait until Friday to send out my next note via them, as I'm currently over my plan's limit. Meanwhile, here's another equine painting from the archives. The colors here just ripple across the painting. It's a calm piece with a gentle presence. It's also cleated and wired on the back for a seamless look, or you may choose to frame it. "Present," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, $599 plus s&h direct to your door. I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Please message me or comment below if you are interested - and thank you so much for following along with my art journey!!

"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue (Medicine Hat #4)," 18" x 24", acrylics on panel. $699 plus s&h. I accept personal checks, paypal, venmo and payment plans. Inquiries can always come to me. Horses (to me) are akin to a holy spirit. They wrap me in an earthy, quiet calm that melts worries away. Time in a horse's company is healing and blessed. There is a magic about the gift of breathing in their scent, warming one's fingers underneath a mane, and looking into that eye which seemingly knows all. They can cure any ailment that weighs upon one's heart. At least in my rainbow and glitter filled world, they can. Warmly, Kim

"Blaze," 8" x 12", acrylics on copper panel, portrait of a lovely Gypsy Vanner mare, $849 to the first asking nicely. Because it's on copper and you need to SEE the light move across it, here's an in process video . As always, inquiries may come to me .  This morning I made some changes to Queenie which I am very pleased with, and then started Blaze. The unfinished/sketched in areas of Blaze are intentional. I want the copper to read as more than just an element of the background. I also thought it interesting that as I painted the green ground in, I subconsciously made a box around the focal point. Similar to the painted sketches I used to make, where the animal's face projected from painted "windows." I loved that effect, so left it in here as well. So now comes the tough part - what to paint tomorrow?! and isn't that a lovely problem to have! Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovede...

"Blue Gypsies," 12" wide, acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, depicting a Gypsy Vanner mare and foal from my own photo archives. This painting needs a new home - added bonus? these two beautiful ladies do not need their stall mucked and no farrier or vet bills! $599 includes s&h inside the US. In process photos are here and inquires about getting your own commission or a different painting may always come directly to me .  The Gypsy Ladies are one of my entries in the 2015 Equus Film Festival. This is an event relatively new to my radar, one that I hope will help me get my equine paintings in front of an equine-centric audience. Because, truly, I am so much more than The Dog Lady. Honest to god, that's what I get called all the time. So here's how the poster thing works - the film festival has a ginormous album of images on their Facebook page, and if you like and share mine (assuming that you do like them and do want to sha...

IN PROCESS: "Momma's Got Your Back," 10" x 12", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting spanking new filly and her momma, both from Freelands Gypsy Horses . Their photo used with permission. This painting can be yours for $599, including s&h within the contiguous US. In process photos are here and inquires may come directly to me .  This painting is particularly challenging because it is high contrast and has very few crisp edges. And I am head over heels in love so far because it is mostly light and dark shapes and has lots of lost edges. What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right? I'm off to a show opening, but remain excited to return to this one with some fresh eyes and perhaps a glass of wine later on. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

My bedroom door proudly displays "The End of The Day," a 16" x 20" glorious and peaceful equine painting, complete with the most perfect framing job ever courtesy of Accent on Art (Lake Orion, Michigan).  This painting can grace your bedroom door or any wall in your home for $899 -  just ask nicely . When I've thrown my heart into a painting, I want a framing job that is exemplary. And that's what I get every time I take my work to Diana and DJ at Accent on Art . For this one, DJ floated the painting overtop a shallow linen lined box, and Diana finished off with a beautifully detailed gilt frame with carvings matching the delicate curls in the mare's tail.   This says exquisite on every possible level. And it makes me happy. Very happy.   Let it make you happy too - "The End of the Day" is currently available, and payment plans are accepted. Email me to make it yours.   Thanks, as always, for following along with...

View In Process Photos Ask Nicely & Buy Me Now "Cornflower," 8" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, a still life depicting a Schleich toy draft horse and some other items, $469 to the first  asking nicely  . First I painted the Schleich horse, but there wasn't anything identifying him as a toy So I added some marbles, but things got even more confusing.  It was then that I saw my pristine box of crayons on the shelf. Which got me to thinking that this painting completely summarized my childhood in a few simple items. There will be more of these once I get some other commitments completed. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

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 don't email me for advice if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper. Instead consult your computer's help files - they 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 End of the Day," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, depicting a beautifully feathered Gypsy Vanner draft horse, $679 to the first asking nicely . View In Process Photos In person this painting literally glows with layers of subtle and harmonic color. I even hear crickets and the drone of a fat honeybee. Paintings can do some remarkable things. I'm sharing some of my secrets in a 4 day workshop next month in Traverse City - we'll do a heck of a lot of painting, but we also laugh pretty hard, eat very well, enjoy sunset wine tasting on the peninsula, and make new friends. We need a few more bodies to make this happen - if you are interested, talk to Kathryn and figure out how you can join us. Thanks, as always, for your interest in my artwork, Warmly, Kim

In Process, "The End of the Day," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a gorgeous gray Gypsy Vanner horse. This painting is available for $679 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Started a new painting today that is high key - I needed a little visual break from deep shadows and dreary gray days. This is the perfect antidote. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Shasta Solomon, at top, the finished portrait, below, the painting after one day's work. 12" square, acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting the fine Gypsy Vanner stallion Shasta Solomon from  Shasta H Ranch , available for $599. Inquiries may come  to me . Today's workshop started out with a bang - a demonstration painting that I am just delighted with. It's a challenge to paint and talk simultaneously. It's a bigger challenge to paint and articulately talk simultaneously. It's an even bigger challenge to paint well and articulately talk simultaneously. Then my students asked me to also sing and dance. It was all downhill from there! That's ok - tomorrow, it's payback time!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  "Got Milk II," 5" x 12", Gypsy Vanner mare and foal painting done in acrylic on a museum quality panel, for sale via gallery representation. Inquiries may come  to me .         Another piece that is hopefully heading to a new gallery.   Tomorrow, I promise, I'll return to the dogs!!   And to a regular routine - The Monkeys (aka kids) have been home the last couple days on a mid-winter's break. Who's idea is this whole "mid-winter break" thing? Don't The Powers That Be know that there's work to be done?  Work that doesn't happen when there's bickering, front doors left open, extra monkeys in the house, the TV going full blast, blah blah blah blah blah.   In process pics of "Got Milk II" are on the  studio's facebook page .   Now to get a good night's sleep so that I can be extra efficient in getting everyone on the bus with a full belly in the morning (insert evil laugh) - Kim ksantini@turtledoved...

(Almost finished) "Gypsy Falls," 10" x 12", portrait of a Gypsy Vanner mare, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, $529 to the first one asking nicely. (This would be a KILLER Valentine's Day gift!!) Email m e if you are interested. SOLD. I've been doing some mid-winter spring cleaning in the studio, and came across this painting, which I had begun - but never finished - over 2 years ago. You can see how she looked this morning in the image below. That happens to me quite a bit. I get to a point where I can see the potential but don't trust completely in my ability to deliver. When this happens, I tuck it away until I can look with fresh eyes (and newly honed skills) and have another go. That's what's happened with this girl. And I thought she was done an hour ago, but I see now that I want the bottom of her tail pinker, like in the "before" version. I want the light on it to be warm and glowing, and the yellow, while beau...

"Go!," 8" x 16", draft horse portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection. Inquiries may come to me .   I did two paintings yesterday of Tony, and my friend has chosen this one to hang on her wall. I think I have now painted every one of her animals at least once..... (I know she'll correct me if I'm wrong).   I wish it were otherwise, but this was one of those days spent focused on the business aspect of studio operations. There is a myth that artists paint all day and do little else - it's actually the opposite. I'm lucky to paint 2-3 hours 5 days a week - it's a constant balancing act and battle to carve more creation time out of my work days. But both sorts of tasks are absolutely necessary in a thriving business.   Today was spent (or rather still is being spent) corresponding with clients, following up on inquiries, wrapping and shipping a number of paintings, touching up another portrait, starting a studio deep-clea...

"Afternoon Sun," 6" x 12," acrylic on canvasboard, $359 to the first one raising their hand. On your mark, get set, go!!  ....inquiries may come to me .   As tradition in Painting a Dog a Day, the week before the Kentucky Derby is turned over to the horses. This week is an excuse to indulge in my lifelong love - I don't specifically paint Thoroughbreds during Derby Week but revel in all equine shapes and colors.    So here's your first piece, a draft mix lazily grazing his way into the picture plane while the sun glances off his flanks. This is Tony, a huge lug of a sweetheart belonging to a good friend of mine who also happens to be a brilliant equine photographer. Check out Juliet's  work at her website , including her newly published book.   Tony's piece is a lovely quiet painting that would make a nice accent to a variety of interiors. Email me if you have any questions about how to get this one on your wall.    I can squeeze i...

Work in process, 10" x 12", depicting a Gypsy Vanner mare, acrylic on archival artists' panel. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . In the version I posted earlier this week, I had beautiful color happening amidst drawing errors. Correcting these were complicated by porr photo references and my lack of intimate equine anatomical knowledge. I allowed the piece to simmer until today, when I felt a little bit of confidance going back into it. Nevertheless, I still ended up painting the whole thing out and starting over. In order to finish the painting true to my vision, it was easiest to start over. Which is exactly what I did (that doesn't mean the "painting out" bit was painless, though. Or that the second time around wasn't also challenging.). She's not finished yet, but more solidly on the road to being done. There is a sense of mass, movement, and light which personifies the ideas I wanted this painting to express. Another day and she sho...

Untitled work in process ("Fading Light"?), depicting a Gypsy Vanner mare, acrylic on archival artists' panel, 10" x 12". Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . The year is winding down, and that means I have several juried competition deadlines sneaking up. I've had this same mare on my studio wall for several years now - a huge stretched canvas that is at least 40" high - a canvas that I didn't take much further than an initial block in. I've loved the backlighting that tickles her fetlocks, and thought I'd give it a try on a smaller scale, conquer the fear of messing up, and see if I can't get a solid little painting for one of the exhibitions in my radar. I started with toning the panel a pepto bismol pink - it's easier (and way more fun) to paint on a colored ground than a white one. I then began massing in the areas of light and dark. I'll continue to refine the shapes and get her drawn in properly as I lay addition...

For those of you who are just joining us, we have taken a quick break form the daily dogs to paint a few horses during Derby Week. Today’s painting started out in the depths of the stacks of horse canvases I alluded to in yesterday’s post. This is a paint draft mare I’ve painted several times already. I invested about 10 hours into this canvas about 18 months ago, but realized I didn’t have the knowledge I needed to capture the sort of backlit image I wanted, and buried it. It was a little ambitious to think that I might be able to salvage and finish this 16x30 canvas (a far cry from the 4x6 dogs I usually paint!!) in one day, but I wanted to push myself. I needed a nice distraction from the thunderstorms rolling in, so flipped on all the studio lighting, and got an early start. Using all that I’ve learned about color this last year, I started out with a nice cool wash of ultramarine blue and naples yellow, to tone down and push back the sky that had already been painted. I ended up le...