Paintings With Soul

  Loves Me, Loves Me Not     24"x30", acrylic on aluminum panel (will require framing), $1800 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. Click on the image  or here  to be transported to my website where you can view the painting in a room setting, zoom in up close to the image, and perhaps even make her all yours. Available to ship mid November 2025. Questions? just  reach out . A small herd of deer bed down regularly in our yard and I was in love with the visual that came to me of layering a transparent spotted fawn with star studded skies, along with a number of other concepts ( Dawn and Dusk ,  A Thousand Pieces ,  Hollyhock ,  Presence ). This one languished alongside some other starts. They were born with great energy and the best intentions, but at some point began to feel derivative. Formulaic work does not excite me, so the work got set aside until I had the breadth to see them wit...

  View this email in your browser A Thousand Pieces   Please join me this Friday evening, September 5 2025, from 6-8:30pm, at   Starkweather Arts Center  (Romeo, Mi) for the opening reception of the Thumb Area Artists Exhibition. My new painting A Thousand Pieces will grace the walls alongside a discerning selection of original art from Michigan artists residing in the Thumb. This is a prestigious show with a 60+ year history of showcasing Michigan talent. The reception is an all ages event, free to the public. The exhibition will be on display through September 26th. Reach out to   Starkweather  for their specific hours during the month. A Thousand Pieces (an 18x24 acrylic on cradled panel) is exclusively available for purchase to in-person visitors  during the duration of the show. Should she come home to me, I'll make her available for purchase via my website in early October Thank you so so much for your interest in my artwor, . Love you,...

  Presence view her my website   Pictured above, Presence, acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas with image painted around the sides (so no pressing need to frame), 15”x30”, $1300 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. The link above will take you directly to my website where you can make her yours. Please note that this painting will ship at the end of August 2025. Questions? Just  reach out . I’ve been having quite a summer fling with Deer. While this is only the third painting I’ve signed featuring her, there’s plenty others in the wings. I also find it intriguing that shortly after I start playing with watercolors in my sketchbooks, an acrylic painting shows up with watercolor like shapes. Art is not made in a vacuum. Get a close up look at Presence  on my website where you can see her installed to scale in a room setting and perhaps even make them yours. Returning collectors please use “COLLECTOR10” at checkout for your repeat offender discount. Again, please note...

  "Tender," 12" x 16", acrylics and graphite on museum quality panel, $499 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. Returning collectors always receive 10% off. I accept Paypal, personal checks and payment plans.   Please message me.   We have a small herd of deer that hang out with us, which is unusual for a neighborhood setting. I think the prior home owners must have fed them (it's not a stretch by any means, given that we have a squirrel who comes to the kitchen window and begs for apple slices and a chipmunk family that are not shy in the least. We have yet to meet James the groundhog and Lucy the possum.). But anyways, when I was out walking this morning, I got to wondering if I might have the honor of actually seeing a fresh baby deer in my own yard this year, and how much fun it would be to sit (at a distance, mind you) and sketch from life. And so this painting is me trying to manifest that idea. You might also recognize the oak leaves - they carried ov...

"Paul Anka," 8"x10"x1", acrylics on cradled wood panel, private collection (thank you very much!!). Inquiries can always come   to me . It's been 19 years since I hung out my shingle and officially began a new career as a pet portrait artist. With 3 children aged 6 and under, I started painting at the dining room table while they napped, moving into my own studio two years later. My daily painting commitment,   www.PaintingaDogaDay.com , started 4 years afterwards. There have been well over 1000 faces gracing my easel in this time, and I fall in love with each and every one of them. Here's an added bonus for you - I started Paul Anka's portrait   via a live feed on Facebook . You can   watch it   on the studio Facebook page, or if you are boycotting social media like so many others, it is currently uploading to   YouTub e (and taking forever, I might add, so  message me and I'll send you a head's up when it's ready!). It would be re...

Tiny Fearlessly Steps into the Future Because He Lacks Reasoning Skills. His Bowl is Also Always Full of Kibble. 20" x 24", acrylics on panel, featuring a spunky daschund mix, $799 to the first asking nicely - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. I wish I could be more like Tiny. Satisfied with kibble and chasing butterflies. I suppose starting by appreciating the simple things is a step in the right direction.

"Tangle," 24" x 20", acrylics on panel, featuring a caramel colored baby bunny (anyone know what this color is called?), sprouting a tangle of what I believe to be Lady's Thumb. I tucked some clover in for good measure, too. Another painting carryling looser detail than what I've typically been doing, with a the price that reflects this. $699 will get Tangle delivered to your door (inside the US). Inquiries may come to me . Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    WORKSHOPS: "Color-iffic," Montague, Michigan (near Grand Rapids), September 8-9th, 2016. For further information or to enroll, please contact  Korrine Rodgers . "Color-iffic", 2 days, Crooked Tree Art Center, Traverse City, MI, October 8-9, 2016. Details forthcoming.

"Sir Bun," 6" x 8", acrylics on panel depicting a lop eared bunny found in the archives at www.PaintMyPhoto.ning.com . This bunny would love a home - just $299 will get Sir Bun delivered to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me . In process photos   here (thank you for peeking!).  More Experimenting I find the most satisfaction lately working on non-portrait pieces, allowing them to grow their voice and steer the end result of the painting as it progresses. Sir Bun here, in the earlier stages , was pretty sinister looking. I realized it was because I was trying to force my agenda of high chroma and contrast, instead of listening to what he was saying. "Layers, my dear, gently layer that color. And drizzle it with a tender line. Take sandpaper to the entire surface and scumble things into a grainy softness. Be generous with those lost edges, too. And then will you just sit quietly here with ...

IN PROCESS "Poppy Puppy," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting the most perfect Frenchie ever, Poppy has a home ( and what a magnificent one it is !), but I am always happy to talk about creating a custom painting just for you - inquires may come directly to me . Oh, and in process pics are here . (PS, I couldn't love that periwinkle in the background shadow any more. Here's hoping I can figure out a way to marry it to the rest of the painting, because right now it's just a tad too saturated.) The Big Easy I have really behaved myself, because Dianna (A.K.A. Stella Gray) and I have been talking for moons about adding my artwork to her bohemian lifestyle offerings. There were all sorts of things rearing their sometimes ugly sometimes painfully beautiful heads, and so we just bid our time. But now, my pretties, now is the time! (and I am planning a Wizard of Oz series of doll paintings, in case you were los...

"Paco Pug," 8" x 10", Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel. I have seen pics of Paco in my FB photo stream for a loooooong time, as he belongs to fellow daily painter Kelley MacDonald - I was pretty pleased to get to paint him for her today! Paco's portrait is Kelley's, but let me know if you would like something similar for yourself! This is how I love to paint. Layers of loose and gloppy brush strokes. Glorious harmonic color. Just enough light to make me swoon. A face you want to squeeze. In process images are here.   Love Paco? Then get him on a phone case . Or a pillow . Or 48" wide for over your couch . Or send him in the mail to someone needing a smile . Thank you so much! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Sun Bun (Bun II)," 8" square, acrylics on museum quality panel depicting Mr. Bun, a Lionhead Rabbit. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will help homeless buns - he's $399 to the first asking nicely. SOLD VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS I painted Bun again today (here's his first portrait ) - he's such a good little model! Next week we'll change things up a bit - it's Derby Week, and keeping with tradition, I'll paint horses each day. But meanwhile I'm off for a weekend of dance. In between numbers, I'll be doodling in the dressing room, making plans for new paintings. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Bun, 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel depicting Bun, a little Lionhead bunny who's accomplishing great things (read below), $329 to the first asking nicely. Proceeds from the sale of Bun's portrait (and reproductions and cell phone cases ) will benefit bunny rescue. A call for bunny muses introduced me to this little guy. I was drawn immediately to his velvety color, deep fur and sweet demeanor. Then I got to know his Mom and fell in love with his family and their mission - Bun as the face for responsible pet ownership. You, too, can become a Bun fan here . Here's a little video of the painting in process .  Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS................. It was a shock this summer when I realized how much I've come to love neutral colors. Still working with a limited palette - titanium white, pthalo blu...

  "Angel," 16" x 20", commissioned life sized portrait of a bull mastiff, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). In process photos of Angel's portrait are on  Facebook . And as always, inquiries may come  to me .     I'm looking for a few good muses - think your companion animal has what it takes?  Send me  some non-flash photos and we can talk!!   Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com