Paintings With Soul

  Lisianthus, acrylic on handmade round cradled wood panel (by Bara Woodshaping), 30" in diameter, 1" profile, with cleated hanging system that allows the panel to hang flush against the wall (no need to frame), $2300 plus s&h to   the first asking nicely . Questions can always come   to me. lisianthus are one of my favorite flowers   there's something extra special about their twisted buds and delicate stems. I feel like they are little  fouette turns . Or maybe little party crackers. What do you think? Combining these florals with the fox was an exercise in self control. I think at one point there must have been 100 blooms in this piece - that was when I realized I needed to dial my enthusiasm down a bit! So instead of the actual flowers, I embraced mark making that felt like the lisianthus, and twisted my brush through marbled puddles of paint. Also, I cannot say enough about this substrate, a gorgeous handmade panel from  Bara Woodshaping ...

  "Bloom," 24"x30", acrylics and graphite on panel, Not currently for sale. Inquiries may always come  to me . I can't decide what my favorite bit of this painting is - the orange flower blooming above her left eye? the way her whiskers twist together into the negative space on the right side of the painting? her wry smile and half shut eyes? that purple flower just past her prime with petals dancing off into oblivion? There's so much to look at and process here, it makes me giddy. My Magic Space (online) students are getting a video short about the making of this painting. There's also nuggets of info in there about finding your own artists' style.  If you are curious yourself,   please join us ! Be well, Fondly, Kim

"Sweet Pea," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, featuring a teeny tiny baby bunny (lionhead? angora?) with the sweetest little white nose, nestled in a mass of sweet peas. This piece has less detail than the others I've been doing, and I rather like the sketchiness of it - consequently, the price reflects this as well. $599 will get Sweet Pea delivered to your door (inside the US). Inquiries may come to me. SOLD (thank you so much!) I've been working on this one since Sunday, picking her up when the larger pieces need some time to dry. Overall, I've got about a dozen different works in various stages in the studio right now. It's a wild menagerie!

"Find Grace" (above) and "Just Breathe" (below), both 14" x 17", acrylics on bristol board, both in private collections. I call these mantra paintings - I start with a simple text, scrawled in giant letters on the page, and then I begin to layer marks and doodles overtop until I can pick out shapes and forms. This process is a visual meditation exercise that keeps me centered (I also do mantra paintings with not-so-nice text underneath - it's all about working through one's emotions). Valentines Day is a time to celebrate every facet of love. Which means I get to celebrate all of you.  I love your connection with my artwork and creative endeavors.  I love your commitment to your families - including 4-legged members. I love your huge hearts and all the compassionate causes they support. I love that I get to share my studio days with each of you, going on nearly 10 years now. I love that so very many o...

I tell my students to remember that not everything we create has to hang over the couch. Today I took that advice, and had great fun painting silly patterns on a Starbucks cup. Just because. Conveniently  Starbucks is looking for a fresh rework of their iconic white cup !  Now you have the perfect excuse to grab a latte this afternoon, and, while that caffeine is coursing through your veins, turn your empty cup into a work of art. You don't even have to hang it over the couch.  Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com