Paintings With Soul

Day 2 of 30 Paintings in 30 Days, this is "Light Magenta" (one of my favorite colors), 6" square, $50 to the first asking nicely . Thank you so much! Started today's painting session with this little still life. It's a wonderful way to settle into decision making, and a great warm up for the bigger piece I'm working on (working title "Midas," starring daVinci and a mess of gold ribbon). Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

IN PROCESS, full image above, detail below: "Calla," 24" x 48", acrylics, charcoal and ink on museum quality cradeled panel (painting wraps around the sides, so there is no need to frame), featuring a white horse crowned with a bouquet of flowers. When finished, this painting will be $1499, complete with complimentary shipping inside the US (I also ship worldwide) - inquiries may always come  to me . This one is a self-portrait of sorts. As a horse crazy child, I galloped everywhere, and imagined a silky tail streaming behind. The flowers carry symbolic meaning or have special context to me. Next I'm trotting into the kitchen and get dinner going. 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 . "Getting Fresh," Mt. Pl...

"Thistle," 24" x 24" x 2", acrylics on birch panel, featuring an inquisitive hedgehog. The image is entirely painted/wrapped around the edges, so there is no need to frame. This is another painting that would be fabulous in a playroom or nursery. Or really, any space where lots of smiling happens. Thistle is available for purchase (I accept credit cards and can structure a payment plan - just ask!). She's $1999, which includes complimentary shipping and handling inside the US. Inquiries may always come  to me . Tomorrow The Princess and I leave for her dance team's Nationals. I'm packing a sketchbook and plan to sketch while away. Not sure that I'll have the time to blog daily, but I will post the images to the studio's Facebook page - they will be available for purchase, all for under $99 each. So stay tuned to Facebook if you are looking to snag an original piece of art for a great price! Thanks for following along with my...

"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...

"Airplane," 9" x 12", acrylics on cradeled panel, depicting one of my favorite goldens doing his favorite thing. Dogs + water is always a win, unless you are wearing light colors. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I have been slowly reworking this piece, making adjustments that pop Bear's head towards the viewer and add depth to the sluicing water. There's lots of wonderful little passages made all the more fascinating by a slip of a doodled line and dashes of complimentary color. This piece is earmarked for the Historic Yellow Springs Art Show (Chester Springs, PA) this spring. Stay tuned - I'm sending them a dozen little gems. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Mona's Nest," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum panel, portrait of my studio muse Mona Lisa, $1259 to the first asking nicely. As always, inquiries may come to me .  Today didn't go as planned, but I tried to roll with it. Sometimes that's how things play out. What matters is that I didn't beat myself up, I worked with what I was given, and I made it to the easel long enough this afternoon to finish Mona. Thanks for your interest in my artwork and here's to a better day tomorrow, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

In process detail, "Caught," 8" x 12", (detail approximately 6" square of the entire painting surface), acrylics on copper panel, portrait of a Golden Retriever with HER ball, $849 to the first asking nicely. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I am getting caught up in the intricacy of the marks and layers of paint. Wanted to share all the lusciousness of that with you. This part takes time, as I paint the whole image, scratch, sand and distress it, then repeat. Over and over until it looks just right. It's almost just right. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Queenie," 8" x 12", acrylics on copper panel, portrait of a very relaxed yellow labrador retriever, $849 to the first asking nicely. Here's an in process video where you can better appreciate the play of light on this painting. Inquiries may come to me .  I worked a little more on Annie's latest portrait last nite and made a mess of things (photo in above link conveniently taken prior to mess being made). So today I wanted to tackle a painting that was firmly entrenched in my comfort zone. Enter Queenie, from a friend's photo I have been wanting to paint for years (thank you Jen!). And of course I take my sweet old time with this one, savoring every brushmark, doing it all by the book, thinking it's all finished, scan it, and only THEN do I see some changes I want to make.  Grumble, grumble, grumble. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com