Paintings With Soul

"Tempo," 12" x 12" x 1", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel, portrait of one heck of a special dog, private collection (THANK YOU!!). Please   reach out to me   with inquiries or questions. Tempo's portrait was mostly painted via a livestream on my FB page, in   a session   I shared last week and   another sideways one earlier today . A third session stretched out over this afternoon, and I think he's close to being done. I've just   sent this jpg off to my collector for her approval - I see one tiny change (picking up the green in his left upper lift, making it a smidge lighter so it floats more so above the tongue), but she will know best if I've properly captured Tempo's larger than life goofiiness. It's not enough that my portraits LOOK like their subject. I want them to FEEL like them too. And while I work from a mess of photos, I could never know the animal as well as their family. Reach out to me   if you want to ...

"Holly's Heart Dog, Bela," 12" square, commissioned portrait of a beloved Vizsla who passed away a year ago today. This portrait is sold, but inquiries may always come my way , and in process photos are  here. His portrait was intentionally scheduled for this day, a way to remember and honor his spirit. I think his Mom is best suited to explain the why - please see her words below. Bela's Story, as told by Holly One year ago today I kissed the softest dog head my lips had ever touched one last time and placed my forehead against his for one final moment of his favorite game...bull. I knew he had probably left me before we ever reached the vet office that night, but I pleaded with him to hang on, not sure what I meant in saying that, other than I wasn't ready. I hadn't prepared. Two weeks post splenectomy, I clutched him close and whispered into the most velvety ear my hands ever touched words my heart was not prepared to ...

"Colby", a small painted sketch, done in acrylics on paper, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come directly to me .  I did a handful of new sketches today, of which Colby is a shining example. Don't you love his goofy face? he's so chill, just hanging out, soaking up the sun.   I also did another reverse painting on plexi, and got it scanned and onto FineArtAmerica . I don't think that there's enough unicorn art in the world, do you?   Now I'm off to freeze my butt, err, cheer my butt off, at The Caped Crusader's lacrosse game. I'll be the one in the stands zipped into a heavy duty sleeping bag. And I'm packing a cowbell. Yeah, I'm that mom. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Riley," 5" x 7", acrylics on a Raymar panel, commissioned portrait of a pointer, private collection (thank you!). Let me know if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, I offer gift certificates which can be delivered in time for holiday gift giving). View In Process Photos It's December, which seems wrong. It should still be, like, August. Not sure where the days went, but they did - and the holidays are upon us! I have 2-1/2 remaining holiday commissions to paint, but don't despair - if you didn't reach out to me in time, we can still do a gift certificate. There is nothing more appreciated than a custom portrait, which start at $399 - inquire via email. Meanwhile, I am making plans to create new works for my galleries. And I have a couple of exhibitions in mind. You'll see horse racing scenes, more still lifes starring toy horses and ponies, and some vintage doll paintings, along with my re...

  "Rosie 1" and "Rosie II," sketches done in acrylic on bristol board, each image approximately 5" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, commissioned images and, as such, in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     Both these sketches are fulfillment for a gift certificate, a gift certificate given last year at the holidays (or maybe it was Father's Day?).   Gift certificates are a great way to get the recipient involved in the portrait process, from sharing their memories of the dog's personality to choosing (or shooting!) reference photos to building a composition.   Each certificate is custom created with a breed specific image and a face value you determine. When slipped into a frame, they make for a gorgeous presentation as well.   Email me  if you are interested in gifting a certificate this holiday season!   Fondly, Kim, who is very close to od-ing on fun-sized chocolates ...

      "Gone Fishing," 12" square, done in acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a dog (chocolate lab perhaps?) in water. In process pics of this painting are on  the studio Facebook wall .   "Gone Fishing" will go home with the first to ask nicely - he's $599, or $539 if you are a collector- inquiries may come  to me .   I'm having so much fun painting dogs and water - but pretty soon it'll be too cold for me to shoot my own references. That said, I'm always open to considering photos any Painting a Dog a Day fans have taken of their own dogs - you can  email them to me directly . Submitting photos does not mean that you are obligated to make any sort of purchase, either - you are just feeding my muse, free of charge!!   Happy Weekend! Kim, who's going to bundle up and cheer on the Dragons at tonite's Homecoming Game after she feeds her face ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS ...