Paintings With Soul

I'm taking a little break between commissions today, and thought I would try to combine my recent flower studies with a dog portrait. There's so much potential with this process! I have all sorts of ideas as to how I want to take the flowers/loose and bold painting approach and integrate it into my own style. The above piece is 12" x 16", acrylics with pastel accents on a museum quality panel. It can be yours for $399 - there's only one original, and the first one asking nicely gets it! Email me . Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

ABOVE, Detail of "Rusty," 18" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait of a yellow labrador retriever in the snow. Scroll below for a complete view along with some other, tighter detail shots - the painting is dense with subtlety and nuance. Rusty has a home (thank you so much) - but I am currently accepting a few commissions, so please email  if you are interested in talking about a custom project. I am very grateful to my collectors who gave me total artistic license to create using Rusty as muse. It feels like a collaboration of sorts - their trust and belief fueled me to push boundaries like never before. It's a remarkable sort of partnership. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

From last December, this was a Christmas gift I couldn't share for fear of ruining the surprise. "Buster," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait depicting a family member who is dearly missed.  If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, let me know .  Rough day at the easel. I tried a particular composition at least 5 times, but I might as well just been sleeping at my desk. Still not clear why it wasn't working, but I did fine tune my sanding and wiping skills. Then I went and ate a lot of cheese. I've been on a cheese kick lately. And worked on my new website. Now I'm off to teach art journaling class. The day hasn't been a total waste. 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  

We're going to call this one "Blackie," so as to protect those who might know his/her real identity. Because Christmas is on the line here. "Blackie" is a 6" x 8" portrait, obviously a black dog, perhaps a lab mix, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. And shortly, Blackie will be shipped, then wrapped and tucked away until Christmas morning. Blackie is the last of my holiday commissions - which means the pressure is mostly off. I say MOSTLY because I still have "13" to finish - a 30" x 40" exhibition piece that is due December 22nd.  But meanwhile I'm playing with ink lines and color and curved canvases . Because one of my superpowers is procrastination. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Webster," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait of a Yellow Lab. Webster's portrait has a home, thank you very much to my returning collectors. If you are thinking about a pet portrait as a holiday gift, now is the time to start a conversation. The process takes several weeks, and this is my busiest time of year - once I'm booked, I'm booked! I also do gift certificates if you would rather gift the whole commission experience and spare yourself sneaking around getting photos (or if I happen to be booked and cannot guarantee holiday delivery). But that's not going to happen if we  talk now  and get things started. It was homecoming weekend in Lake Orion. Or Hoco if you're young and hip. The Princesses first and The Caped Crusader's last. I spent lots of time with them and their friends, and very little time in the studio. One of those rare studio-free weekends, because soon the hol...

From day one of our workshop, detail of my demo painting, roughly blocked in, with the focal point quadrant fairly well along. This painting stars/was inspired by Rush, a sweet and silly guy owned by my friend and fellow painter Marilyn Sadler (her website is www.MarilynSadler.com,  but as of this posting it appears to be down). Marilyn was kind enough to host us for a brief visit to Lexington (KY) this spring, and together with Yvonne Todd , also took us on a grand tour of all things equine and artsy. This piece is 10" square, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. I plan on finishing it once I return to the studio. All inquiries may  come to me . I Have 17 Victims!! More commonly known as students.  They are brave souls, and so far survived day one of my talking nonstop. Lots of drivel about color and harmony and the sorts of painting details that make my heart sing. This was my demo piece, an exercise in breaking a few rules, d...

The following paintings are available for purchase directly from my studio. These original works, unless noted, are acrylic on museum quality panel. All prices include s&h within the US. Multiple paintings can typically be shipped together, returning collectors receive 10% off purchases, and I do accept payment plans (6 month plan with art shipped upon completion of payments).  Links to reproductions and other products are at the bottom of this newsletter.  Thanks so much for your interest in my artwork!  Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com "Nicker," 16" x 16" x 2" (note that this piece is on a cradeled panel, with the image wrapped around the sides), $999. Inquire directly to me . "Momma's Got Your Back," 10" x 12", $599. Inquire directly to me . "Blue Gypsies," 12" x 12", $599. Inquire directly to me . ...

In process, working title, "Mousers," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever and a black labrador retriever digging in a snow drift, presumably for a mouse, but one never knows what treasure will be unearthed! The painting carries around the sides of the cradle (aka "gallery wrap" style) and does not mandate a frame (although one is indeed possible if desired). Available for $2399 which includes s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! I Can't Stop! But I will have to soon - I have three portrait projects in the wings here that need to be done next week. Hoping to get a little easel time over the weekend with these two Mousers while the kids are off doing their thing, and then I can buckle down and work work work on those other paintings next week. Cross your fingers and toes for me. And thanks, too, for indulging my kindergarten humor this wee...

You can 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 if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files 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

"Boutros," 8" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a much loved and deerly missed lab mix, private collection (THANK YOU!). In process pics of his painting can be viewed on Facebook . And just because I anticipate that he will quickly become a favorite of everyone, I've set him up for reproductions/notecards/smartphone cases as well. Inquiries may come to me - gift certificates can be delivered via email throughout the weekend.  I'm officially done with commissions for the holiday!! It's always a great feeling, to think of all the treasures awaiting gift giving (and those who've already been shared). It expands my Christmas exponentially. Thank YOU for making my holidays warmer, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Frog Dog," 10" x 16", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a very flexible chocolate lab named Ace. This painting is hopefully heading to a juried exhibition in early 2014, but inquiries may always come  to moi . In process pics of Ace are  here  and yes, I do accept a limited number of commissions -  email me . A friend shared Ace's photo on Instagram and I called her up, begging to paint him. Thankfully she gave me permission - I would have been haunted by this composition otherwise! In other news, the studio got a much needed cleaning and reorganizing over the weekend, which means I purged some of my art books and put them up for sale on Facebook. There are a few still available  here . And in still more news, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting one of my idols and long time inspirations, cellist  Zoe Keating , over the weekend. If you don't know  her music , you no longer have an excuse, and if she's...

"Rory," 12" x 16," commissioned portrait of a Black Labradoodle with The Best Eyebrows Ever, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Plenty of in process photos are here, including closeups of his eye and nose along with a shot of my palette. Rory has a home, but there's plenty of other paintings in my head (and studio) that do not - inquiries may come to me . Although this photo is a little flat and gray because I had to shoot it under artificial lighting, my boss is somewhat happier about my productivity today. Let's see what my client has to say, though - I'm awaiting final approval. And permission to punch out and head home.  Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Poppy," 8" x 12", acrylics on a museum quality panel, gorgeously framed and well-traveled. Poppy's been displayed in exhibitions around the country, and has recently returned to the studio. She's ready for a home - inquiries may come to me . Today there's a Christmas gift on my easel, and I can't share because the recipient is a fan and follower. I have just a few pre-holiday spots left. So speak up now if you want to gift an actual painting - once my calendar is full, I'll be offering gift certificates through the end of the year. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    At Peace (Gracie May), 12" x 18", depicting our neighbor's dog. I started this painting at my Dragon on the Lake demo in August of this year - it was a hot and windy day, which led to a little excitement as I painted with one hand steadying the canvas on my easel. Today Gracie made it to my studio easel for the finishing touches. This painting can be yours for $639. Inquiries may come  to me .     On any given day I can peek out my studio window and catch a glimpse of Gracie May sunning herself at her home across the street. Usually with a shoe nearby.   A rescued dog, Gracie's of uncertain ancestry - she's much taller and lighter boned than a typical lab, but has their sweet disposition and fondness for cookies. Lumpy and stiff with arthritis, her tail thumps upon your approach and she rolls for a good belly rub.   If I'm especially lucky, she'll get up, drop her head, wiggle her butt, and howl with anticipation when ...

Sprinkler, 12" x 16," the newest Water Dog painting starring a very wet yellow lab, acrylics on museum quality panel, $629. Inquiries may come  to me .     It was tedious, getting each of those droplets painted, but I cranked up a new symphonic playlist that The Man Child inspired (including Khachaturian's  Waltz from Maskarade , Mussagorsky's  Pictures at An Exhibition , and Shostakovich 's Waltzs among others) and had a grande time.   Comment on the painting's progression over on FB, where  there's lots of in process photos .   Happy weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Untitled and in process, 12" x 16," depiction of a yellow lab playing in the sprinkler (sprinkler not yet painted!), done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $629. Inquiries may come  to me .     Last night at my demo, I was so eager to talk painting that I completely flaked on taking photos!! But this is what I started and includes a couple hours of additional work today - I'm taking a little break for chocolate before starting on the water droplets.    Comment on the progression over on FB, where  I'm sharing photos of the painting  over the course of the day. Feel free to chime in on a title over there too!!   We talked about color and value, committing to becoming a better artist, setting realistic goals to make that happen, using photos (only with permission!) for inspiration and allowing a dialogue with the composition that fosters artistic license, and the importance of good footwear (I was sporting a favorite pai...

    "Violet Rosie," one of eight older paintings I am auctioning off in the next 24 hours. More details below and on  the studio's Facebook page.     The last couple years have seen galleries closing down, and a number of spaces that used to represent me no longer do. I was sorting through the beautiful returned inventory when I realized something.   These paintings deserve an audience!    So right then and there I went through my archives, packed with artwork I kept for a variety of reasons - paintings from exhibitions, demos done for particular events, and the returned inventory mentioned above - and pulled out a handful of oldies but goodies that seemed especially lonely and in need of new homes.   These are daily pieces created during 2007 - 2010, done in acrylic on canvas boards.  These paintings will be auctioned off over the next 24 hours on  the studio Facebook's page . Place...

      "Melvin," 6" x 8", commissioned portrait of a black lab done in acrylic on museum quality panel. Melvin's painting has a home (thank you!), but I'm happy to discuss creating something similar for your walls -  email me .   Of course there are a couple in process photos of Melvin's portrait over on  the studio Facebook page  - take a peek at them and ask any questions you might have about my process.   And let me know if there's something you want to see or learn about, too!!   Don't forget about the auction on the heart-shaped dog tag paintings - it ends this evening at 10pm EST.   Just about the same time as the cold front comes in and snow starts to fall here in Michigan.   Visit the  studio Facebook page  to place your bid on any one of the four paintings - you bid simply by commenting on the painting you want.   Now I'm off to put the finish...

    Order Notecards and Reproductions   "Reilly," 11" x 14", commissioned portrait of a chocolate lab, done in acrylic on a museum quality panel, in a private collection (THANK YOU!).   In process views of Reilly's portrait as it unfolded were shared on the  studio Facebook page  yesterday. You can find them inside  the Mobile Uploads folder . And by the way, you do not need to have a Facebook account to view either of those links.   I'd love to talk about creating something just as spectacular as Reilly's portrait for you -  email me  and we'll begin that conversation!!     It's scarey, allowing my clients and the general public to watch my work unfold (because during my work day I post in-process pics of paintings to the studio Facebook page).   I'm opening myself up to criticism - what if I am having a bad day in the studio? what if the client totally hates the...