Paintings With Soul

  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!   To implement this month's desktop calendar, simply 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 by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they 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!).   Meanwhil...

  The finished product! "But, Mom....", 12" x 16", acrylic on panel, headed to this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. Inquiries may come  to me .   The Art Show at the Dog Show  is an annual juried exhibition in Kansas that focuses exclusively on canine artwork. I've been lucky enough to have work juried into it in past years and have my fingers crossed that this year will be no exception.   As with the majority of my recent work, I've placed multiple views of this painting in process on  the studio Facebook page .   Wait'll you see tomorrow's painting, another one headed (hopefully) to Art Show at the Dog Show........   Here's to a fabulously colorful New Year - looks like we are off to a fantastic start! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  An in process detail of my newest painting, "But, Mom....", 12" x 16", acrylic on panel.   I chose an ambitious composition for my next piece, a larger painting created specifically for  The Art Show at the Dog Show , an annual juried exhibition in Kansas that focuses exclusively on canine artwork.   It's always fun to work up more complex concepts than a traditional portrait approach would not necessarily embrace. And after the holidays, when I've done primarily portraits for the prior 3 months, it's especially fun to lose myself in a storytelling piece.   As with most of my work, you can see multiple views of this painting (above is just a detail) on  the studio Facebook page .   I regularly get emails asking about my processes and it often takes me days to respond personally - you are welcome to comment on the FB images if you have particular questions, and then I can answer them more quickly and in a public forum where they could pote...

  "Jowls," 8" x 10", portrait of a brindled Mastiff, done in Golden acrylics on a panel. This painting can be added to your collection for $469 -  email me  to arrange simple payment and delivery.   I have a full docket of holiday portraits scheduled. I had one cancellation today, and can slip your project in if you  act quickly .   Otherwise it's the highly recommended (and well received) gift certificate - I can print and mail one or we can coordinate the details via email and eliminate the need to ship altogether.   Just  let me know  how I can make your holidays more spectacular. That is my job, after all.   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com      

ORDER NOTECARDS of SUV AMMO "SUV (Ammo)," 6" x 8", portrait of a Mastiff, from the "Sunday Driver's" series of paintings depicting dogs and cars. This painting was done in Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel and is available for purchase for $379. Inquiries may come to me . I've been busy working on top secret commissions, but figured today I'd share one of my all time favorite paintings. This one was completed in April of 2010. Why is "SUV Ammo" a favorite of mine? I love the dog's relaxed expression, and the flip of his tongue. I love the lines that the window edges make. I love the reflections in the rear window. And I love that I can remember painting Ammo, dancing in front of my easel and having just as much fun as the dog did when he got to go for a ride. Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Folds (Mastiff Study)," 5" x 7", acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, portrait of a Dogue De Bordeaux, $289. Inquiries may always come to me . I found myself counting the hours as today, the last full day of school, wound down. It's a free for all come tomorrow at 12:05, when The Princess is released for the summer (Man Child and Middle Child are done earlier in the morning). First on our list ~~ slurpees. Other than that, the day will unfold as it may. There WILL be time at the easel, though. (Time's running out to cast votes in the Daily Painter's contest - the winner will be chosen at midnite Friday. I've fallen behind (still in 2nd place), but am not giving up. Cell phones, iPods, Blackberries and computers can vote at http://www.dailypainters.com/blog/contest . And thank you for the votes you have cast and the peeps you've recruited to support me.) Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends a...

"Gentle Giant I (Pooh with Downward Gaze)" and "Gentle Giant II (Pooh in Profile)," both 6" square, commissioned pet portraits of a South African Boerboel, acrylic on canvasboard. My client will choose one painting and the other can go home with the first taker. (Don't you love Pooh's beauty mark?!) Proceeds from the sale of both pieces will go to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Inquiries may come to me - including how you can commission your own pet's portrait and have the proceeds benefit animal welfare. The Boerboel is a breed new to me, but I am already enamored. You can learn more about them here . They are wonderfully expressive dogs, and would make quite a picture bounding to greet you, wouldn't they? Here's a few other bits of studio news: I am now a contributing editor to Art Career Experts . This is a new site that has evolved to meet the needs of emerging and established artists who want to learn busi...

"Mastiff Profile," 8" x 16", acrylic mastiff portrait on canvasboard, available for purchase with proceeds benefitting animal welfare. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . A portion of the sale of this painting will go to One Tail at a Time in Ohio. Within the last month, a friend had a very positive experience adopting a dear mastiff from their rescue. I had an opportunity to talk to the director of One Tail at a Time, and her energy and dedication was inspiring. I wanted to help support them and other dogs like Henry (aka Memphis) with a painting. Right now, One Tail at a Time has a litter of special needs puppies, and funds from the sale of this painting will be earmarked for their vet bills. You can read more about the rescue and pups at http://t.ymlp67.com/wjaiaujyafaujwhavausmm/click.php . If the above painting doesn't appeal to you, consider making a donation to One Tail at a Time and helping these pups (and the other dogs in their car...

"The Big Red Dog (Amos)," 28" x 24", commissioned mastiff dog portrait , acrylic on gallery stretched canvas, private collection (THANK YOU!!). Isn't this dog the poster child for Life? Well, his person is even more special. I felt as though I have always known her, that she is an lifelong and dear friend. She even brought chocolate cupcakes to yesterday's painting preview (now you KNOW this is a woman after my own heart!). Not only were the cupcakes delicious, but they were gorgeous, too. I saved one from the suddenly savage children, because it beckoned to be painted.... and then eaten.... by myself, in the corner of the studio, while noone was looking..... I am grateful that Amos lives a few stone skips away, so I am able to continue this unexpected gift of friendship, long after delivery of the painting. As far as the larger than life portraits go (which this one barely qualifies as!), these are different than the dog-a-day paintings. They evolve around ...

"An Unlikely Pair (Amos)," 8" square, commissioned mastiff dog portrait , acrylic on board, private collection (THANK YOU!). I just love this pose, and want to try my hand at again, at least twice this size. That will allow me to introduce more detail into the flooring, get lost in Amos' folds of skin, and really amp up the sunlight factor. You'll see Amos again tomorrow, when I share his larger than life portrait, which my client is seeing for the first time this afternoon. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. Kim

FROM TOP: "Bumblebee (Portuguese Water Spaniel)," 4" x 6", dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard; "Masked Man (Mastiff)," 4" x 5", dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Back to the dogs today! I'm playing with smaller boards, trying to keep the paint wet during the entirety of working the piece. This gives me some beautiful and subtle harmonies, and also allows for some juicy brushwork. But I have to work quickly - the acrylics dry in a matter of a 1/2 hour or so. Once they start to get sticky, I begin a new painting, and return to the first one when it's totally dry for another round, and just keep that cycle going till I need fresh water. Thanks as always for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingado...

FROM TOP: "Spaniel Study," 4" x 5", King Charles Cavalier Spaniel dog portrait , $114, SOLD . "Sheepdog Top-Knot," 4" square, sheepdog pet portrait , $99, SOLD . "Wrinkles," 4" x 6", mastiff dog portrait . Inquiries may always come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Today's paintings are another benefit for Animal Friends of the Valley Shelter in Lake Elsinore, California. Last week I shared their plight - their kennel building, a temporary home to 39 dogs and cats, burned to the ground, taking with it the lives of those little ones awaiting adoption. The shelter has about150 animals remaining in their care, and is in need of assistance as they work towards rebuilding and continuing their efforts for the homeless animals in their area. Many dog-a-day readers stepped up last week and contributed on their own - thank you so much for your generousity. The shelter can be reached at 951-674-0618. Individual contributions ...

I spent this afternoon with a dear woman, one who I first met under the auspices of “client” (as quite a few of my friendships of late have begun). I swung by her house unannounced, to deliver a small gift, prior to her having surgery tomorrow. For despite her most valiant attempts, the hospital simply would not bend their rules, and allow her dog entrance. (And believe me when I say that this woman bends steel with the power of her words). I could not imagine her without dear Amos by her side, and so therefore, tried to give her the next best thing – a small painting of him, one that she could contemplate upon while recovering. And she gave me such a tremendous gift in return – there were so many gems that simply fell from her lips without any sort of fanfare whatsoever, and I wished multiple times that I had a means of capturing her words before my silly brain buried them underneath things far less important. It was an afternoon that blossomed quite unexpectedly, into something extra...

“Gus,” 6x12”, commissioned pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). This is another portrait who’s proceeds are benefiting Best Friends Animal Society ( http://www.bestfriends.org/ ) . Gus has such a solid look about him – I loved his substance, that confidant stance, his gentle but insistent gaze. And all that color – I’ve said it before, but brindles are just SO FUN to paint, with the blues and oranges and violets. Originally I had Gus smaller on the board, to show off his lovely tuxedo marked chest. But that splash of white kept tearing my eyes away from his face. So I rubbed the whole thing out, and had at it again, positioning Gus and the composition so that all my marks would lead your eye to his face (see that line of pink highlight across his back? And the little light blue collar cradling his chin? And the dashes of orange strategically placed?). Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. I so ...

I have mastiffs on my mind. I’ve been doing quite a bit of sketching, planning for a lifesize mastiff portrait, and while waiting for the client’s feedback on her painting’s concept, I decided to do this smaller study. I wasn’t striving for any particular likeness, just playing with the unique lines of the breed’s profile, and working out my palette for the portrait. “Mastiff Profile,” 6”x6”, acrylic dog painting on canvasboard. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . If you are interested in following the portrait’s process, you can view Beau’s concept sketch at www.turtledovedesigns.com/wetpaint.html . I will post updates to this same page during the next few weeks as the painting progresses. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family. Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Fo...

I first met Brutus earlier last year when I got to paint him in a dual celebration of his 10th birthday and a liver cancer victory. As with every animal I get to paint, I developed a great fondness for his exceptionally sweet temperament. And that massive tongue – he was ALWAYS grinning. So it was with a heavy heart that I read the email telling me that Brutus had been put to sleep. This piece is for those who are feeling a bit empty without him. Brutus, 6x8, acrylic on canvaboard, private collection. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family. Enjoy all the slobbery (or not so slobbery) kisses you can today, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild http://www.canineartguild.com/ the gateway to canine art on the web