Paintings With Soul

"Trouble," 24" x 20", acrylics, charcoal and ink on panel, featuring a a kitten crowned with spray roses, $599, with complimentary shipping inside the US. Inquiries may always come  to me . Some paintings exceed my expectations. This one takes my breath away. Whomever purchases him will get quite a treasure! 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 . "Color-iffic", 2 days, Crooked Tree Art Center, Traverse City, MI, October 8-9, 2016. Click here for further information or to enroll.

IN PROCESS: "Trouble," 24" x 20", acrylics, charcoal and ink on panel, featuring a a kitten crowned with spray roses. On top of just being ridiculously juicy with color, this piece comes with a healthy does of personality. The painting is $599, with complimentary shipping inside the US, and will go to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may always come  to me . Warm thanks to Beth at Amazing Petals for helping me put together the perfect bouquet for this painting (and she thought brides were high maintenance!). The yellow pods (I forget what they are called) and the stabby greenery (knife something or other) were delightful to paint. And the soft greens in the spray roses..... they make me very happy. I know this painting will do the same for a lucky collector, too. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    WORKSHOPS: "Color-iffic," Montague, Michigan (near Grand Rapids), September 8-9th, ...

"Dont-Give-A-Care Bear," 16" x 20", mixed media on museum quality panel, a continuation of my  Year of the Spark  studies. At first I thought I could part with this one, but really, I can't. So, next best thing, it is uploaded on  FineArtAmerica . I think Bear is a fine companion to  Under a Van Gogh Sk y, and together they would look fantastic in a playroom. Inquiries can always  come to me , and thank you so much.  I thought the  Year of the Spark  class would renew my passion for painting. I never expected it to push me into entirely new directions. And yet, here I am, creating work I'd not even imagined a few short weeks ago.   These "totem paintings" (so named because the central figure seems imbued with a symbolic presence) were seedlings in the winter, with contours done on clear plastic layered overtop other drawings. A dialogue started between the objects and stories formed that stretched beyond the ...

"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 ...

View More Sketching Photos "Big Vinnie," approximately 4" x 5" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, done in acrylics, depicting one of the kindest equine eyes ever, private collection (THANK YOU!). This is what I call a "painted sketch." It's an unrealistic expectation to plan on hanging every single creation of yours over the couch. Sketch, draw, play - keep things loose and happy. Experiment and mess up and, yes, throw things away too. It's all part of learning. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

IN PROCESS: "Besties," 18" x 24", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel (with image wrapped around the sides), commissioned portrait depicting a black labe and her new best friend, a chocolate lab pup. In process photos are here .  So despite the best intentions, this piece will not get finished until after I return from my Florida workshop next week. But that's ok - it'll allow me to linger over these two. They deserve some good lingering, I know. Thanks for following along with my artwork,  Kim 

Excuse me? for real? it's December?  To implement this month's desktop calendar, 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!)....

"Ollie," 8" x 8," commissioned portrait of a German Shepherd, acrylics on a museum quality panel, a special gift for Ollie's little girl. Plenty of  in process photos are here . Want one for yourself? Inquiries may come  to me . I've been studying in-process images by master painters, and the one thing I noticed (light bulb moment here!) was that they paint entirely with planes. There is very little delineation happening - their subjects are sculpted with paint. So that was the approach I took with Ollie. No lines or drawing - just slabs of color going down. I rather like the effect. Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    IN PROCESS, Triple Threat, 12" x 22", commissioned portrait depicting a family of little troublemakers (Yorkshire Terrier and Yorkie mixes), done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. This one is heading to it's new home as soon as it dries, but  ask  about having your own pets memorialized in an original painting!     I was angered yesterday to learn of yet another "artist" who copies others' artwork and presents it as their own. And a so-called "artist" selling original oil painting portraits that are really photos run through a computerized filter printed on canvas and coated with varnish. And a company that's made a habit for years of stealing artists' designs and selling them as their own.   It seems like there's no shortage of people trying to make a buck off another's hard work.   I'm sending warm thoughts to my friends and colleagues who are preparing for copyright battles - and thinkin...

    From left to right: Koi I, II, III, IV, each 6" square, together measuring 6" x 24", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting koi fish in a natural pond setting, all four panels together available for $699. Inquiries may come  to me .     I came home from last night's art guild meeting inspired and wanting to paint. Since I had to stay up and wait for a kid to return home, I poured a glass of wine and reached for my brushes. You can see what I worked on long past said kid's return  here  - including the work today.   Around lunch I got to a clear stopping point and decided to work on something entirely different - an idea I have had for quite some time.   So this afternoon was spent fishing.   The four panels are meant to stay together - and yet each of them also works well alone, as you can see in the individual photos below.   Once the originals sell, I'll offer reproductions on these fo...

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...

Bear's Backscratch (finished), 12" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait depicting a delightfully goofy Golden Retriever, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me , though, because I can make something like this starring YOUR dog especially for YOU.     I wish I could paint like this every single day! In process pics chronicalling the last two days' work are  on Facebook .   Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS   Did you hear about  my painting giveaway ?

IN PROCESS:  Bear's Backscratch, 12" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait depicting a delightfully goofy Golden Retriever, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me , though, because I can make something like this starring YOUR dog especially for YOU.     You've seen Bear and his sidekick Nita many times before. Daydream ,  Nana Nana Na Na ,  Cannonball ,  Snuggle Bunny , Snow Much Fun  - the list goes on and on and on, but you can see that these two are perfect muses and I take great joy in painting their antics.   Is your dog (or cat) a muse? you can always introduce us via digital photos.  Shoot me an email  - I paint from non-flash photos   that you have personally taken  (very important!) where the animal is at least 1/3 of the picture.    Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS...

  IN PROCESS:  "Opie," 9" x 12", commissioned portrait of a sunbathing black cat, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!).    Want a painting of your own? then  email me !!   In process photos will continue to be uploaded  here .   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Enjoy your weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    AT RIGHT, "Lily" and AT LEFT, "Lucy," commissioned portraits, both 5" x 7". Each done in acrylics on museum quality panels, private collection (THANK YOU!!).    I started these two before the holiday - process pics are  on Facebook  - there's quite a few!   Now what to paint next? decisions, decision!! (and I could be painting for YOU -  ask me  about it!)   Thanks for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com