Paintings With Soul

  Sacrosanct   24"x30", acrylic on panel, $1300 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. Clicking on the image above  or here  teleports you to my website to view the painting in a room setting, zoom in up close to the image, and perhaps even make her all yours. This piece is available to ship at the end of September 2025. Questions? just  reach out .   I have been hiding out in the studio. It's in the basement of my home which means I can come to work without having to go out into the real world. When I'm here, I have no idea of time of day or what's happening weatherwise. I can lose myself with my art materials and my processes. And if I can find flow state while I'm working, that's added respite too. The studio is where I lay out what is weighing heavy on my heart, examine it thoroughly, and then work through it by making art. I've got a lot of shit laid out down here as of late, but nevert...

  "Bound (was Dove 3)," 11" x 14", acrylics and pencil on stonehenge paper, small white margin on edges (not pictured), $399 plus s&h to the first asking nicely, if I can part with her. You'de better ask very, very nicely. I accept paypal, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may always come   to me . Last week I shared   this painting . I truly thought she was finished. But then in the days since, I've become a better artist. This morning she tapped me on the shoulder and helped me see what could happen with just a few more layers of paint. Of course she'd told me this last week, but I wasn't able to understand it yet. Thanks, as always, for following along on my art journey! Warmly, Kim

A process video from 2010 featuring two Frenchies  Watching this video was quite the step back in time! In order to make these sorts of films the camera was set up - and not touched - for days. In some households that wouldn't be an issue, but in this one, it was a ginormous challenge. Because as soon as the camera was set up, someone needed to get into the closet behind it. Or a dog would come ramming into the tripod. Or I would forget it was there and back straight up into it. The real life hazards of filming at home. On top of that, I had to remember to turn the camera off when I left the easel (to take a phone call, lock a kid out of the house, set dinner to burning on the stove) and, most critically, turn it back on when I returned. You'll see a shining example at about the 56 second mark when I forgot to do just that. I spend a lot of time laughing at myself. It's a coping mechanism. My process has changed some in the last 9 years...

"The Blue of Fallen Skies," 11" x 14", acrylics on panel, $449 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may come   to me . I was beating myself up, because every painting I started this week ended up in my Paint Over Pile. I think much of that had to do with the news, from which I have now unplugged. A heart can only stand so much. I am going to seriously embrace my mantra "because our world needs more beauty" in the coming weeks. Who's coming with me? Thanks, as always, for following along with my art journey, Warmly, Kim

"The Dog Walker (Siren #75), 20" x 24", acrylics on panel, $849 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. I accept Paypal, Venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may come   to me . I don't do cold (it is so wrong that I live in Michigan and don't do cold), but provided it is warm enough for the dogs, I make an exception to walk them. It might involve 6 layers underneath a lunch-lady length coat and thermal knee high boots (I definitely don't look as stylish as this girl!), but I get my butt outside and follow my dogs butts around the 'hood. A good walk behind a waggy tail clears one's head. Of course, such a walk is all the more marvelous when it doesn't take an hour to thaw out afterwards, but that's just my opinion. Thanks, as always, for following along with my art journey, Warmly, Kim

"Pressed Flower (Siren #73), 18" x 24", acrylics on panel, $799 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. (There is a wee bit of glare from the studio lighting on the left side of the painting) I accept Paypal, Venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may come   to me . There's not been much paint getting moved about the last couple weeks. I've been too busy varnishing, framing, wiring, packing and shipping paintings. At the end of tomorrow, I will have sent 30 pieces out into the world inside the last 12 days. I am so ready to return to playing with color and birthing new works. Today was an unexpected gift - in between working with students, I got a little time at my own easel. And would you look who at showed up - a delightful, delicate presence. I think she's Joy. Maybe she's Hope. It doesn't really matter who she is, though, because she is perfectly preserved in paint, so that I can figure out her identity in my own sweet time...

"Angel I1," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, originally $899, special 12 Days of Christmas pricing $799 plus s&h with holiday delivery inside the US. Inquiries may come   to me . I can't stop looking at her. She's desolate, yet digging deeper. She is ready to breathe grace, love and acceptance into our world.   Peek at the detail below   - the entire surface is packed with nuance.   Share Tweet Forward Over the next 8 days I'll be sharing some paintings that would make most excellent gifts. These pieces will carry special holiday pricing thru December 15th, 2017. They are one-of-a-kind originals, and once they are gone, they are gone - so please, if you are interested in something, let me know in the timeliest manner possible. Additionally, if you are in southeastern lower Michigan, I'm hosting   a studio Open House in my new space . I've cleaned out my home studio (mostly) of inventor...

IN PROCESS (and with glare, apologies): "Sapphire," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $899 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much! So here's the thing: I had an entirely different plan in mind when I started this painting. And like a toddler throwing a tantrum, Sapphire insisted on doing something else. So I decided to indulge her, spent some time studying and responding to what was there, and came up with this. It's kinda haphazard right now, but I can almost visualize the ending. For a while there today I was painting blindly, with very little idea of what was to come next. Disconcerting, but a great exercise in letting go of control. Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Present," 12" x 19", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a solid and gentle giant draft horse. He's walking away from the viewer, but his ear is rotated, and he's paying careful attention. This original painting will be a stunning focal point where ever it gets hung.. It is $600 with complimentary shipping inside the US.  Can I ship it to your home? let me know . Allowing the paint to drip, run and bleed (like I did in the bottom half of the painting) gives a spontaneous quality to the composition. Just one of the many ideas that I'm working on collectively - it's like a bomb has gone off in the studio, with all the drawings, sketchbooks, panels and stretched canvases piled about. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Steam," 9" x 12", acrylics on panel depicting a lovely and powerful Warmblood (horse) galloping in the snow. This painting needs a home - it's only $539, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me . In process photos  here (thank you for peeking!).   Is Spring FINALLY Here? Today's temperature was in the 80s (nearly 40 degrees warmer than a week ago!), so it seemed safe enough to paint some snow. If Michigan gets some freakishly cole weather tonite and tomorrow, I will totally take the blame.   This concept appealed to me because of the steam blowing across the dark body. And then, once I started it really really big, I struggled with the extreme value shifts - darkest darks and lightest lights - and couldn't get things to work. I fought with the painting for the better half of Friday and then threw in the towel.   I looked at the hot mess of a painting...

"Paco Pug," 8" x 10", Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel. I have seen pics of Paco in my FB photo stream for a loooooong time, as he belongs to fellow daily painter Kelley MacDonald - I was pretty pleased to get to paint him for her today! Paco's portrait is Kelley's, but let me know if you would like something similar for yourself! This is how I love to paint. Layers of loose and gloppy brush strokes. Glorious harmonic color. Just enough light to make me swoon. A face you want to squeeze. In process images are here.   Love Paco? Then get him on a phone case . Or a pillow . Or 48" wide for over your couch . Or send him in the mail to someone needing a smile . Thank you so much! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

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...

"Sun Bun (Bun II)," 8" square, acrylics on museum quality panel depicting Mr. Bun, a Lionhead Rabbit. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will help homeless buns - he's $399 to the first asking nicely. SOLD VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS I painted Bun again today (here's his first portrait ) - he's such a good little model! Next week we'll change things up a bit - it's Derby Week, and keeping with tradition, I'll paint horses each day. But meanwhile I'm off for a weekend of dance. In between numbers, I'll be doodling in the dressing room, making plans for new paintings. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

  "Maggie Kitten," image approximately 10" x 5" roughly centered on a 12" x 9" piece of bristol board, done in acrylics, depicting little Maggie and her spotted belly, Private collection.   ORDER REPRODUCTIONS/NOTECARDS     I suspect Maggie's painting will quickly become a favorite, so I loaded her up onto  FineArtAmerica,  where you can order reproductions and notecards.   There's lots of other paintings there, too (I have well over 200). I recently added a gallery exclusively for  images new to the site , to make it easier for regular visitors to see what's changed.   And if you don't see what you want, let me know - I'll be happy to add it if I can!   Enjoy your weekend, Kim, who is grateful to have another opportunity this evening to hear the Lake Orion Marching Band play (did you hear they placed 2nd in the State last weekend?!!). Oh yeah, and to watch some excellent high schoo...