Paintings With Soul

Learn From My Mistakes.  24" x 36" x 1-1/2", acrylics on cradeled panel, not for sale. However, inquiries may always come to   me . My newest selfie - I've been doing these regularly for over 2 years. After so much practice, I am finally getting the hang of figurative painting. Still have a looooong way to go, but I am very pleased with all the forward progress I have made.

36" x 48", acrylics on panel, featuring a unicorn hidden inside a rose bush. Don't despair if you can see her right away - just breathe slowly and look closely. This piece is $3599. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. I usually buy my flowers from the week-old bucket. But not today. This painting was totally worth splurging on the most insanely gorgeous blush roses. Added bonus - they will last a bit longer than I am accustomed to.

FINISHED: "Pinkie," from The Beribboned Series , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available (when finished) to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Pinkie got a facelift, literally. I put all my references away, including the ribbon setup. I redrew her features from memory, then decided that she needed to be a lighter value than the ribbon. Then I adjusted the bow a bit, too, and tucked her ear behind, so it all perched perfectly on her head. Because I was able to listen to the painting (instead of being married to my references and original concept), Pinkie's portrait turned out far nicer. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

IN PROCESS: "Pinkie," from The Beribboned Series , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available (when finished) to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. For whatever reason, today was a struggle. We all have days where nothing seems to work out, myself included. But now that I've painted this little mouse, and repainted, and painted again, and yet again, so many times that I've lost count, I can see what my issue is.  So I am ending my day with clarity. And some mac and cheese. Both of them being very good things. If you want something to do, hop on over to my new website and let me know what you think!! I've been picking away at it all week long. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Valentine Tulips," (2) 16" x 20" acrylics on panel, that when assembled create one 32" x 20" image. This Valentine bouquet will never wilt, and is available to the  first to ask nicely  for a very affordable $399 (plus $20 s&h). Tell someone you love them today. And then tell yourself the same thing! Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Peonies and Orchids," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel. I am thinking spring as the snow flies and blows outside. Who's with me? This one is available to the  first asking nicely  for a very affordable $200 (plus $20 s&h). SOLD (TY!) Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Pink Peonies," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel. This is a demo painting for the lesson I'll teach this weekend - my local library has invited me to share some spring inspiration with their patrons. If you recall, in the fall we painted sunflowers together , and this time around it will be peonies. These peonies will bring a bit of spring to you, too - they are available to the  first asking nicely  for a very affordable $200  (SOLD - TY KL) Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

Own this Print! starting at $22 "(uni)corn Flower II," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, featuring a pink unicorn, complete with blaze and a tangled crown of corn flowers. She's got a home already, but do l et me know if you want to see more of these, or even want one for yourself. Or, order reproductions on a variety of items here . Notice that she's number 2? There's a (uni)corn Flower I in my studio now, 36" x 48". You can see him in process  here . And (uni)corn Flower III will be started momentarily. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

TOP, detail, BOTTOM, full painting - "P(e)ony," 48" x 48" (yes, this little pony is larger than life!), acrylics on panel, featuring a miniature pony sprouting a tangle of pink peonies. This is my favorite painting ever to come off my brushes. It can be yours for $8999. This includes complimentary shipping inside the US. Also, as with all my work, payment plans are an option, and I accept credit cards through Paypal. Inquiries may always come  to me . I have never painted with such intensity as with P(e)ony. These animal+florals are carrying me into brand new territory, and as I make wonderful discoveries with each one, I'm realizing that all my previously separate veins of creating are melding together into one cohesive and unique style. I am evolving! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"White Lilacs," 24" x 30", featuring Lily (one of The Princess's bunnies from years back), sporting a crown of ivory blooms. This painting is $599 (and, as with all my work, payment plans are an option). Inquiries may come  to me . SOLD (thank you very much!) After the wild acclaim over the first Lilac, I decided I needed to paint another variation on the same theme. They are similar, and yet uniquely original.  Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

In process, "Toile Tabby (Mona Lisa)," 6-1/2" x 6", acrylics on copper panel, portrait of my ever willing studio muse and tabby cat, complete with her air of mystery. When finished, this piece will be $599 to the first asking nicely. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I don't often force myself to take time away from the studio, but did so this weekend. Sometimes one can benefit from shutting down - or trying to shut down - the incessant color mixing/painting/composing/problem solving that goes on in one's head.  In my case, I returned to the studio early this morning - 7am!! - eager get to the easel and a bit more clear headed and focused than I have been as of late. The break (including a massage, reading, knitting, baking, journaling and family time) was good for me. And here I am at 11pm, readying to call it a night. Because when inspiration calls, my brushes are compelled to get to work answering. Thanks for your interest in...

"Baby Boo Magic," Toy #17, 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite. This painting features a pepto bismol pink unicorn with a glittery purple horn. This piece is $75, including shipping inside the US. Purchasing is as simple as  asking . You might say I am obsessed with unicorns. I've painted and drawn quite a few of them this year (you can see/order prints/notecards/cell phone cases/bedding/tote bags featuring them here , here , here (and this one's for sale!) , here , and here ). I've adopted the unicorn as my totem animal, at least for the time being. I relate particularly well to the specific qualities of unicorns - historically, one didn't see unicorns, nor did they come to help, unless one believed and was truly in need.  I have a dear friend who told me (when I was mourning the loss of loved ones) "When you can't believe you'll get through this, I'll believe it for you." It was at that moment sh...

The finished version, still damp to the touch! "Hot to Trot," 12" x 12", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting Marzipan, a Barbie Fairytale plastic horse. "Hot to Trot" is available for $599 - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Fridays start with yoga class. I've missed it for various reasons for over a month. My instructor had taken to calling me the "Yoga Dropout," it was that bad! I practice at home, but nobody pushes me as hard as her, so getting back on my mat this morning was a wonderful gift to myself. By the end of the class, my head was clear and my muscles all stretched out and quivery. Yoga was followed up by a massage. The past few weeks have been riddled with stress and I needed to work out the tension I'd been carrying in my back and shoulders. Easy fix - lavender butter, quiet music, and a little snooze. My brain slipped into slo-mo and my muscles were even more quivery by the end of...

"Meg," 6"x8", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait of a little Maltese who is loving her second chance at life, private collection (THANK YOU!).  And but of course I can paint like this for you - just ask! . Meg was adopted into her new home last fall. She joined two older brothers, and didn't take long at all to leave her pawprint on her new Mom's heart. Who knows what her previous circumstances were? She is timid and remains fearful of men, but she knows how to snuggle and love on those who are kind. And that's pretty much how the rest of her life is going to play out! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Princess Playmobil," 5" x 15", acrylics on museum quality panel, heralding from my kids' stash of Playmobil toys, $99 to the first  asking nicely  . I'm working out logistics of placement of my still life setup, it's proximity to my easel, and how to best manage dramatic lighting for the setup but even lighting for my workspace.  On top of the whole painting process, there's a science to building the visual to begin with. Who knew? Next I'm headed to Traverse City to teach for four days - can't wait to meet my new kids for the week! I'll try to update regularly, if they don't run me ragged. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Getting Cozy," 8" x 10", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting Dugger, our 2014 Valentine's Day winner! This portrait will be shipped to his family early next week. In process photos are here , and you can see how tough a choice I had to make here . Extra special warm thanks to everyone who helped make this year's contest so much fun. I wish I could have painted more than one image.... Hoping your day has been sprinkled with love! Thanks for following along with my artwork,  Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Forty Five Lives," 9" x 12", portrait of five black kitties, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, available to the first collector asking nicely, $540 including s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come to me . When I saw the inspiration photo for this painting on Bernie Kazmarski's blog in early December, I couldn't resist asking if she'd let me paint it. Even though she is a artist herself and probably wanting to paint it herself. So I held my breath and crossed my fingers and toes and hoped hoped hoped she would just say yes. Which she did, and it was so fast that I hadn't even yet turned blue. I am so grateful to her for sharing the photo - and looking forward to seeing her interpretation as well! Thanks for following along with my artwork! 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...

"Calvin, Sketch," image approximately 6" x 6" on a 9" x 12" bristol board, acrylics, featuring a sassy Weimereiner pup, private collection (THANK YOU!). In September I pledged painted sketches to fans making a $75 contribution to an ALS walk in honor of a family friend. Calvin's is the first of these portraits. I took extra special pleasure in painting him, layering marks and color and detail in appreciation of his Mom's support of a cause close to our hearts. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Pinky" and "Blu", bunnies done in acrylic on bristol board, each original painting measuring 9" x 12". I'm going to tweak these two a bit more and then offer reproductions (notecards and/or prints on canvas/paper/acrylic/metal) starting at $50. There will also be smartphone cases - I promise to share order details tomorrow after I take care of one more tweak...... Meanwhile, inquiries/special requests may always come  to me .   Wouldn't these be fabulous in a nursery or playroom?     I was driving and otherwise distracted by some yechy looking weather blowing in, when the most wonderful idea smacked me upside the head.   Why not sketch animals overtop patterns, like what I did with  the dolls last week ? But take it a step further and paint my own patterns?   That idea sure got me through errands lickety spilt!   When do you get your best ideas? Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com