Paintings With Soul

In Process detail of "Rag Dolls," 8" x 16," acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting two vintage handmade rag dolls, including one rather sorry looking Raggedy Anne. Inquiries may come to me. Was reading Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima II" over the weekend, and came across a tenderly rendered painting of a doll. He acknowledged that dolls can be spooky, but also said that they are a reflection of who we are.  I was greatly reassured to read his words and know that even a great master like himself also plays with dolls in his studio. More pics of these two ladies, including my still life setup, on Facebook . Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS Thank you JW for your handmade doll - she's been sitting here in the studio all these years, and today was delighted to be chosen for her own special painting!

    "Ann and Annie," 16" x 16", portrait of two Raggedy Anne dolls, done in acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, intended for ArtPrize 2013. Continuing the doll paintings and conversations about their symbolic content. It would seem that Raggedy Anne is a safer face than the ones I've painted previously. Not that safe is better, mind you. And not that Raggedy Anne can't have a breakdown and come at you from behind either.... (hee hee!!)   All my ArtPrize doll portraits are here (along with the creepy vs sweet debates) on  the studio Facebook page.  I want to finish these two and another one this week.   And paint a couple dogs while I'm at it as well.   Meanwhile if you like the Ann's, you might also like  this one  I painted last week, which is now available in prints and notecards.   Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

    "Tiny Anne II," 6" x 6", portrait of an old Raggedy Anne doll, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, not for sale.    There is the popular belief that we artists just sit back and the paintings just paint themselves, and I want to assure you that this isn't further from the truth!   Artists work hard, honing how they see the world, practicing with their tools, and throwing out a LOT of art in the process. You don't see it because you aren't in the studio with us, but trust me, it happens. And even when I'm not in the studio, I'm painting in my head. Always mixing colors and rearranging form.   Ok, but I digress - back to Anne.   I repainted her (and cursed profoundly while doing so) probably 6 times yesterday. I knew that my issue was separating color from value, and because my doll was mostly flat, I needed to be paying extra attention to the values NOT the colors. And I also had to be studying color...