Paintings With Soul

"Tandem," 8" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a Thoroughbred getting ponied to the starting gate at Saratoga Racetrack, $399 (includes shipping and handling to a US address). Email me if you would like to to own this lovely chestnut racehorse and his delightful gray sidekick - two horses for the price of one!. Thinking about the design elements of this composition - the weave of legs (don't you LOVE that they are in stride?), the red legwraps balanced by the red dotted silks, the tails streaming in the same direction. All intentional considerations (I had a series of photographs of this pair) when planning this particular painting. Their rhythm set off by the riders' separate poses/seats creates an interesting tension. This makes me smile. I know it'll find a home and make someone else do the same. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.co...

"Headstrong," 10" x 12," acrylics on a museum quality canvas, depicting a post parade pairing from Saratoga Race Track in upstate New York. This painting is $599, with free s&h to your door (inside the US). Please inquire . And take a peek at the in process photos which are here . At the end of this month I am heading to Saratoga for my annual visit. A group of equine artists and dear friends gather together for a long weekend of gallery visits, shop talk, pastries (mmm, Mrs Londons !), ice cream and wine, good belly laughs, and all things equine. One of our special pleasures is seeing horses being bad. Perhaps we are a little juvenile in that regard, but we take great pleasure in following their antics. And when we are able to capture the troublemakers on film (or, err, digitally, as in my case), we are especially pleased. Once I happened to be on the rail when Johnny V (the Kentucky Derby winning jockey on Animal Kingdom that y...

One of 8 contour drawings made available today , all equine related. Because I couldn't wait ANY longer to start celebrating Derby Week! Contour drawings were something I learned in college as part of my life drawing class. The model would hold a pose for 10 minutes, and we were to draw the edges of her form. In 10 minutes. I know it sounds impossible, and at the beginning, it very nearly was. With practice, those contour drawings became blind ones (meaning that we couldn't look at our paper while drawing), and those poses shortened to 2 minutes. It's all a matter of training one's eye and hand. At the time I enjoyed the exercise, but didn't think much of it, and stopped doing drawings shortly thereafter. What the heck was wrong with me? (I know what it was - I got seduced by COLOR and all her mysterious ways!) Now that I've rediscovered contours, and begun doing them in colored inks, it seems to be a happy marriage.  You can see all o...

Detail of an in process painting, working title "The 9th Race, On the Turf," 8-1/2" x 24", acrylics on Ampersand gessobord, featuring a field of horses crossing the finish line. Available for $1199, inquiries may come to me . My head is still at the track, and clearly not paying attention to the snowfall outside, thinking of sunshiney days and bright green grass. And that First Saturday in May. I'm sure by now you've heard the news that I'm the 2015 Kentucky Derby Artist . I'm still processing what that means, and today I allowed myself to think of nothing but Thoroughbreds, sunshine, and spring like weather. In process photos are on Facebook - feel free to join in the conversation over there! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Photo taken by moi this morning on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course. I had the amazing luck today to witness 2-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan work out.  I've never previously had the opportunity to see an equine superstar in training, and this was a special treasure, to hang with true fans and have my heart beat to the staccato of his hooves. We gather in Saratoga each summer, and it's like we have been together all year long. That's the measurement of true friends, isn't it? We've indulged in art, pastries, the racetrack, home cooked meals, journaling, laughter, tears and an unrealistic amount of gelato. The sort of stuff that cements lifelong friendships. Take a peek at who I'm sharing this weekend with (in alphabetical order): Alecia Underhill Jenifer Trottier Juliet Harrison Linda Shantz Sharon Simons-Passmore Take a peek at a photo essay outlining our weekend here . ...

"Anyone's Race," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a field of Thoroughbreds two strides into a race. This painting is available through Spa Fine Art (in Saratoga Springs New York) for $529 to the first one asking nicely. Spa also carries a large selection of other racing scenes. Please contact them for more information. To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file directly from my website . 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. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

    It's nearly time for my annual pilgrimage to Saratoga Springs, New York!   And for those of you who also visit the track to pay your dues, plan to stop by  Spa Fine Art  and say hello on Saturday, July 27th.   Last year I was able to complete  a large racing scene during the course of the day. I'm attempting the same again this year! Paint starts flying at 2pm, and I'll be there through close.   Stopping to heckle will also give good reason for you to visit  Mrs. Londons  and bring me something yummy to keep my strength up.   Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    IN PROCESS, and untitled, 24" x 6", track scene from the early, early morning at Saratoga Race Track.  Inspired by many a morning spent hanging on the rail, listening to the horses and riders gallop past. This is acrylics on museum quality panel and will be for sale when finished - inquiries can come  to moi !    I started this one last nite, and it proceeded along with a wee bit of drama - pics are  on Facebook  - I had planned to be done by now, but what can I do?   Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    ABOVE, detail of "Morning Rush Hour," previously shared with the working title "Collected"), from "The Saratoga Series," 12" x 24", acrylic on museum quality panel, inspired from photos I shot in the early morning on the back side of Saratoga Race Track, $749. BELOW, complete painting.  Inquiries may come  to me.   In process pics are  on Facebook  - there's a mess of them!   And now I'm off to paint a couple of commissioned portraits. Then it'll be back to the track scenes for a bit. And I'll squeeze in some new Ball Dogs, too.   Thanks for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

    IN PROCESS:  "Collected," from "The Saratoga Series," 12" x 24", acrylic on museum quality panel, inspired from photos I shot in the early morning on the back side of Saratoga Race Track, $749. Inquiries may come  to me.   In process pics are  on Facebook , along with title suggestions - I'm not yet entirely sold on "Collected."  I'm also considering "Back Sides."  I'm open to your suggestions, too. I'm going to paint more tonite after dinner and will update with photos as the piece progresses.   I've been painting Saratoga scenes for four years now. I don't think I will ever tire of the track.    Or of painting it.   I suppose this is the closest I'll get to owning a horse. I have an entire stable of them, in paint!!   Thanks for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Play Ball Prints Available   Click on the image belo...

"Anyone's Race (was yesterday's Bunched Up)," 7" x 12", a painting in process of a field of Thoroughbreds (12 of them!), done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. $529 to the first  asking nicely . Inspired by a series of photos I shot on the backside at Saratoga last summer - standing nearly opposite the starting gate at the outer rail. These horses are on their second leap - it could be anyone's race. LOTS of in process pics are on  the studio Facebook page . Many thanks, too, to everyone who bid on the horse paintings I auctioned off in the first part of the week. Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS If you didn't hear - I got an iPhone!! finally!!

    "Jockeying," from The Saratoga Series, 5" x 20", depicting 5 jockeys and their mounts fighting for position, acrylics on museum quality panel, $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you.     Remember  the hot mess  from a couple weeks back? Well, I sweated it through and signed off on it today. Feels darned good, too!   This painting is part of a new body of work celebrating  Saratoga Race Courses' 150th Anniversary . This summer I'm ushering in the track's birthday party with a live painting session at  Spa Fine Art  on Saturday July 27th. I was honored to be invited and those of you who joined me last year know how much fun we had - so mark your calendars. Let's do it again!   There are lots of  in process pics  on the studio facebook page - you may have to scroll a bit through  the Mobile Uploads folder , as progress on thi...

  "Slop," 7" x 15", depicting a field of Thoroughbred race horses nearing the first turn at Saratoga Race Track, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $529 to the first asking nicely . Please works well.     In process pics are on  the studio facebook page.   I literally stood in the pouring rain to get this reference photo. I was seriously waterlogged, no exaggeration. We're talking plastered hair, damp undergarments and puddles INSIDE my shoes. And while I am disappointed that the painting does not convey exactly HOW wet the conditions were, I do find other redeeming qualities in the piece.   "Slop" is headed to  Spa Fine Art , my gallery in Saratoga, New York, as part of the track's impressive 150th birthday celebration this summer.   Unless you need this painting on your wall Right Now. In which case,  email me  and I'll make that happen.   Thanks as always for following along with...

  The initial block in happened overtop an orange underpainting (above).       I slowly worked my way across the panel, defining shapes and forms as I went.       Photo courtesy of the amazing  Jen Trottier.  Hair courtesy of the lovely Saratoga Humidity. White House Black Market dress courtesy of the Salvation Army.     ALl photos in process of "The Stretch Run," 9" x 36", acrylics on museum quality panel, $699 unframed. Inquiries may come  to me .   When in Saratoga two weeks back, I spent a day at  Spa Fine Art , painting and mingling with the public. This is the piece I finished while there, a painting I left in their care. I don't doubt that they will find the perfect home for it.   Meanwhile, if you are interested,  let me know,  and I'll introduce you to the Spa staff. And arrange for you to see a true completed painting image, too. ...

I spent last week in the clutches of Saratoga, one of my most favorite places in the world. Attached are just a few of the photos I snapped that capture the sights and sounds.....   Fondly, Kim, who will never get enough of the front - and back - side of a racetrack. Or Mrs Londons (pastry shop). ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com        

  The newest painting in the Saratoga Series, "At the Gate," has been signed. The above photo is from my cell phone, and it's an in-process shot and a little blurry (my apologies) - I didn't think to take a clearer photo before delivering the panel to my framer for trimming. But I think you get the idea! Below is a detail of the same in-process stage.....       This painting will be coming with me to  Spa Fine Art  in Saratoga, New York - unless someone speaks up in the next 48 hours ( email me!! ).   The piece is roughly 4-1/2" x 18", done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, and $549.   In process images are on  the studio Facebook page  - you might have to scroll back through the weekend's posts, since I worked this one up on Saturday.   And yes I did say I was taking this with me to Saratoga - I leave tomorrow!! I'll be in New York through the weekend, and return to daily paint...