Paintings With Soul

"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 ...

I'm always painting, or so it seems! The following paintings are recently available for purchase directly from my studio. These original works, unless noted, are acrylic on museum quality panel. All prices include s&h within the US. (A more comprehensive list of unsold originals can be seen here ) BONUS - Multiple paintings can typically be shipped together, returning collectors receive 10% off purchases (excluding paintings on paper or masonite), and I do accept payment plans (6 month plan with art shipped upon completion of payments).  Thanks so much for your interest in my artwork!  Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com "Domino," 7-1/2" x 12", $449. Inquire directly to me . "Bouquet IV," one of several floral paintings available, each created under the instruction of Lisa Daria Kennedy , 6" x 6", acrylics on masonite, $75. Inquire directly to me . You can view...

"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...

"Baby Boo Peanut," Toy #16, 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite. The designers at TY are brilliant - first they brought us Beanie Babies, then Webkinz, and now Baby Boos. I love the huge eyes and the stuffie's proportions - makes for a fun subject to paint! This piece is $75, including shipping inside the US. Purchasing is as simple as  asking . SOLD (THANK YOU!) The Princess cleaned her room. And I got a bag of props.  Makes me sad that she is no longer playing with stuffed animals and toys. Well, perhaps sad isn't the right word - melancholy might be better. She's grown up now, giving me her hand me downs for the studio. At least I can still entice her in here every so often for journaling and listening to music. It's going to be hard when she starts high school this fall. I think it might be harder than her first day of Kindergarten. Perhaps I will secretly tuck a naked Barbie and a love letter from her Mommie int...

"Cookie Monster (Toy #6)," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, a portrait/still life depicting another refugee from the stuffed animal bin at the Salvation Army, a little bean bag Cookie Monster. Your favorite cookie fiend (and, supposedly, veggie lover too!) is $75 and includes s&h inside the US. Purchasing is as simple as  asking . SOLD (TY!) Blue Times...... I had a mess of Eeyore blues on my palette still, so it seemed like Cookie Monster should be next in line.  Can't tell you how much fun it is, digging through my toy bin and pulling out candidates!! And I've painted myself a little ahead (Cookie Monster got painted on Wednesday) because of some other commitments and field trips that will take me out of the studio for a couple days. If you are considering pre-purchasing a toy painting,  send me an email , indicating in the body of your message which toy # you would like, choosing from #6 to #100. I'll confirm that painting...

"Eeyore II (Toy #5)," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, another portrait (or is it a still life?) depicting Disney's Eeyore, salvaged from the stuffed animals bin at the Salvation Army (4 stuffies for a dollar, people!). This painting is $75 and includes s&h inside the US. How can you NOT love the grumpiest of grumps? Bring him home,  and then, I dare you to smile and be joyful around him! SOLD (THANK YOU!) It's Official----- I talked about the "100 Paintings" commitment a couple days ago, and was musing the added benefit of jumping on board the challenge myself. And the more I thought about it, the more sense it made.   I want to improve my ability to paint from life and to build still life setups here in the studio. Doing this in small bites, 100 of them to be exact, seems to be the perfect solution. Plus factor in the bins of toys I have been hoarding (I can't say no to an unloved toy) and I have plen...

"Eeyore," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, depicting another Sal-Val rescued stuffie, Disney's Eeyore. $75, includes s&h inside the US. How can you NOT love the grumpiest of grumps? Bring him home,  and then, I dare you to smile and be joyful around him! SOLD (thank you!). Perhaps I'm Onto Something I've been reading quite a bit about this whole "100" commitment - the idea being that you commit to doing something 100 times. Establishing new routines, pushing boundaries, learning. It all sounds wonderful and grand, but I couldn't quite see how a commitment to 100 of anything would benefit me, since I was already committed to daily painting. Then, as a result of the 6" square studies done in Lisa Kennedy 's class a couple weeks ago, I realized I could continue to practice and explore new ways of seeing and working from life in nice little byte sized pieces. I've done at least one nearly every...

FROM LEFT: "Pooh Bear II" and "Pooh Bear III," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, depicting my stuffed Pooh. Each piece is $75, including s&h inside the US. Because one can never have enough Pooh in one's life. Let  me know  if you would like one of these. Thanks so much! Bear Conversations After nearly making off with my Pooh stuffie yesterday, and getting in trouble for it, Finnigan sat careful watch in the studio today. Finni brought his current stuffie with him, an armless teddy bear, and laid with his bear in a patch of sunlight at the base of my easel.    I'm wondering what sort of conversation played out between the poor crippled bear and Pooh, who today perched on a pedestal in front of the window.    Maybe it's best I don't know. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Pooh," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, depicting a stuffed Pooh bear. My stuffed Pooh bear, rescued from the stuffed animal bin at the Salvation Army. I have a thing for taking in creatures that need love, don't judge me. This painting was for sale, but sold in just a few minutes over on Facebook. If you would like me to paint him again, I am happy to - let  me know .  A Near Disaster I first painted a little bouquet (see below), and then set about to putting together a new still life. Ultimately, Pooh spoke out the loudest, although in the simplest of terms, as Pooh does.  I messed around with him on my desk, then a shelf, then a chair. But he seemed happiest on the floor, at the foot of my easel. So I set to painting him, and was making good progress. And then, the dog came into the studio, took one peek at the stuffy on the floor, dove for Pooh, and then made a run for it. Such are the dangers of stuffies in my househ...

"Polar," 8" x 8", Golden acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, still life painting depicting an old stuffed polar bear on a white ground. Polar can be yours for $399, which includes shipping and handling inside the continental US - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Look Again - White isn't White. You've heard me say it before.  And to prove my point, I'll share a little exercise I do with my students. Take a white object (Starbucks cup, coffee mug, etc) and set it on your kitchen table. Observe how the apparent color of that white object shifts - it reflects the light around it, including whatever color your kitchen table is. Now take a bright tea towel or tshirt, and place it under the white object. See how that object changes again? This happens with everything in our world - it absorbs and reflects the color of everything around it (including the color of the light). The object is st...

"George," 8" square, acrylic on museum quality panel, portrait of the one and only, Curious George, $399 to the first asking nicely . In process photos are here . Want this one under your tree? Overnight shipping within the US ($30) and paypal will do it. Email me !! Still thinking about old dolls and that whole creepiness factor that happens once they are painted. Now this little guy isn't creepy - why is that?! Thanks so much for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

      "Snuggle Bunny," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting the now infamous golden retriever Nita (I've painted her more times than my own dog - she is the inspiration behind  Cannonball  and many other recent paintings!) and her beloved bunny, $629 to the first one asking nicely.   Inquiries  via email , please and thank you!   So Nita took a little longer to finish than originally planned, but some things are worth it. I couldn't be happier with this one - but did have to force myself to stop for fear of overworking her.   Meanwhile, please take a moment to send a warm thought the way of Nita's mom, who is recovering from surgery. Nita's going stir crazy without someone to throw balls for her all day!! hee hee........   Thanks so very much for following along with my work! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

      IN PROCESS:  "Snuggle Bunny," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting the infamous Nita (I've painted her more times than my own dog!) and her beloved bunny, $629 (when finished) to the first one asking nicely.   Inquiries  via email , please and thank you!   In process pics are on  the studio's Facebook page . I'll continue working on this one - I hope to have her finished by dinnertime!   Then it's Spring Break!! I'll be playing a little harder than usual next week but I won't stray far from the studio. And I've painted a little ahead, so i have a couple pieces I'll share on the days I'm off.   Happy Easter to all - and if you don't do Easter, find something wonderful to celebrate in it's stead!   Fondly Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com