Paintings With Soul

"The Ninth Life," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, $499 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries can come to   me . Starring one of my current studio kitties Mona Lisa, but harkening to memories of Turtledove, the studio namesake, who passed away on Thanksgiving Day eleven years ago. There's something tender and precious about the delicacy of old age; the lines of a life well lived, battle scars and smile lines both. The surface of this painting bears those same sorts of marks, telling the story of a peaceful rest after a grand adventure. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork. Warmly, Kim

Languorous (daVinci).  12" x 16", acrylics on museum quality panel, portrait of studio muse and quality control manager, $549. Inquiries may always come to   me . So what does an artist do when they are still feeling a bit under the weather on Day 5? They show up. Because nobody else will finish varnishing paintings, respond to emails, update inventory archives, coordinate commissions, and work on grant proposals. And when it came time for me to choose a subject for today's painting, I opted for my kitty. Because today was a day to stick inside my comfort zone. And eat mashed potatoes.   There's no gift quite as wonderful as a custom pet portrait. I paint from your photos, resulting in a surprise to unwrap that's like no other. Now is the time to start discussing and planning any holiday gifts you would like to commission. Museum quality portraits start around $400, and are priced according to size and complexity. If you have a smaller budget,   reac...

"Catnap," a portrait of studio kitty daVinci, 12" x 12", acrylics on panel. Available to the first daring to invite Vinnie into their home. He's been peeling wallpaper from the walls and taunts the crated puppy ridiculously. Although the painted version should behave far better. $200 will get you a cat. Inquiries to me , and thank you so much. And yes, I am still doing commissioned pet portraits, starting around $300 for a museum quality painting. A portrait is a fabulous way to honor our four legged family members. Reach out if this is something you are considering - I do a couple of them each month. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Midas," 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! I should charge double for this one. Those ribbons took a damn eternity, so many repaints I lost count, and I'm freaking cross eyed from the stripes. BUT - here's the thing - I stuck through it, asked myself why things weren't working, found the answers through trial and error, and made it work. So yesterday's crappy paint day? No longer matters my friends! Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

IN PROCESS: "Midas," 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! This is daVinci, one of my studio kitties. And this painting is entirely HIS attitude - he thinks he's a Pretty Big Deal. So the ridiculous crown of gold ribbons and his stately, classic 3/4 profile are absolutely perfect. I had hoped to finish the piece today, but had a tough time finding my groove. Which happens - so, I'm going to be kind to myself and return tomorrow for another pass. It's only paint. And we can't always be on fleek. Well, maybe you can, but I can't! Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Trouble," 24" x 20", acrylics, charcoal and ink on panel, featuring a a kitten crowned with spray roses, $599, with complimentary shipping inside the US. Inquiries may always come  to me . Some paintings exceed my expectations. This one takes my breath away. Whomever purchases him will get quite a treasure! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    WORKSHOPS: "Color-iffic," Montague, Michigan (near Grand Rapids), September 8-9th, 2016. For further information or to enroll, please contact  Korrine Rodgers . "Color-iffic", 2 days, Crooked Tree Art Center, Traverse City, MI, October 8-9, 2016. Click here for further information or to enroll.

IN PROCESS: "Trouble," 24" x 20", acrylics, charcoal and ink on panel, featuring a a kitten crowned with spray roses. On top of just being ridiculously juicy with color, this piece comes with a healthy does of personality. The painting is $599, with complimentary shipping inside the US, and will go to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may always come  to me . Warm thanks to Beth at Amazing Petals for helping me put together the perfect bouquet for this painting (and she thought brides were high maintenance!). The yellow pods (I forget what they are called) and the stabby greenery (knife something or other) were delightful to paint. And the soft greens in the spray roses..... they make me very happy. I know this painting will do the same for a lucky collector, too. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    WORKSHOPS: "Color-iffic," Montague, Michigan (near Grand Rapids), September 8-9th, ...

"Mona Lisa's Garden," 10" x 20", acrylics on a museum quality panel, a portrait of Mo Bug (my studio kitty). This delightfully impressionistic garden painting can be yours for $399 (this is a bargain price, but it's also much looser and juicier and sketchlike, so I thought I'd price it accordingly) - let me know if I can wrap her up for you! There's several gardens growing in the studio ( Daisy and Posey ), and another one blooming outside. Life is good at Casa Santini. ALSO: come paint with me in Tulsa next week - May 4th and 5th. More information can be found here . Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

I cleaned out my small painting storage yesterday and found a few pieces that I really loved, which, for whatever reason, have not yet found homes. Which means that you win, because I decided to mark those pieces with special pricing, in the hopes of them finding good homes. Adopting a painting is a great way to being love and smiles into your home. And there's no litter box cleaning, poop patrol, or pasture picking involved. Complete info is here . Enjoy your weekend and thank you so much for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Lying in Wait," 5" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a kitten looking for a little adventure, $329 (includes shipping and handling to a US address). Email me if you would like to to own this little guy - and thank you so much for your interest! SOLD (to the first one asking nicely!) Something else is lying in wait.  The holidays are just around the corner. Yikes. I am so not ready for them! (PSST - portraits make great gifts, and I do gift certificates. Also, custom cell phone cases and other goodies with my artwork on them. Just saying....) Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Shelter Tabby," 5" x 7", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a lovely gray tabby (of course, those who have painted with me will know that gray is never really gray - there's lots of color there!). This painting is being given away to support my local shelter - please read below for details. The Princess and I visited our shelter last week to drop off a donation. We were saddened to learn that they were at full capacity with cats. And there were so many wonderful kitties there, all ages, colors and sizes, happy to be played with and loved on. There was a crew of regular volunteers grooming and nurturing and letting us know about personalities/etc, and we enjoyed ourselves for over an hour. Of course we fell in love with a couple residents. It's impossible NOT to. We can't bring any more pets into our household (we are at capacity here too) but we decided we could still help out by sponsoring a couple cats and rai...

View In Process Photos I Want a Portrait Too "Mimi," 12" x 106", acrylics on museum quality panel, a still life depicting a lovely long haired dame, private collection (THANK YOU!). Mimi was adopted at the ripe age of 17 and spent 6 beautiful years with her family before passing away recently. Her Mom requested a portrait that depicted her as a dignified and mature lady. She particularly wanted a scruffier look to Mimi's fur, and I was secretly delighted because that meant I could use even MORE color. Mimi had a distinctive furrowed brow that made her look grumpy, but she was just the opposite.  It was even more fun having her on my easel because of that expression. I hope my portrait prompts many fond memories for her family. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

The completed painting - "I'm Not Listening. Wait. Maybe I Am," 11" x 14", velvety dark and rich acrylics on museum quality panel depicting the one and only Mona Lisa, $599 to the first asking nicely. SOLD (thank you!). VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Got this one finished today AND got the initial sketch done of my ArtPrize 2014 piece starring daVinci. You can watch that project (and it's a BIG one, to match Vinnie's personality) unfold here . And learn more about ArtPrize, a fantastic art festival held in Grand Rapids Michigan each fall, here . Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Paige, 6" x 8", commissioned tabby portrait done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!).  Sometimes I flake. Today was one of those days.  I took a starting pic of Paige's portrait , then got to work. I was so busy painting away ( and dancing in my new shoes ), that I forgot to take any other pics until I was nearly done. Whoops! Hey, if you want a commission or gift certificate like Paige's, let me know ! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Quiet, 10" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel depicting my studio muse, Mona Lisa. This painting is reserved for an exhibition and will be available for purchase in the future. SOLD. I used the same limited palette as yesterday - carbon black, pthalo blue green, titanium white, cadmium yellow medium, cadmium red medium, light magenta and light ultraviolet. I think there's also a couple pops of cadmium orange.  I made a slideshow of the in process photos. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Into the Light," 10" square, acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting Mona Lisa snuggled into a sliver of light, $499 to the first one emailing . In process photos are here . Mona snuggled in deep and slept soundly on The Caped Crusader's lap last nite, and I knew the image would haunt me until I painted it. Some days you just have to go with the flow - when inspiration strikes, I juggle things about and make the most of it. Next up? After dinner I'm teaching a couple dozen kids how to draw their pets' faces. And tomorrow I paint the Valentine portrait. Thanks for following along with my artwork,  Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Boo!, 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, portrait of Mona's sidekick daVinci, available to the first one asking nicely for $329.  Inquiries  may come to me!!     In process photos are  here .   This little painting was a practice piece - even though I was alone in the studio, I talked my way through the whole thing. Just some of the mental preps I do when getting ready to teach a workshop.   Springfield Art Museum, here I come!!   Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Four OClock (Mona Lisa), 8" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, portrait of the one and only Mona Lisa, available to the first one asking nicely for $469.  Inquiries  may come to me!!     I started Mo's latest painting yesterday (in process pics are here ), but was interrupted by two crises - one involving a broken down car and another over a missing uniform piece on game day.   My boss totally understood why I had to leave a little early!   Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

      "Do Not Disturb," 6" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting the tiniest Santini, da Vinci. This painting will go to the first one asking nicely - $369. You can  say "pretty please" via email.   I started this one yesterday, but many interruptions stretched things out over two days. Not the most ideal situation - I like to get into a groove and just let the paint flow until I'm done - but I always say it's important to step out of one's comfort zone and persevere.   In process pics of Vinnie's latest painting are  here .   And a special shout out to Facebook fan Bernadette Leigh who came up with the perfect title for this one.   If you want to talk about commissioning something extra special -  email me . I love to talk about this sort of stuff. Fondly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com