Paintings With Soul

"Cameo," 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   WORKSHOPS:  May 17-20th, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Please contact Betty Klenke for more information.  June 21-23rd, Montague, Michigan. Please contact Korrine Rogers for more information.

"Maybelline Occasionally Over-Accessorizes," 20" x 20" x 2, acrylics on cradeled panel, painted around the edges, so there is no need to frame. Available to the  first asking nicely , $799 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. We all have friends like Maybelline, don't we? they just don't know when to stop...... Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

FINISHED: "Fiestaware," 24" x 30" acrylics on panel, featuring a mixed bouquet tucked into a turquoise Fiestaware pitcher. This one is available to the  first asking nicely  for $899, with one contingency. I've been asked by my agent to create a few floral paintings for licensing consideration.  Which means that if she likes "Fiestaware" (or whichever of these floral pieces), I'll ship the artwork to her for a high resolution scan, after which the painting can be shipped to a new home. The scanning process should be completed by the end of March. SOLD (TY!) Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"HoHoHo II," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a vintage (unmarked) roly-poly plastic Santa toy, $329 (with complimentary shipping and handling to a US address). In between doing top secret paintings, I'm pulling out older pieces and reworking them. This guy first hit my easel in 2013 . I think he's quite a bit more dashing now.  Email me if you would like to to own Santa - and thank you so much for your interest! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"The King (Elvis)," 6" x 8", acrylics on a Raymar panel, a portrait of none other than The King Himself, still life done from a vintage doll (stamped "1984 E.P.E" on the back!), $329 to the first one raising their hand. Inquires may come directly to me . In process pics are here .  Today started with a little extra sleep (can never go wrong with that!), then a private art lesson with one of my favorite young ladies, then some loud music and dancing solo at my easel. Now I'm off to deliver a pre-lacrosse practice snack to one kid, collect another from a volunteering gig, and get in a powerwalk all before the sun sets. Hope your day has been just as excellent! Thank you, thank you very much!  Happy Weekend, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Exhausted," 6" x 8", Golden acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord. This painting depicts a small bean bag Madame Alexander doll, and it also reflects my energy level today. The painting is $329, including s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come  to me . This weekend was a loooooong one - The Princess danced at a convention (7 hours of class daily) then opened her dance competition season with a total of 6 dance numbers (5 done within the span of 3 hours, including costume, makeup and hair changes), running into the wee hours of the night (she did fabulously both on and off stage).  Sunday I left the convention early because The Caped Crusader played for the lacrosse tourney league championship, his team's first game since the death of a teammate's mother (which they won while sporting purple bandannas in her memory!). In between and in betwixt I put together this week's journaling lesson, did some volunteer work, and prepped...

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...

"Forthright," 5" x 7", acrylics on an Ampersand gessobord, portrait of a vintage doll, or rather, a vintage doll head. With sleepy eyes. Or are they not-so-sleepy-eyes when they are glued open? Anyway, let me know if you would like a painting featuring a favorite childhood toy  (and yes, there's still time to get a gift certificate by the holidays). R 14 That's what's stamped on the back of this little one's head. She has the most mesmerizing eyes. Coupled with her ratty hair, which at one time appears to have been very fashionably coiffed (I can't imagine dread locks were all the rage in the 50s), she's an interesting face to gaze into. If you can forget for a moment that that's all she is. A head, balanced on a glass vial. I bet she was someone's treasured friend many years ago. I'm happy to be her caretaker now.  Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Happy holida...

"Troll," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, featuring a Troll baby, not for sale. Another one with special meaning to me. It's Day One of our dance convention, and the Princess spent hours dancing and bonding with her teammates.  I spent a couple hours working on the hotel room balcony, published the first class in my online workshop , and this afternoon was able to get my paints out for a little bit. A couple friends joined me and we settled in to create together. There was also wine and cheese and bread. And music and laughter. And an unlucky whoopie cushion. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Do You Take This Man...." 7-1/2" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, featuring vintage Fisher Price figurines, not for sale. You could say this one has special meaning to me. It's a long holiday weekend for us, and it's followed by The Princess's trip to a nationals dance convention and competition.  I'll be painting all week long from our hotel room - not sure yet what I'll pack to work on, but it's pretty much guaranteed to end up with an added layer of glitter and hairspray by the time we return home. I hope your weekend is safe and fun-filled. 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

View In Process Photos Order a Cowboy Print/Notecards/Smartphone Case I Want A Cowboy Too! "Cowboy," 4" x 6", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a Fisher Price Little People cowboy, not for sale. This treasure is going to a friend who's had a rough year. A little cowboy should brighten up her days from here on out. I mean, come on, it's hard to top the power of a cowboy.  Unless you are a unicorn. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Ken on a Stick," 6" x 8", acrylics on a museum quality panel, starring non-other than Malibu Ken, $329.  In process photos here  and  inquiries may come to me . I bought Ken - just his head, mind you - off ebay a couple months ago. Best dollar ever spent. You should have seen the rejoicing among the Barbies when just his head arrived up. I think there's a little bit of history here - maybe he was less than gentlemanly to them in the past.  Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Rose" 8" x 10," acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a sleepy-eyed Nancy Ann Story Book doll (does anyone know this doll's original name?). In process photos can be viewed here . Inquiries may come to me . Today didn't go as expected. Kids home (no power at school) and bouncing emails were just a couple of the surprises. (And for those of you in the path of last nite's storms, I hope you have a warm place to stay and all your loved ones are accounted for.)  I rolled with the punches, did lots of yoga breathing, put out all my fires, and found myself mid-afternoon with some time at the easel. I could have worked on a commission, but didn't trust the fates to leave me alone. So I chose a little doll who seemed to match my pensive mood. Here's hoping tomorrow is not a repeat of today! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com