Paintings With Soul

As the   Painting a Dog a Day   project grew, so, too, did my own to-do list. My studio profitability had shifted from larger commissioned works which took weeks to complete to the smaller daily paintings. I was doing 3-5 daily commissions each week, varnishing and shipping them out within days. In between creating/ blogging/shipping each piece, I was fielding emails, perusing reference photos, writing quotes and having conversations with new collectors about their own portraits Each commissioned portrait brought new people into my life, and with that came all the stories inherent with getting to know a pet and what they meant to their family. (Do you know that the vast majority of the animals I paint I never meet?  I rely on email communication and a mess of photos to piece things together.) It was always fascinating, getting a glimpse into others' lives and loves. I think it was 2010 or so when N...

"Ball Hog (Harley)," 9" x 12," acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a very lucky mixed breed dog. This painting has a home, but I could possibly create something similar starring your dog, so  please inquire .  A Surprise A's family had been hounding her for a dog for a very, very long time. And I bet you can tell already where this story is going - she resisted, also for a very, very long time. And then this Momma dog was rescued - she had a litter of brand new pups under a mattress in Detroit, during one of the coldest winters we've known. And this Momma dog and her puppies ended up in foster care with one of A's friends. You know where this is going right? It goes without saying - one of the puppies won over A's heart, and that of her family, too. Meet Harley. A lucky girl to have had her life turned around from an unlikely and frozen beginning. She spent last week vacationing with A's fami...

"Airplane," 9" x 12" x 3/4", acrylics on Raymar panel (all 5 sides so no need to frame), depicting a friend's Golden Retriever, photo used with permission from Team Husar Photography . This painting is $629, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me . In process photos  here .  I Have a Confession You might not have seen it on the surface, but the last couple years have been very difficult. My Grandmother passed away, suddenly but peacefully, in March 2013, and that ushered a string of immeasurable losses - pillars of my family, dear friends, mentors, a friend's child, mothers of my kid's friends, one of my daughter's teenage friends. It was (and is) never ending. Life does that sometimes. Not only was I feeling unrooted in my personal life, but there was an emptiness in my painting process that began to loom and gather momentum. I had been battlin...

"Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog (and hope to paint many, many more times), acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . Some faces are so timeless, I could never tire of painting them. Such is Bear's - I hope to get to create many more pieces inspired by him. Provided fate continues to allow that. While running errands today, I was delayed by a feral pregnant kitty. I tried unsuccessfully to lure her close enough for a good look (or a quick drive to a warm bed in my garage), but she outwiled me. After a fruitless 45 minutes, I left her a chicken breast, messaged my friend who's an animal control officer, and went on my way. Only to discover emergency crews caring for the injured at a serious car accident which occurred exactly at the point I would have been ...

In process, "Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of Bear, a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . View In Process Photos I've been working on Bear's wet coat, the reflections of light, and the contrast balance for most of the day. Doesn't he look absolutely wonderful?! The end is in sight, very very close, but I'm starting to get cross eyed. While I am eager to sign this painting, I am also very aware of the dangers of pressing forward when my head isn't totally clear. Which was one of the toughest things for me to learn - when I need to fully embrace patience, and when it is necessary to power through a difficult passage. So I am going to set him aside for a little this afternoon. Perhaps I'll do some journaling or work on a small...

In process detail of "Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet . In some ways, it's shockingly wonderful. There are people who care enough about my artwork to pay me. It's crazy! (THANKS!!) And some of them care enough to buy multiples - I am shipping 5 pieces off next week to a home that already holds far more than that. How lucky am I? (THANK YOU!!) And there are those who interact regularly via emails and messages, feeding my muse with their questions, ideas, and generosity. You keep my brain dancing with the possibilities. Again, how lucky am I? (and THANK YOU TOO!) And then there are those, who, for whatever reason, shift from fan to collector to friend. Bear's portrait is going to someone who's done just th...

Untitled and in process, 12" x 16," depiction of a yellow lab playing in the sprinkler (sprinkler not yet painted!), done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $629. Inquiries may come  to me .     Last night at my demo, I was so eager to talk painting that I completely flaked on taking photos!! But this is what I started and includes a couple hours of additional work today - I'm taking a little break for chocolate before starting on the water droplets.    Comment on the progression over on FB, where  I'm sharing photos of the painting  over the course of the day. Feel free to chime in on a title over there too!!   We talked about color and value, committing to becoming a better artist, setting realistic goals to make that happen, using photos (only with permission!) for inspiration and allowing a dialogue with the composition that fosters artistic license, and the importance of good footwear (I was sporting a favorite pai...

    "Liquid Sunshine," 10" x 10", another Water Dog painting starring the same muse as  "August,"  from last week. Done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, "Liquid Sunshine" is available for $539 to the first one  asking nicely .    May your coming days be packed full of joy and sunshine and treasured moments. I will return to daily painting in the New Year.   Merry, merry!! Kim, who cannot believe another year has come and gone - thank you for keeping me company ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  "August," 10" x 14", another Water Dog painting, depicting a golden retriever playing in the sprinkler. This painting will hopefully get juried into The Art Show at the Dog Show  next month, and, if so, will be available for purchase through them.  Let me know  if you are interested, and I'll keep you in the loop.       Wishing you all a quiet and beautiful evening, Kim, who plans on having double helpings of quiet and beautiful tonite ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

"Come On In, The Water's Perfect," the newest Water Dog painting, 12" square, depicting a Great Pyranees in a wading pool, acrylics on a museum quality panel, $599 (unframed) to the first one  asking nicely . But you have to  ask nicely  inside the span of a week, because otherwise I'm shipping this painting to Sheldon Fine Art in Naples, Florida. There it'll get framed up beautifully and snatched up, soon, too, I imagine. Lots of in-process photos are available on  the studio Facebook page . Fondly, Kim, who is off to dig out Christmas decorations and start decking her halls ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

The last week I both revised and completed paintings I had previously shared, so I thought I would provide updates.   "Poppy," 8" x 12", got a patterned blanket as opposed to the plain one I originally included. This painting is available for $529 - interested parties can  email me .       "Bear," 11" x 15," got a fine spray of water droplets and reflections added to his composition. Bear's painting has a home - stay tuned for reproductions and notecards, which I will make available next week.   I'm signing off for the week to maximize my family time. I hope you are able to enjoy the things you cherish this weekend as well.   Happy Thanksgiving, Kim, who is salivating right now over the promise of corn bread and sausage stuffing ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

  IN PROCESS:  "Bear," from the "Water Dogs" series, 11" x 15," done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever. A very wet golden retriever. This painting is already spoken for, but let's talk about doing more water dogs -  email me .   You can view in process pics of Bear's portrait on  the studio's Facebook page .   I will finish Bear later tonite (and you can follow that on  FB tonite as it unfolds, too, so pour a glass of wine for yourself and join me) - but I'm dashing off shortly for carpool (this is hopefully my last school carpool for a bit as The Caped Crusader potentially gets a walking boot/cast on Friday!!) and post office (am sending three paintings to new homes) and ballet (sigh. I love that The Princess dances and I adore the group of young ladies that she dances with).    Toodle Loo, Kim, who compromised by listening to Swan Lake AND The Nutcracker in the studio t...

"Incoming," 11" x 14", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting two labrador retriever pups, black and yellow, available for $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me . SOLD. Lots of in process pics and a conversation about the painting are  here,  on the studio Facebook page. I'm looking for more water dog muses - Sheldon will be needing fresh paintings in the new year! You can  email your photos to me  with absolutely no obligation to make a purchase. Now I'm off to work on the two commissioned sketches I should have started yesterday. Fondly, Kim, who is becoming far too good at procrastination ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Water Dogs I couldn't be more thrilled to share that  Sheldon Fine Arts  in Naples Florida will be representing my artwork beginning in December 2012. Sheldon will be exhibiting a sampling of my Water Dogs paintings, s...

  "Incoming," 11" x 14", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting two labrador retriever pups, black and yellow, available for $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me .   And in process pics are  here,  on the studio Facebook page.   It was a wonderfully rich day, starting with breakfast with my boys (Wednesdays are late starts at our high school, and our ritual is going out to breakfast), and ending with a revelry of music (we started with a guitar lesson and tied things up over flute practice).    And I chose a marvelously complex painting to complete today - I may not finish till after midnite, but I haven't felt this alive in a long time.   Was it starting my day with the asiago bagel warm from the oven and a hazelnut coffee? getting serenaded with astounding gee-tar picking skills? packing lunches while the kids debated chocolate chip pancakes vs peanut butter cookies? ...