Paintings With Soul

  "Leia and The General," image approximately 12" x 7" roughly centered on a 17" x 14" piece of bristol board, done in acrylics. This special commission will be headed soon to a new home (thank you so very much!).     It's not every Monday I get to paint Princess Leia and The General. I'm just saying.   Fondly, Kim, who is grateful for her little Star Wars jaunt today, but also for the sacrifices of the millions of men and women who put their lives on hold to protect my freedoms. And the freedoms of my family. There is no compensation for that, but my heart is trying. ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

  "Maggie Kitten," image approximately 10" x 5" roughly centered on a 12" x 9" piece of bristol board, done in acrylics, depicting little Maggie and her spotted belly, Private collection.   ORDER REPRODUCTIONS/NOTECARDS     I suspect Maggie's painting will quickly become a favorite, so I loaded her up onto  FineArtAmerica,  where you can order reproductions and notecards.   There's lots of other paintings there, too (I have well over 200). I recently added a gallery exclusively for  images new to the site , to make it easier for regular visitors to see what's changed.   And if you don't see what you want, let me know - I'll be happy to add it if I can!   Enjoy your weekend, Kim, who is grateful to have another opportunity this evening to hear the Lake Orion Marching Band play (did you hear they placed 2nd in the State last weekend?!!). Oh yeah, and to watch some excellent high schoo...

"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? ...

  In case you've been living in a cave, it's Election Day here in the US.   It doesn't matter who or what you vote for - what matters is that you vote.   Our country is far from perfect, but we are lucky enough to have a say in choosing our leadership and helping steer the future.   Don't waste your shot! Getcher butt to the polls before they close, Kim, who is looking forward to no more automated political phone calls starting tomorrow ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  "Toby," sketch done in acrylic on bristol board, approximately 4" x 6" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, depiciting a Sheltie, commissioned and in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     I came into the studio in my jammies this morning and started sketching. It's been productive, going directly to the easel instead of the computer. My brain wasn't yet weighed down with a to do list - maybe this is the new routine I'm searching for.   If you want a commissioned sketch like Toby's, they are only available until the end of this year.   Don't know what the difference is between a sketch and a portrait?   A sketch is a small study, done with very loose brushwork, often enclosed in a rectangular form like the above piece. It is done on paper, and carries a generous margin on all sides.   A portrait comes in a variety of sizes and are done on museum quality panels. Portraits carry far m...

  "Mazie Lou," sketch done in acrylic on bristol board, approximately 5" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, depiciting a Cavalier King Charles-Cocker Spaniel mix, commissioned and in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     I did lots more sketching today, along with delivering three works to a new show, planning several future exhibitions, readying a solid stack of paintings for shipping next week, and working up concepts for new portraits.   And now I'm off to watch some high school playoffs football.   Go Dragons!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  "Rosie 1" and "Rosie II," sketches done in acrylic on bristol board, each image approximately 5" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, commissioned images and, as such, in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     Both these sketches are fulfillment for a gift certificate, a gift certificate given last year at the holidays (or maybe it was Father's Day?).   Gift certificates are a great way to get the recipient involved in the portrait process, from sharing their memories of the dog's personality to choosing (or shooting!) reference photos to building a composition.   Each certificate is custom created with a breed specific image and a face value you determine. When slipped into a frame, they make for a gorgeous presentation as well.   Email me  if you are interested in gifting a certificate this holiday season!   Fondly, Kim, who is very close to od-ing on fun-sized chocolates ...

"Puppy"," 6" x 8", portrait of The Man Child, done in acrylics on panel, part of my - well, part of his - personal collection.     Our first Halloween in Michigan (after moving from Southern California), I made toasty costumes for the boys, worried they would get chilled while out trick or treating. That year it was unseasonably warm, and they wanted to go commando underneath their little furry suits. We compromised - new plaid boxer shorts peeked out the open backs of their puppy costumes as they scooted out the door on Halloween night.   It's hard to believe that the little boy I remember sent off his college applications last night. That he will turn 18 in just a few more weeks. That soon he will be out in the real world, touching lives, playing his music, and building a future.   Proudly, Kim, who will be tucking red plaid boxers and the hood to a beloved puppy dog costume in with The Man Child's college gear...

      "Toby"," 8" x 10", commissioned dog portrait of a Sheltie, private collection (THANK YOU!)!!   In process pics of Toby can be found on  the studio Facebook page , along with links to other things I deem interesting. Stuff like other artists, beautiful artwork, exhibitions, books, process specific, the business of art, inspirations and music.   Inquiries about getting a portrait similar to Toby's starring your own companion can come  to me  - I am nearly booked full for the holidays, but I am happy to put together a personalized gift certificate!   Fondly, Kim, who's delighted to have power and internet and kids who went to school today, and is praying for all those who are not as fortunate. No kidding, peeps, I hope you are all safe and warm and dry and not at risk for losing any of those things. ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

    Wow! How did another month whip by? Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I can't believe it!   Here is your November calendar boy, Percy. He'll do anything for a nibble of turkey......   To implement this month's desktop calendar, simply download the file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link.   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.    I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are di...

"One Fish, Two Fish," 12" square, painting of a mixed breed dog and koi, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, $599 to the first one  asking nicely . SOLD . This is the piece I worked on at Wednesday evening's live paint event at  Merge Gallery . I started and finished within the span of a few hours, all while mingling with the attendees and other artists. I know I may get some flack here. "It ONLY took you a few hours?!" While the execution perhaps seems minimal as far as investment of time, the work and learning leading up that equals 40+ years of study and persistence. No one is born simply knowing how to paint - they spend a lifetime refining an interest or an inclination. It's incredibly hard work, just like trigonometry. Or world economics. Or running a marathon. I break a sweat, too, in the studio - over stuff like color harmony and balanced compositions and turning light into something tangible. ...

"Manic," 10" square, painting of a chocolate lab playing in water, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, $539 to the first one  asking nicely .   SALE PENDING (thank you!) The inspiration photo for "Manic" came from those submitted for my  "Cherish" paintings . Funny how last winter dogs and water were not even on my radar. And now I can't get enough of them!   This is the piece I blocked in and started  on Tuesday . In process pics are on  the studio's Facebook page .   There's also in process pics of another dog and water piece, "One Fish, Two Fish," which I started and completed during a four hour live painting session last night at  Merge Gallery . I'll highlight "One Fish, Two Fish" in tomorrow's blog post.   Warm thanks to the staff at Merge for hosting a spectacular and inspiring night of creating, and to all the kind folks who stopped by and said hello while ...

My easel, prepped with a 10" square panel carrying a blue underpainting.   I am often asked about my easel board when it's included in photos like the one above. This is an 18" x 24" piece of masonite I've been using for years - I duct tape my panels to it, and anchor the masonite into the easel trays.   This allows me greater freedom with my brushwork, especially near the top and bottom edges of my panel. It also provides sturdier support for a variety of panel sizes, more so than merely locking them into the trays provides. This means I can use aggressive brushwork and not worry about the panel shifting or, worse, falling to the floor. I can also tape multiple smaller panels up at once, and work on a series of pieces simultaneously.   I write inspirational phrases on the board and they are slowly buried under layers of marks - the most recent was added last week, courtesy of  Lisa Daria Kennedy , a daily painter I greatly admire: ...

"The Circle," 15" x 18," a commissioned portrait of four family members, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, headed to a private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me.   In process photos, many of them, are on  the studio's Facebook page  - be sure to scroll back, because I've been working on this one since last week.     This weekend I wrapped myself in family and gave thanks for my Grandparents. The perfect prescription for healing.   This morning all three kids got off to school - although The Caped Crusader slept in and joined his classmates a little later in the day. Which means I got in a couple of uninterrupted hours at the easel and started a ginormous pot of ham soup simmering, and that was an excellent prescription as well.   Fondly, Kim, who's looking at her calendar and realizing there's not much more room for holiday commissions - you'de better  speak up now  or...

This is a larger painting, 15" x 18," titled "The Circle" and very much in process, pieced together from numerous photos and depicting a family of four canines. This is a commissioned painting, and as such, it already has a home - but I'm happy to create something similar for you. Inquiries may come  to me.   In process photos, many of them, are on  the studio's Facebook page .     I could talk about the circle of life and creativity and inspiration, but honestly, I am exhausted.   This weekend we lay my grandparents to rest alongside each other in the family plot. And celebrate a mass in the church they were married in 72 years ago.   And I'm holding firm to the idea that Rome wasn't built in a day.   Nor were bones magically reknit together. Or houses cleaned stem to stern in the blink of an eye. Or all sorts of other hurts mended instantly.   Fondly, Kim, who really should stop worryin...

grownUPs journaler Toni demonstrating her understanding of contour drawing and exploring the use of positive and negative space, from this evenings art journaling workshop.     Things are settling down in the Santini household. There were no broken bones today and dinner was homemade spaghetti and meatballs. All three kids were smiley (although one's smiles were, admittedly, vicodin induced), homework completed, and animals fed and walked without complaint.   And then Mom got to escape to one of her happy places.   That being grownUP journaling classes.   We meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month for a couple hours in the evening. And tonite I savored every moment of our togetherness.   Our group was intimate (I'm not judging those who opted to stay home and watch the Tigers dominate the Yankees!) and all the more special for it.   We focused on edges, quality of line, and positive and negative spa...

The Wonder Woman cons were quivering again today, as I sat by while The Caped Crusader got a new ankle.     There's nothing like a crisis involving one of your kids to cause a total re-evaluation of what seemed important, like, 5 minutes ago.   The Caped Crusader's ankle was shattered at football practice yesterday afternoon, probably just as I hit "send" and got my newsletter into your inboxes. This was followed by a very long and late night at ER, coordinating emergency carpools for the other two kids, keeping My Better Half (stranded 1-1/2 hours away with a flat tire) up to date, and the piece-de-resistance, serving cold cerael for dinner.   The Caped Crusader will be fine, a la Steve Austin style (and the other two also survived their sub par dinner), but ultimately his demonstration of courage and tenacity in the face of an abrupt end to his beloved football season - and his mobility for the next 5 weeks - well, it gave me pa...

At this stage, anything's possible...... a view from behing my easel, all set up and ready for this afternoon's painting session.     Let me start of with a warm and sincere "thank you" to those who emailed and messaged their support after yesterday's little confession .   I am the poster child for rabid optimism. Which means that this dilemma seems impossible for me to wrap my head around and embrace.   What? no glittery rainbow? no dancing unicorns?   Nope. At least not today.   Some of the most profound discoveries come from difficult places. That doesn't mean I have to like it or even pretend it isn't happening, that I'm in an uncomfortable spot and not sure how to move on.   Apparently the plight of being lost in the creative wilderness is one shared by many. It surprises me there isn't a wild party happening in here, but maybe I've not wandered about for long enough.....   L...