Paintings With Soul

Cracker Jack.  16" x 20", acrylics on panel, $649. Inquiries may always come to   me . I am tempted to keep this one, but willing to allow fate to send her elsewhere, in case she's needed more by someone else. Spending time thinking about what makes my heart skip a beat, and why, so that I can incorporate it into my paintings. OKeefe (my hamster) is one of those things.

Learn From My Mistakes.  24" x 36" x 1-1/2", acrylics on cradeled panel, not for sale. However, inquiries may always come to   me . My newest selfie - I've been doing these regularly for over 2 years. After so much practice, I am finally getting the hang of figurative painting. Still have a looooong way to go, but I am very pleased with all the forward progress I have made.

The Dream Materializes.  24" x 36" X1/2", acrylics on cradeled panel, $949 plus s&h. Inquiries may always come to   me . I've had marathon painting days in the studio with a number of LARGE paintings in process. I am exhausted, but also so very pleased with all I am learning. Including the painting I ruined last nite, because I overworked it. I knew better, and told myself, "Self, you are getting into trouble here." Self didn't listen; she needs to work on her listening skills.

Breathing Underwater.  30" x 40", acrylics on panel, not for sale. However, inquiries may always come to   me . I've been working on this one all week. It is extra special to me, and I plan to enter her in a juried show later this summer. What sort of story does this one tell you? I'd love to hear your interpretations!

A Little Romance.  24" x 20", acrylics on panel, (sold - thank you SO much!) Inquiries may come to   me . Another special request painting - after completing   a gray mare and chestnut foal painting last week , I was asked to try my hand at a bay pairing. From the historic "Four Sixes Ranch" in Texas, comes the mare Mostfamouseromance, and this year's baby filly by Hez Our Secret. The baby is a promising future racehorse, and they are hoping to register her as Scandalous Romance, but for now she's just "a little romance." Now what to paint next? I'm open to suggestions - you are welcome to send   non-flash photos that you have taken  to  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . By submitting a photo you are acknowledging that you are the photographer and have not assigned the copyright to any other parties and that derivative artwork may be made from your photo. You are under no obligation to purchase resulting artwork, however, you will ...

The black horse is a uniquely powerful amulet. 24" x 20", acrylics on panel, sold (thank you!). Inquiries may come to me. I was asked to paint a black horse, and somewhere along the way I was seduced by her magic. It's not the first time she's done this - Shadow was destined for another fate altogether when her current owner bought her from a kill pen. And as often happens with rescued animals, they reciprocate by rescuing their new owners.

My parents were told I'd grow out of it, but I still dream of ponies.  24" x 20", acrylics on panel, $899 plus s&h. Inquiries may come to   me . In my imagination, I owned many ponies. And horses. I was a horse whisperer before anyone even knew what that was. I also was a champion jockey and an Olympic rider and especially talented at braiding manes. I had an uncanny connection with all things equine. Art opened doors that my imagination jumped straight into. My drawings of various adventures papered my bedroom wall. And my paintings continue to do the same thing to this day. Especially when world events are tragic. I close my eyes and dream of ponies comforting those in need.......

Peace and Comfort.  24" x 30", acrylics on panel, $899 plus s&h. Inquiries may come to  me . Our world needs buckets more of peace and comfort. Although baby horses are wonderful too.

She carries me from the darkest places.  12" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, $849 plus s&h. Inquiries may come to  me . Who's always got your back?

The Spirit Within. 16" x 20" x 1/2", acrylics on gallery wrap canvas (painted around the sides, so no need to frame). Inquiries may come to me. I have been trying to get this sort of surface for YEARS now, and I've finally figured it out!! At one point today I got so frustrated that I walked away, only to return after mowing the lawn to find my desired effect had occurred - it just took some time to set itself up. The acrylic paint appears to be melted wax, marble.moves like watercolor, and scumbles like oil. Some of these effects occur simultaneously. I wish you could see it in person!

Prince Leopold.  12" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $309. Inquiries may come to  me . In between waiting for layers to dry on a 24" x 36" panel, I continued with my Frog Princes paintings. Warm thanks to  Team Husar Photography  for this leopard frog reference.

The Real Deal.  12" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $309. Inquiries may come to  me . I'm running out of references - time to go play in the garden and see if Grandpa Toad wants to do a photo shoot! And there was that little tree frog hanging out around the fountain the other day too.......

Prince Pessimist.  12" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $450. Inquiries may come to  me . I'm loving all the little warts, and having a perfect excuse to sprinkle in lots of color.....

The Freckled Prince.  12" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $309. Inquiries may come to  me . SOLD (thank you!) I may have to make a series out of this. There's some crazy wonderful frogs/toads out there, all begging to be painted......

Waiting for a Kiss.  12" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $309. Inquiries may come to  me . Aren't fairy tales the best? They were one of my favorite things to read as a child - I loved comparing similar tales from differing cultures. I've had The Frog Prince in my head for over a week now. Finally able to get around to painting him. And I just might do it again.......

The male oriole is rumored to have a penchant for dressup.   Diptych (two panels specifically painted to hang together), His Royal Highness on the left and The Crown Prince on the right. Each painting is 9" x 12" x 1/2", acrylics on canvas, $289 separately or $499 for both. Inquiries may come to  me . Back in the studio, I'm thinking about that space between actual experience and dreams, where bits of reality stick to ethereal possibilities.  It's a fascinating place, that juncture between imagination and true events. Anything is possible, like royalty among the Orioles. I mean, it makes total sense for every species to have it's own royal family.

36" x 48", acrylics on panel, featuring a unicorn hidden inside a rose bush. Don't despair if you can see her right away - just breathe slowly and look closely. This piece is $3599. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. I usually buy my flowers from the week-old bucket. But not today. This painting was totally worth splurging on the most insanely gorgeous blush roses. Added bonus - they will last a bit longer than I am accustomed to.

My brave crewe of painters from the Louisiana Art and Artists Guild. I've been in Baton Rouge the past week, painting alongside these lovelies, working on color, brushwork, and what it means to honor one's path as a creative. They were fearless and inspiring, each one tackling their own wish list of lessons and finding ah-ha moments. Including me! Now I'm in New Orleans with  Dianna Reilly (A.K.A. Stella Gray)  for a few days. New Orleans is the perfect setting for further discussion about the way creativity weaves itself into our lives, and how we can best feed it. There are also grits. Lots of grits.

Mum, a new selfie in celebration of Mother's Day 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, part of my ongoing series of self portraits. This one is not for sale - I'm going to will it to a kid with specific directions to hang above their eye level, so that I am always looking down at them, just like when they were all shorter than I...... Meanwhile, inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. Self portraits are a remarkable exercise. I've been practicing them at least monthly for nearly 2 years. They are an insightful exploration of mood, energy and outlook. Sometimes they aren't terribly flattering, but I'm not painting them to pretend I'm a supermodel. I'm painting them to become a better caretaker of myself.

They got their hats! These chicks are ready for the Kentucky Derby. 18" x 24", acrylics on panel, starring two heirloom Derby Chicks. These chicks are fairly common in the south, but up here in Michigan, it's rare to sight them. I've included a detail below so that you will recognize one more easily in the future. This Derby Chicks painting is $865 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. Two years ago I was feted all week in Louisville as the official Kentucky Derby artist. The final honor was sitting in our box at Churchill Downs' finish line and watching American Pharoah win the first leg of his Triple Crown. History unfolded for me personally and for the sport I passionately grew up with. Wishing all involved a safe trip tomorrow.