Paintings With Soul

"The Big Red Dog (Amos)," 28" x 24", commissioned mastiff dog portrait , acrylic on gallery stretched canvas, private collection (THANK YOU!!). Isn't this dog the poster child for Life? Well, his person is even more special. I felt as though I have always known her, that she is an lifelong and dear friend. She even brought chocolate cupcakes to yesterday's painting preview (now you KNOW this is a woman after my own heart!). Not only were the cupcakes delicious, but they were gorgeous, too. I saved one from the suddenly savage children, because it beckoned to be painted.... and then eaten.... by myself, in the corner of the studio, while noone was looking..... I am grateful that Amos lives a few stone skips away, so I am able to continue this unexpected gift of friendship, long after delivery of the painting. As far as the larger than life portraits go (which this one barely qualifies as!), these are different than the dog-a-day paintings. They evolve around ...

"An Unlikely Pair (Amos)," 8" square, commissioned mastiff dog portrait , acrylic on board, private collection (THANK YOU!). I just love this pose, and want to try my hand at again, at least twice this size. That will allow me to introduce more detail into the flooring, get lost in Amos' folds of skin, and really amp up the sunlight factor. You'll see Amos again tomorrow, when I share his larger than life portrait, which my client is seeing for the first time this afternoon. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. Kim

FROM LEFT: "Clyde" and "Bonnie," each 4" x 5", two commissioned bulldog dog portraits in acrylic on board, private collection (THANK YOU!). Perhaps you remember Bonnie & Clyde from the tail end of last month, when I painted their double portrait (see http://www.paintingadogaday.blogspot.com/ for April 28th's painting). My client also wanted to highlights Clyde's tongue and snaggletooth, and we couldn't just paint the one without the other, since they live their lives in tandem. Again, if you are interested in booking your own dog-a-day portrait, please drop a line to me at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I am currently booking new portraits for September 2009. And if you are in the Metro Detroit area this weekend, don't forget that I will be at the Shaggy Chic Boutique in downtown Birmingham on Saturday and Sunday, with 10% of booked portraits and sales getting earmarked for the Michigan Animal Rescue League. Please call the store fo...

FROM TOP: "Sugared Lollipop I (Blue)," and "Sugared Lollipop II (Red)," both 6" x 8", from the "Tags, Toys & Treasures" series still life paintings, depicting crystalized sugar lollipops on wooden sticks, acrylic on board, $219 each to the first buyer (yes, I do combime shipping). Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . No, it's not a dog, but Finnigan sure would have liked to have gotten a hold of today's prop. I think he feeds off the kids' excitement. I did think ahead, and there were enough sugared lolli's for the whole neighborhood today. You have never seen so many blue and purple and green lips in one place before!! (Finni got his Heartguard, so he had a special treat, and although it didn't turn his lips any fun colors, he didn't seem to feel ripped off.) A favorite artist of mine (Carol Marine, http://www.bluecloudstudios.com/ ) often separates her objects from their drape by a sheet of glass. This give...

"St. Bernard Profile," 4" x 8", St.Bernard pet portrait , acrylic on board, exquisitely custom framed, $239 to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Today I set my plein air gear up in the front yard - easel, umbrella, sun hat and all - and set to my latest attempt in capturing my porch plantings in oil paint. Session One went ok, and I'll see if I can add to the basic composition next week. I am very excited about the possibilities that lie with oil paints, and promise to share my first amenable oil painting with you. I give you this juicily painted big ole guy in the meanwhile, sans drool. Not such a bad trade, if I do say so myself..... Thanks, as always, for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. And I will see you Monday. Happy weekend!! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Found...

"Scottie Profile," 4" square, scottish terrier dog portrait , acrylic on board, $109 to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This piece is about texture and shape, and yes, color too. I've been dabbling with oil paints, and I see their influence creeping into this weeks' acrylic paintings in the form of disappearing edges and looser brushwork. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild http://www.canineartguild.com/ the gateway to canine art on the web

"Fringe," 4" x 8", wire haired fox terrier dog portrait , acrylic on board, from the Painting a Dog a Day series (a daily pet portrait painting project), exquisitely framed in custom gilt and carved molding, $259. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I'm always looking at dogs from odd angles - not the typical heads-on point of view. I think that these types of unusual perspectives allow me to highlight elements that might otherwise get lost. Lately I've been very interested in top lines and silhouettes. Must be swimsuit season..... I published my studio's June newsletter yesterday via email. Today I got it uploaded to my website: you may view it at http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/june2008news.html . There's information on the TurtledoveDesigns' Archives page ( www.turtledovedesigns.com/archives ) on how you can subscribe (FREE!) to the studio newsletter. If you would like information on subscribing to the Painting a Dog a ...

"Chuckie," 4" x 5", old english sheepdog pet portrait , acrylic on board, $124. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This painting was inspired by the real Chuckie, a dog from my childhood. Chuckie, a rescue who bumbled his way into a girlfriend's household, was aptly named because of his fondness for thawing hamburger. The real Chuckie was a mop of hair accompanied with a little pink tongue, a lot like this the painted version. I love the palette of this painting - the colors (and the dog's grin) make me smile. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family! See you tomorrow, Kim

"Zig Zag," image 8" x 18", framed size approximately 16" x 22", double donkey portrait, acrylic on board, private collection. These are two rescued donkeys that I spent some time with last summer - I loved the "ying-yang" quality of how their movements mirrored each other. "Zig Zag" will be going home with Friday's "Donkey Face." A warm thank you to my returning collector who has been along for the dog-a-day ride since its beginnings in Oct 2006. This client has shared some beautiful little furry faces of her own with the project. When she let it slip this past weekend that she actually had donkeys too, well, I had to give her a sneak peek of "Zig Zag". If you are interested in commissioning a dog-a-day portrait of your own, please send an inquiry to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I have a few remaining holiday slots for returning clients, which I expect will go quickly. I am booking new clients (and non-holid...

"Donkey Face," 4" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, donkey portrait, $249. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This is another painting from the Grand National Art Show in San Francisco last April. It is beautifully framed, oozing color amplified by loose brushwork, and bursting with personality. School's out, but I'm hitting the proverbial books next week. I'll be taking a worrkshop in plein air painting, working in oils, and today I played with my (new) supplies, trying to familiarize myself a bit with the paints. I had wanted to post my (oil) painting, but it's still VERY wet and needs quite a bit of tweaking. I can see that I will enjoy the oils, though. They give me quite a bit of latitude when it comes to edge work, and present a challenge with respect to keeping the colors I've laid down fresh and clean. I'll figure it out, though, with a little more practice. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these painting...

FROM TOP: "Corgi Laugh," 4" x 6", corgi dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard; "Big Fella (Great Dane)," 4" x 6", fawn great dane portrait, acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries may always come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I am whipped. Field day at the elementary school, a picnic at the middle school, a meeting with a client, a quick run to the art supply store (new brushes! is it Christmas?!), a stop at the post office to load up on stamps for next week's postcard mailing, a short visit with a good friend/brilliant artist, another stop to view a new show at a local gallery, last minute math tutoring with my teenager, a season finale soccer game (we won!! and Domenic played so well....) followed up by the teams' awards ceremony, then a quick load of laundry, a quiet dinner with my hubby (at 10pm), and a glass of wine accompanying a trial run with the aforementioned new brushes. Tomorrow it's a different routine, but the same...

FROM TOP: "Bumblebee (Portuguese Water Spaniel)," 4" x 6", dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard; "Masked Man (Mastiff)," 4" x 5", dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Back to the dogs today! I'm playing with smaller boards, trying to keep the paint wet during the entirety of working the piece. This gives me some beautiful and subtle harmonies, and also allows for some juicy brushwork. But I have to work quickly - the acrylics dry in a matter of a 1/2 hour or so. Once they start to get sticky, I begin a new painting, and return to the first one when it's totally dry for another round, and just keep that cycle going till I need fresh water. Thanks as always for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingado...

Wow. My apologies. I went to post today's paintings to the blog, and realized I never posted yesterday's. Guess I have a touch of spring fever myself!! "Barnyard Guard," 6" x 12" (image, 10" x 16" including frame), Rhode Island Red hen painting, acrylic on board, custom framed in a wonderful molding complimenting her coloring, $349. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Last year I did a very large commission of hens, lifesize, lined up on a fencepost. In the course of painting them, I collected a ridiculous quantity of reference photos. Painting fowl was relatively new to me, and I hadn't realized what huge personalities and attitudes were packed into those tiny packages. I look forward to painting more chickens, ducks and turkeys in the future (yes, I have those references now too!). This is another painting that was part of the exhibition at the Grand National Rodeo Championships in San Francisco this April. Thanks, a...

"Sweet Pea," 4" x 8" (image), miniature donkey portrait, framed acrylic on board, $239. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . This is a painting completed especially for the Grand National Art Show, held in conjunction with the Grand National Rodeo Championships in San Francisco California in April 2008. The painting has a custome gold frame and delicate, soft colors, combining to create a darling piece that will make itself right at home in a variety of settings. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild http://www.canineartguild.com/ the gateway to canine art on the web

"Big Shoes to Fill," 8" x 10", Paws with a Cause service dog puppy portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, $274. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to Paws with a Cause ( http://www.pawswithacause.org/ ). Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Today's painting had many false starts before I finally was able to match what was in my head. What do I do with the ones that don't work? I throw out the really bad paintings and others get wiped down if still wet. There is the misconception that every painting an artist does is good. On a good day, 25% of what I paint is worth keeping, or at the very least, able to be fixed during another session. Thank you to returning collectors Sue Brooks and Ellen Gray, for their purchases of "Izod Puppy" and "Black Lab Profile (Izod)." Thanks, as always, for sharing these paintings with your friends and family members. I really appreciate it, as does Paws with a Cause and the other she...

FROM TOP: "Ready (Izod in Harness)," 4" x 8", black lab service dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard; "Lab Profile (Izod)," 4" x 6", black lab service dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, SOLD . Proceeds from the sale of the above paintings will be donated to Paws with a Cause ( http://www.pawswithacause.org/ ) . Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . You saw him as a pup yesterday, full of promise. Well here is Izod all grown up and in his gear, complete with ruffley collar (this is a guy comfortable with his masculinity!). Izod is an attentive, willing, and honest dog. He is also a hero in his person's eyes, as he helps with her mobility and other everyday tasks. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadoga...

"Izod," 5" x 7", portrait of a black lab Paws with a Cause puppy, acrylic on canvasboard, $165. 10% of the purchase of Izod's painting will be donated to Paws with a Cause. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Without a doubt, Paws with a Cause clients and volunteers are some of the most generous people I have had the pleasure to meet. The clients eagerly share details of how their service dog has enabled them to independantly manage aspects of everyday life that previously posed a challenge. And volunteers talk about their first Paws puppy - inadvertantly how that dog impacted their entire life's perspective during its short stay in their households. You can learn more about Paws with a Cause on their website: http://www.pawswithacause.org/ . I am proud to support their efforts through the Painting a Dog a Day project. Thank you to new collectors (and Paws with a Cause volunteers) Laura Voncina and Julie Steiff for their purchases ...

"Wilma," 6" x 8", golden retriever Paws with a Cause service dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). 10% of the selling price of this painting will be donated to Paws with a Cause ( http://www.pawswithacause.org/ ). Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Wilma is part of the breeding program at Paws with a Cause. They breed their own puppies, using dogs they know to be healthy and with great dispositions. This proportionally increases the number of puppies that successfully complete training and lead long lives as service dogs. Wilma had her first litter on leap day in February. 9 pups of 11 survived. That's 9 human lives that will be changed forever when they welcome their service dog. Thanks, as always, for looking at and forwarding on these paintings. It's truly appreciated. See you tomorrow, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http:...

"The Gift," 8" x 10", pet portrait depicting Mystic, a Paws with a Cause service dog, acrylic on canvasboard, $274. 10% of the sale of this painting will be donated in the purchaser's name to Paws with a Cause ( http://www.pawswithacause.org/ ) . Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. I don't think I can say anything about this painting that it can't say, loudly and clearly, itself. So I'll just be quiet. I have a good variety of works on display throughout the Brandon Township Public Library in Ortonville (Michigan) during the month of June. The collection includes some framed dog-a-day portraits and a number of larger than lifesize gallery stretched canvases. For directions, hours and additional information, you may call the library at 248-627-1460. I am very proud of the latest on-line exhibition sponsored by the Canine Art Guild. You can see a wonderful selection of artists' favorites by viewing the new show at www.ca...

WHOOPS!! I forgot to post on Friday to the blog, although I did send this out to the newsgroup. My apologies!! "Little Miss Willa," 6" x 8", commissioned mixed breed dog portrait , acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Willa's face seemed the perfect lead in for a weekend. Curiousity, desire, and eagerness, all rolled up into a neat little package. I cannot believe May is over with. Next week will be June's Animal Welfare Week, and I'll be painting service dogs from Paws With a Cause ( http://www.pawswithacause.org/ ). Proceeds from the sale of next week's paintings will be donated to Paws With a Cause. Thanks, as always, for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. I'll see you next week, Take care, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild h...