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Abby

"At the Top of the Stairs (Abby)," 8" x 10", commissioned pet portrait of a German Shepherd dog, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come to me.
 
I get asked all the time if I have a favorite painting, and my answer is usually a recent one. It has to do with the things I learn to do better with every piece I complete. But then there are those that stick around as favorites long after their turn on the easel. Abby's painting will be one like that - I think it's got to be one of my all-time best ever.
 
Today was the first official day of summer vacation. There was a bit of running about, getting everyone situated with their various activities. They all tumbled into bed with tired, smiley faces. We're off to a great start!
 
And I'm back into my summer routine of working late into the night. My biggest problem? determining the appropriate volume for my music..... if I use my ipod and earbuds, I end up belting songs out into the silence of the house. If I use itunes and the computer, the music wafts up the stairs - also not the best choice if I'm listening to something not entirely kid friendly (and the new Eminem cd is not something I want my 8 year old knowing all the lyrics to).
 
Tomorrow is the first of my series of summertime classes on creative (or art) journalling for kids. I'm all set with crayon muffins (crayon bits melted in muffin tins for multi-colored strokes), various types of markers (have you tried the opaque ones that cover just about anything? or Crayola's overwriters?), gel pens in 100 different colors, and my collection of alphabet stamps. The first page of our journals will be self-portraits, whether they are word based or an image. I'm excited to introduce this group of new students to the power of visual expression.
 
Which reminds me that I should share some of my recent journal pages with you. I've been playing with stamping (carving my own and using found items), collage, and layering pattern. I'll try to get to that later this week.
 
Thanks, as always, for looking at, and sharing my artwork.
See you tomorrow, 
Kim
 
PS I'm creating new paintings for an exhibition focused on automobiles, and would love references of your dog riding shotgun. Jpgs can be sent to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com - I'll acknowledge receipt of everything. Thanks in advance!
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