Paintings With Soul

"The Shedrow," from the Saratoga Series, image approximately 12" x 9", Golden Open Acrylics and Prismacolor on multimedia artboard, $169. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . This piece has some interesting passages - watercolor like areas, surprising strokes of color, and textural interest created via layered paint and colored pencil. I found myself digging through supplies, taking crayons and watercolors to old sketches and even thinking about adding some collage elements. Breaking the normal routine always fuels my creativity. I've got some unexpected openings in the next couple weeks (clients still collecting references). For what it's worth, if you are wanting to book a portrait, now would be the time to get a quick as lightening turn around. Mother's Day is right around the corner (possible for local delivery only) and Father's Day will be he...

"Traffic," a Painted Sketch from the Saratoga Series, image approximately 10" wide by 6" high, Golden Open Acrylics on multimedia artboard, $129 to the first taker. Inquiries (including booking a commissioned pet portrait) may always come to me . This is a continuation of yesterday's exploration of manipulation using sharp edges and bolder color. I'm enjoying the abstracted areas of the paintings just as much as I am the horses and jocks in the focal point. Sad news on a couple different fronts today tempered my mood. Several clients emailed to share dogs passing away, another friend lost a family member, and my grandfather remains in the hospital with some serious health complications. All good reason to step back and linger with those I love, count my blessings, and pray for more. Which means I'm off to whip up a wicked pot of risotto while the kids work on homework at the kitchen table and a thunderstorm rolls in. It'll start off a perfect nig...

"In the Slop," from the Saratoga Series, 8" x 16", Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, $529 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . A discussion (on Facebook) with fellow artist Bob Zirillo fed today's painting. He pointed out how the human eye really only follows one shape/form in a mass of many, and how artists can use this to their advantage when composing a story. We also talked about the differences inherant in painting a particular moment vs a timeless image, keys in determining which story elements are essential. I took these ideas to the extreme with "In the Slop." The gray horse is not in the lead, nor is he placed in the center of the canvas - but he is clearly the "one shape" we are all watching. Nor is there enough detail to recreate a specific moment; rather, the mood is about racing in general, and ...

Two new paintings in process, above "Untitled, Green Silks" and below "Untitled, Adjustments," both from the Saratoga Series of paintings, each 11" x 8", done in Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panels. Either painting will be available (hopefully tomorrow, when I finish them)inquiries may come to me . I started out today with all sorts of grand schemes. Very little on my list actually got crossed off, but progress was made on many fronts. Tomorrow I'll pick up again on these, and should time allow, work up several painted sketches for Derby Week as well. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog...

Derby Day was my favorite when I was a kid. After all, it was the only time of year that horses and racing were on TV upwards of 2 hours. And during Derby Week the newspaper featured workout times and grainy black and white photographs of the favorites - great fodder for sketching and musing Saturday's outcome. As a horse-hungry child in those pre-cable and pre-internet days, this was a big deal indeed. And now (for the fourth year running!) I celebrate Kentucky Derby week by turning the Dog a Day's into four-legged paintings of another sort. We'll start the week off with a Daily Double: "After the Finish," from the Saratoga Series, 8" x 7", Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, $399. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me .  SOLD. "The Tote Board," from the Saratoga Series, 8" x 5", Golden Open Acrylics o...

"Legs II (Boxer Pup)," painted sketch, image approximately 6" x 5", total paper size 8" x 7", Golden Open Acrylics on multimedia artboard, $59. Inquiries (including booking your own Dog a Day pet portrait/painted sketch starting at $29) may always come to me . I was feeling a little drained this morning and couldn't commit to doing a full scale painting so decided to do some painted sketches instead. The first one I tossed (it was too big of a mess to try and save), but this little guy, he shines. And the third sketch (still on the easel) is quickly becoming a full scale painting on it's own. My reference photo was taken at our Homecoming Parade last fall (same time as the Basset painting, Legs I ). I wonder if this little lady has grown into her feet yet.... Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Have a sunshiney weekend - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGI...

I just returned from Fine Arts Night at an elementary school. It's one of my favorite events to do. Once every year, this school turns their classrooms over to working artists from a variety of disciplines. Tables are set up in the hallways to display students' 3D works and every inch of wallspace is hung with children's artwork. Music fills the air, as does the ebb and flow of storytellers and puppeteers voices. Meanwhile, students bring parents and siblings through their building, visiting each room and learning something new along the way. I got Mrs. S.'s third grade classroom. I brought in grid walls and filled one third of the room with paintings. The kids enjoyed flipping through the unframed paintings which I displayed on a table right at their level (pictured directly above). I set up another smaller table with my journal and some collages, along with sign up sheets for this summer's session of Creative Journalling classes ( email me if you are interested ...

"Blazes," 6" x 12", Golden Open Acrylics on canvasboard, depicting a chestnut mare, $359 to the first one asking politely. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . I like the action the cropping implies in this painting - the viewer gets a strong sense of the mare moving towards them. There also is a strong abstract base to the composition - squint down at her and see how the green, pink, orange, purple and white masses work together in perfect balance. (sorry - the Kentucky Derby is creeping up, and I simply can't get horses off my mind. This is the last horse painting for this week, but all of next will be devoted to equines in celebration of the first Saturday in May.) Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES...

"Stirrup," from the Saratoga Series, also my April entry in the Virtual pARTy , image approx 10" x 6", Golden Open Acrylics on multimedia artboard, depicting a Thoroughbred racehorse, $449 to the first taker. For those of you who don't know about Virtual pARTy's, here's the lowdown - artists are given one reference photo and 24 hours to complete their artwork. All images, while derived from the same initial idea, are amazingly different. Take a peek at the reference photo here, bookmark the site , and then return next week to see the results. So what was my focus with this painting? I wanted the glint of sunlight off the stirrup to summarize the excitement and activity in the paddock area prior to a race. Originally I had the background figures detailed and brighter, but their presence shifted the story's focus to the two horses. I wanted to paint the general suspense and anticipation, so pushed them back with layers of glazing. If you look close...

"Boxer Pup (Painted Sketch)," paper 4" x 5", image approximately 3" x 4", acrylic on multimedia artboard, $39 plus s&h. Multimedia artboard is a museum quality sturdy as all heck paper that accepts paint and graphite and a mess of other abuse beautifully. I've been playing around with it and am very impressed - so much so, that it is my new surface of choice, in addition to the Ampersand Gessobords. And, the multimedia artboard allows me to offer a lower price point on portraits and commissioned pieces. I'm calling these new paintings "Painted Sketches," and they will start at $29 plus s&h for a 4" square. You can see from the little Boxer pup above, the Painted Sketches are lovely loose paintings that equally embrace the materials and the animal's personality. They aren't as detailed or polished as my other works, and will require framing (and protection under glass), but they carry a unique charm and character al...

"SUV (Ammo)," from the Sunday Drivers series of paintings, 6" x 8", Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, $379. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life, including Dogue de Bordeaux's) may always come to me . The inspiration photo for Ammo's the Mastiff's portrait came from my friend Judy Wood , an artist with an incredible eye. She uncannily knows the sorts of images that drive me crazy, and I am always inspired to reach for my brushes when an email arrives from her with attachments. With "SUV" (anyone get the pun?) I'm up to a dozen paintings in the Sunday Drivers series, not quite enough (yet) to warrant a book of their own. I invite you to send (non-flash) pics of your dogs and automobiles/trucks (for instance, I would love to do a horse trailer with a couple terriers lounging in the shade) for consideration. You have no obligation to purchase the resulting paint...

"Legs (Basset)," 5" x 7", dog painting depicting a Bassett Hound and their person, Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, available for $279 to the first one to ask nicely. Inquiries may always come to me . I saw this little guy at a parade last year, calmly hanging out on the curb while organized chaos erupted all around. I couldn't help but be a little envious of the man at the other end of the leash. It was a gorgeous day, full of sunshine and color, and he was just as relaxed as the dog, soaking it all up with a big, happy grin on his face. Meanwhile, I was herding elementary schoolers through the parade while fielding texts from my high schooler who was stranded across town. For a fleeting second I wanted to stop, grab a seat next to them on the sidewalk, and punch out for the day. Ever get that feeling yourself? Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintin...

FROM TOP: "Day One," from March 2008, 11" x 14", and "The Gift," from June 2008, 8" x 10", both acrylic on canvasboard, each in a private collection (THANK YOU!). Mystic (the inspiration behind "The Gift") first came into the studio in 2008 as a precocious pup. Not much more than a golden lump of curls and warmth, she was already on a special journey - that of a service dog. In her first year of life, she was loved on, socialized and taught all sorts of manners before being turned over for additional advanced job training. To her foster family's great delight, she completed her classes despite asserting her independence, and was successfully placed. Their girl was now a companion to a gentleman who relied on her capable assistance to better cope with the health related challenges of his day. Last month, that gentleman called them personally to extend his thanks for Mystic, who's presence has quite literally changed his life....

"ACD Delivery Boy," from the Sunday Drivers series of paintings, 6" square, Australian Cattle Dog portrait in acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, $299. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Friend and fellow pet portrait artist Kim Arre-Gerber recently sent me the reference photo that inspired this painting. She remembered I was painting a series of dogs and cars for publication, and shot the photo in Mexico. I'm slowly working on the series (Sunday Driver is just one of many projects I'm currently juggling) - and I invite you to share any ideas or (non flash) photos you might have for consideration. Meanwhile, I give you this dear Cattle Dog, quietly waiting in the back of the truck for his route to recommence. And don't forget about the sale in my Etsy shop - 10% off all original artwork over there (over 100 pieces from Painting a Dog a Day). Paintings make g...

FROM THE TOP: "Lilly as a Pup," and "Lilly (Havanese Study)," both 4" x 6", commissioned Havanese dog portraits (THANK YOU!). My client gets her pick of one, and the first to ask nicely can have the other ($199 plus s&h). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . BOTH SOLD. I am starting to understand my Golden Open Acrylics a bit more, and with that comes an increased comfort zone in brushwork and color. I ended up swapping out the open Titanium White for my Heavy Body white which seems more opaque - perhaps that led to the density or darker colors I achieved in these two portraits (last week was very pastel, which isn't altogether a bad thing, but different than how I normally paint). I have some cat portraits lined up for the remainder of this week, another installment in my Sunday Drivers series of paintings (dogs in cars), and am working on choosin...

How can you say no to these faces? Well, I'm going to make it even harder to say no. So, if you are a wimp or a pushover, stop reading right now. In celebration of Mother's Day, I'm offering 10% off every single painting in my Etsy store. There's over 100 paintings there, looking for Mom's. I've spent today sorting through my archives and storage, and listed every unsold Dog a Day painting and a handful of gallery stretched canvases on Etsy. Think you're up to the challenge? These puppies (and kitties and horses and what have yous) need new homes! Use the coupon code "MOM" during checkout and I'll credit your total 10%. Or, even better, use the coupon code "SHELTERMOM" during checkout, pay the full price, and have 10% more of your sale** donated to animal welfare (I actively work with the Oakland Pet Fund, a no kill shelter in Auburn Hills Michigan, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah). As always, inquiries (including booki...

"Come and Get Me (Murphy)," 8" square, acrylic on canvasboard, pet portrait of a newly rescued Bichon Frise, not available for purchase. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Murphy's girl has always gone above and beyond when it comes to The Princess (my daughter), so this morning (while pet sitting), The Princess and I staged an impromptu photo shoot. This painting will be a surprise welcome home, after they are able to navigate past Murphy's fabulously wonderful fringe of a tail. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me READING MATERIAL: Preview and order...

FROM TOP: "Promise," 6" x 8," and "Hope," 4" x 6," both on raymar panel, portraits of a rescued Buckskin quarter horse, available for purchase. These are several smaller pieces I've created for this summer's "Happily Ever Afters" show (I have another, "Peace," a 5" x 7" painting on the easel now, which I'll finish later tonite). Doc belonged to a friend of mine, and despite the myriad of issues inherited when Juliet rescued him, he was loved and cherished right up until the very end. I've painted him many times, and still don't tire of his kind eye and kalaidaescope colors. (Psst, artists - take a peek at Juliet's new blog of reference imagery and inspiration - as much as I'd like to, I can't keep this good stuff to myself!!) It is especially fitting to bring imagery of animals I've known with me to my solo show this summer - they will be my friends on opening night, winking ...

"Freedom," 9" x 12", Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, available for purchase. This painting is part of my August 2010 exhibition at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary , a show that will focus on rescued animals of all sizes. "Freedom" will be framed in gorgeous custom molding properly be-fitting an equine of such elegance, and you may purchase the piece through the BFAS contact for $649. 20% of all show sales will go to BFAS, another reason to add original artwork with meaning and value to your personal collection. SOLD. The "Happily Ever Afters" show will include paintings like "Freedom" along with text - I encourage you to submit your own experiences (and photos) via email for consideration. I've already completed 2 dozen new works and will continue to paint until I run out of time (my cut-off date is mid-July, after which I'll be busy framing and crating and arranging the logistics of getting the artwork to Utah...