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Painting #1000: The Sound of Souls


“The Sound of Souls,” 6” x 8”, casein on panel, depicting wind chimes from Angel's Rest, the memorial garden at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. This painting will be auctioned via ebay at the end of September (after the September Blessing of the Pets at Best Friends) with all the proceeds benefitting Best Friends. Stay tuned for more details.

For quite some time I've known what the subject matter of Dog a Day painting #1000 would be. Actually, as soon as I realized I'd be painting it at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, the choice was easy.

I would paint Angel's Rest, their pet memorial grounds.

However, little did I fully comprehend the spirituality and sense of healing this place carried. At first (real life) glance, I was overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude, visualizing all the lost souls and literally sensing the love these animals carried. My second visit was a bit less teary (although notice I did not say it was tear-free). My third and fourth visits also involved tissues and sniffling, although to a lesser degree.

Thousands of markers, the ephemera and tokens left, the hundreds of wind chimes' gentle caresses – it combined to create a place truly unique and perfectly suited to the task of mourning and healing.

I've sat in Angel's Rest for hours sketching, painting, and meditating. And it is with great excitement that I share this very special painting – a tangled limb of a juniper strung with wind chimes, light filtering through the foliage. It symbolizes the journey we take with each soul we let into our hearts.

Enjoy the painting. And consider yourself thanked with a big warm hug from me, and lots of puppy kisses and contented purrs from all my muses.

Oh yeah – and THANK YOU to all who attended last night's opening reception for “Happily Ever Afters.” The crowd was a delightful mix of personalities and I thoroughly enjoyed mingling and visiting with each attendee. Collectors travelled from Arizona, Florida and Pennsylvania especially to see the show, which touched me deeply. And I was regaled with a very special guest, Ms Theresa (you might remember her from prior portraits), too. Ah, but life is most excellent!

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.
Kim

TWITTER: ksantini
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 a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

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