Paintings With Soul

(Almost finished) "Gypsy Falls," 10" x 12", portrait of a Gypsy Vanner mare, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, $529 to the first one asking nicely. (This would be a KILLER Valentine's Day gift!!) Email m e if you are interested. SOLD. I've been doing some mid-winter spring cleaning in the studio, and came across this painting, which I had begun - but never finished - over 2 years ago. You can see how she looked this morning in the image below. That happens to me quite a bit. I get to a point where I can see the potential but don't trust completely in my ability to deliver. When this happens, I tuck it away until I can look with fresh eyes (and newly honed skills) and have another go. That's what's happened with this girl. And I thought she was done an hour ago, but I see now that I want the bottom of her tail pinker, like in the "before" version. I want the light on it to be warm and glowing, and the yellow, while beau...

Nestled amongst my kids' artwork and the real dog treats sits my painting "Three Bones." This piece is available in this beautiful custom frame for $309, or if you would prefer just the panel, $269. Email m e if you are interested. There's more about "Three Bones" on the Painting a Dog a Day blog . In the time since her creation in March 2008, this painting has participated in many exhibitions and events. Frankly I am surprised she doesn't have a home yet. I'm certain the right one will come about eventually, though. They always do. She sure would make for a darling Valentine's gift (hint hint). Meanwhile, thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS We're in the homestretch here with respect to this month's 10% newly booked commissions. The project has to be booked during this January, but can happen any time during 2011. Shoot me an email if you are interested! I booked 9 new portraits las...

"Andre," 6" x 8", commissioned Boxer portrait, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries regarding booking your own portrait may come to me . Do you remember Andre from last December? I sketched him (below) unknowingly the same day he crossed the bridge. His family decided they wanted a painted version, and so I was delighted to bring this guy back to my easel this afternoon. And I'm also thrilled to share that Andre's family adopted a young boxer from their local shelter. Jake has fit in well and still can't believe his luck - he's got his own couch and a brother and sister! I'm making a donation to my local shelter in honor of Andre. And Jake. Two sweet rescues that got their happily ever afters. Meanwhile, thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS We're in the homestretch here with respect to this month's 10% newly booked commissions. The ...

This is a big 'un, at 16" x 20" with a 2" cradle (meaning the panel is 2" deep, and I've painted or extended the composition around all four sides), and not the sort of sized painting I would normally tackle in one day. I actually had to purchase larger paint brushes so that I could properly lay down the lower most layers (I work from big, sloppy marks upwards to tinier, tighter ones). So today I focused mainly on getting my values correct (the measurement of light vs dark spaces). The key part of this composition is that pocket of sunlight on the horses' spine and withers - and if I can't get that right, I might as well pack it in. I kid you not when I say that this painting dallied in "the uglies" for quite some time. It took me many hours to get to this point (and I already had a day's worth of work invested, too), but I am finally happy with the density of my darks and the saturation of the lights. And now I can focus on the fo...

I talk a lot about the animals I paint and my process, but I rarely blog about other behind the scenes work. Probably because it's not nearly as exciting as the painting process, but I may be biased in that regard! Nevertheless, people have the perception that I step into the studio and paint, blissfully, for hours at a time. It couldn't be any further from the truth! When I do paint, it is (mostly) blissful, but that's only a fraction of how I get to spend my days (or rather, my working hours!). It's a one woman show here for the most part. The reality is that I spend the majority of my days solo here in the studio, chipping away at marketing campaigns, dealing with the accounting side of things, staying on top of inventory control, keeping up to date with client communication, building lesson plans and coordinating teaching opportunities, and building an exhibitions and activities calendar. I also head up hardware management. In a prior life I worked with compu...

"Frances," 5" x 7", pet portrait of a rescued Boxer (yes, she has a tail!), done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, $ 289 to the first ones asking nicely . SOLD (thank you!). Frances came to her family via a Boxer Rescue group who had pulled her from a pound. She was a 40 lb 2 year old with heartworms who had spent the majority of her life tied to a stake and virtually no manners. But a strong desire to please her new family. And thankfully her new family understood and was able to provide the training and love that Frances needed. Thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS You haven't forgotten about the 10% off newly booked commissions, have you ?? the project has to be booked during this January, but can happen any time during 2011. Shoot me an email if you are interested! Come on - I've booked 8 portraits this week - I dare you to raise that number! My Newest Acquisitions See the two painti...

I've been teaching creative journalling to children for several years now, but tonite I took the leap and shared my ideas with adults. Well, the "adults" part is just between you and me. I know where I firmly stand. Seriously, though, it was a great time. Meanwhile, here's a page from grownUP Chris's journal. It includes rubbings and tea staining. Underneath you can see the overhang from a textured page she built with striped tissue paper. We've got another session next week, Thursday night, if you feel so compelled. Thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS You haven't forgotten about the 10% off newly booked commissions, have you ?? the project has to be booked during this January, but can happen any time during 2011. Shoot me an email if you are interested! Come on - I've booked 8 portraits this week - I dare you to raise that number! Creative Journalling Also called Art Journalling, this is a fo...

"Symmetry (Buddy)," 8" x 10", portrait of a black lab mix, another addition to my "Black and White" series of paintings. This painting was done in Golden Open acrylics on an Ampersand Geossobord and is quite possibly sold (I'm awaiting confirmation). Nevertheless, inquiries may always come to me . I met Buddy when I attended the Mutt Lynch Dog Days event last August. It was the best weekend - on top of being feted by Brenda and Chris Lynch (wine makers and hosts' extraordinaire), I had the opportunity to mingle with guests at their winery during a wine tasting par-tay. And Buddy was there with his little sister Bridget . And I met a mess of other dogs, too, many of whom I have painted or have plans to paint in the coming months. And mirroring Mutt Lynch's support of the San Francisco SPCA, I will also be donating proceeds from the sales of these paintings back to the SPCA. But meanwhile, here's Buddy, sitting all proud and proper, lo...

"Tsiko's Eyes," 5" x 7", portrait of a rescued Husky mix, the latest addition to my "Black and White" series of paintings. This painting was done in Golden Open acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord and could be yours for $289. Inquiries may always come to me . SOLD (thank you!) Tsiko (pronounced See-ko) is an Isabella white husky, estimated to be about 5 years old, and he was adopted from the humane society. He was found by animal control wandering at age 3 months - why anyone would let a 12 week old pup out and not try to find them is beyond me. But his family knows they lucked out! And perhaps Tsiko got lucky too - he escorts the kids to the busstop, baseball and soccer games and even vacations with them. He takes his job as family dog very seriously. The "Black and White" paintings depict animals that are black or white or black and white. But the painted versions are anything but black and white. This series allows me the opportunity...

"Miri's Memory," 8" x 10", portrait of a rescued Cairn Terrier from Col. Potter Cairn Rescue , from The Gratitude Project . This painting was done in Golden Open acrylics on an Ampersand Geossobord and could be yours for $ 469. As with all the paintings from The Gratitude Project , proceeds from the sale of Miri's painting will be donated to Col. Potter. It's just my way of saying thanks for all the dogs - and people - who's lives are better! I had painted Miri before - she's the lucky Cairn getting all the kisses in this painting from a couple years back. Miri was a puppy mill momma rescue with such a bright spark. She arrived at Col. Potters 2/3rds of a way through a pregnancy, in such poor health that the lives of herself and her litter were endangered. Immediate surgery saved her and 5 of her 6 pups. She enjoyed 4 years with her forever home, years that were far too short but fully lived. She succombed to Cushings last fall, shortly af...

I have just returned home from a fabulously inspiring day spent doing all sorts of things, but, oddly enough, NOT including any time at the easel. The photo above includes my spoils from a Book Making class I took today. It was led by the miraculous Pat McGraw (how I WISH this woman had a website, becaue you all need to know her). I learned all sorts of techniques and bindings, as amply demonstrated by the 8 samples I brought home. My book binding diploma came in the form of 2 Twix bars, which I immediately knew were lonely. They made fast friends with a glass of red wine, and the night turned even better (if that's at all possible!). All of which is much inspiration for my workshops that start up in a few days. Now it's my turn to create some most excellent lesson plans - my Children's Creative Journalling workshop begins on Sunday, and the grownUP Journalist's get their turn to play on Thursday. (The children's winter sessions are full, I'm accepting enr...

"Brie as Odalisque," 8" x 10", portrait of a huge and shaggy Venus (aka gorgeous dog), done in Golden Open acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, not for sale. Brie belongs to artist Lisa Daria and takes her job as studio assistant seriously. So seriously, in fact, that she insisted on a historically inspired composition for her Dog a Day portrait. Who am I to argue when clearly this girl knows her stuff? You can see the progression of this painting in the images below. I started with a bright underpainting, using a rough approximation of the composition as a guideline. I then followed up by loosely blocking in the placement of the main forms and starting to build up my values. I used large 1" wide brushes to begin with, gradually ending the painting with smaller filberts. I can't wait to hear what Brie thinks of it! and Lisa, too. Thanks, as always, for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS You haven't forgotten about the...

(Working Title) "The Princess and the Pea," 12" x 14", yet another painting inspired by Mona Lisa, very much in process, and from last night's live demonstration at the Anchor Bay Artist's Guild. My reference photo is included at the left. I brought my panel (a Raymar one, in case anyone's interested) already primed a saturated and lilting Manganese Blue, and began laying this composition down as I shared some ideas about painting. As you can see, my mouth did more work than my brushes, but that's the beauty of watching an artist work. You can pick their brains and share their processes while the piece is coming to life. So what did we talk about? all sorts of things! the difference between what a photograph will tell you and what your eyes really see how to work with a color wheel to choose colors best suited to your subject/composition the benefits of working with a limited palette particulars about the types of tools I use (panels, paints, pa...

"Sammy Sumner," 6" square, commissioned portrait of a much loved and dearly missed Pug, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, private collection (THANK YOU!). In appreciation for my getting to paint Sammy, a donation will be made in his name to my local shelter. Tonight I'm giving a presentation and demonstrating my painting technique at the Anchor Bay Artist's Group monthly meeting in New Baltimore, Michigan. It's always a treat to get to talk shop with a group of like minds, and I am thoroughly looking forward to it. Thankfully, the weather is cooperating as well - one never knows what to expect during Michigan January's! There are tentative plans for tonight's presentation to be followed up by a one night painting workshop on Monday, January 31st (also in New Baltimore, Michigan). Please let me know if you are interested in attending the workshop and I'll pass your information on to those responsible for coordinating the eve...

"Partners in Crime (Mona Lisa)," 6" x 8", painting of my studio kitten, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, $329 to the first one asking nicely. A donation will also be made to the Oakland Pet Adoption Center when Mona's painting sells. For those of you new to Painting a Dog a Day, we adopted a teeny 2 lb Mona Lisa in early September from our local shelter. She had been dumped somewhere, all alone, and was picked up by an animal control officer before she got herself into trouble. She's quite a little spark in our household, keeping us all on our toes, even in the dark of night. She's mastered snuggling under covers, purring at your feet, playing blanket monster, and hogging the pillow. Someone tucked a sock monkey into the basket where she lounges during the day (my reference photo is near the bottom of today's blog). She scoops her body right in between Monkey's arms and legs and builds quite a nest for herself. It's wonde...

"Drip Dry," 9" x 12", painting of a German Shorthaired Pointer, done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, from September 2010's Painting a Dog a Day project. Been doing paperwork all morning - paying bills, projecting operating expenses for the new year, planning marketing campaigns, and archiving computer files. It's becoming obvious that I won't have time to paint today - between a PTA meeting, basketball carpool, two music lessons, and a drumline carpool - my afternoon and evening is pretty well already consumed. Meanwhile I thought I'd at least share a few images with you, paintings I'm considering sending out into the world of juried exhibitions. I'll let you know which ones end up going where, but meanwhile enjoy the eyecandy! Oh, and if you haven't already visited the Canine Art Guild's new online exhibition , please do. This one features all shelter and rescue dogs with cash prizes going to the shelters aff...