Paintings With Soul

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS FROM TOP: "Nita," paper 7" x 10", image approximately 4" x 6-1/2", done on multimedia artboard, $79; "Nita's ZZZs," 5" x 8", done on a Raymar panel, $299. Both paintings were completed in Golden Open Acrylics, and both paintings are available for purchase . Please indicate in your email which piece you would like. BOTH SOLD (thank you!). Nita's baby picture was a finalist in Painting a Dog a Day's Valentine's Giveaway . And when her Mom followed up that pic with this one (scroll down to see my reference photo), how on earth could I resist? Except that things didn't go so smoothly the first time around. Working in a gray studio yesterday (the weather just has refused to cooperate as of late, no?) and being a lazy cheapskate, I tried forcing an old palette on the cusp of turning gummy to cooperate. It responded with lots of gray and mud (how fit...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Ewe + Two," 8" square, portrait of an ewe and two lambs, done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord. $399 to the first asking nicely . What a great springtime addition (ahem, or Mother's Day gift!!) this painting would be to your collection - email me if you are interested. Nothing says spring like fresh little babies. Which means I should paint some puppies next, right? Well then, send me your pics! And big thanks to collector Julie, who responded to my request on Facebook for some painting ideas with a mess of sheep photos she took over the weekend. Julie, I'm popping a little something in the mail for you!! Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Studio Happenings Some bits from this week's To-Do List (you're welcome to come help out!): Order new paintbrushes (HOOray!) Connect with The Man Child's friend to discuss and sketch out her propo...

This delightful drawing was left in my classroom - a gift, perhaps?! - during last week's Fine Arts Night at Orion Oaks Elementary School. I adore kids' artwork. They view and process the world through their own filters. A lesson I need to remind myself of over and over and over again. Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Stuart Shils His work is radically different from mine, landscapes pared almost to abstraction, atmospheric clouds of color that thrill me to no end. I adore the artwork that Stuart Shils creates. A recent article I read quoted him as encouraging artists to study at great length - and then respond to - the world with roots set in an emotional, as opposed to a representational, base. I find regular inspiration and bits of brilliance in his paintings and musings, which can be found on his website .

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Listen and Learn," 8" x 10", portrait of three kitties, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Museumbord, part of "The Gratitude Project." This painting does not need to be framed, and can be added to your collection for $499 - collectors* qualify for a 10% discount. Email me for more information. This little black and white kitten was dumped, with his momma and several siblings at a friend's business last winter. He ventured into the music studio and warmed the laps of the instructors and students for a few days before going home with my friend. (The other cats, thankfully, were gathered and re-homed by other people in the area.) His furry siblings took him under their wings and taught him the ropes. In light of the many other cats and kittens who are without homes, proceeds from the sale of "Listen and Learn" will be donated to my shelter, the Oakland Pet Adoption Center. Do you have a rescue story to sh...

Please scroll down for a detail ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "No Stopping Her," 11" x 14", from "The Gratitude Project," portrait of a Boxer who's looking for a home, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Proceeds from the sale of "No Stopping Her" will be donated to Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue (BRBR) , the group currently fostering Allie, today's muse. Inquiries about purchasing this painting may come to me . Abbie is a 1-1/2 yr old brindle. She injured her left hind ACL at 3 months of age, and it was repaired. When she re-injured it, her original family turned her and her vet records into a Virginia shelter. Rescued by BRBR at 8 months, it was discovered (by the vet who went in to repair her ACL) that she had also fractured her femur 3 times. Her left hind leg was amputated, which turned out to be a blessing, given that she had stopped using it and it was atrophying. Not long after, Abbie fractured the kneecap on her righ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "The Morning News," 6" x 8", commissioned portrait of a black lab mix, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Nascar's parents have earned the distinction of travelling the furthest to collect their two paintings. They came to Michigan all the way from Sonoma, California for a personal hand-off. (I should probably also disclose that perhaps the promise of an Easter dinner with Michigan family factored into their decision as well.) Nevertheless, it was heartwarming to meet - and thank - them for supporting my artwork. The vast majority of my business is done via the internet, so it's always a treat to match faces to voices to emails. Thanks in advance for sharing my artwork with your friends and family. Wishing you a blessed weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Continuing Education My kids are still pretty young and therefore I don't get the luxury of attending too many workshops for myself. So ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Nascar," 6" x 6", commissioned portrait of a black lab mix, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. While Nascar's painting is headed to a new home (THANK YOU!!), I would be more than happy to create a portrait of your special companion animal - shoot me an email so that we can begin discussing your project. This is one of two portraits Nascar's family will be taking home with them. And I get the added delight of delivering them in person - especially sweet since her family is visiting Michigan from California this week. Tomorrow I'll share her second painting, "The Morning News." Meanwhile, I could squeeze in a sketch or portrait prior to Mother's Day, if you are looking for that extra amazing gift. Email me . Thanks in advance for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com A "Mini Minni" Update Warm thanks to everyone who took the ti...

One of my journal spreads in process featuring decorative text, stamps (prefab and homemade), collage, poured paint, and glitter gel pens It was another great Sunday spent journalling with some of my favorite young artiste's. We worked on title pages, playing with the balance between text and visuals. Some kids used their names, some chose messages, some did initial pages, and some created symbols. As always, I was impressed with their range of ideas and focus on the concept, including 2 new 4 year old journallers and a precocious set of 5 year old twin boys. Wanna join us? A few spots are left in the spring workshops! Reservations need to come through me . Creative Journalling for Kids - Sundays, May 1st, May 15th, May 22nd and June 5th - 2 sessions, 11-12:30 and 1-2:30, all at Little Monsters Toy Store in Downtown Lake Orion. Classes are $15 each, space allowing. Fees include all supplies but your child's journal. grownUP Journalling - Third Thursdays of each month (s...

One of my journal spreads featuring positive and negative zentangle imagery done with gouache, micron and souffle pens. Journalling is back! Creative Journalling for Kids - Sundays, April 17th, May 1st, May 15th, May 22nd and June 5th - 2 sessions, 11-12:30 and 1-2:30, all at Little Monsters Toy Store in Downtown Lake Orion. Sign up now and get all 5 sessions for $60, or take them individually (space allowing) for $15 each. Fees include all supplies but your child's journal. This week we will introduce the concept of journalling, talk about the parts of a book, and spend some time with decorative text and symbols. We'll also discuss spatial relationships - real vs imaginary - and how we can manipulate them on our pages. grownUP Journalling - Third Thursdays of each month (so April 21st will be our next meeting) - 6-8pm, also at Little Monsters Toy Store . Classes are $15 each, including all supplies but your journal. Our April class will focus on the concept of art jour...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Mini Minni," 9" x 12", portrait of a special little Vizsla pup, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Proceeds from the sale of "Mini Minni" will be donated to the Vizsla Welfare Foundation . Inquiries may come to me . Warm thanks go to Dog a Day collector Holly for sharing her photo of Minni with me. I've painted her dogs many times in the past, and today's portrait was as much of a joy to work on as the others. We have a long standing agreement that sales resulting from her photos will support the breed that she (and I) love so much. My original concept was to treat the background here like portrait paintings done by Richard Schmid , but I took it too far and then just left it out of indecision. What do you think about the pink halo (the remnants of the underpainting)? is it distracting? I'm also considering adding another loop of leash behind her butt. I had it in there yesterday, but wiped it ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Snickers," 6" x 8", commissioned portrait of an Alpaca Llama, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). I definitely need to paint more llamas, but don't know anyone who owns them (other than Snicker's family!). Feel free to send me introductions and/or llama muse nominations via email . I know, I've strayed from the Dog a Day path. I promise a dog painting tomorrow. Thanks in advance for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com "Mug Shots" is now live !! Another hat I wear is Director of the Canine Art Guild . The CAG is an international group of 134 artists dedicated to painting/sculpting/drawing/ photographing or otherwise creating artwork featuring dogs (no surprises there regarding my affiliation, eh?!). And we've recently "opened" our latest online exhibition, titled "Mug Shots." Over 70 piec...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Updo II," painted sketch on multimedia artboard, 8" x 10", part of the Daily Paintworks Weekly Challenge . SOLD. So I learned that these are Polish Hens, and apparently they are a popular favorite among chicken afficianados. Thanks to all who shared their avian knowledge! Hang this sketch on your wall for $99 - or take both ladies ( Updo I and II) for $169. I wonder if there's a future in Painting a Chicken a Day..... Thanks in advance for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com The Chick Queen Alecia Underhill and I corresponded last night, and so now I am able to share - with her blessings - one of her chick paintings that I love so very much. "Glamour Chick," the above oil painting, is 30" x 40" - talk about a wicked fun focal point for a room!! And if you have smaller walls (or crowded ones like mine!), Alecia offers reproductions in a varie...