Paintings With Soul

      "Enzo," commissioned sketch portrait of a beautiful orange long-hair cat, image approzimately 6" x 4" and roughly centered on an 8" x 10" piece of multimedia artists paper, done in Golden Open Acrylics.   Another holiday gift in the making....... a rather fabulous one, if I do say so myself. Someone's going to feel extra special on Christmas morning. And someone else is going to get some major perks.   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PAINTING WORKSHOP , October 8th, Lake Orion Michigan, 10am-4pm.  Email me  for additional information. Pinterest   Ever found a recipe or a great DIY project online? and then you go back to try and find it and no luck?   Yeah, me too.   That's why I'm such a huge fan of the new site  Pinterest .   It allows you to create virtual file folders of all those cool things you see online, complete with site ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS HERE   "Mr. Waffles," commissioned portrait of a silly gray kitty, 6" square painting done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord.   Mr. Waffles the painting will be headed off shortly to meet the real Mr. Waffles (and the two boys who named him), but if you would like a portrait of your own Mr. Cheese  let's talk . I'd be more than happy to make it happen.   On another note, Mr. Waffles the painting was a challenge for me. So much so that I messed up and had to wipe down my first attempt due to some drawing challenges.   If the drawing (call it skeleton or composition or whatever you want) isn't solid, no amount of paint can fix it.   The "in process" photos  of Mr. Waffle's portrait are a perfect demonstration of this!   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PAINTING WORKSHOP , October 8th, Lake Orion Michigan, 10am-4pm.  Email...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS HERE   "The Road Ahead," a 5" square painting done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. Add this gem to your collection for only $239 -  email me  if interested.   No matter how shadowed the path might seem, there is much adventure to be had along the way.   This painting and all of today's prayer/karma/jujubes go out to those who's days are difficult. My wish for you today is an unexpected encounter that brings pure, unadulterated joy.   Which makes me think that I should go back into this painting and add a tiny speck of light on the wooded horizon......   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with those you care about, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PAINTING WORKSHOP , October 8th, Lake Orion Michigan, 10am-4pm.  Email me  for additional information.     Thank You!     I really appreciate your show of support after decl...

  Occasionally I discover that I need some down time. Rarely from the easel - it's all the other stuff - even buying art supplies can be stressful, especially when one mistakenly thought they had another tube of cobalt blue paint, and it's nowhere to be found and one's palette is looking all sad and feeling inadequte and stuff because there is no more cobalt blue......   Today I had a leisurely coffee with a new friend and fellow artist (waving hi to Laura here!!). It was wonderful to slow down and savor the beginning of the day, time where I'm usually making phone calls, fielding inquiries, and laying out my paints simultaneously.   And on my way home, on this gorgeous Indian Summer morning, I decided spontaneously to take today off. Not to do a million errands, but to purely make some fun.   Why not? My boss owes me plenty of comp time!!   I have a phone interview in 1/2 an hour with  Deborah Wolfe  of Animal Magnet Radio. But after that, ...

In Process views are on  the studio Facebook page Order Notecards/Reproductions here "Bathtime (Harrison's Reflection), from  the Saratoga Series , " 5" x 7", done in Golden Open Acrylics on ampersand gessobord. This original painting can be added to your collection for $289 -  just ask me how ! SOLD It seems like photographer  Juliet Harrison's  imagery has always turned me on. I have several of her silver gelatin prints in the studio and scattered throughout my house, and that has nothing to do with the fact that she is also a cherished friend. The way she sees the world through her viewfinder is brilliant - and usually causes me to do a double take and look again. I mean really look.  And when I shot the reference for this painting, she happened to be standing alongside me, taking a similar one. I'd like to say that great minds think alike, but I'm not taking any credit for this. It's all Juliet's inspiration. Thanks, as alway...

    "Jell-O," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a wonderful black lab mix, done in Golden Open Acrylics on ampersand gessobord.   I'm always saying black dogs aren't really black - and here's an example of that. Jell-Os coat is sleek and healthy and reflects color from his surroundings.   I could have painted him with just tubes of black and white paint, but that would have been a little boring in comparison, no?   Here's a secret to painting luminous shadows - don't ever use black paint.   Here's another tip - the lightest light in your painting is never pure white, either.   In Process pics (of both Jell-O and his brother Bacchus) are on  the studio Facebook page  inside the  Mobile Uploads folder .   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family.   HAPPY WEEKEND!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PAINTING WORKSHOP , October 8th, Lake Orion Michigan, 10am-4pm....

    "Bacchus," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a wonderful hound, done in Golden Open Acrylics on ampersand gessobord.   Bacchus and his brother Jell-O (who you'll get to meet tomorrow) were on my easel yesterday (sometimes I am on the ball enough to paint a few pieces ahead!!).    I worked on the two paintings simultaneously, which assured similarities in color and mood so that the paintings, while starring two very different faces, would work well together.   In Process pics are on  the studio Facebook page  inside the Mobile Uploads folder .   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com         In Process   Every other day or so, I've begun updating the studio's Facebook page with in process images of paintings on my easel.   The photos are shot with my smartphone at various points of progression throughout the...

    "Tootsie," 6" x 6", commissioned portrait of a dear little terrier, done in Golden Open Acrylics on ampersand gessobord.   Tootsie is going to a long time Dog a Day collector, a woman who found me because the prior owners of her house were also collectors of mine. JL intercepted a note to them shortly after moving in, and not soon thereafter commissioned portraits of her brood.  I've lost track of how many we've done to date, which is shameless of me, I know.   Meanwhile, she's been busy celebrating a milestone birthday. And getting a jump start on her holiday shopping.   Wanna have your cake and eat it too, while I paint for those on your shopping list?  let me know !   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com         Come Paint with Moi   Bring your brushes and spend the day finessing your color mixing and painting ski...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS HERE "Turquoise Calico," 4" x 6", done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a calico baby girl, $239 to the first one  asking nicely . SOLD. I'm readying for a day-long intensive painting workshop in October, which means I am reviewing my own processes and revising the syllabus accordingly. This will be one of the new exercises I'll share. This painting was created using only 2 paintbrushes - a 1/4" flat and a small round. Which means the image starts out one large pool of color, slowly getting sculpted as the marks build up, creating more detailed shape and form. Wanna learn how to paint this way, along with some other tips on mixing fresh color and keeping your brushwork lively? Than please join me October 8th at the Orion Art Center for my "Mixing Color Not Mud" workshop. There's only a few spots left, so e mail  for further information. Thanks, as always, for looking at and s...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS HERE "Nuzzling Hope," 6" x 8", done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Commissioned portrait of a paint mare and foal, the latest painting in my  Gratitude Series  (paintings of animals who were once homeless). Hope (the mare above) and Lucky Star (the foal) were 2 of a dozen horses rescued in Arizona this summer. Abandoned, malnourished, some injured, most suffering from foot problems/abcesses/serious infections, the horses were in rough shape. They were moved to a clean and safe facility,  Hoofbeats With Heart , where they received proper veterinary care and nourishment, among other things like feet trimmings, baths, and TLC (You can see photos on  a Facebook page  dedicated to the 12 horses' recovery). All 12 have all been adopted out - what a fabulously happy ending to the story, right? Yeah, I agree! My client, who was involved in the rescue, commissioned Hope and Lucky Star's portrait. She is donating t...