Mental Health Day

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE!! "Having a Ball," 8" x 10", acrylic on panel, depicting two border collies wrestling over a squishy toy, $469. Inquiries may always come to me.

Years ago I attended a time management seminar, and the conference leader advocated regular scheduling of what he called "Mental Health Days." Days where, despite a towering list of to-dos, one would take a break and feed their soul. Because soul feeding is far more critical to our happiness than we admit or (I often) allow.

So that's what I did today, in an unplanned and spontaneous sort of way.

I started with brunch, celebrating my friend Laura Locke'ssolo show (opens next week at Lennon Photography).

Then a visit to a girlfriend's new storefront (hey locals, did you know Chic Antiques has relocated in the old Scribbles building?). We talked about the possibility of my teaching a springtime multi-media class in her garden.

Punctuated with a stop at the Salvation Army to hunt for treasures (and drop off another van load of donations from our basement clean-sweep).

And then a spontaneous stop at the salon to cut off my ponytail (My Better Half won't be happy with me).

And now I'm readying to transport several marimbas halfway across the state for The Man Child's Solo & Ensemble performances this evening. Performances which will then be followed up by a dress rehearsal with the Lake Orion Percussion Team as they ready for Sunday's competition.

May your weekend also carry a little down time to feed your soul. And some good music, too!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

One of the Dog a Day Valentine Giveaway entries.

How's About a Romantic Walk on the Beach?

The Dog a Day Valentine Giveaway is on!!

Send 2-3 clear, non-flash copyright free photos of your pet to me, using the subject line of "Valentine." Be creative in your photos - I will be looking for artistic merit, not just cuteness!!

JPG files (the photos you submit) should be at least 5" wide on the longest side and at 100dpi.

Entries must be received by midnight EST on Friday, February 10th, 2012.

One entry (2-3 photos of same pet = one entry) per household, please.

I will do my best to acknowledge receipt of all entries - last year there were over 90 pets submitted, so I anticipate a crowd! (View last year's finalists.)

Only photos submitted using the above guidelines will be considered.

On Monday, February 13th, I will share the finalists' photos on the studio Facebook page, and on Tuesday (Valentine's Day) I will reveal this year's Dog a Day Valentine.

The winning image will be chosen exclusively based on design elements apparent/inspired by the photographs.

The Dog a Day Valentine painting will be sized according to the composition, but at the very smallest will be a 5"x7" museum quality panel - this is a guaranteed prize of at least $289.

Winner will be responsible for shipping costs.

Please also keep in mind that by submitting your photos you are (1) guaranteeing that you own the copyright to the photos in question (meaning you took them yourself) and (2) granting me permission to use your photos/pet's likeness in a future painting. You have no obligation to purchase future paintings your photos or pet inspire, but you will have first right of refusal.

Now go, off with you, and take some amazing photos!!

“Katie’s Moustache,” 6x12, pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $90. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . One glimpse of Katie’s face, and I was hooked. Not only did she fall into my beloved “black & white” category, but she came with a full moustache and doe-like eyes. I first covered the canvas with a variety of blues and purples, using a (mixed) light green and pink for the highlights. (Right now my palette has been expanded to include the following: pthalo blue red, azurite hue, cad red dark, alizarine crimson, cad yellow dark, and then for graying/hazing out I use light green yellow and ultramarine purple.) I lighten with titanium white and darken with one of the blues and a touch of one of the reds. As a side note, at this time last year I was really struggling with my limited palette (I went from about 60 pots of paint to 3), but I have lived the benefits – I am so much more familiar with what I can mix given just this handful of colors. My paintings are also m...

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