Paintings With Soul

    The Wishing Tree, from the Salvadore Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. Museum visitors tie their wishes onto ribbons attached to a tree on the museum grounds. And of course Elizabeth and I made wishes of our own.     Just an aside, when we arrived at the Museum I realized how much more entertaining our day would have been had we painted elaborate mustaches on our faces prior.   I never studied Salvadore Dali's work extensively, but let me tell you that this is changing. After today's museum visit, he is a new favorite - he was passionate about his materials, his process, and his beliefs.   On our drive home, I read aloud excerpts from a new acquisition - his book  50 Secrets of Master Craftsmanship . Brilliant!   Hope your wishes come true, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

"Gator," 16" x 20", the latest Water Dog painting starring a golden retriever and a once-still body of water, acrylic on museum quality panel, available to the first asking nicely.  Let me know  if you are interested, and I will arrange for you to see a less-blurry jpg (I only packed my cell phone for this trip, and you all know how hard it is for me to take a non-blurry photo with my phone!!). SOLD. This is the painting I created in the lobby of the  Grand Bohemian Hotel  on Saturday evening. It was a fabulous nite spent meeting new fans and friends and working alongside  Elizabeth . At the tail end of the night, she and I were treated to a tour of  Mr Kessler's art collection , and I got a little teary eyed over  Egon Schiele's  sketches. Huge warm thanks go out to Debbie at the Kessler Gallery for putting this remarkable evening together for us both. As always, there are a mess of photos on the  studio...

    "Billmurray," 4" square, a commissioned dog tag painting, acrylic on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!).  Let me know  if you want one of these done up custom with your dog's name.     And yes, I will be doing a mess of green tags for St Patty's Day, so stay tuned! It'll probably be the tail end of next week or early the following.   Don't forget the current auction going on over on  Facebook  - eight older paintings are looking for new homes. Bidding ends at 9pm EST.    Hope everyone in the Midwest is holed up and safe as this newest storm moves through - grab a book and settle in if you can! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     Elizabeth (on right) and I at The Heidelberg Project last  summer, doing our best Charlie's Angels imitation     Up & Coming Tonite, 6-8pm, grownUPs Journaling class at th...

    "Violet Rosie," one of eight older paintings I am auctioning off in the next 24 hours. More details below and on  the studio's Facebook page.     The last couple years have seen galleries closing down, and a number of spaces that used to represent me no longer do. I was sorting through the beautiful returned inventory when I realized something.   These paintings deserve an audience!    So right then and there I went through my archives, packed with artwork I kept for a variety of reasons - paintings from exhibitions, demos done for particular events, and the returned inventory mentioned above - and pulled out a handful of oldies but goodies that seemed especially lonely and in need of new homes.   These are daily pieces created during 2007 - 2010, done in acrylic on canvas boards.  These paintings will be auctioned off over the next 24 hours on  the studio Facebook's page . Place...

        Go from a full sheet of pastel paper a homemade journal in a matter of hours, using some basic supplies like markers, inks, stencils, watercolor pencils, and masking tape.     I'll be leading fellow journalers through the steps at a class in Longwood, Florida (near Orlando) next Monday evening, February 25th. For more information,  contact Debbie , your hostess with the mostest, at The Craft Shack.   And for you locals who are excited about this idea, just hold tight - I'll offer the same class this fall in Rochester, Michigan.   Meanwhile my grownUP Journalers are meeting this Thursday evening from 6-8pm at the Orion Art Center. Being as February is the month of love, we'll be focused on journaling about our passions. Class is $15 and there's a little bit of mental homework to prepare - please  RSVP to me  and I'll get you started.   Have a great evening! Kim ks...

      "Tilly," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a terrier, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!).   Don't those eyebrows just drive you crazy with love?   Stay warm this weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  ORDER NOTECARDS AND REPRODUCTIONS HERE     "Gigi," 10" x 10", portrait of a fluff ball, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, my gift to Gigi's Mom for playing along with the Dog a Day Valentine's Giveaway.   Over 100 faces were submitted for consideration this year and it was difficult to narrow them down. I choose  22 finalists , but honestly didn't know until the absolute last possible minute who I was going to paint. And how I wish I could have painted each of them.   And I chose Gigi because she seemed to be overflowing with love, today's theme.   Happy Valentines Day from all the Santinis, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS  In process pictures are on  the studio's Facebook page .  

    "Pile," 12" x16", commissioned portrait of a litter of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, to be available at a future date.   "When?" you ask. Let me tell you when.   This painting was commissioned with the intent of donating it to the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel specialty show in Arizona this April. The painting will be auctioned off by Westminster's own David Frei, with the monies going into a trust that funds canine health resarch.   If you are interested in bidding, please  let me know , and I will connect you with those putting the event together.   And meanwhile, many, many thanks to my big-hearted client for coordinating such a special painting!   In process pictures are on  the studio's Facebook page .   Thanks so much for following along!! Kim, who still doesn't know  who  she's painting tomorrow..... ...

    "Warrior Princess," 6" x13", portrait of my daughter and friends, acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a scene from their group ballet number of the same title, collection of The Princess.   I wish wish wish wish wish wish wish wish I had paid better attention in my life drawing classes many moons ago. Because now this sort of stuff - drawing my kids doing the things they love - would be so much easier.   In process pictures are on  the studio's Facebook page  along with.....   The Dog a Day Valentine's Day Giveaway finalists !   Go take a peek and see if you can predict who I'm going to paint on Thursday (honestly, I don't know yet!!)   Fondly,  Kim, who wants to start a new painting now but her calendar is full of other things. Wah.  

    IN PROCESS:  "Warrior Princess," 6" x13", an ongoing portrait of The Princess and her partners in crime (yet to be added to the piece), done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a group of ballerinas I've grown to love, collection of The Princess.   I spent the weekend at my second dance competition, surrounded by the most fabulous costumes and music and elegance, and the whole time my hands itched to hold brushes and bring it all to life.   So tonite, after yet another snow day and a houseful of kiddos, I indulged.   I am sipping wine during the evening as I continue working on this piece (and hoping hoping hoping that everyone gets on the bus tomorrow morning!) - and I'll post lots of pictures to  the studio's Facebook page  (not of the victorious moment at the busstop, but of what plays out in the studio tonite). Thank you for following along.   And before I get 100 requests - t...

"JT," 30" x30", commissioned portrait of a Thoroughbred, done in acrylics on a museum quality cradeled panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). My apologies for the photo - I've lost my natural lighting and this painting is so large that my studio equipment doesn't light it evenly. I'll shoot a better pic tomorrow. But isn't he just lovely? Sigh.  In process images are on  the studio's Facebook page , and thank you for looking. Fondly,  Kim, who's hoping everyone stays battened down in this newest storm. Me? I'm stocked up with chocolate, so all is well! ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  I'm getting some beautiful entries like the one above - thanks so much for sending in your pics!! I am already super excited to pick up my brushes on Valentine's Day!!   Right now I'm working on two top-secret portraits, so thought I would rerun the rules for the painting giveaway, along with some tips.   I receive well over 100 faces every time I do this and I cannot stress enough that I will not consider photos that do not meet my criteria. Not to be petty or mean, but it is a LOT of work to sift through the images, and then discover after the fact that the copyright wasn't the submitter's to grant or that the resolution is too small.   So, if you want me to gift you a painting, please invest a few extra minutes in your entry to read the guidelines and make certain your photos are eligible.    THE DETAILS:   Send 2-3 clear, non-flash, copyright free photos of your pet  to me . (TIP: I see flas...

2012's Dog a Day Valentine Giveaway winner Violet starred in her own 8" x 10" portrait, my gift to her family as thanks for following along with my paintings.       I love this time of year. Why? Because I get the honor of gifting a painting to someone special as appreciation for their support!   That's right, it's time for the Dog a Day Valentine Giveaway!   Here's how it works:   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 Sunday, February 10th, 2013.   One entry (2-3 photos of same pet = one entry) per household, please.    Prior Valentine winners are not eliga...

      "Bucky," image approximately 5-1/2" x 5" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" bristol board, done in acrylics, depicting a much beloved Daschund, private collection (THANK YOU!!).   Bucky's over on  the studio Facebook page  - there's a couple pics of his portrait in process.   Want a Santini original of your own?  email me  and we can talk about a portrait of your four legged family member! Thanks! Kim Santini ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com