Paintings With Soul

View In Process Photos "Panther-ette," 9" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a house cat playing at being something quite larger, $549 to the first  asking nicely  . Every so often I need to throw my black paint to the wind and wallow in color. Lots of it, just for color's sake, just because it is lovely and makes my heart sing. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Chew," 11" x 1", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a paint horse emerging from the shadows, $599 to the first  asking nicely  . I'm a couple days ahead in paintings - not sure how that happened, but I'm not arguing. Just plugging away with my paintbrush. This one's from Tuesday. Another in my "Emerging" series - if you have a black and white animal you think would work well as part of my exploration, email me   pics and I'll audition them. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

Download the file   directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am not an expert on operating systems, so don't email me for advice if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Cheese," 10" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a pointer with the goofiest grin, $539 to the first  asking nicely . A few months back I introduced a tube of black to my palette and began exploring how form dissolved into shadow. I didn't fully intend for a new series of paintings to evolve - it just happened. I've named the paintings "Emerging." Take a peek at some of the magic I discovered . Some of these paintings are looking for homes - (and yes, I take payment plans) - let me know how I can get one of them into yours! (I've also set up notecard and smart phone case ordering - print reproductions are available for those images already in private collections.) Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim Reproductions Cell Phone Cases View In Process Photos

WHOOPS! I shared this on Friday via my newsletter group and also on Facebook, but sadly neglected to post to the blog. Why did this happen? Because the response was OVERWHELMING - I booked 19 portraits over the course of the weekend. Yes, I know I only offered 10, but everyone asked so kindly and were so enthusiastic, that I decided to accept a few more. But I didn't mean to leave my blog readers out of the loop. So, with that in mind, I will continue to accept sketch requests through midnight, May 27th, 2014. Apologies for the oversight - all inquiries may come directly to moi! Thanks so much for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Ready for a home, "Paisano," 16" x 16", acrylics on a 2" cradeled panel, depicting a foal emerging from the shadows, done with permission from a Team Husar photograph, $849 to the first  asking nicely  . A friend's little boy lost his fight with cancer today. His Mom, who's heart is the largest I've known, asked that family and friends consider donating blood in his memory. I'm extending that challenge to all of you - if you can, please do. If you can't, please spread the word. It could save a child's - or a parent's - life.  Find a blood drive near you . Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

In process, "Paisano," 16" x 16", acrylics on 2" cradled panel, depicting a foal emerging from the shadows, $849 to the first asking nicely. View In Process Photos I am rather protective of my creating time and hardly answer the phone during work days, let alone schedule field trips. But when  Laura Locke invited me yet again to spend a day working in her gorgeous studio, I couldn't pack my paints quickly enough.    We talked about work. And life. And our friend Margot whom we miss dearly. And I came home with a very happy heart. And a half decent painting started, too. THANK YOU, Laura. You are a beautiful friend. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"The End of the Day," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, depicting a beautifully feathered Gypsy Vanner draft horse, $679 to the first asking nicely . View In Process Photos In person this painting literally glows with layers of subtle and harmonic color. I even hear crickets and the drone of a fat honeybee. Paintings can do some remarkable things. I'm sharing some of my secrets in a 4 day workshop next month in Traverse City - we'll do a heck of a lot of painting, but we also laugh pretty hard, eat very well, enjoy sunset wine tasting on the peninsula, and make new friends. We need a few more bodies to make this happen - if you are interested, talk to Kathryn and figure out how you can join us. Thanks, as always, for your interest in my artwork, Warmly, Kim

Ask Nicely - Buy Me Now "Boo," 6" x 8", acrylics on panel, depicting a tiny daVinci, $329 to the first asking nicely. SOLD (THANK YOU!) My previous newsletter provider didn't offer much in the means of integration with social media or dynamic looks. So today I shifted to Constant Contact and freshened things up a bit in the process. Let me know what you think! This little painting of daVinci, one of his first portraits, is a favorite of mine, and seemed the perfect choice to usher in the new look. I can't believe it hasn't yet found a home, but maybe that will happen soon........ Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

In Process, "The End of the Day," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a gorgeous gray Gypsy Vanner horse. This painting is available for $679 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Started a new painting today that is high key - I needed a little visual break from deep shadows and dreary gray days. This is the perfect antidote. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Detail of "Nestled," 30" x 30", acrylics on cradeled birch panel, featuring four different larger than life views of a daVinci, genius brown tabby kitten extraordinaire. This painting is hopefully headed to ArtPrize (see below) where it will be available for $3,900 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Here is my   ArtPrize 2014   entry. Or rather, one small bit of it.  Next up: actively focus on finding the perfect venue match for my entry. It's gotta be a space that will duly workshop his brilliance. He will accept nothing less. I photographed  the painting's progression - feel free to take a peek and add your two cents. A limited edition of 10 gallery wrapped hand-signed reproductions on canvas will be available for pre-order next week. Let me know if you are interested - I'm talking to vendors and arranging details now. Thanks as always for following along

In Process, "Nestled," 30" x 30", acrylics on cradeled birch panel, four different larger than life views of a particularly troublesome kitten (daVinci). This painting is headed to ArtPrize (hopefully) where it will be available for $3,900 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Have you heard of ArtPrize ? After only a handful of years, it's become one of the largest art festivals in the world - I was fortunate enough to be an artist in 2012 and to spend a weekend visiting last year. It's pretty inspiring, to say the least. How does it work? Well, artists put together a proposal online. Their work is then matched with a participating venue. The venue hangs and coordinates all the display details, and the artwork is publically on view for the duration of the festival. Entries are juried by a board of curators/peers as well as eligible for popular vote awar

"Day One," limited edition giclees on artists' paper, image size approximately 8" x 10" with a generous white margin, $50 each plus $15 s&h. $10 from the sale of each giclee will be donated to Paws With a Cause . Meet Hula, a service dog Momma from Paws With a Cause (Read about the puppy, Mystic, who I painted a second time,  here ). Hula's portrait was an immediate favorite at the time , and in response to numerous requests, I released limited edition giclees.  I have 4 - now 3 -  left of the original 25. (I love this - a collector just purchased one to donate to a Golden Retriever Foundation) Once they are gone, they are gone. You know, that is the whole idea of a "limited edition." Wishing all the Momma Bears out there a beautiful weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

I tell my students to remember that not everything we create has to hang over the couch. Today I took that advice, and had great fun painting silly patterns on a Starbucks cup. Just because. Conveniently  Starbucks is looking for a fresh rework of their iconic white cup !  Now you have the perfect excuse to grab a latte this afternoon, and, while that caffeine is coursing through your veins, turn your empty cup into a work of art. You don't even have to hang it over the couch.  Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

18"x24" posters available for $25 each plus $15 s&h. Posters will be shipped in tubes mid June. Orders must be received and paid in full by May 17th, 2014. Questions may come to me. Orders are now being accepted for this year's Broadway Dance Studio Commemorative Poster. Proceeds benefit their Competition Dance Team's trip to a Nationals convention and competition this summer. Posters are only available until May 17th, 2014. Thanks for following along with my artwork (and supporting the arts!), Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Gidget," 8" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting shaggy little blonde puppy. This painting is available for $469 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Someone who will remain nameless has been giving me grief. Apparently I'm not painting enough dogs to suite her taste. She bullied me into this. I hope she's happy now. Maybe she'll leave me alone tomorrow. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Last Laugh," 10" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a bay Thoroughbred horse. This painting is available for $539 to the first one asking nicely . VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS I know Derby week is over, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the horses quite yet. Indulge me for one more day! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Squeaky Clean," 15" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a blood bay Thoroughbred getting bathed. Inspired by the barn area at historic  Saratoga Racetrack . This painting is available for $1299 to the first one asking nicely. SOLD. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS I was half afraid to come into the studio this morning for fear Squeaky wasn't nearly as good as I remembered. But then he was. Then I started thinking what would happen if I ruined him during today's painting session? But then I didn't. Some days you have to stop thinking and trust that you can. Here's to a safe trip for all the horses running tomorrow, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

In Process, above "Squeaky Clean," 15" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a blood bay Thoroughbred getting bathed. Inspired by a sunny morning spent in the barn area at the historic  Saratoga Racetrack last summer. This painting is available for $1299 to the first one asking nicely. Detail of Squeaky's face is below. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Every summer I visit Saratoga, New York - I drive through Canada and pick up Linda Shantz near Toronto, then we meet up with Jenifer Trottier (New Jersey), Juliet Harrison (New York) and Sharon Passmore (Tennessee). We spend our time talking horses and art while taking in the local gallery scene and getting as many hours at the track as possible.  Reference photos shot during those few days together fuel a year's worth of creating. That's where the pics behind "Squeaky Clean" came from. Thanks as always for following along wi