Skip to main content

Still Waters, In Process


In process detail of "Still Waters (Bear)," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Golden Retriever I've painted more often than my own dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel. Ask nicely if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet.

In some ways, it's shockingly wonderful. There are people who care enough about my artwork to pay me. It's crazy! (THANKS!!)

And some of them care enough to buy multiples - I am shipping 5 pieces off next week to a home that already holds far more than that. How lucky am I? (THANK YOU!!)

And there are those who interact regularly via emails and messages, feeding my muse with their questions, ideas, and generosity. You keep my brain dancing with the possibilities. Again, how lucky am I? (and THANK YOU TOO!)

And then there are those, who, for whatever reason, shift from fan to collector to friend. Bear's portrait is going to someone who's done just that, rather gracefully (yes, an intentional play on words, as her "gracefulness" earned her some golden crutches). She does so much more than merely hang my art in her home, and it is ALWAYS a treat to get to paint one of her goldens.

As November looms, a month spent celebrating thanks, I thought I would kick things off early with a special thanks to all of you, for your support, your patronage, and your friendships. You have enabled me to keep my studio doors open for nearly 14 years.  

Thanks for everything!
Warmly, Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“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...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,   Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.   Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?   And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.   And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue  their own passions . I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own...
33 comments
Read more

Golden Open Acrylics

I get all sorts of process oriented questions. Most recently I've been getting asked a lot about my paints and palette, which made me realize what a nice blog topic this would make! I use a Masterson Sta-Wet Premier palette box . This is comprised of a box (think Tupperware) with a sponge liner and a slice of palette paper that work together to keep my paints wet. This setup allows me to work with the same palette for about a full week, having the box open for multiple hours every day. You can see what the palette looks like at the beginning of a new session above - below the exact same palette after this week's work. For the last 25 years I have used Golden brand acrylics, mediums, and varnish. I love the overall quality of these paints and the fact that, when I have a question, their customer service department is made up of artists who actually use the products. Until last year, I used their Heavy Body paints exclusively. They have a buttery consistency, a little loose...
11 comments
Read more