Skip to main content

Renewing My Vows


"Turtledove," 2007, 8" square, acrylics on panel, depicting a wonderfully special ladybug, from my own personal collection. Fresh from the tough streets of Los Angeles, Turtle joined our family in 1991 - she came with both physical and emotional scars and an odd meow that sounded like a dove cooing. When I began the studio in 2000 (after leaving the traditional workforce), it seemed symbolically similar to the rebirth she experienced when adopted. And so it made perfect sense to name my business after her - and thus TurtledoveDesigns was born.

Why am I doing the #YourTurn Challenge??

In October 2006 I started painting and blogging daily. I did it quietly, and at first only told a few close souls, so that I felt a sense of accountability. But I also didn't want to fail miserably in front of a huge audience.

Clearly, in the past 7-/12 years, my audience has grown a bit beyond those first confidants. And there have been times I've dropped the ball, for whatever reason, and not gotten to the easel or even written a blog. It used to be that I would lose sleep when this sort of stuff happened, and I'm embarrassed to say that, especially in this past year, I was no longer stressed or ashamed when I failed to deliver.

Which is wrong on so many levels. 

If I make a promise to deliver content, than I need to deliver. The internet is full of those who are delivering, and doing so as promised. Furthermore, your time and attention is a valuable commodity - it is wrong for me to disrespect your own commitment to follow along with my artwork by not, err, making any artwork. Or at least creating content when life happens and artwork doesn't get made.

So this week I am participating in the #YourTurn Challenge. Inspired by Seth Godin, #YourTurn is essentially a group of bloggers who recognize what a privilege it is to have your attention. Collectively we are renewing our commitment to deliver for 7 days straight. Together we will hold each other accountable, but it is also my hope that I will rediscover and reconnect with old habits and my initial passion for blogging.

Meanwhile, I apologize if you feel as though you were taken for granted. I am working hard to make sure that never happens again. 

Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork!
Warmly, Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

Fisher Price Little People Puppy, Toy #10

"Little People Puppy (Toy #10)," 6" x 6," acrylics on masonite, starring a spunky little spaniel with jointed legs made by Fisher Price This painting is $75, with free shipping inside the US. Purchasing is as simple as  asking . I didn't play with this particular version of Little People toys, but I find them very sentimental never the less. They are well designed and charming. I tried to figure out what year Fisher Price made these particular jointed toys which I own (via ebay - I have circus characters too!), but got distracted learning about the history of Little People in general. They have seemingly been around for 50+ years! The Little People barn was a HUGE part of my childhood. The barn doors opened with a "mooooo," but in my head I heard welcoming nickers. Those horses and chickens were real. The brown and orange shag carpeting of my parent's family room became lush rolling pastures of green, and the Little People...
Post a Comment
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