The Dark Knight (yes, it's Batman!!)

"The Dark Knight," 6" x 18", Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel. This portrait of the original Caped Crusader (not to be confused with my son The Caped Crusader) is inspired by an action figure I snagged at a flea market this summer. You can tuck this masked man somewhere special in your home and never even have to reach for the batphone. The painting is $329, including s&h inside the US. Batphone, Robin, Alfred and the Commissioner not included. Inquiries may come to me.

Oy. Yesterday Was Difficult.

The proof is here. I tried to finish The Princess's dance portrait. And then I tried again. And again. But it just wasn't happening. I struggled with my drawing, her anatomy, and then the value of the background. Nothing was working (and yes, I have these days too!).

I thought I'd tackle her today, but when I stood in front of my easel this morning, honestly, the painting was a hot mess. And I got a little intimidated (and yes, I have that same inner critic you do!).

The painting can be worked out. But I wasn't feeling the love today.

So I reached for something a little more inside my comfort zone than the human figure all twisty and foreshortened and graceful and in movement and stuff (what the <> was I thinking????). I grabbed a toy.

Don't judge me. He's still a human figure, albeit a plastic one. I added a little torso twist. Got that fan going, too, to billow his cape properly and add a suggestion of movement to the painting.

He's a couple steps down the difficulty scale from my dancer, but he was totally doable. And my painting mojo doesn't feel as bruised today.

In process images here .

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

Happy New Year!

Warmly, Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Comments

Picture Book "A Dog Named Blue" - now available!!

The cover of "A Dog Named Blue," now available from Blurb publishers. When I first painted Amelia I never imagined that she would be re-christened "Blue" and inspire a book. In her defense, Amelia had a number of other partners in crime - animals who's portraits seemed to fall into a specific color category and prompt color-centric names. In typical ADD fashion, my brain started spinning 100mph. What if I turned those muses' paintings into a picture book for animal loving kids? I shared my idea with three friends in the industry, and they eagerly offered their expertise. I am truly indebted to them. Illustrator and author Matt Faulkner and children's book author and literacy expert Kristen Remenar edited an early version of the draft. They suggested key plot/conceptual changes that made it oodles better. Designer Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson worked her magic, pairing the images with perfectly color...

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me . Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po...

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...

Paintings With Soul

Search This Blog