Kentucky Derby Week Recap

American Pharoah Won the Derby !!!

I snapped the above iPhone photo from our seats near the finish line at Churchill Downs, as American Pharoah was making his way to the winner's circle. Yeah, I did just say that. Our seats. At the finish line.

Here's some other way amazing things I got to do while in Kentucky:

Hang at Keeneland Race Track for morning workouts with some friends, after which we enjoyed breakfast afterwards at the track kitchen.

Take in the artwork at Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington.

Sip wine on the banks of the Ohio River.

Get pink and freckled (yes, I had sunscreen on!).

Practiced yoga in the dappled light of a glorious tree drenched in a Kentucky sunrise each morning.

Signed about a gajillion posters, tickets, programs and tote bags for the kindest people.

Made some new-to-me friends that feel as though I've known them my whole life.

Ate the most exquisite meals - I kid you not - they were cray cray!

Learned to curse with a southern accent.

I shared lots of photos on Facebook here.

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

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