Why I rework a perfectly good painting

"Your Tears Have Been Worthwhile (Medicine Hat #8)," 20" x 30", acrylics on gallery stretched canvas, image painted around the sides so there is no need to frame. $1299 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. Inquire directly to me - I take personal checks, paypal, venmo and will arrange payment plans.

I shared this painting last week, thinking she was finished. But it was later pointed out** that the painting could be improved - my story wasn't as clear as it could have been. You see the gesture of this horse, which was paramount to me, materializing as she approached the viewer, was not strong enough. Nor was her connection with the flowers explained - that they have taken root and are pulling sustenance from her existence, even if it is imagined. So I dug back into the piece and made some changes - subtle, yet I feel, critical ones that make the painting all the stronger.

At times I'm able to see a painting's shortcomings on my own, but they aren't always immediately apparent. I get caught up in the excitement of signing a piece, and forget to give it the time or space needed (before blogging/posting) to settle in. And, too, there is the constant learning and evolving that I do creatively - what seems to be completed today, when looked at with fresh eyes in 6 months (or, let's be real, tomorrow in some cases!), may have some major issues.

Because I've learned to be a better painter in the meanwhile.

What are you learning?

Thanks, as always, for following along with my art journey,
Warmly, Kim

**I am so blessed to call myself one of The Thursday Brushes. We are 8 artists who meet weekly to create, discuss art, share new processes and critique each others' work. I've been part of this group for a little more than a year now, and attribute much of my growth to the support of these wonderful ladies. I encourage you to start a similar group in your area, even if your meetings have to be done via Facetime/Skype/whatever. There's no substitute for working together towards the same goal.

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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

“Rapt (Shadow),” from the Larger than Life series, 16”x22”, acrylic black lab mixed breed pet portrait on gallery wrapped canvas, $699. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This is Shadow, who went missing on Sunday night. He belongs to a friend of mine, and has been a fixture in our community for many years. Errant fireworks scared the silly old guy into running off, and his family is busy searching for him. (If you happen to be in the Lake Orion/Oakland County area and have seen Shadow, please call 248-391-0867 or 248-391-6817) I’m confidant that he is safe (somewhere!) and awaiting discovery, but meanwhile, couldn’t help myself from posting his portrait as today’s dog a day painting . He’s constantly on my mind, and probably will remain so, until he finds his way back home. Hug your four legged guys while you can! Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ dis

NEW! Etsy Store

One of my favorite unsold paintings from 2008, "Lashes & Corkscrews," 5" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, depicting a tobiano buckskin curly horse, $289. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com (but read further on how you can get a special deal on this painting!). Now it's ridiculously easy to browse my painting archives. All you have to do is visit my Etsy store . Etsy has a Shopping Cart (so you can pile it high with purchases from a variety of artists), is integrated with Paypal (although you may still pay by check if you prefer to), and is terribly simple to navigate. When the week has ended, I will have listed almost 100 of my favorite (UNSOLD!) paintings here, grouped loosely by subject matter. During 2009 I'll update the shop regularly, and add non-Dog-a-Day pieces as a bonus, thus making it easy to search for that perfect gift. Watch my daily postings for announcements, promotions and discount codes. If you do not receive the Dog-a-Day emails (

Paintings With Soul

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