Paintings With Soul

"Cooper", from the Cherished series, 12" square, acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a black and white Boston Terrier. This painting will be part of ArtPrize in Grand Rapids this fall and available for purchase there. Inquiries may be directed  my way .   Cooper fell off my brushes during last night's painting session. This is what happens when I put on my Wonder Woman tennies and eat Girl Scout cookies until 3am.   In process views are in the Mobile Uploads folder inside the studio Facebook page .   Its going to be a fabulous week!! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     Outbound   Five paintings headed to new homes today and three others took off for Spa Fine Art in New York.   Which means I now have space on the studio floor for another pile. Hmmm......  

As I type this, it's closing in on 10pm on Monday. I've just laid out a fresh palette and chosen a 12" square panel that will soon tell the story of Cooper, a little lump of spunk wrapped up as a Boston Terrier.   However, even overly optimistic me knows that I won't be finishing this ambitious painting by my midnite posting deadline.   So, the next best thing? Regular updates to Facebook.   I'll be updating the progress of Cooper's portrait onto  the studio Facebook page , so if you are up working too (or just playing), please follow along and comment. If you are reading this in the morning, feel free to check in and add your two - or ten - cents.   Meanwhile, I'm turning up Pandora and putting on my Wonder Woman cons. It's that sorta night!   Happy Monday - Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Saratoga Bound   This time next week, I'll be heading off to upstate New York for my annual artists'...

  "Toothless," from  The Gratitude Series , 6" x 8", portrait of a well loved Boston Terrier, acrylic on museum quality panel, $329 with proceeds going to  Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue . Inquiries may come  to me .         A while back I put a call out for senior dogs, needing to paint a couple pieces for the Canine Art Guild's latest exhibition "Old Friends."   Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue  sent along some dear photos of dogs in their care, and after obtaining permission from the photographer (see the sidebar), I was eager to pick up my brushes.   Boston's have a rabidly delightful approach to life, and age seemed not to have lessoned this one's joy de vivre at all.   I hope I'm this happy when I'm 105 (15 in dog years).   If you wish to make a donation to Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue like I will be (when this painting sells), you can do so  here . (Like most rescues and shelters, they can also us...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Dougall's Stick," a commissioned painted sketch, paper  12" x 9", image approximately 9" x 5". Done in Golden Open Acrylics on artists' multimedia panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Dougall got a rough start to life, but that didn't break his spirit. His Mom says "....he is a giant dog in a little body with an absolute heart of gold." Yeah, I can see that. Quite clearly. I bet you can, too! Have a Dougall of your own?  tell me  all about him/her! I live for these sorts of stories.... (psst, sketches start at $49 and make great gifts - when was the last time you treated yourself?) Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PAINTING WORKSHOP "Mixing Color Not Mud": Saturday, October 8th, at the Orion Art Center in Lake Orion MICHIGAN, for reservations call 248-693-4986   ...

  Before running away to Saratoga over the weekend, I left Maggie on my easel with a cloak of rainbow colors. Today I got the chance to pick up my brushes and finish her portrait.   I began the painting session by laying down wide swathes of local color - however, you'll notice there remain small strips of the bold, hot hues around the edges of the forms. I'll leave these "peek-a-boo pockets" all over the painting - they will add some color zing to the end result.   After identifying the overall background value of the couch cushions, I defined the lighter stripes, focusing on the drape of the fabric and not so much on the proper values. These I would correct later with layers of glaze (translucent paint).   I also toyed with the patterned couch pillows, but determined they created too much pattern, and painted them out. I want the viewer's eyes to rest on Maggie, not to get distracted by a wealth of other details.   And here she is as she stands now -...

    Here's where we left off yesterday - I had begun to lay down a range of values and then identified some drawing problems that needed attention before any more paint layers went down. (You can see yesterday's progress - including the inspiration photo -  here .)   Yes, this is the same panel! I redrew Maggie, correcting her oversized bum, making her eyes a little brighter, and pulling her chin forward. I corrected the improbable angle of her shoulders and front legs, too.   And then I threw in underpaintings for the background that will be compliments to the ultimate final layers of color. This totally changed the painting, no?     Using those same hot colors as in the underpainting, I dropped in bits and flecks of color in Maggie's face. This is what will give her painting life and intensity.   I moved my attention to the back 1/2 of her body, and used neutralized versions of the same colors to begin pushing it back in space. Notice h...

Yeah, I know - I might be going overboard with the lesson paintings as of late! For whatever reason, I'm tackling bigger paintings with more complex compositions, stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new things. Which means the paintings are taking multiple days, which means you reap the benefit of following along! So, take a deep breath, and let's bring the newest muse on board. This is Maggie. I've painted Maggie and her four legged family members before, but her Mom requested something a little more substantial. Something that honored their years together and showed what a dignified and dear friend Maggie had been. I started with a big panel - this painting will be nearly life sized at 12" x 20". It got toned a light yellow, and then I started with my drawing. I placed Maggie close to the picture plane, and blocked her and the background in using a very large brush, bold color and loose brushwork. Remember, the majority of this will get covered up la...

BUY NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Troublemaker (Frankie)," 6" square, portrait of a Boston Terrier, done in Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord. This is a commissioned portrait created on the sly from photos also taken on the sly - the painting will shortly be gifted to Frankie's mom by her family. I don't know Frankie, but I do know her Mom, and if Frankie's even a smidge like her, then "Troublemaker" doesn't even begin to cover it. Want to gift something that'll never be forgotten? Let's talk. We can do an actual painting (if you can get photos) or a gift certificate (and let the recipient shoot the pics). Prices start at $49. Thanks in advance for sharing the Painting a Dog a Day artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

My Ball!," 8" s 10", commissioned double Boston Terrier portrait, done in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . Who can't relate to the rivalry in this painting? The adrenaline rush of prancing across the yard with the bounty? This painting seemed especially apropos in these first few days of the Winter Olympics - not quite the grace of figure skating, but just as much zest. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's websi...

"Backseat Drivers," 8" x 16", acrylic on canvasboard, not yet for sale. This painting has been created especially for the "Art & Automobile" exhibition at Starkweather Gallery in Romeo, Michigan. The show opens Friday, July 10th. "Backseat Drivers" (complete with a gorgeous custom frame) and a larger than lifesize canvas of a Vizsla ("Chauffeur," 36" x 48", shown below) will both be available for purchase through the gallery during the duration of the show. I'll share their contact information after I deliver the paintings.  A few weeks back I asked for photos of your dog(s) riding shotgun. I got some really wonderful shots, allowing me to sift through a mess of ideas and different compositions. It came down to a couple of possibilities, from which this (first) painting emerged. Special thanks goes out to Miriam Hughes of Chester County, Pennsylvania for the reference photo that inspired "Backseat Drive...

FROM TOP:  "Lola II," 8" square ($349), and "Lola I," 6" x 8" ( SOLD ). Portraits of a Jack Russell spitfire - err, terrier - done in acrylic on canvasboard. One has already found her home (THANK YOU!). Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .   Our vacation was beautiful - long and lingering walks, mountains of excellent food, a couple of entertaining books, and hours spent just watching the sky. But now I'm back (freezing my butt off, I might add!) and ready to work on some stellar portraits. I've got a few dear dogs like Lola, as well as a horse booked this week, so stay tuned.   These are the last days for the DOGADAY sale at my etsy shop  - 20% off all the Dog-a-Day paintings listed on etsy . The sale lasts through Saturday, January 31st. In addition to the dog, cat and horse pieces, there are a good number of candy paintings available that would make darling Valentines. To find them, take a peek under the "Tags, T...

"Lopsided (Boston Terrier)," 4" square, Boston Terrier dog portrait, acrylic on boar. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . I cannot always share what I paint these days because many are holiday gifts. Today I had to paint an extra face because the first two were surprises for Dog-a-Day readers. Which reminds me - I have a few remaining spaces for commissioned pet portraits for 2009's holiday gift giving - I am reserving them for repeat clients. Send me a note if you are interested, so I can pencil you in and lock down my current prices: ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . We have miserable weather creeping in - 2" of snow, some sleet, and all topped off with a predicted 1" of rain. Sounds like a possible snow day tomorrow. And on top of that I feel a cold creeping in - my brain is waterlogged and sluggish. I refuse to get sick - I have no time for this. Darn germs - why can't the kids keep them to themselves?!! Thanks, as always, for looking a...

"Contentment", 6" square, acrylic boston terrier portrait on canvasboard; "BT Tongue," 4" x 8", acrylic boston terrier profile painting , $149. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Since I am now officially a hockey widow (playoffs have started) and had 6 kids (not all my own) plus an extra dog (who behaved better than Finnigan!) for the bulk of the day, I needed some mental health time. After tucking some kids in and shuttling another one to a sleepover, I ducked into the studio with a glass of wine and some m&ms (don't m&ms cure just about everything?), and decided to have a quick go at some reference photos from Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue here in Michigan. They have no idea I was painting for them (surprise!), but they are always terribly appreciative of the funds that the Painting a Dog a Day project is able to raise. 20% of the sales of the above 2 paintings will go to this 501c group, comprised of volunteers who u...

"Elsie," 5" x 7", young Boston Terrier portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $135. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue, the rescue that is currently fostering Elsie until she finds a new home. Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Elsie is a puppy mill dog, one who spent the first years of her life producing litters while entirely crate bound. She has some health concerns that will need monitoring as she grows older, but she remains a happy, playful, bright soul. You can read more about Elsie at http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9569118 . You can read more about the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue at http://www.midwestbtrescue.org/ . And just to shamelessly toot my horn some more, I'd like to repeat yesterday's information about my participation in Animal Wise Radio's programming this weekend. Sunday, January 13th, to be exact. The show airs live in the ...

"Grin, Ziggy, Grin," 6" x 8", Boston Terrier dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $180. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will go to the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue in Kent, Michigan. Inquiries, as always, may come to me at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . There is a wealth of knowledge in the face of an older dog, and Ziggy is no exception. I love the graying around his muzzle that stretches up through his mask - it anchors the focal point (Ziggy's face) simply by nature of being the lightest value in the painting. Ziggy's face is further offset by an "X" shaped composition, the crosspoint of which intersects his face. Another daily painter, Elin Pendleton ( http://www.elinpendleton.blogspot.com/ ), has been recently talking about the importance of composition and design. That made me recognize that Ziggy's painting has a relatively basic structure, but one that could easily work with a variety of subject matter. And, yes, Ziggy h...

“Kizzy,” 4x6, boston terrier dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $75. Proceeds from the sale of Kizzy’s portrait will go to the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue and her vet bill. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Kizzy is a senior BT who found her way to Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue after her original owner passed away. She’s overcoming some health issues (blindness, loss of hearing, mammary tumors removed), and might possibly spend the rest of her days as an advocate for the rescue, but as her foster family adores her, that’s not much of an issue. And for whatever reason, this painting has photographed harshly. I’ve reshot it a number of times, but it has a beautiful warm glow to it – the white of Kizzy’s blaze is too blue in this jpg, and there’s a lot of violets and purples in the side of her face that’s fallen into shadow. Through the end of this month, any commissioned dog-a-day portraits of Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue graduates will result in a reciproca...

“Max’s Grin,” 8x16, Boston Terrier portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $200. $40 of the sale of this portrait will be donated to the Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue, from which Max hails. Or rather, from where Max hailed. He was recently adopted by a family who met him at a dog fair. It was love at first sight on all sides. Which is especially rewarding, when, as Max’s foster father so eloquently put it, “He showed us that as much love as we give these rescue dogs, that they give the same amount of love back.” Unequivocally. So I’m picturing Max right now, tumbling around in the backyard with his three new kids, sharing that maniacal Boston Terrier grin, and loving life. The Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue ( http://www.midwestbtrescue.org/ ) is a dedicated group who takes Boston Terriers out of shelters, humane societies, SPCA, vet offices – wherever they are left - and places them directly into foster homes until a new loving, responsible, forever home can be found. They spay/neuter, and...

This is Dominic, a Boston Terrier currently being fostered by Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue. He is a little prince, and a big-time cuddler, typical of the breed. And he’s looking for a forever home. You can see him, along with the other BTs in rescue, at their web site http://www.midwestbtrescue.org/ . (And while he WAS there, I noticed this morning he isn’t on the site any longer – dare I dream that he’s been adopted?!). The rescue covers 4 states, and has an especially responsive and delightful group of foster parents – perhaps reflective of their little 4-legged companions? Here’s the paintings’ specifics: “Yawn (Dominic),” 6x12, boston terrier pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. This piece has been exquisitely framed and displayed in numerous exhibits, including my solo show "Happily Ever Afters" at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. It is available for $469, with proceeds going to Best Friends and Midwest Boston Terrier Rescue. All inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesi...

“Shihtzu Study (Casey),” 5x7, commissioned shihtzu pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). Casey is a sweet little guy who passed away late last year. This painting is a gift to Casey’s “dad,” currently fighting his own battle with cancer. My wish is that it bring comfort to this family, and maybe spark a few grins and good tales as they gather to remember times shared. I will be painting tomorrow’s dog-a-day at the Community Arts Building of the Michigan State Fairgrounds starting around 11-11:30. I’m bringing along enough boards to do a handful of paintings if time allows (I’ll stay till about 1:30 or 2, and then head over to the barns for a photo session before taking on rush hour traffic) – I would love for you to stop by and visit if you find yourself in the area. And some exciting news – my work was juried into the 47th annual Thumb Area Artists’ Exhibition! This is especially meaningful because my two entries were dog-a-day paintings from much e...

I wanted today’s painting to be the final installment of “Granny Squares” (from earlier this week), but I’m still working away on it, and the painting is too wet to photograph without lots of glare. Looks like it’ll be a late night, as the deadline for the competition I am aiming for is tomorrow. So I set that one aside for a little bit this afternoon and pulled this one together. I loved the expression of joy on the dog’s face, and the extension of his front leg, and how that bunched up folds of skin and fur across his chest. There’s also some green reflected in his belly, and some nice lavenders rounding out the body. “Play I (Boston Terrier),” 8” x 16”, dog portrait on canvasboard, $160. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family. Enjoy your weekend! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogad...