Paintings With Soul

In process, "Family Outing," 16" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting four sweet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescues. This is a commissioned piece started last week. It's getting closer to being finished (I'm hoping tomorrow, but I have a loooooooong to-do list for tomorrow already). You can follow along with it's progression here . Meanwhile, email me if you would like to talk about something equally special for yourself (commissioned portraits start at $399).

An in process detail of "Family Outing," 16" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting four sweet little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescues (you didn't read that wrong - the painting has 4 faces, but this detail shows 3 of them). This is a commissioned piece, still very much in process, and you can follow along with it's progression here .  Meanwhile, email me if you would like to talk about something equally special for yourself.

"Hayley," 18" x 24", a memorial portrait of a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). I do have a few spots left for holiday portraits -  speak now or forever hold your peace! Hayley got lots of attention this weekend and today, and I think she may be finished. I just sent jpgs over to my collector and am holding my breath......  I am especially happy with the detail and color in her ears, and how they frame her beautiful and tender little face. In process photos are here . Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim

IN PROCESS, "Hayley," 18" x 24", a memorial portrait of a beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). And yes, I have just a few spots left for holiday portraits -  speak now or forever hold your peace! Here is Hayley's portrait after a few days of work - slow and steady progress is being made. I adore her soulful eyes and those long, silky ears.  This painting will sing with color and gorgeous, deliberate, brush strokes. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim

Happy Birthday to my Mom!! To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks so...

Here's a warm pile of puppies to help you through the frigid hug that Mother Nature's blessing us with these days. To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling...

    "Taking Flight," 8" x 10", portrait of a tri-colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $469.  Email me for purchase details .   Remember " Pile ," the painting I was commissioned to do that was then donated to a Cavalier King Charles fundraiser? (It raised them a very nice chunk of change, by the way!) Well, my client sent me many wonderful inspiration photos and I'm slowly working through my favorites. This breed is truly a joy to paint.   In process pics of this guy are  on Facebook .   And after starting this one, I realized he looks a lot like another piece  I did nearly 5 years ago to this date starring my friend  Dee Dee Murray 's dog Hallie. How weird is that?   (As an aside,  Hallie is now an artist in her own right )   Enjoy your evening, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Fiddlesticks," 8" x 10", portrait of a sassy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. $469 to the first  asking nicely . Do you remember " Pile ," the commissioned portrait that was ultimately donated to a breed specific fundraiser - this painting was inspired by a photo that was included in all the reference materials for the Pile project. I asked Facebook fans to name the piece - suggestions came via Facebook , and got a hefty number of suggestions. It was tough choosing just one - I could have added several sub-titles!! And while you are there, you can see the  in-process pics  of this painting, too! Thanks so much for supporting my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Pile," 12" x16", commissioned portrait of a litter of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, to be available at a future date.   "When?" you ask. Let me tell you when.   This painting was commissioned with the intent of donating it to the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel specialty show in Arizona this April. The painting will be auctioned off by Westminster's own David Frei, with the monies going into a trust that funds canine health resarch.   If you are interested in bidding, please  let me know , and I will connect you with those putting the event together.   And meanwhile, many, many thanks to my big-hearted client for coordinating such a special painting!   In process pictures are on  the studio's Facebook page .   Thanks so much for following along!! Kim, who still doesn't know  who  she's painting tomorrow..... ...

  "Mazie Lou," sketch done in acrylic on bristol board, approximately 5" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, depiciting a Cavalier King Charles-Cocker Spaniel mix, commissioned and in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     I did lots more sketching today, along with delivering three works to a new show, planning several future exhibitions, readying a solid stack of paintings for shipping next week, and working up concepts for new portraits.   And now I'm off to watch some high school playoffs football.   Go Dragons!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  "Lily and Clarence," 6" x 12", a commissioned portrait of a pair of King Charles Cavalier Spaniels. This portrait is done in acrylics on a museum quality panel and is directly headed to a private collection - BUT, I'm happy to create something equally special just for you.  Just ask .   Signed Kim, who had a crazy busy day between football carpools, marching band sectionals, collecting children from sleepovers, delivering others to friends' homes, visiting the library, treasure hunting, dog walking, packaging and shipping paintings, and catching up on laundry. ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     The BIG Studio Clean   So last week I was bemoaning the fact that my studio needed serious housekeeping, but I was lacking equally serious motivation.   I ate my wheaties on Saturday, and spent nearly the whole day in there. And I wasn't painting.   Only my desk remains. Which could be the ...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS Detail of "Chance," image approximately 5" square, on an 8" x 10" piece of Multimedia Artboard, commissioned portrait of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, done in Golden Open Acrylics. This one isn't for sale (thank you to my newest collector!), but I'll be happy to create something similarly charmed using your pup as my muse. Oh, and this one is also a Father's Day surprise, so if you know Chance's family, mum's the word. I've got a couple spots left for Father's Day portraits - shoot me an email if you are interested! Thanks for sharing my artwork with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com The Post Parade There's such a huge difference in quality between my photographing a painting and having it scanned directly. When I shared imagery of the latest lesson painting "The Post Parade" last week ( Part I and Part II ), the jpgs were all from photographs. ...

From upper left, clockwise: "Maia," 6" square; "Lucy," 8" square; "Halo," 4" x 8"; "Little Lucy," 5" x 7". All commissioned dog portraits , private collection (THANK YOU!). These three little charmers are each rescues from puppy mills. Three different operations shut down at different times. Maia, only 3 years old at the time, had already produced 2 litters, and was horribly traumatized. Halo was suffering from untreated injuries to her eyes and knees, confined to a crate and living in her own filth. Lucy had a deformed heart, and wasn't supposed to live past 9 months (she's now over 2 years). All three of them have grown into the sweet companions they were meant to be, due entirely to my clients' dedication, care, and attention. Testament to what a loving home can do. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family. I'll be back tomorrow with more - Kim Ki...

FROM TOP: "Spaniel Study," 4" x 5", King Charles Cavalier Spaniel dog portrait , $114, SOLD . "Sheepdog Top-Knot," 4" square, sheepdog pet portrait , $99, SOLD . "Wrinkles," 4" x 6", mastiff dog portrait . Inquiries may always come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Today's paintings are another benefit for Animal Friends of the Valley Shelter in Lake Elsinore, California. Last week I shared their plight - their kennel building, a temporary home to 39 dogs and cats, burned to the ground, taking with it the lives of those little ones awaiting adoption. The shelter has about150 animals remaining in their care, and is in need of assistance as they work towards rebuilding and continuing their efforts for the homeless animals in their area. Many dog-a-day readers stepped up last week and contributed on their own - thank you so much for your generousity. The shelter can be reached at 951-674-0618. Individual contributions ...

“Inseparable (Chloe and Sadie),” 8x16, commissioned Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. I haven’t gotten the final approval from my client yet (she thought she would be getting two separate portraits), so there is the possibility that this painting will be available for purchase. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. These two sweet girls were adopted from a shelter, having been rescued from a backyard puppy mill. They now are terribly pampered, complete with bling, but I preferred to paint them enjoying each other’s company, relaxed and clearly living a good life. I don’t usually paint two dogs in one frame – had, actually, scheduled two separate days for Chloe and Sadie. But one of the reference photos showed them curled up together on a quilt, lying on each other’s ears, and I was sold. There’s an exception to every rule, you know?! I’m starting to shift my color palette, which I think is a result of the class I’ve been taking. My p...