Paintings With Soul

    Yes, The Voice of Reason would say that one should work on previous commitments prior to starting a new piece. But The Voice of Reason doesn't feed The Creative Muse. And when The Creative Muse demands a break from commissions, The Voice of Reason cowers, co Common Sense steps in to negotiate.   Here's to hoping that Common Sense prevails later on this week, when The Voice of Reason starts panic and may get a little belligerant.   Thank you so much for supporting my artwork and providing my livelihood, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS  Working title "Got Milk," 9" x 8", $419, available for purchase to the first one  asking nicely  and willing to wait for Reason, Muse and Sense to negotiate the finer points.    

  I never saw a purple cow. I never hope to see one. But I can tell you anyhow I'd rather see than be one.  -Gelette Burgess   "I Never Saw A Purple Cow," acrylic painting on panel, inspired by a photograph taken by  Douglas Nelson  (and used with his permission, thank you Doug !!), 6" square, $299 to the first one  asking nicely .   Actually, I totally want to be the purple cow. Because that cow creates wonder and makes others smile.    Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     Using Photo References   Because the animals I paint rarely hold their poses long enough in the studio and leave a HUGE mess behind, I rely on photographs for the bulk of my work.   But that doesn't mean that I copy the photos religiously. Nor does it mean I can't take artistic liberties. I freely move things about, taking the essence of the photograph and turning it in...

Every artist has them. The days when what we intend to happen at the easel just doesn't. Not because of the phone ringing or children who can't be hypnotized by the television. But because our muse isn't present. (Which reminds me, one of my all time favorite  TED Talks by Elizabeth Gilbert  is a must-hear for all you creatives).   I tell my students for every painting they see on gallery walls, to visualize at least 10 others in the trash. Because that is my reality. And it was especially apparent today.   My idea: a tender little painting of a calf and her mother, off in the distance of a vast field.  Doesn't sound like rocket science, does it?   So the underpainting got carefully painted, with warm, bold colors in the foreground, a fantastic yellow chosen to perfectly compliment the dark blue in the cows' bodies and a lovely pale blue bit for the furthest distance. I envisioned the cows as tiny little forms, perhaps a 1/3 of the width of this pane...

         "Baby Moo," 5" square, Golden Open Acrylics on artists' Ampersand gessobord, depicting a young Holstein calf. This painting can be added to your collection for $239 - inquiries may come  to me .   Remember our trip earlier this week to Cook's Dairy Farm? This is one of the little fellas we hung out with for a bit. I'm sharing my reference photo below, so that you can see my source of inspiration.   Thanks for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com       Future Dragon Slayer?   For generations, citizens of Lake Orion (my hometown) have told the story of a dragon living in the depths of our lake.    We even have a summer festival that pays homage to her - with dragon boat races, tours of historic lakeside homes, sidewalk chalk contests, and an art exhibition.   It's time for me to start my dragon painting - but I ...

Above Step 3 and, below, the finished version of my newest painting "The Gossips" (Steps 1 and 2 were shared yesterday ). This painting is 9" x12", done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, $529. Please email if you are interested in purchasing. ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS OF "THE GOSSIPS" I spent today wallowing in color, color, color. I slipped a detail of the cows down below, so that you can get a better peek at the layers of brushwork. Can you see how, when taken out of context, the lower portion of the painting reads as pure abstraction? This pleases me to no end - it's one of my favorite bits about painting. So what's next? I've got a couple dog commissions lined up and another barnyard pair and I'd really like to also get to the Daily Paintworks Challenge . We'll see what I feel like painting tomorrow when I stand in front of the easel. Any guesses at what it'll be? Thanks again to photographer Doug Nels...

ABOVE and BELOW: Both in process views of new painting "The Gossips," 9" x12", Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, available for purchase. I anticipate finishing this painting later today or tomorrow - please email me if you are interested in purchasing. A couple weeks back I asked on Facebook what sorts of critters you wanted to see me paint. Cows were an overwhelming favorite, and one follower went so far as to send me some fabulous reference photos. Doug Nelson is a phenomenally talented photographer, with gallery representation and plenty of experience shooting reference photos for his artist wife. I was beyond delighted to have his blessing to paint from a few of his bovine photos (please see below for more information on working from photographic references). I'm kicking myself for not capturing this piece's underpainting - the top 1/3 was a luscious violet, which you can still see peeking around the cows' toplines. The middle was ...