Paintings With Soul

"Paul Anka," 8"x10"x1", acrylics on cradled wood panel, private collection (thank you very much!!). Inquiries can always come   to me . It's been 19 years since I hung out my shingle and officially began a new career as a pet portrait artist. With 3 children aged 6 and under, I started painting at the dining room table while they napped, moving into my own studio two years later. My daily painting commitment,   www.PaintingaDogaDay.com , started 4 years afterwards. There have been well over 1000 faces gracing my easel in this time, and I fall in love with each and every one of them. Here's an added bonus for you - I started Paul Anka's portrait   via a live feed on Facebook . You can   watch it   on the studio Facebook page, or if you are boycotting social media like so many others, it is currently uploading to   YouTub e (and taking forever, I might add, so  message me and I'll send you a head's up when it's ready!). It would be re...

"Miles," 18" x 24", acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a wonderful Boxer, in process photos here . And of course I can paint your dog - shoot me an email ! I've been working on Miles' portrait since Monday, just in case you thought I whipped him together this afternoon. There will be tears when he ships home. Miles is quite the character! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Grace," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a yellow lab, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!).   I tell my students all the time to listen to the painting. Today I had to do just that - Grace really wanted to be front and center, and the portrait ended up being cropped far more tightly than I had planned. I could have fought it, but I decided instead to see where it took me and what I learned along the way.   I love the intimacy of this piece, though. It is perfectly sized for such a snug composition, and Grace looks completely at home.   Enjoy your evening, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com         Don't forget that through 9pm EST tomorrow evening "Snaps I" and "Snaps II," both original paintings, are being  Facebook auctioned .  The rules are  over here on my Facebook page .   Thanks so much for bidding!!

      "Chloe," a painted sketch, commissioned dog portrait, roughly 5" x 6" on a 9" x 12" paper, acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!!).   The sun is shining, yet there is a fresh dusting of snow. Isn't this supposed to be spring break?   Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  "Toby," sketch done in acrylic on bristol board, approximately 4" x 6" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, depiciting a Sheltie, commissioned and in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     I came into the studio in my jammies this morning and started sketching. It's been productive, going directly to the easel instead of the computer. My brain wasn't yet weighed down with a to do list - maybe this is the new routine I'm searching for.   If you want a commissioned sketch like Toby's, they are only available until the end of this year.   Don't know what the difference is between a sketch and a portrait?   A sketch is a small study, done with very loose brushwork, often enclosed in a rectangular form like the above piece. It is done on paper, and carries a generous margin on all sides.   A portrait comes in a variety of sizes and are done on museum quality panels. Portraits carry far m...

      "Bella"," image approximately 5" x 6", roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, commissioned portrait of a boxer, private collection (THANK YOU!)!!   These sketchier portraits are an excellent learning tool, much like contour drawings or gesture studies. But after the end of this year (2012) they will no longer be available as commissions, so if you want one,  let's talk now .   Kim, who is ready to cheer on the Lake Orion varsity football team AND be wowed by the Marching Band's halftime performance - go Dragons!! ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Emmie's Beauty Sleep," 6" s 8", acrylic Collie portrait on canvasboard, $324 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . SOLD. Last week I got the nicest note from an old collector (old meaning pre-Dog a Day) with photos of her newest family members. The pictures of Emmie owning the couch were too good to pass up, and when I got her blessing, I rushed to the easel. Well, it didn't happen quite that easily. Well, in a way it did. You see, I had kept this week free of commission work in order to lead a pet portrait workshop at an elementary school. The workshop was rescheduled, so I happened to be easy peasy to slip Emmie in. I will, of course, hold Emmie and give my collector an opportunity to add this Dog a Day painting to her walls. But should she pass, I guarantee there will be a line forming! Meanwhile, I have begun planning my...

"Little Brother (in process, immediately above after a full day's work, image at top after about an hour's work)," 9" x 12", acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord, portrait of a Boxer brindled pup snuggling with a larger fawn Boxer, $529 to the first collector asking nicely. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me . It seems like the lesson paintings have been popular as of late, so I thought I would share another. This particular reference I've had for years (thanks to my friend and uber talented fellow artist Judy Wood ). It's a funny angle, with the pup's hind end tucked underneath and his head thrust forward, while the larger dog remains a sun drenched lump. But I love the triangular shape of the two dogs, and the weight distribution of the pup, with those huge white-tipped paws. I'm also excited to try my hand at painting an oriental rug in the sunli...

"Bath Time (Connor)," 4" square, commissioned dog portrait in acrylic on board, sold (or so I think - pending client's feedback). Inquiries may always come to me . I've painted Connor before , but didn't do anything (regrettably) with some reference of him getting bathed in the kitchen sink. Today I got to work with those. And continue working on my Imagekind shop , a place where you can order notecards and prints of favorite Painting a Dog a Day paintings. I continue to be touched by the response to this, and am uploading images as time allows and in the order requests are received. Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com

"Breathe In,"8" x 10", terrier puppy portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, available for purchase. Inquiries may come to me .   I hate it when this happens. I work all day on a painting, think it's done, allow it to dry, photograph or scan it, and then see problems when I view it on the monitor.   Want to tell me what you think needs tweaking? Practice your critical eye, and watch for an update.   I'll make corrections to this one tomorrow. Meanwhile enjoy her expression, and know that this painting will rock your socks off with a couple minor shifts.   Have a great evening, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Hah! (Arly)," 6" square, commissioned pet portrait, depicting a mixed breed dog in acrylic on canvasboard. (And  yes, Arly does have a funky blue-violet streak on his tongue.) My client's on vacation for another couple of days, but I suspect Arly will be headed to his new home shortly. Meanwhile, inquiries on how you can commission your own special dog (or cat) painting may always come to me .   And remember, return clients get 10% off newly booked portraits - so don't be shy, seize the moment and flaunt your collection! I spent a good amount of time this morning going through my references trying to find a Portuguese Water Dog class I photographed years ago at some dog show. I couldn't find any shots I hadn't already painted (see above Dog-a-Day painting "Bumblebee," from last July, which is available for purchase through Etsy ). Alas I am stuck with Porties on my mind (I wonder why?). That creative itch is lingering.   So, if a...