Paintings With Soul

"Incarnate (Daydream 44)," 30x30x2", gallery wrapped canvas, acrylics and graphite, image painted/extended around wrap so no need to frame, $1499 plus s&h. Available through March 6th via   Starkweather Art Center . Inquiries may always come  to me . It's been a busy last couple of weeks outside the studio, between exhibition openings, guild meetings, artwork delivery and pickup, and critique sessions. I have not been able to get to the easel as much as I would like, but this sort of activity fuels and motivates. There is inspiration that happens when one gets to view artwork in person and talk to other creators. And, of course, I love getting my work out into the world, too, always. I am so very thrilled and thankful to share that the above painting, Incarnate, was honored with a second place award at   Starkweather Arts' Center's   Membership Show, juried by Peter Gahan. I thoroughly enjoyed being a panelist at the   Paint Creek Center...

"Pressed Flower (Siren #73), 18" x 24", acrylics on panel, $799 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. (There is a wee bit of glare from the studio lighting on the left side of the painting) I accept Paypal, Venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may come   to me . There's not been much paint getting moved about the last couple weeks. I've been too busy varnishing, framing, wiring, packing and shipping paintings. At the end of tomorrow, I will have sent 30 pieces out into the world inside the last 12 days. I am so ready to return to playing with color and birthing new works. Today was an unexpected gift - in between working with students, I got a little time at my own easel. And would you look who at showed up - a delightful, delicate presence. I think she's Joy. Maybe she's Hope. It doesn't really matter who she is, though, because she is perfectly preserved in paint, so that I can figure out her identity in my own sweet time...

I have been working - mostly quietly, but most definitely diligently - on a new book. I wanted to take the Sirens, all their nuance that doesn't transfer via screens, and place them in readers' hands. The design had to foster introspection, conversation and personal discovery. As I laid the pages out and refined my vision, this book also became a vehicle for marrying the paintings with my passion for art journaling. I couldn't be prouder to announce the publication of "Reflections, a Personal Melody." This book features over a dozen of my favorite siren paintings; in process imagery, details, and other snippets of the series which pretty much ruled my world this last year. The design is simple, with the idea that readers can soak up the message of a single painting, or embellish the pages with their own words or artwork as they see fit, working in direct response to the paintings. In addition to this publication, which arrives in time for holiday gift gi...

"Leap of Faith," a Siren painting, 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, $699 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may come   to me . The second generation of Sirens (you can see   the first ones here ) has me thinking about the challenges of life. I can't paint these things without first visualizing them, and therein lies the challenge, because we typically cannot "see" an individual's struggle. I've spent lots of time imagining fear, conflict, faith, hope, grace as I jump into these new paintings. I welcome your thoughts - is this one successful? what else would you like to see me tackle? Thanks so very much!

"Angel I1," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, originally $899, special 12 Days of Christmas pricing $799 plus s&h with holiday delivery inside the US. Inquiries may come   to me . I can't stop looking at her. She's desolate, yet digging deeper. She is ready to breathe grace, love and acceptance into our world.   Peek at the detail below   - the entire surface is packed with nuance.   Share Tweet Forward Over the next 8 days I'll be sharing some paintings that would make most excellent gifts. These pieces will carry special holiday pricing thru December 15th, 2017. They are one-of-a-kind originals, and once they are gone, they are gone - so please, if you are interested in something, let me know in the timeliest manner possible. Additionally, if you are in southeastern lower Michigan, I'm hosting   a studio Open House in my new space . I've cleaned out my home studio (mostly) of inventor...

A couple of things came to mind today - one followed from a seemingly callous comment of a stranger on my FB page, calling my recent work "garbage." Further conversation with this individual revealed that they felt my work was "too literal." Ok, "too literal" is far more interesting to ponder than "garbage." As I worked my way through the concept of literal, I began to visualize all the ways - other than symbolically - I could depict things like fragility, feeling inconsequential, immortality, and learning to speak up. Today I embraced one of those approaches - allowing my form to dissolve into the ground. Sort of like she's melting - yet she's still fully present for the moment. Two of the studies I approached in this way are pictured above. I have no end result in mind for these - yet - but I am spending time alone with them, asking myself lots of questions, and listening for answers. How does intensity of color impact my ...

"Divine Intervention," a self portrait, 24" x 30", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $899 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. I've been painting regular selfies for over two years and find it a great practice for examining my emotional state and working through various situations. Today's selfie was begun a few days ago and has been my obsession ever since. My original concept was set aside when I realized the painting (and my subconscious) was asking for something else. Each of the items in the painting were chosen for symbolic reasons. They tell my personal story of this year so far - it is my hope that viewers will weave their own tale from the composition. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

Another one from The Dryad Series, "Seeking Faith," a portrait of my daughter, 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, not currently for sale (this one is headed to an exhibition). However, inquiries may come to me . I could tell you that the inspiration for this painting came after a heart to heart talk with Annie about the election and believing in a system that has carried our country through centuries, yet has disappointed so many. But I can't lie to you. The real story is that I had the concept of a figure looking upwards and off to the side, with a sweeping drapery of blooms. I had literally (and I am using that word properly, trust me!) 60 seconds to capitalize on the natural light and take the inspiration photos before she ducked into ballet class. (All the flowers symbolically speak towards seeking affirmation, love, acceptance, remembrance and honesty. Or you could just say that they are super pretty, and enjoy them for that. Also, she re...

"Reach," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, $699 to your door (inside the US). Inquiries may come to me . This is my newest self portrait. The flowers have special meaning to me - peonies grew outside my grandmother's farm house (I have a piece of that same bush growing in my yard), and ranunculus are one of my personal favorites. This is my hand, reaching for the beauty and promise of the blooms, but it also could be anyone's hand doing the same. What are you reaching for? Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Iris," from The Dryad Series, 24" x 30", acrylics on panel. This one is a portrait of The Princess, emerging from a mass of iris. This painting is available for purchase (I accept credit cards and can structure a payment plan - just ask!) for $799, which includes shipping and handling inside the US. Inquiries may always come  to me . The Princess looks quite a bit like I did at her age (although she's got way more confidence than I'll ever muster!), and combining her likeness with iris, a flower I associate with some of my happiest childhood memories, turned this one into almost a double portrait. Her and I. We make a good team, even if she is a know it all hormonal teenager and I'm a crabby middle aged old lady. In life and in the studio! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Posie" 60" x 60" (yes, that size is correct), acrylics on gallery stretched canvas (with the image wrapped and painted around the sides, so no need to frame), depicting The Princess and a delightful "handful" of flowers. This extraordinary piece is available for purchase with one stipulation - that I am able to exhibit it this fall. Please  email me  if you are interested in seeing detail shots or have any questions. In process pics are  here. Yesterday was Rosie and today is Posie. I know. I'm rhyming. I'm also a painting dervish! Lots of new progress getting made on so many new pieces. It's very exciting! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Rosie" 36" x 48", acrylics on gallery stretched canvas (with the image wrapped and painted around the sides, so no need to frame), depicting a 7 year old Princess crowned with roses, daisies, freesia and bleeding hearts. I wish I could stand with you in front of her - she glows with a quiet confidence and the spark in her eye is contagious. This piece is $8499 - please  email me  if you are interested in seeing detail shots or have any questions. In process pics are   here. It will be tough to part with Rosie (The Princess actually LIKES this one!), but I have officially run out of room to store and hang any more paintings. Two other big ones are headed out to new homes tonite, but I brought 4 more into the studio today, and am getting a couple more large panels tomorrow. These babies are multiplying like rabbits! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

ABOVE, detail of "The Tulip Princess," 24" x 36", from "The Dryad Series," acrylics on gallery stretched canvas, depicting a figure emerging from a tulip garden. BELOW, the full painting. Inquiries may come  to me . I've got 3 more large figurative works in process. I'm experimenting with different sorts of underpaintings, comparing various drawing tools, and building a jungle of growth on canvas. I can't get into the studio quickly enough in the morning, and I fall asleep painting in my head. I'm so very lucky! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Sistering,"** 16" x 22", from "The Dryad Series," acrylics on gallery stretched canvas, depicting two magical spirits in a tangle of ranunculus. Inquiries may come  to me . Last week, while The Princess and I tackled all but one thing on her Spring Break stay-cation bucket list (and not for lack of trying!), the boys took on Las Vegas. And I got quite a bit of painting done, but did give myself a vacation from blogging and sending out newsletters.  And this is one of the pieces that resulted. Lots of wonder happening here, with layers of marks, drips of paint, and other interesting brushwork. I adore this piece - and the floodgate of imagery it has inspired. Just wait and see! **Also, if you are unfamiliar with the concept of "Sistering," you have to read this! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim

In process detail from "Once Upon Another Time (Self Portrait)," 16" x 20", acrylic glazes and other magic on an Ampersand gessobord, all inspired by the wizard of scumbling and all sorts of mark making, Stanka Kordic . My Brain is Exploding After just one day. And I think she was holding back, too. Very graciously, I may add, just pacing herself so as to not overwhelm us. Ok, me. My biggest ah-ha moments (and there were plenty!): Burnt sienna + cobalt blue + white = flesh tone when layered overtop a raw umber wash. Optically mixing color (ie layering glazes on a painting surface) achieves color you cannot mix on a palette. It's a challenge to focus on the surface effects and patterned marks and NOT on the form, but that's where the magic happens, so get over it. If using a grisaille beginning, accentuate the highlights, so that the layered glazes eventually settle at the correct value. More photos are  here - to...