Paintings With Soul

check her out, bring her home Golden, 12x12, acrylic on flat museum quality panel, available on my website . S&H inside the contiguous US is on me. Hawaiian, Alaskan and Canadian shipping available at additional cost. 20 years ago I began painting daily, starting the pet portrait project Painting a Dog a Day. Over the years I developed a uniquely distinctive style and fresh approach that was eagerly collected by thousands. Yup, that’s not a typo. Shortly into the project things went viral and I had an 18 month long wait list for my daily paintings - it took me a loooonnnng time to get caught up to the demand. It was a lot of fun until it wasn’t - I got burned out around 2017 - and I have done very few pet portraits ever since. Until recently. I visited Kara Bullock at the beginning of May and we filmed my next online workshop focused on the characteristics of my Painting a Dog a Day pieces - loose, impressionistic color in personality packed portraits that can be completed in a sh...

"Kodak & Ella," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait starring two stunning golden retrievers. This painting has a home, but if you would like something similar starring your own family members, please shoot  me  and email. I take on a couple pet portraits each month, but don't always get the chance to share them in my newsletter, since the vast majority of them are gifts and sharing could spoil the surprise. But Kodak and Ella's portrait is heading to a collector who has been involved in the project since the summer. It felt so fantastic to send her the final image via email this afternoon and get an enthusiastic thumbs up in return! It will be even better to hear from her when she's holding this one in her hands, in her own home. If you are interested in commissioning a portrait, I can squeeze a couple more in prior to the holidays. And I can always put together a gift certificate, too, which makes for wonde...

First Snow, 14" x 18", acrylics on museum quality panel, $699 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may come to   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   . Want something similar starring your dog? I work from your photos to create an image that is uniquely your pet. Museum quality panels start at $399 -   inquire now   for holiday delivery.  Share Tweet Forward It's been a crazy couple of weeks, between unexpectedly having to purchase a new car, moving into my out-side-the-house-studio, planning an open studio event, shipping work to a new gallery, diving headfirst into an exciting new series of paintings and feeling a bit under the weather. But I'm persisting and learning every day. Today I learned how to check a head gasket in an engine, took in an exhibition that didn't thrill me much at all (but it's still important to look!), read up on the election results (which were exciting to say the least), playe...

"The Best Gift Ever," 12" x 16", acrylics on museum quality panel, featuring an adorable and snuggly Golden Retriever puppy with a giant candy cane striped ribbon. This original painting is packed with texture and subtle color - it's truly a remarkable piece. And it can be yours for $629 - as always, inquiries may come to me . Gotta give a shout out to Karen Appleton , who's painted presents I have always loved. I'm sure you will love her work too! Thanks, as always, for following my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    PSST:  All remaining inventory from my Toys series of paintings (the little 6" square treasures) are now $50 plus s&h through December 10th, 2016. And yes, I will combine s&h on all orders. I've selected a few wonderful originals, including pieces never before offered, for special pricing through Saturday, December 10th, 2016. As I clean up the studio in the next few days, I may b...

"Poppy," 36" x 48", from the Flores Animalum series of paintings, acrylics on panel, depicting a larger than life sized golden retriever crowned with a halo of bobbing poppies. Poppy is $3599 plus s&h. Payment plans available. Inquiries may come to me . The flowers represent the generous love and acceptance dogs give so freely. We could learn a lot from them. I started this painting last spring, then got too scared to finish it (yes, that happens to me too! far more often than I'd like to admit). It wasn't until yesterday morning, when I was actively avoiding cleaning off my desk, that she made it back onto my easel. And it's been a painting marathon ever since. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

FINISHED! "Mari(gold)," 24" x 30", acrylics on panel, depicting a golden retriever puppy sprouting a crown of marigolds - the flowers represent the years of beauty and joy a puppy brings to one's life, as well as the fragility of our time with each other. Mari's portrait is $925 plus s&h. Inquiries may come to me . SOLD (TY) I would be remiss if I didn't properly thank Team Husar Photography for my photo reference. Knowing her love of goldens, I shared my concept of a Marigold Golden Retriever. She responded with a couple photos, of which Mari was based upon. I have the best, most supportive team behind me! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Brodie," image approximately 6" x 6" roughly centered on a 9" x 12" bristol board, acrylics, commissioned portrait of a golden retriever puppy.  Don't you adore that cowlick running straight up his face? ALSO: seats are still available in my Tulsa workshop which is May 4th and 5th. More information can be found here . Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

It's magical, isn't it? Like the first snow every year. "Nita's Bliss," 18" x 24" on a cradeled panel, done in acrylics on an ampersand gessoboard, heading to her new home next week. A detail of this painting is below - it's luscious in every possible way. You may order reproductions of Nita's Bliss here:   Please let me know if you would like something similar starring your own dog. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

Currently untitled, this in process piece features Nita, one of my favorite muses. It's a commissioned portrait of her playing in the snow, one of her favorite pasttimes (as you well know from this painting Snow Much Fun ). This piece is 18" x 24" on a cradeled panel and already has a home (thank you very much!). Please let me know if you would like something similar starring your own dog. I'm taking an online flower painting class, and the techniques we are using, with lots of drips and dribbles and direct blending, are absolutely perfect for the underpainting of Nita's newest portrait. The approach gives a lovely otherworldly glow and there's some fabulous texture here that will be beautiful when sanded down a little. I love my job, getting to create this sort of thing for my family of collectors! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Airplane," 9" x 12", acrylics on cradeled panel, depicting one of my favorite goldens doing his favorite thing. Dogs + water is always a win, unless you are wearing light colors. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I have been slowly reworking this piece, making adjustments that pop Bear's head towards the viewer and add depth to the sluicing water. There's lots of wonderful little passages made all the more fascinating by a slip of a doodled line and dashes of complimentary color. This piece is earmarked for the Historic Yellow Springs Art Show (Chester Springs, PA) this spring. Stay tuned - I'm sending them a dozen little gems. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

All finished, "Caught," 8" x 12", acrylics on copper panel, portrait of a Golden Retriever complete with ball, $849 to the first asking nicely. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I've been thinking a lot about Daily Painting, the habits it has instilled in me, and how they might - or might not - serve the final painting.  One of my takeaways from my nearly 10 years of daily painting is that, originally, my goal was to complete a painting in a day. In the beginning, painting a 4"x5" portrait in one day was a big challenge, and as I became more comfortable with that, I expanded my focus to include larger and then more complex paintings. However, I have realized that limiting myself to one day just isn't the best approach for the sort of artwork I now want to create. I need to simmer with the paintings, consider and try out various solutions to my intended end. And that can't be boiled down into a specific length of time. ...

In process detail, "Caught," 8" x 12", (detail approximately 6" square of the entire painting surface), acrylics on copper panel, portrait of a Golden Retriever with HER ball, $849 to the first asking nicely. As always, inquiries may come to me .  I am getting caught up in the intricacy of the marks and layers of paint. Wanted to share all the lusciousness of that with you. This part takes time, as I paint the whole image, scratch, sand and distress it, then repeat. Over and over until it looks just right. It's almost just right. Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Golden," 6" x 9-1/2", acrylics on copper, portrait of a golden retriever. This painting has a new home, and I am thrilled to get to deliver it soon. It's not often that I get to actually see the recipient's reaction upon receipt, since the majority of my paintings are shipped. I think The Reveal is one of the best parts! Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

I knew my website program was relatively old, but I did not expect this. The operating system upgrade I performed last week rendered my website image management program obsolete. Which means there's no way to reformat images to get them onto my website.  Which means there is a website overhaul in my very near future. And which also means there is a new procedure for downloading your desktop calendar. It is now stored here , and you must go to the first comment, click on the photo, choose the "option" menu, and select the "download" feature. Every month I will send you a new link. Unless, of course, I am able to wave my website wand and get everything fixed by the end of the year. I'm not going to put any money on that, though - December is cray cray!! However, I am doing my best! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, and the Happiest of Holidays to all of you, whatever and however you celebrate, may it be ex...

Above, "What's a Little Mud," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever who had a darned good time, $2299 (includes shipping and handling to a US address). Detail of the dog's face is below - there's so many different marks and touches of color in this! And this is a cradeled panel, so the image wraps around each of the 4 sides - there is no need to frame (unless you want that visual).  Email me if you would like to to own this remarkable painting - and thank you so much for your interest! Sometimes you do the best you can, but that niggling thought that you could do better won't go away. That's what happened with this painting, which I did back in May . Loved it, but after living with it for a month or so, I felt like there was something off.  Realized after a bit that the muddy legs were too dark and I had some key value jumps that were missing in the composition. ...

"Powder Express," 16" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel. Yes, this is another painting starring Nita, who we've already established as one of my favorite muses. I took a lot of in process photos, and they are here , for those interested. Lots of thanks to Team Husar Wildlife Photography for permission to paint from their photos. And I do believe that when this piece sells (hint hint!), Ms Nita has earned herself a shipment of dog toys - I'll put Finnigan right on that! This painting, including s&h inside the US, is $1499. Please send inquiries  to me . (Psst - now is the perfect time to start planning for holiday portraits - don't wait, because my calendar fills up FAST!) Letting Go There was a point in this painting where I could have chosen to paint every single clump and flake of snow, and every single ripple of feathers. And I did spend some time considering how to get a perfectly smooth, perfectly blue sky....

"Sun Goddess," 14" x 18", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting Nita, one of my favorite muses. If any dog wears their heart on their sleeve (and Golden Retrievers tend to do that), it's this one!! In process photos are here , for those interested. And I would be remiss not to give props to Team Husar Wildlife Photography for permission to paint from their photos (I look forward to sharing Chicago with you soon, LH!) The Sun Goddess is shortly heading south to her new home (a very warm welcome and lots of thanks to my new collector). Meanwhile, I am now accepting a limited number of special projects like this one. Please send inquiries  to me .  Order reproductions/totes/smartphone cases/household items here.  You know I love color, and this composition was perfect for me to revel in it. Pure, unapologetic color. This piece started out Saturday as a very rough, bright layer , and I worked through the first 90% of it wit...

Available Originals The following paintings are available for purchase directly from my studio. These original works, unless noted, are acrylic on museum quality panel. All prices include s&h within the US. Multiple paintings can typically be shipped together, returning collectors receive 10% off purchases, and I do accept payment plans (6 month plan with art shipped upon completion of payments).  Links to reproductions and other products are at the bottom of this newsletter.  Thanks so much for your interest in my artwork!  Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com "Sprout," 12" x 16", $959. Inquire directly to me . "What's a Little Mud?" 18" x 24"x1-1/2", $2299. Inquire directly to me . "Swishy," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", $2299. Inquire directly to me . "Airplane," 9"...

"Airplane," 9" x 12" x 3/4", acrylics on Raymar panel (all 5 sides so no need to frame), depicting a friend's Golden Retriever, photo used with permission from Team Husar Photography . This painting is $629, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me . In process photos  here .  I Have a Confession You might not have seen it on the surface, but the last couple years have been very difficult. My Grandmother passed away, suddenly but peacefully, in March 2013, and that ushered a string of immeasurable losses - pillars of my family, dear friends, mentors, a friend's child, mothers of my kid's friends, one of my daughter's teenage friends. It was (and is) never ending. Life does that sometimes. Not only was I feeling unrooted in my personal life, but there was an emptiness in my painting process that began to loom and gather momentum. I had been battlin...

"What's a Little Mud?," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel (no need to frame!), depicting a muddy Golden Retriever. This painting can be yours for $2299, including delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US) - inquire directly to moi . Oh, and there are in process photos  here, along with some great detail shots. Wet dog. We all know that smell.  This piece truly has to be experienced in person - so many layers, so many textures, and a huge variety of marks. The piece breathes. Ohhhh. Now I'm smelling dog breath! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com