Paintings With Soul

"Headstrong," 10" x 12," acrylics on a museum quality canvas, depicting a post parade pairing from Saratoga Race Track in upstate New York. This painting is $599, with free s&h to your door (inside the US). Please inquire . And take a peek at the in process photos which are here . At the end of this month I am heading to Saratoga for my annual visit. A group of equine artists and dear friends gather together for a long weekend of gallery visits, shop talk, pastries (mmm, Mrs Londons !), ice cream and wine, good belly laughs, and all things equine. One of our special pleasures is seeing horses being bad. Perhaps we are a little juvenile in that regard, but we take great pleasure in following their antics. And when we are able to capture the troublemakers on film (or, err, digitally, as in my case), we are especially pleased. Once I happened to be on the rail when Johnny V (the Kentucky Derby winning jockey on Animal Kingdom that y...

In Process Detail, "The First Furlong," 11" x 24", acrylics on panel depicting a quartet of Thoroughbreds just a few strides from the starting gate. When finished, this painting will be available for purchase for $1399, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US). Inquiries may come directly to me . In process photos  here .  Where Did the Day Go?   Today was one of those days that zipped by without my knowledge.    I did a mess of emails, made a couple phone calls, reviewed reference photos, planned two exhibition pieces, got high resolution image files off to a licensing agent, paid bills, unpacked from last night's class, and yet it feels like it should only be 1pm or so, not 4:30. Ah well, I guess that means the weekend is that much closer, right?   Hoping you have some wonderful plans for your Memorial Day Weekend. We will be getting our veggie garden in and spending time with family - t...

"Dark Brown or Bay," 10" x 20", acrylics on Raymar panel depicting a foal. This painting is available for $999, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US) - inquire directly to me . In process photos  here  (this is a pARTy image, the one from April, which I started a million years ago (translation: pre Kentucky Derby) and have just now finished). And it is stunning, not that I am biased or anything. It seems like a million years ago when I started this painting .  It was pre-Stanka Kordic workshop . Pre-Kentucky Derby . Those things seem like a million years ago, and yet, they were just a few weeks ago. Which gets me kinda excited. What will the next 6 weeks deliver? Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

One of 8 contour drawings made available today , all equine related. Because I couldn't wait ANY longer to start celebrating Derby Week! Contour drawings were something I learned in college as part of my life drawing class. The model would hold a pose for 10 minutes, and we were to draw the edges of her form. In 10 minutes. I know it sounds impossible, and at the beginning, it very nearly was. With practice, those contour drawings became blind ones (meaning that we couldn't look at our paper while drawing), and those poses shortened to 2 minutes. It's all a matter of training one's eye and hand. At the time I enjoyed the exercise, but didn't think much of it, and stopped doing drawings shortly thereafter. What the heck was wrong with me? (I know what it was - I got seduced by COLOR and all her mysterious ways!) Now that I've rediscovered contours, and begun doing them in colored inks, it seems to be a happy marriage.  You can see all o...

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 "Nicker," 16" x 16" x 2" (note that this piece is on a cradeled panel, with the image wrapped around the sides), $999. Inquire directly to me . "Momma's Got Your Back," 10" x 12", $599. Inquire directly to me . "Blue Gypsies," 12" x 12", $599. Inquire directly to me . ...

"Grindstone", 16" x 20" acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting Grindstone, just a few strides away from winning The Kentucky Derby in 1996. Read more about this painting's story below - it's a good one! And inquiries may come directly  to me .  Paying it Forward Shortly after getting The Derby Gig, which neatly dovetailed my childhood passion for horse racing with my grown up obsession with painting, I started formulating a plan to give back to the universe. As it played out, The Kentucky Derby Museum got involved, and it was decided I would donate a piece to them, something they could use as a fundraising tool to further their education efforts.  "Would I be interested in painting Grindstone, the winner of the 1996 Derby?" they asked. But of course! Little did I know the background story, though. Every year the Museum asks the owners of the Kentucky Derby winner to donate one breeding to the Museum when th...

Detail of an in process painting, working title "The 9th Race, On the Turf," 8-1/2" x 24", acrylics on Ampersand gessobord, featuring a field of horses crossing the finish line. Available for $1199, inquiries may come to me . My head is still at the track, and clearly not paying attention to the snowfall outside, thinking of sunshiney days and bright green grass. And that First Saturday in May. I'm sure by now you've heard the news that I'm the 2015 Kentucky Derby Artist . I'm still processing what that means, and today I allowed myself to think of nothing but Thoroughbreds, sunshine, and spring like weather. In process photos are on Facebook - feel free to join in the conversation over there! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Anyone's Race," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a field of Thoroughbreds two strides into a race. This painting is available through Spa Fine Art (in Saratoga Springs New York) for $529 to the first one asking nicely. Spa also carries a large selection of other racing scenes. Please contact them for more information. To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file directly from my website . 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. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com