Paintings With Soul

"Tandem," 8" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a Thoroughbred getting ponied to the starting gate at Saratoga Racetrack, $399 (includes shipping and handling to a US address). Email me if you would like to to own this lovely chestnut racehorse and his delightful gray sidekick - two horses for the price of one!. Thinking about the design elements of this composition - the weave of legs (don't you LOVE that they are in stride?), the red legwraps balanced by the red dotted silks, the tails streaming in the same direction. All intentional considerations (I had a series of photographs of this pair) when planning this particular painting. Their rhythm set off by the riders' separate poses/seats creates an interesting tension. This makes me smile. I know it'll find a home and make someone else do the same. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.co...

"On the Turf I," 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, starring a chestnut Thoroughbred race horse and jockey in full stride. This piece is $329 (which includes s&h inside the US). Inquiries may always  come to me , and thank you so much.  Running with an idea. Last week I got the idea to paint individual running horses on small panels. Things got a little crazier when that idea grew into a double diptych, "Tail Lights ." And yet I still very much wanted to paint these little guys at an individual level. And so I have!  Above is the first of a new series** where I will study propulsion and power and balance inside the horses' stride. I am wasting no time in getting going here - my second piece,  "On the Turf II" is nearly completed, and later this afternoon I will start "On the Dirt." (**Working in a series is a fantastic way to fully explore an idea. It gives the artist multiple op...

"Tail Lights," (4) (yes, you read that correctly) 6" x 8" panels, when, placed side by side, depict an entire field of race horses, overall painting size 24" x 8". I have photoshopped black lines in between so that you can see how the design breaks across the panels. This is acrylics on museum quality panels, priced at $1199 (all 4 panels come together). In process images are here and inquiries may  come to me .  My Saratoga gallery asked for some pieces around 8" x 10" or smaller and I got the seemingly-brilliant-at-the-time idea to create a series of horse butt racing scenes, all individual. So I set my easel up with four, planning to attack the first batch all at once. And then that seemingly-brilliant-at-the-time idea blossomed into something entirely different. What if instead I painted an entire field of horses, running away from the viewer, but stretched them artistically across the four panels? I would end u...

"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: "The Winner's Circle, American Pharoah," 24-3/4" x 24", depicting Triple Crown candidate American Pharoah after winning the Kentucky Derby, on his way to the winner's circle at Churchill Downs. This was my view on Derby day, painted  using my iPhone photos. This painting is acrylics on a museum quality panel and  is available for $2980 (including s&h within the US) to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may always come to me . In process photos are here . An Ambitious Undertaking I can't help but wonder if American Pharoah will be the next Triple Crown winner. And while my Kentucky Derby experience couldn't be more perfect, seeing a Triple Crown winner in the flesh just might make it perfecter after the fact. So I'm savoring and enjoying that possibility this week - quite a bit! This is a BIG painting - big in size and in ambition. So many complex areas - the spectators, the horses, the infield, ...

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...

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...

"Racehorse I," a contour drawing, roughly 5" x 9", ballpoint pen on paper, available for $75, including s&h inside the US. As always, inquires may always come directly  to me . SOLD (TY!). A similar styled piece, with paint added, is available via auction benefitting  the Equis Gallery Relocation Fund  is also available -  learn more and bid here .  It seems as though every day this week has taken an unexpected turn or been consumed with meetings, phone calls and various appointments. I miss my quiet days in the studio with my paints. But that doesn't mean I'm not creating! It used to be that I refused to touch any art supplies if I didn't have 3-4 hours to work uninterrupted. Three kids and a busy household taught me that no amount of meticulous planning or patient waiting would ever guarantee that. Compromising hurt my pride for a little - but, in the long run, it enabled me to embrace the moments I do have t...

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 

    It's nearly time for my annual pilgrimage to Saratoga Springs, New York!   And for those of you who also visit the track to pay your dues, plan to stop by  Spa Fine Art  and say hello on Saturday, July 27th.   Last year I was able to complete  a large racing scene during the course of the day. I'm attempting the same again this year! Paint starts flying at 2pm, and I'll be there through close.   Stopping to heckle will also give good reason for you to visit  Mrs. Londons  and bring me something yummy to keep my strength up.   Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    IN PROCESS, and untitled, 24" x 6", track scene from the early, early morning at Saratoga Race Track.  Inspired by many a morning spent hanging on the rail, listening to the horses and riders gallop past. This is acrylics on museum quality panel and will be for sale when finished - inquiries can come  to moi !    I started this one last nite, and it proceeded along with a wee bit of drama - pics are  on Facebook  - I had planned to be done by now, but what can I do?   Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    IN PROCESS:  "Collected," from "The Saratoga Series," 12" x 24", acrylic on museum quality panel, inspired from photos I shot in the early morning on the back side of Saratoga Race Track, $749. Inquiries may come  to me.   In process pics are  on Facebook , along with title suggestions - I'm not yet entirely sold on "Collected."  I'm also considering "Back Sides."  I'm open to your suggestions, too. I'm going to paint more tonite after dinner and will update with photos as the piece progresses.   I've been painting Saratoga scenes for four years now. I don't think I will ever tire of the track.    Or of painting it.   I suppose this is the closest I'll get to owning a horse. I have an entire stable of them, in paint!!   Thanks for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Play Ball Prints Available   Click on the image belo...

    "Jockeying," from The Saratoga Series, 5" x 20", depicting 5 jockeys and their mounts fighting for position, acrylics on museum quality panel, $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you.     Remember  the hot mess  from a couple weeks back? Well, I sweated it through and signed off on it today. Feels darned good, too!   This painting is part of a new body of work celebrating  Saratoga Race Courses' 150th Anniversary . This summer I'm ushering in the track's birthday party with a live painting session at  Spa Fine Art  on Saturday July 27th. I was honored to be invited and those of you who joined me last year know how much fun we had - so mark your calendars. Let's do it again!   There are lots of  in process pics  on the studio facebook page - you may have to scroll a bit through  the Mobile Uploads folder , as progress on thi...

  "Slop," 7" x 15", depicting a field of Thoroughbred race horses nearing the first turn at Saratoga Race Track, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $529 to the first asking nicely . Please works well.     In process pics are on  the studio facebook page.   I literally stood in the pouring rain to get this reference photo. I was seriously waterlogged, no exaggeration. We're talking plastered hair, damp undergarments and puddles INSIDE my shoes. And while I am disappointed that the painting does not convey exactly HOW wet the conditions were, I do find other redeeming qualities in the piece.   "Slop" is headed to  Spa Fine Art , my gallery in Saratoga, New York, as part of the track's impressive 150th birthday celebration this summer.   Unless you need this painting on your wall Right Now. In which case,  email me  and I'll make that happen.   Thanks as always for following along with...

      "Lengthening Her Lead," from the Saratoga Series and fresh off the easel, 5" high by 22" wide. Details of each side are above, with the full view below. Add this painting to your collection for $599.     In process views of this painting have been uploaded to the studio's Facebook page  the last couple days.   Inquiries can always come  to me! !! And thank you!!         Hope everyone has fabulous plans made for the weekend - we'll be spending time at the Dog Bowl in Frankenmuth, Michigan, hanging with family, and getting our veggie garden in.   Special thanks today to the veterans who's own personal sacrifice has enabled the freedoms we enjoy today, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com