Paintings With Soul

"Kit," 8" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned pet portrait of a tri-colored long haired Chihuahua. Kit's painting has a home (thank you so very much!), however do not despair - I am now accepting a limited number of special projects like this one. Please send inquiries  to me .  I know, I know. I've been painting a lot of things other than dogs. And dogs are what the majority of you readers know me for and want to see. But here's the thing - I love painting them just as much as I did before, they just aren't getting to the easel as often. Because I want to learn better handling of lights and darks, and focus on manipulating edges - both things that aren't always possible when working from photos on a specific likeness. So yes, I'm mixing it up a bit. Working on the  100 Toys series and doing more totem paintings , spending a lot of time journaling and sketching and reading and thinking and...

"Harold," a painted sketch, roughly 5-1/2" x 6-1/2" centered on a 9" x 12" mixed media paper, acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!). As always, inquires may always come directly  to me .  Yesterday I made a list of all the things that needed to happen before The Kentucky Derby. It was a daunting list, and it scares me. But it's also nice to have everything identified that needs to happen.   Things like finding shoes, creating new marketing materials, doing a large scale mailing, shipping fresh inventory to my galleries, freshening up my website, building a slideshow presentation of my experience, finalizing various poster signing/appearance details, picking up my Derby dress from the seamstress, finishing up the sketches sold last month, creating more racing scene contours, taking care of final details on the new painting process video, connect with a couple mentors to mentally prepare for the week, completing two big piec...

    AT RIGHT, "Lily" and AT LEFT, "Lucy," commissioned portraits, both 5" x 7". Each done in acrylics on museum quality panels, private collection (THANK YOU!!).    I started these two before the holiday - process pics are  on Facebook  - there's quite a few!   Now what to paint next? decisions, decision!! (and I could be painting for YOU -  ask me  about it!)   Thanks for supporting my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Scout," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a well-dressed kitty, acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). In-process photos can be see in  the studio Facebook page .   Don't you just love those whiskers? I think they are rather Santa-like, Kim, who still believes, and asks for a pony each Christmas ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

    "Mini Halo," from the "Cherished" series.   This new favorite of mine (sorry,  "Momma,"  but you've been replaced) is this 5" square painting, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel and available for purchase for $269.   That is, if Halo's Mom decides to let this one go, which she might, because there's  a bigger Halo portrait  fighting for wall space, too. UPDATE: The bigger Halo has a home (THANK YOU!). "Mini Halo" is actively seeking one. Inquiries may come to me .   Inquiries on either piece may come  to me . And check out below if you want to play along in the "Cherished" game!   Thanks for supporting my art!! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     Cherished Paintings   A collection of "Cherished" series of paintings will be displayed as part of this year's  ArtPrize  in Grand Rapids, Michigan.    ...

    "Halo's Heart," from the "Cherished" series, 9" x 15", one of two portraits I'm creating of this gorgeous long haired German Shepherd puppy. This one is acrylics on a museum quality panel, and she will go to the first one raising their hand for $529. Of course, first dibs on both Halo pieces belong to her Mom, but in the meanwhile inquiries may come  to me .   If I still have the painting this fall, Halo will be part of my ArtPrize  installation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.   In process views of this piece are on  the studio's Facebook page .   And now I'm rushing back to my easel - I have another very wet piece happening, and want to keep momentum going for as long as I can!   Thanks for following along with me and my art, Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com     It's Summer Vacation, Baby!!   Which is a big deal to Clover and Lily, p...