Paintings With Soul

"Hagen," 5" x 7", acrylic on museum quality panel, depicting a German Shepherd, private collection (THANK YOU!!). While Hagen's painting already has a home, I would be happy to create something special just for your -  email me ! Sketches start at $99 and paintings on panel, like this guy's, at $209. Hagen was born in Germany, and returned there for training. He failed training, though, because he didn't understand biting. Hagen is extra special in that he is a certified, non-biting GSD. How cool is that? I met Hagen this last February, when he was a finalist for the Painting a Dog a Day Valentine's Giveaway. You can see the reference photo that inspired his painting to the left, and the other finalists (many of whom I've already painted)  here . Thanks, as always, for looking at my artwork and sharing it with your friends, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com Please Do Forward to a Friend! Forward this email to a fr...

  You saw the reference photo  yesterday  (and it's included below, too) - here's the underpainting for the first painting in my new series "Cherish."   Working title "What the....?", this is 24" high by 14" wide, and it's in acrylics on a museum quality panel.   I don't anticipate that this one will be for sale, but inquiries may always come  to me .           For those new to the blog, this is my cattle dog mix Finnigan, who truly had no idea what the little furball kitten Mona Lisa was doing in his house. She, of course, went about as if she had always owned the place, her tail jauntily crooked above her back, her little bell joyfully announcing every move.   I want this painting to convey Finni's gentle curiousity and Mona's trust. It needs to feel warm and cozy, alluded to by the yellow undertones of the floor and rug. And once I get the shadows working properly, the composition will carry a circular motif...

"Sigh," just one of a handful of my original paintings on hand at Mackinaw Island's newest gem, Mackinaw's Little Gallery. Gallery opens in May 2012. Inquiries may come to gallery staff .         I am absolutely delighted to announce that Mackinaw Island's newest business, Mackinaw's Little Gallery, will be representing my artwork this coming season.   The gallery sits on Market Street in the heart of  this charming island , a place steeped in history, a slower paced lifestyle, spectacular landscape and carriage horses (cars are not allowed on the island).   The space will open in May with an international collection of equine and animal themed work. MLG will add to the community's festivals and events by inviting artists (myself included) for live paints, demonstrations, and classes/workshops.   Perhaps I'll get a chance to see you there?   Fingers and toes crossed, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   A sp...

  An oldie but a goodie, one of my favorite paintings from 4 years back,  "The Gift" . This piece is also a perfect example of investing in art - all sentiment aside, it's increased in value by nearly 60%!!     The Canine Art Guild  (CAG) was begun by a group of artists who wanted to establish a community that supported dog art and those who make dog art.   Little did we know that the CAG would be welcomed with such enthusiasm. Today the guild, numbering upwards of 120 members, fluorishes as an international collective of artists at all stages of their careers.   I've been lucky to sit at the helm all along, and I can't say enough what a blessing it has been. I've made friends with so many fellow artists, learned quite a bit in the process, and hopefully helped facilitate learning and sharing as well.   I invite you to take a peek at  our website  and peruse some of the members' art. You'll find all disciplines, and maybe di...

  "Snow Much Fun", 14" x 32", acrylic on panel, starring Nita-the-Fierce-Snowball-Hunter, hopefully headed to this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. Inquiries may come  to me .   Here is another painting I've prepared specifically for this year's  Art Show at the Dog Show . This one I did during the holiday break - it's a big portrait, and took me several days to complete.   You may recall the far left pose as  one I painted before  - at the time I was unhappy with certain elements and wanted to give it another shot (the background is certainly lovely, but poor Nita has no neck and shoulders as painted, and it's painful to look at!).   Originally I sketched Snow Much Fun with a different airborn pose on the far left. It didn't take me long to figure out that I needed the more inviting "come on and play" Nita to make the piece even more irresistable.   Any who, the tunes were cranked (I'm digging on the new  Florence ...

  The finished product! "But, Mom....", 12" x 16", acrylic on panel, headed to this year's Art Show at the Dog Show. Inquiries may come  to me .   The Art Show at the Dog Show  is an annual juried exhibition in Kansas that focuses exclusively on canine artwork. I've been lucky enough to have work juried into it in past years and have my fingers crossed that this year will be no exception.   As with the majority of my recent work, I've placed multiple views of this painting in process on  the studio Facebook page .   Wait'll you see tomorrow's painting, another one headed (hopefully) to Art Show at the Dog Show........   Here's to a fabulously colorful New Year - looks like we are off to a fantastic start! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  An in process detail of my newest painting, "But, Mom....", 12" x 16", acrylic on panel.   I chose an ambitious composition for my next piece, a larger painting created specifically for  The Art Show at the Dog Show , an annual juried exhibition in Kansas that focuses exclusively on canine artwork.   It's always fun to work up more complex concepts than a traditional portrait approach would not necessarily embrace. And after the holidays, when I've done primarily portraits for the prior 3 months, it's especially fun to lose myself in a storytelling piece.   As with most of my work, you can see multiple views of this painting (above is just a detail) on  the studio Facebook page .   I regularly get emails asking about my processes and it often takes me days to respond personally - you are welcome to comment on the FB images if you have particular questions, and then I can answer them more quickly and in a public forum where they could pote...