Paintings With Soul

"Hedgie," 6x6x1-1/2", gallery wrapped extra deep canvas, acrylics, image painted/extended around wrap so no need to frame. This original painting is extra deep, and will sit upright on it's own (see photo below). $224 plus $20 s&h. Returning collectors receive 10% off. I accept paypel, venmo and payment plans. Inquiries may always come  to me . While I may forever best be known as the creator of "Painting a Dog a Day," the  daily pet portrait blog   and personal challenge I started in 2006, I actually paint all sorts of animals. Hedgehogs included. And while I have mostly shared other sorts of paintings the past few years (figurative   Sirens , equine and rabbit   Echos , and abstract   Daydreams ), I continue to do pet portraits quietly in the background. I have a few beautiful little panels like Hedgie's residual from another project, and they need sweet little faces. So I'm putting out the call - there are (5) 6x6s (one is 1...

"Listen," 12" x 16", acrylics on museum quality panel, $499 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Inquiries may come   to me . I have been very frustrated lately, both creatively and personally. Today I realized it was all relative to the idea of listening - or not listening, as the case my be. In the studio, I was forcing my paintings to conform to my process, and not paying attention to the simple construct of formulating a concept and responding to the work as it evolved. I wasn't LISTENING to what the piece was telling me it needed. In the real world, I was encountering so much noise that I couldn't retreat into my own head to complete a simple thought. I was LISTENING to more sources at a given time than my brain could sort out. Which also adds frustration in that the amount of noise was restricting my ability to hear, think, and respond thoughtfully. I think the answer is to allo...

"O'Keefe," 12" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, $499 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may come   to me . I needed to paint something silly and lighthearted, so O'Keefe, my hamster, became my muse. Originally I was going to have her flying (sort of siren-ish), but I couldn't pull it off. So instead I placed her firmly on the ground, sitting on an O'Keefe painting. Which was an absolute delight to create.

Squeaker, a  Florus Animalum painting 48" x 48 x 1/2"", acrylics on panel, starring a not-so-tiny mouse sprouting a mass of wildflowers. Squeaker is $4599 to the first asking nicely. Payment plans available. Inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you. This little one has a huge personality. And probably every color in the world is tucked into his floral crown. What a focal point Squeaker will make......

"Cameo," 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   WORKSHOPS:  May 17-20th, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Please contact Betty Klenke for more information.  June 21-23rd, Montague, Michigan. Please contact Korrine Rogers for more information.

"Pearl," 9" x 12", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $249 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. I can't stop painting mices.......I may need an intervention..... Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   WORKSHOPS:  May 17-20th, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Please contact Betty Klenke for more information.  June 21-23rd, Montague, Michigan. Please contact Korrine Rogers for more information.

"Fleur," 12" x 12", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $249 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

FINISHED: "Pinkie," from The Beribboned Series , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available (when finished) to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Pinkie got a facelift, literally. I put all my references away, including the ribbon setup. I redrew her features from memory, then decided that she needed to be a lighter value than the ribbon. Then I adjusted the bow a bit, too, and tucked her ear behind, so it all perched perfectly on her head. Because I was able to listen to the painting (instead of being married to my references and original concept), Pinkie's portrait turned out far nicer. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

IN PROCESS: "Pinkie," from The Beribboned Series , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel. Available (when finished) to the  first asking nicely , $579 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. For whatever reason, today was a struggle. We all have days where nothing seems to work out, myself included. But now that I've painted this little mouse, and repainted, and painted again, and yet again, so many times that I've lost count, I can see what my issue is.  So I am ending my day with clarity. And some mac and cheese. Both of them being very good things. If you want something to do, hop on over to my new website and let me know what you think!! I've been picking away at it all week long. Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Brocade," from The Beribboned Series , 16" x 20", acrylics on panel. Available to the  first asking nicely , $649 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Continuing my obsession with rodents, this guinea pig is pretty proud of her ribboned bonnet. The color in this piece lifts my heart - it's even more glorious in person. Wouldn't she be perfect in a nursery? a little girl's room? a powder room? an office space? I see her happily residing in a room full of laughter and love. Speaking of little girls - I'm ducking out early today - The Princess's competition dance season starts in a couple of hours. I'll be back on Monday with my head full of music, lights, costumes, and the theater of movement. Lucky me!! Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Violet," 18" x 24", acrylics on panel, from the Beribboned series. Available to the  first asking nicely , $799 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. The Princess's gentle lionhead bunny modeled for this painting. Everyone in our family, even the four legged members, has to earn their keep! Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Bow," roughly 18" x 18", acrylics on panel, from the Beribboned series. Available to the  first asking nicely , $799 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. Special thanks to a super wonderful young lady for sharing pics of her wee one's with me - hope I did them justice Islay!! Thank you also to MR for the best title ever. Also, SUPER excited because The Princess gets to tame and train a mouse in her zoology class this term. Which means OKeefe (the studio hamster) will have a friend!! So happy!! (it doesn't take much to make me happy these days!) Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Petal," a Florus Animalum painting , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel, featuring a tender mouse nestled in an abundance of peonies. This piece is available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $599 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. A difference in opinion does not mean one person is better or lesser than another. Nor is one right and the other wrong. Today is a struggle for many Americans who are afraid of the future. Be kind. Be gentle. Listen to hear, really hear their voices. I am seeking understanding of how my country has become so divided. I am scared of what we are doing to each other, not just here in the States, but all over the world.  And in the midst of this turmoil, making art might seem trite. But it is what I do to find my own inner piece. To process events and emotions in a healthy manner. And to give others a small bit of beauty to add to their days. This mouse in this painting is timid. Mice are timid. But,...

IN PROCESS: "Petal," a Florus Animalum painting , 12" x 16", acrylics on panel, featuring a mouse nestled in an abundance of peonies. This piece is available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $599 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much! I'm thinking about softness with this one. A slightly out of focus, softly lit tendril of a dream. Thanks, as always, for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"OKeefe," a Florus Animalum painting , 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, featuring a baby hamster crowned with peonies in a nod to her namesake Georgia OKeefe . This piece is available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $749 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much! OKeefe is my new baby. Well, the inspiration behind the painting is my new baby, not the actual painting. Although artists often do refer to their paintings as babies....   Also, life drawing takes on an entirely new meaning when your model is rolling around the studio inside an exercise ball. OKeefe doesn't understand yet how to hold a pose. Thanks, as always, for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Blossom," from the Beribboned series , 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $749 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much! Now I want a mouse. Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Whiskers," from the Beribboned series , 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, available for purchase to the  first asking nicely , $749 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much! I want a hamster. Thanks, as always, for supporting my dream, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Dottie," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, featuring a teddy bear hamster with a spotted yellow ribbon. Dottie can be yours for $749 - the first asking nicely gets to adopt her! As always, inquiries may come to me . Next up in this series is a lop eared bunny. I can't stand it! Thanks, as always, for following my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Puff Ball", 10" x 10" acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a sweet little Pomeranian from my archives. A result of the active pursuit of lessons learned from one Stanka Kordic . The painting is not for sale, but as always, inquiries may come directly to me . Oh, and in process photos are here Painting Intuitively It's an admirable goal. Just picking up the brushes and sliding into some alternate consciousness while the piece paints itself.   For the record, THAT never happens here. But I AM trying to listen more to what the painting tells me it needs, and less to that annoying voice in my head that is quick to remind me of all that I'm doing wrong. Which, apparently, is a heck of a lot.   This was something that Stanka Kordic really hammered home during her workshop. We have intuition for a reason, and stifling it serves nobody, least of all the painting.   Of course there is a difference between intuition a...

Muffin, 8" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a Yorkshire Terrier, private collection (THANK YOU!!). I am completing a limited number of pet portraits in time for the holidays - please  inquire  today!!     This painting is a surprise, so sssshhhh!! I'm looking forward to hearing all about the reveal, though!!   In process pics of Muffin's portrait are on  the studio Facebook page . But remember, mums the word!   Thanks so much for following along with my work, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com