Paintings With Soul

Kimberly Kelly Santini   paintings with soul because our world needs more beauty   "Bailey and Charlie," 12" x 12" x 1/22", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel, commissioned portrait and heading home soon. They no longer flood my various social media feeds, but I do still create one or two pet portraits each month. Because when all is said and done, there is nothing quite like delivering an original image that melds memories and emotions into the perfect summary of my clients' relationship with their special family members. Prices start at $399 for museum quality original paintings. I work from copyright free reference photos and your stories to create a treasured family keepsake. Turnaround is dependent upon my current workload, but averages several months (and can be much longer near the end of the year), so please plan accordingly. Inquiries may come directly   to me .

"Colby", a small painted sketch, done in acrylics on paper, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come directly to me .  I did a handful of new sketches today, of which Colby is a shining example. Don't you love his goofy face? he's so chill, just hanging out, soaking up the sun.   I also did another reverse painting on plexi, and got it scanned and onto FineArtAmerica . I don't think that there's enough unicorn art in the world, do you?   Now I'm off to freeze my butt, err, cheer my butt off, at The Caped Crusader's lacrosse game. I'll be the one in the stands zipped into a heavy duty sleeping bag. And I'm packing a cowbell. Yeah, I'm that mom. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Riley," 5" x 7", acrylics on a Raymar panel, commissioned portrait of a pointer, private collection (thank you!). Let me know if you would like one of these portraits starring your pet  (and yes, I offer gift certificates which can be delivered in time for holiday gift giving). View In Process Photos It's December, which seems wrong. It should still be, like, August. Not sure where the days went, but they did - and the holidays are upon us! I have 2-1/2 remaining holiday commissions to paint, but don't despair - if you didn't reach out to me in time, we can still do a gift certificate. There is nothing more appreciated than a custom portrait, which start at $399 - inquire via email. Meanwhile, I am making plans to create new works for my galleries. And I have a couple of exhibitions in mind. You'll see horse racing scenes, more still lifes starring toy horses and ponies, and some vintage doll paintings, along with my re...

"Cheese," 10" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a pointer with the goofiest grin, $539 to the first  asking nicely . A few months back I introduced a tube of black to my palette and began exploring how form dissolved into shadow. I didn't fully intend for a new series of paintings to evolve - it just happened. I've named the paintings "Emerging." Take a peek at some of the magic I discovered . Some of these paintings are looking for homes - (and yes, I take payment plans) - let me know how I can get one of them into yours! (I've also set up notecard and smart phone case ordering - print reproductions are available for those images already in private collections.) Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim Reproductions Cell Phone Cases View In Process Photos

    "Precocious," 9" x 12", portrait of a stinking cute German Shorthaired Pointer puppy, acrylics on museum quality panel, available to the first asking nicely for $549.   Ask nicely by  emailing me !   In process pics are  here .   And if this little guy doesn't find a home soon, I'll send him off to a local exhibition. Because while I love shipping and sharing my art around the country, I also think it's important to support art groups close to my own stomping grounds.   And now I'm off to teach tonite's grownUPs Journaling class, where will will be using lyrics as a starting point to create collages. $20 says I come home with glue in my hair.   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  I proudly give you "Rush," 12" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a wonderfully personable and dearly missed pointer, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries, though, may always come  to me - I can do this sort of thing with your dog (or cat or horse or bunny.....). Just imagine.....   In process pics of Rush's portrait are also on  the studio Facebook page . Feel free to check in over there and comment on my process or art in general.           THIS is why I love my job. All the other nonsense melts away when I am able to stand at my easel, slip into my zone, and pull do this sort of thing seemingly out of nowhere.   Rush was a shelter dog who arrived with a gunshot wound to his knee and no other information. He ultimately ended up with his forever home, a family that nursed him to health with unconditional love, via a shelter employee who noticed Rush's usual even temperment was changing...

Today you are getting a little mini-lesson of my process, which I hope you enjoy. If you have questions please use the comments field of my blog, this way I can condense my responses in one place. Thanks in advance! This is the north side of the studio, where I have my easel (a Best Classic Dulce), my tools (the green cabinet, a vintage filing cabinet/tool chest - note the palette on the top of the cabinet) and my taboret (an old enameled tea cart). I have a ceiling light in the studio, an ott light attached to the easel, a daylight floor lamp behind me and the natural light from the northern window (pictured) and the western facing one (behind and to the left of the easel). (You can also see the original wallpaper to the room, which I plan on covering this winter with Anaglypta paper. I think the walls will then be painted a dove gray.) This painting is an 11" x 14" Ampersand Gessoboard, which I have leaning against a larger piece of masonite. This allows me to work on the p...

IN PROCESS:  "Ready to Hunt," 8" x 16", pointer dog portraits, acrylic on board, inquiries may come to me .   SOLD. The dog and car paintings are officially a hit. All of them sold, and I was left with no Dog a Day paintings for the Art & Automobiles exhibition. I delivered the larger than lifesize Vizsla portrait** this morning, and she'll have to represent the entire spectrum of my work on her own.   Meanwhile I came home and decided to start another similarly themed painting. This one still needs some tweaking, but I just adore the energy and color in it so far.    Tomorrow is another Virtual pARTy , and this is another one that's an open invitation. Take a peek at the reference photo and see if you are interested in joining us. It promises to be a good time.   Thanks as always for looking at my artwork and sharing it with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   **I have a few limited edition giclees re...

"Backseat Drivers," 8" x 16", acrylic on canvasboard, not yet for sale. This painting has been created especially for the "Art & Automobile" exhibition at Starkweather Gallery in Romeo, Michigan. The show opens Friday, July 10th. "Backseat Drivers" (complete with a gorgeous custom frame) and a larger than lifesize canvas of a Vizsla ("Chauffeur," 36" x 48", shown below) will both be available for purchase through the gallery during the duration of the show. I'll share their contact information after I deliver the paintings.  A few weeks back I asked for photos of your dog(s) riding shotgun. I got some really wonderful shots, allowing me to sift through a mess of ideas and different compositions. It came down to a couple of possibilities, from which this (first) painting emerged. Special thanks goes out to Miriam Hughes of Chester County, Pennsylvania for the reference photo that inspired "Backseat Drive...

"Three's Company," 8" x 16", triple German Shorthaired Pointer portrait inspired by (from left) Tater, Desmo and Ripley, acrylic on canvasboard, $529. Proceeds from the sale of this painting will be donated to my local shelter, the Oakland Pet Adoption Center. Inquiries may come to me via email .   These three characters came from the German Shorthaired Pointer Rescue in Southern California. They are the latest three of 9 GSDs this family has loved. And what's there not to love? These guys are goofy, eager, sincere, and always ready for a great romp. Word has it they are evil-good cuddlers, too. (Big, wet, sloppy kisses go to the long-time Dog-a-Day readers who shared Tater, Desmo and Ripley with us.)   Thank you to my new collectors who purchased yesterday's "Bobblehead." Want to add to your own Dog-a-Day collection? visit my Etsy store - with over 80 original paintings available, there's bound to be at least one you can...

"Lucy," 5" x 7", commissioned pet portrait of a mixed breed dog, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (I think this one has sold - I'm still waiting to hear back from my client as to final approval). Inquiries may come to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Lucy, a Beagle-English Pointer mix, was a dear, gentle soul. She's long since crossed the bridge, but left her pawprint firmly on her family's hearts. It's so rewarding to paint departed companions, and give my clients something tangible from the years shared with their dog (or cat). This piece was no exception, and perhaps even more special because Lucy will be joining several Dog-a-Day paintings already on my client's walls. I spent this afternoon adding new paintings to my etsy store . I've added a number of pieces that previously have been hung in galleries and various exhibitions, most of which I haven't yet shared with the Dog-a-Day group. Take a peek at the store under ...

FROM TOP: "Blissfully Pink (Bliss)," 6" square, German Shorthaired Pointer dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard; "Katie," 6" x 8," brittany spaniel dog portrait, acrylic on canvasboard. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . Now that I see her on my computer screen, I realize that Katie isn't quite the right color - her fur was more like a burnished penny. I'll have to correct that, but later. It's been a loooong day, and like the winter gear filled dryer that's run nonstop for hours, I'm tired and need a break. These paintings will get wrapped and tucked under my tree. I had to delete my parents from the Dog-a-Day distribution so as to hopefully keep them a secret for just a few more days. They'll look great added to my father's Dog-a-Day collection of past and present hunting buddies. I have one other painting that I am finishing as a (personal) Christmas gift. It's a view of an uncle's backyard in the sum...

"Nosey," 4" x 6", wirehaired pointer portrait in acrylic on board, $199 to the first buyer. Inquiries to ksantini@sbcglobal.net . SOLD. Proceeds from this painting will benefit the Oakland Pet Adoption Center ( http://www.oaklandpetfund.org/ ), my local shelter, making wonderful progress towards turning us into a no-more-homeless-pets community! This guy must've followed his nose a bit too far, as he was at my shelter a few weeks back, waiting for his owner to catch up with him. There were several pointers, along with a mess of hounds and beagles. The crisp fall air brings out all sorts of critters to chase and track, and I suppose the temptations were too hard to resist for those dogs. "Nosey" will be stunning tucked into a wide frame, placed somewhere special. Thanks, as always, for your time in looking at, and sharing, my paintings with your friends and family. See you tomorrow, Kim ksantini@sbcglobal.net www.paintingadogaday.com PS YEAH! I got the...

"Pointer Closeup (Hershey)," 5" x 7", german shorthaired pointer dog portrait , $165. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. I've been a little crazed the last few days trying to clean up the mess left by a computer virus. It's not all yet done, but at least I now am semi-functional, which is quite a few steps up from yesterday. I was literally crippled without my laptop, and then I beat myself up for feeling that way. The knowledge of a valid backup did nothing to lessen the stress. I couldn't write checks, prep shipping labels, edit the dog-a-day book, update my ipod, follow watched items on ebay, google simple questions or even look up the weather. I admit it. I am a total computer addict. I need help. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family, Kim

“Pointer Study (Bullwinkle),” 8” x 10”, pointer portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (or so I think – am waiting for confirmation from my client). I did allow myself to venture into color more today than I have all week, but Bully’s portrait is a bit more restrained. I relied on directional brushwork and muted grays (well, I see them as pinks and lavendars and blues) to tell the story. And if you squint down at the painting, it reads dimensionally, which means I got my values correct. So perhaps this working in black and white while concentrating on values is a good assignment. It’s tough – I was wanting to put all sorts of reds and oranges into him, and really didn’t allow myself that luxury. Instead, the painting became about the moment Bully caught the scent, and the viewer is left holding their breath, waiting for the bird to get flushed. I learned this evening that my body of work, three dog a days, which I submitted to the Southeastern Michigan Portrait Show, e...

“Bullwinkle,” 6”x8”, pointer mix pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, private collection (again, thank you!). Bullwinkle, the partner in crime to yesterday’s Rocky, is another playful soul. I painted him with a toy firmly in his mouth, inviting the viewer to start a game of tug-of-war. I neglected to mention last night that both yesterday’s and today’s (and Mon-Thur of last week’s) paintings qualified for a contribution to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kenab, Utah. To date, the Painting a Dog a Day project has raised over $150 for this group, and that amount will continue to climb during the coming weeks as I complete commissioned dog-a-day portraits resulting from the July feature article in Best Friends Magazine. My goal is to ultimately raise $1000 for the shelter – and we are well on track!! Thank you to all the kind souls who are on board! Best Friends Animal Sanctuary will continue to be the featured shelter throughout August (I’m looking for a few more muses, if you h...

“Such a Lady (Amy),” 8x10, acrylic mixed breed pet portrait on canvasboard, private collection (thank you!). This painting was a long time in the making. I kept painting it, then backing away, and not seeing enough contrast. There are all sorts of lovely light blues and lavenders and greens in Amy’s underbelly and chest, and I simply wasn’t building enough contrast into them. And with the humidity today, the glazes took their sweet ole time drying, so that extended everything as well. But I love the halos in Amy’s spots, and they are a fun treat to paint – doing them up in lighter tones, gradually building to their darker centers. The trick, for me, to painting animals with these sorts of markings, is to paint their basic body shape first, and model that with the shadows, midtones, and highlights, and then go into that with the spots and other markings at the very end. You also need to balance those smaller brush marks between all the values – not just the lightest or the darkest. Pul...

"Buck," 4x8, dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. This guy isn't for sale - he's my father's hunting buddy, and deserves a spot of honor somewhere near the gun cabinet. Thanks as always for looking! Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini www.turtledovedesigns.com distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings