Paintings With Soul

Above, "What's a Little Mud," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a golden retriever who had a darned good time, $2299 (includes shipping and handling to a US address). Detail of the dog's face is below - there's so many different marks and touches of color in this! And this is a cradeled panel, so the image wraps around each of the 4 sides - there is no need to frame (unless you want that visual).  Email me if you would like to to own this remarkable painting - and thank you so much for your interest! Sometimes you do the best you can, but that niggling thought that you could do better won't go away. That's what happened with this painting, which I did back in May . Loved it, but after living with it for a month or so, I felt like there was something off.  Realized after a bit that the muddy legs were too dark and I had some key value jumps that were missing in the composition. ...

An in process detail of "Family Outing," 16" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting four sweet little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rescues (you didn't read that wrong - the painting has 4 faces, but this detail shows 3 of them). This is a commissioned piece, still very much in process, and you can follow along with it's progression here .  Meanwhile, email me if you would like to talk about something equally special for yourself.

"What's a Little Mud?," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel (no need to frame!), depicting a muddy Golden Retriever. This painting can be yours for $2299, including delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US) - inquire directly to moi . Oh, and there are in process photos  here, along with some great detail shots. Wet dog. We all know that smell.  This piece truly has to be experienced in person - so many layers, so many textures, and a huge variety of marks. The piece breathes. Ohhhh. Now I'm smelling dog breath! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

You can download the file   directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link. I am not an expert on operating systems, so if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, please don't email me - I will indubitably steer you wrong. Your computer's help files will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.  I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!). Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"Princess Playmobil," 5" x 15", acrylics on museum quality panel, heralding from my kids' stash of Playmobil toys, $99 to the first  asking nicely  . I'm working out logistics of placement of my still life setup, it's proximity to my easel, and how to best manage dramatic lighting for the setup but even lighting for my workspace.  On top of the whole painting process, there's a science to building the visual to begin with. Who knew? Next I'm headed to Traverse City to teach for four days - can't wait to meet my new kids for the week! I'll try to update regularly, if they don't run me ragged. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

View In Process Photos Order a Cowboy Print/Notecards/Smartphone Case I Want A Cowboy Too! "Cowboy," 4" x 6", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a Fisher Price Little People cowboy, not for sale. This treasure is going to a friend who's had a rough year. A little cowboy should brighten up her days from here on out. I mean, come on, it's hard to top the power of a cowboy.  Unless you are a unicorn. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim

"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

"Ollie," 8" x 8," commissioned portrait of a German Shepherd, acrylics on a museum quality panel, a special gift for Ollie's little girl. Plenty of  in process photos are here . Want one for yourself? Inquiries may come  to me . I've been studying in-process images by master painters, and the one thing I noticed (light bulb moment here!) was that they paint entirely with planes. There is very little delineation happening - their subjects are sculpted with paint. So that was the approach I took with Ollie. No lines or drawing - just slabs of color going down. I rather like the effect. Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

IN PROCESS:  Bear's Backscratch, 12" x 20", acrylics on museum quality panel, a commissioned portrait depicting a delightfully goofy Golden Retriever, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me , though, because I can make something like this starring YOUR dog especially for YOU.     You've seen Bear and his sidekick Nita many times before. Daydream ,  Nana Nana Na Na ,  Cannonball ,  Snuggle Bunny , Snow Much Fun  - the list goes on and on and on, but you can see that these two are perfect muses and I take great joy in painting their antics.   Is your dog (or cat) a muse? you can always introduce us via digital photos.  Shoot me an email  - I paint from non-flash photos   that you have personally taken  (very important!) where the animal is at least 1/3 of the picture.    Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS...

Continued Process, "Strawberry Shortcakes," 12" x 16", depicting a pile of old dolls, acrylics on museum quality panel, available for $629 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries can come to  moi,  please and thank you!   I got to pick my brushes up for a little this afternoon, and continued carving out the smiling faces in this box of Strawberry Shortcake dolls.    There is a precarious balance between all of these faces - the one in the middle will be at the top of the pile, and I have to make her brighter than the others. I can tell I still have a ways to go.   In process photos  are over on the studio's facebook page.   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Tiny Anne II," 6" x 6", portrait of an old Raggedy Anne doll, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, not for sale.    There is the popular belief that we artists just sit back and the paintings just paint themselves, and I want to assure you that this isn't further from the truth!   Artists work hard, honing how they see the world, practicing with their tools, and throwing out a LOT of art in the process. You don't see it because you aren't in the studio with us, but trust me, it happens. And even when I'm not in the studio, I'm painting in my head. Always mixing colors and rearranging form.   Ok, but I digress - back to Anne.   I repainted her (and cursed profoundly while doing so) probably 6 times yesterday. I knew that my issue was separating color from value, and because my doll was mostly flat, I needed to be paying extra attention to the values NOT the colors. And I also had to be studying color...

  Wow! It's June, which means school's out (or nearly so), and is a ready excuse for daily popsicles and brightly colored toes in flip-flops. Enjoy it!!   To implement this month's desktop calendar, simply download the file  directly from my website . I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link.   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.    I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as...

  Keelie, commissioned portrait of a Sheltie, done in acrylics on paper, image roughly 5" x 5" centered on a 9" x 12" paper. Private collection (THANK YOU!)     Below you can see Keelie and her brother Keenan, the Shelti duo captured in paint.   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

  Keenan, commissioned portrait of a Sheltie, done in acrylics on paper, image roughly 5" x 5" centered on a 9" x 12" paper. Private collection (THANK YOU!)     Keenan is one half of a pair of shelties I sketched today - his older sister Keelie will be shared with you tomorrow.   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  "Oscar," 6" x 6", commissioned portrait of a little yorkie, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). I always welcome inquiries on how you can commission a portrait of your own -  email me .       Oscar came to the rescue with a fierce infection in his mouth, and ended up losing a good chunk of his jaw.   But he did win the hearts of his eventual forever family in the process.   Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Don't forget, next week is Derby Week, so grab your fancy hat and get ready for equine paintings!   Enjoy the weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

  ORDER NOTECARDS AND REPRODUCTIONS HERE     "Gigi," 10" x 10", portrait of a fluff ball, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, my gift to Gigi's Mom for playing along with the Dog a Day Valentine's Giveaway.   Over 100 faces were submitted for consideration this year and it was difficult to narrow them down. I choose  22 finalists , but honestly didn't know until the absolute last possible minute who I was going to paint. And how I wish I could have painted each of them.   And I chose Gigi because she seemed to be overflowing with love, today's theme.   Happy Valentines Day from all the Santinis, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS  In process pictures are on  the studio's Facebook page .  

      "Melvin," 6" x 8", commissioned portrait of a black lab done in acrylic on museum quality panel. Melvin's painting has a home (thank you!), but I'm happy to discuss creating something similar for your walls -  email me .   Of course there are a couple in process photos of Melvin's portrait over on  the studio Facebook page  - take a peek at them and ask any questions you might have about my process.   And let me know if there's something you want to see or learn about, too!!   Don't forget about the auction on the heart-shaped dog tag paintings - it ends this evening at 10pm EST.   Just about the same time as the cold front comes in and snow starts to fall here in Michigan.   Visit the  studio Facebook page  to place your bid on any one of the four paintings - you bid simply by commenting on the painting you want.   Now I'm off to put the finish...

      "Pom Pride," 6" square, acrylics on a museum quality panel, portrait of a Pomeranian, $299 to the first one  asking nicely .   Just as whites are not truely white, blacks are not truly black. At least not in my world! Inspired by a sassy little guy I met in Frankenmuth Michigan over the summer.    In process views of "Pride" were shared on the  studio Facebook page . You can find them inside  the Mobile Uploads folder . And by the way, you do not need to have a Facebook account to view either of those links.   I'd love to talk about creating spectacular original art for you -  email me  and we can talk.   Fondly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    Order Notecards and Reproductions   "Reilly," 11" x 14", commissioned portrait of a chocolate lab, done in acrylic on a museum quality panel, in a private collection (THANK YOU!).   In process views of Reilly's portrait as it unfolded were shared on the  studio Facebook page  yesterday. You can find them inside  the Mobile Uploads folder . And by the way, you do not need to have a Facebook account to view either of those links.   I'd love to talk about creating something just as spectacular as Reilly's portrait for you -  email me  and we'll begin that conversation!!     It's scarey, allowing my clients and the general public to watch my work unfold (because during my work day I post in-process pics of paintings to the studio Facebook page).   I'm opening myself up to criticism - what if I am having a bad day in the studio? what if the client totally hates the...

    "Greta II," 8" square, companion piece to  Greta I  (painted yesterday), commissioned portrait of a mixed breed dog, acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). In-process photos of both Gretas are available on  the studio Facebook page .   Fondly, Kim, who loves to work in series' like the Greta's, and is looking formore water dog muses - feel free to email me your pics ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com