Paintings With Soul

  I could so use a nap right now.   You deserve a pretty picture and I haven't made it to the easel yet today, so here's one of my Painting a Dog a Day favorites - Brie (of  Lisa Daria Kennedy Painting a Day fame) from  January  of last year. This painting is in a private collection, but I can create something equally spectacular and starring your own pet -  email me !           Sometimes my days don't have nearly enough hours. Today was one of them.   Got The Caped Crusader off to school. Checked email and varnished paintings. Got The Princess off to school. Walked the dog. Emptied cat box, threw in laundry, cleaned kitchen. Sent The Man Child off to breakfast with a friend. Wrapped and packaged 5 paintings shipping to NY. Dropped The Man Child and friend off at school (they had a late start today). Drove way-the-way across town to get estimate on car repairs. While waiting for estimate, revamped class materials fo...

ORDER NOTECARDS/REPRODUCTIONS "Maggie," 10" square, commissioned pet portrait of a Wheaten Terrier, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Maggie's portrait is headed to a wonderful young woman who has recently graduated from college. They grew up together, and while Maggie crossed the bridge a few years back, her presence is still felt to this day. Here's what her girl has to say: "My dog gives the best advice: 'Be happy just being yourself.'.... We grew up together, and we changed along with one another.... I started to feel like I didn't fit in - at the same time, Maggie developed some physical problems of her own.... Nevertheless, Maggie was as happy as ever. It was as if she was telling me to accept myself the way I am and to stop depending on others (for approval). ".... Thanks to my dog Maggie, I know that just because I think, act, and feel differently from my peers doesn't mea...

"Sadie," 6" x 8", commissioned dog portrait of a mixed breed, acrylic on canvasboard, in a private collection (thank you!!). Want a Dog-a-Day painting of your own? Check out how  right here or send an inquiry my way - ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .   Don't you love Sadie's eyes? I found myself wanting to cradle her head in my hands while I painted, she had such a strong presence here in the studio.   This piece was done wet on wet, meaning that the paint was pushed around while the previous layer hadn't yet dried. This process makes for a very soft painting with beautiful color harmony, but when you are painting with acrylics you've got to work fast!!   Speaking of painting with acrylics, I'm laying the groundwork for my first workshop. I'm leaning towards a 3 day session, with a focus on acrylic painting (although the principals will apply to a number of different media). I will emphasize using a restricted palette to i...

“Incognito,” 4” x 5”, mixed breed pet portrait in acrylic on canvasboard, $50. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This seemed like an appropo image for a summer’s day. The trickiest part for me was painting the glasses with just the right shade of polarization. First I had them too orange, then they were too blue and dark and not transparent at all. I just kept rubbing them out, and giving it another try. Eventually they worked out well, and then I was able to do the rest of the painting – the nose and the fringey hair. (Just a note – This is a tiny little painting, and those white specks are the actual weave of the canvasboard.) Hope everyone is enjoying these longer days, and getting to kick back just a little bit themselves. This dog seems to have it nailed! Thank you to returning collector Kelly Dally for purchasing yesterday’s Shar-pei painting. Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family, Kim Kimberly Kelly Sant...

Yes, I know it’s Wednesday, and I’m just getting around to Tuesday’s painting. My apologies, but I was sidelined by the flu, which is still rampaging through our house. So it was nice to come into the studio this morning and forget about the drama of the last 48 hours. Along those lines, I chose a happy face bursting with spring color (he photographed a bit bluer than in real life). “Charlie,” 5x7, acrylic dog portrait on canvasboard, private collection. Thank you very much to Judy Kroon who kindly introduced me to Charlie, and then commissioned this portrait. Charlie was a therapy dog, in addition to a wonderful companion, of unknown descent. A little schnauzer, maybe some poodle and wheaton terrier. Regardless, he lived life with zeal, and blessed his family with 17 years of delight. And Charlie continues on his mission – I’m telling you, mixing all these beautiful pastel shades certainly improved my spirits this morning. I know I will return to the stack of Charlie photos and create...

Today we are rolling through waves of showers and thunderstorms, but the air is warm and the front yard is ankle deep in cold mud. At the risk of cursing the thaw, I do believe spring has finally arrived in lower Michigan! Don’t fear though – I won’t entirely jinx things by packing snowpants and woolen scarves away. Along with the promise of spring, in trots today’s dog-a-day painting, a face radiant with sunshine. This painting is layered with washes of orange and peach, coupled with exuberant brushwork. “Murry (Wheaton Terrier Study),” 6x8, dog portrait in acrylic on canvasboard. Murry’s painting is now part of Karin Fuller’s collection – thank you, Karin, for introducing me to Murry, and bringing his bright grin into the studio during such a gray week. It’s easy to get your own dog-a-day painting – simply send photos to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com , and wait your turn. I’m always looking for tomorrow’s muse. Will it be your dog? Thanks, as always, for looking.And for sharing thes...

I wish you could see this guy in person. The paint is laid down in thick, gooey layers of subtle color. It’s a terribly gray, wet and gloomy day here (what’s up with 50 degree weather in Michigan in January?!), and I had to photograph this piece under the studio lights, which washed him out a little bit – but there are lots of pale apricots, pinks, and yellows buried under the layers of hair. “Wheaton Terrier Study,” 6x6, only $60. SOLD. How can you not grin back at him? Thanks as always for looking. And for sharing the paintings with your friends and family. Our ranks are growing - welcome to all new readers! Have a great weekend, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ distinctive pet portraits & 4-legged paintings http://www.paintingadogaday.com/ come. sit. stay. enjoy the art. Founding member of the Canine Art Guild http://www.canineartguild.com/ the gateway to canine art on the web