Paintings With Soul

  "Mazie Lou," sketch done in acrylic on bristol board, approximately 5" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" page, depiciting a Cavalier King Charles-Cocker Spaniel mix, commissioned and in a private collection (THANK YOU!).     I did lots more sketching today, along with delivering three works to a new show, planning several future exhibitions, readying a solid stack of paintings for shipping next week, and working up concepts for new portraits.   And now I'm off to watch some high school playoffs football.   Go Dragons!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com    

  Detail of "Shreen," 10" square, commissioned Cocker Spaniel portrait done in acrylics on a panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). Inquiries may come  to me .       Shreen is quite the extraordinary dog!   She's got her family trained to not wake her, even when she's in the middle of the bed. And even when she's on a pillow.   She's got a warm lap for the duration of any movie or television program.   She takes her people for walks (not the other way around!!).   She's the favorite, despite being in a multi-dog household where no favorites are allowed.   And now she's the only one with a Dog a Day portrait. At least for the moment!!   (In progress shots are on  the studio Facebook page .)   Thanks for placating me, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   One of the Dog a Day Valentine Giveaway entries..... are these your dogs? (don't really answer, because I need my decision to be blind......)   I...

"Raven," image approximately 5" tall on an 8" x 10" piece of multimedia artboard. Commissioned painted sketch, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, starring a black Cocker Spaniel. This one is sold, but I'll be happy to paint others - inquiries may come to me . Every couple of weeks I set up a stack of multimedia artboards, lay out my paints, and make a pile of sketches. Usually they are for my own enjoyment, but this week the sketches were for clients. Tomorrow nearly 30 of my paintings will be delivered to a venue on the east side of the state. I'm filling the Shelby Community Center with a retrospect of sorts - paintings created during the past few years, including some larger than life sized canvases that haven't been exhibited in several years. It promises to be a fun installation! Ok, back to the paint! Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.co...

"Neighborhood Watch (Shadow & Charlotte)," 8" x 10", portrait of a Cocker Spaniel and a Beagle, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. This painting is headed to a new home - but if you are interested in something similar, contact me . My end of year studio purge unearthed the original of this composition, an unfinished 16" x 22" gallery stretched canvas. A few days later, Shadow and Charlotte's Mom emailed me. "Do you remember that painting you started of my two years ago? you were doing it for an exhibition.... did you ever finish it?" she asked. "No," I answered, rather sheepishly. "But I'd love to revisit it!" She was enthusiastic. So was I. So today they got another turn on my easel. I decided a fresh start would give the painting a brighter outlook. Besides, I really love painting on Ampersand Gessobord. The idea of working on canvas again gave me the heebie-jeebies. I know. Crazy. (I'...

Working title "Beanie, Garnished," 8" x 10", commissioned Cocker Spaniel portrait in acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard, private collection (thank you). Inquiries may always come to me . Beanie had a long and distinguished track record as a thief, whether it was something delectable from a trash bin or the garnish from a platter of prime rib. He had a knack for swiping the goods, then looking at you with those big, brown eyes, and getting off the hook, even when caught red handed (or "pawed"). Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork with your friends and family. Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com www.paintingadogaday.com PS Have you started your holiday shopping yet? Oh boy, do I have lots of places to send you: SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me (I've got a couple holiday spots left) GIFT CERTIFICATES AV...

"Demure (Taylor)," 5" x 7", portrait of a black Cocker Spaniel, acrylic on Ampersand Gessoboard, not for sale. Inquiries may always come to me . Taylor's portrait was initially commissioned over 6 years ago. Various events occurred to postpone her portrait, first once, then another time, and I think even a third. I set her folder aside, trusting that when the timing was right, the project would pull together. And it did! Taylor's portrait is headed to the Southeastern Michigan Portrait Exhibition, a juried annual show at the Orion Art Center. She'll be accompanied by last week's painting of Finnigan and, I think, an earlier one from my personal collection of my black cat Miah . This show is unique in that the exhibited artwork does not have to be for sale, so it allows me to showcase paintings that might not be on the market or pieces that have already sold. If you are in the area, the exhibition opens next Friday, October 16th, at 7pm (call 248...

Currently untitled, portrait of Robbie, a Blue Roan English Cocker Spaniel, 8" x 10", acrylic on Raymar panel. Inquiries may always come to me via email , and comments are welcomed on the blog.     My client hasn't seen this painting yet, since she left for vacation today. It is the final in the group of pieces I created starring Robbie and his energetic brother Eric (yesterday's and Monday's paintings). She'll get to choose which of the images she would like for her home, after which the others will become available for purchase.   Robbie is the more reserved of the two, watching life from underneath his cap of roan curls with a seriousness befitting a wise old man. Consequently I chose to paint him head on, confronting the viewer with his steadfast gaze.    I really enjoyed painting these dogs, with their expressive faces and distinctive coloring. Now comes the hardest part - waiting for my clients' decision.   Thanks, as always, for s...

"Fetch," 10" x 12", acrylic on raymar artists panel, depicting a blue roan English Cocker Spaniel. This is the second in a series of pieces I am creating starring two wonderful little guys, and my client will get first pick. Meanwhile, inquiries may always come to me.     You saw Eric's back side in yesterday's "Fall Foliage" painting, and today you get a peek at the troublemaker's mug. Just like yesterday's piece, this painting is far larger than what I typically paint in one day, yet this one practically fell off my brushes this morning.   I treated the background like an abstract painting (betcha didn't know I used to create mammoth color field abstract paintings!). Once I had achieved the value patterns that I wanted, I went in overtop and added looser marks in gradually smaller sizes and shapes to create a vibrant and interesting surface. There is that suggestion of space when one steps back from the piece, yet up cl...