Paintings With Soul

"Eclipse," 12"x12", acrylics on museum quality panel, $549 plus s&h. I accept Paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Purchase inquiries can always come   to me . In honor of what should be Kentucky Derby Week, I am sharing my original equine work, which is something I've done this time every year since 2007. Isn't this painting something extraordinary? She's even prettier in person - the glazes shift and shimmer as you walk past. When I originally did this painting, shortly after the eclipse a few summers ago, a collector immediately asked for it. As we got to talking, she realized she would rather something similar to his piece, but larger, which I was happy to do. It gave me the chance to add personal symbols, like a firefly for each of her grandchildren, a butterfly and a hawk. It was profound getting to deliver the piece in person and see the space it was destined to hang. I can do the same thing for you with...

"Baby Boy (Parker)," 9" x 12", loose study done in acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas, featuring a baby Thoroughbred, reference photo credit to   Linda Shantz , $199 plus s&h to the first asking nicely. I accept Paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. Please   reach out to me   with inquiries or questions. Please also note the special pricing - I consider this piece a sketch, or at least sketchier (meaning looser, not of questionable actions) than my more finished paintings, so am passing that onto you in the form of an affordable price. This is my entry in the recent   Virtual pARTy hosted by Linda Shantz . Long time readers of this blog may recall that about 10 years ago, she and I would host monthly pARTys, where we would share a reference photo and invite anyone to work from it. We had a lot of fun back then, choosing the subject for the pARTy and getting to know so many new artists. Linda decided to resurrect the idea, which I though...

IN PROCESS "Aflutter (Medicine Hat #20)," 36" x 48" x 2", acrylic on museum quality panel. Pictured below is the inspiration piece behind this painting, "The Rebirth of Wonder," a 16" x 20" gallery wrap canvas (which is $649 plus s&h). Aflutter may be for sale when finished (I'm still making up my mind), and The Rebirth of Wonder is currently available -   please inquire directly to me about either painting.  I accept paypal, venmo, personal checks and payment plans. I used to dive straight into my paintings with very little preliminary work. I loved the spontaneity such an approach provided, and did all my decision making right on the final surface. Lately, though, I have found myself doing a study (or two) prior to jumping in - perhaps it's because I'm taking things much larger than usual (this one is 4 feet high!), and having a bit of a gameplan makes me less nervous about wasting paint. However, this very elemen...

"Heaven Hold Us (Medicine Hat #12)," 20" x 24" x 1-1/2", acrylics on museum quality cradeled panel with image painted around the side, so no need to frame unless you wish. This original painting is $999 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. Inquire directly   to me   - I take personal checks, paypal, venmo and will arrange payment plans. The Medicine Hat paintings   began as an exploration of what horses have meant to me over my lifetime. I figured out all along that they - horses - have been a safety net for my love. They don't judge or expect anything in return or withhold their attention. And I felt worthy when in their presence. Whether I was imagining it while making art/reading stories/watching horse races or simply blessed to actually be in their company. The last couple days I was blessed to be in this one's company. She has provided a lovely escape from the snow and ice and winds howling about outside....

Above, full painting, below a detail. "The Daylight Waits for Her Command (Medicine Hat #11)," 16" x 20", acrylics on gallery wrapped canvas with image painted around the side, so no need to frame unliess one wishes to do so. This original painting is $649 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. Inquire directly   to me   - I take personal checks, paypal, venmo and will arrange payment plans. SOLD (TY) I didn't realize my own identity until well into my adulthood. I was acutely aware of being a square peg in a round world. It was a well kept secret - at least from my it was - that the square pegs are the ones with all the magic. And I'm very glad that Past Kim didn't try to sand her corners off. It can be lonely, holding onto one's corners. Reach out to the square pegs you know and tell them how amazing they are. And how perfect they are in their own unique qualities. And that one day they will find a community of quadrilaterals ...

In process, this is a rework of an older painting titled "Comfort and Peace." It will get a spiffy, new title, since the painting's story has evolved. I've just not figured that part out yet. The ending to the story, nor how to get there. Such is the joy (or pain, depending upon one's point of view) in working intuitively. I never know where I will end up, but I do know that it's always an adventure, and there often is language as colorful as my brushwork. This is acrylic on panel, 24" x 30", and will be $999 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. And of course you may ask prior to the piece's completion - I'm happy to offer first dibs. All it takes is a "pretty please." Inquiries may come directly   to me   - I take personal checks, paypal, venmo and can also arrange payment plans. SOLD (TY) I was never fully satisfied with  the earlier rendition of this one . I mean, it was ok in the whole scheme of things, b...

"Rearranging the Lines," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, $499 plus s&h to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries can come to   me . Nobody wants to be predictable, nor do they want to be limited by others' notions of what they can or should be. So move those lines - they aren't barriers, just starting points - and reach for your goals. Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork. Warmly, Kim

Protect, 15" x 30", acrylics on gallery stretched canvas, $799 plus s&h. Inquiries may come  to me . I've been playing with an acrylic based encaustic-like process - basically suspending my pigments in a translucent, pourable medium sharing many of the same properties as melted wax. This allows me to blend, scratch into, layer, suspend, dribble and do all sorts of delightful things with the paint. So much to learn!!

Eclipse.  12" x 12", acrylics on panel, $549 to the first asking nicely. Inquiries may always come to   me . Trying some things out this week, experimenting with rather substantial changes to existing work. Also, responding to the real world inside my imaginary one (paintings) more and more. You can't make this stuff up (The Great American Eclipse?!).

Peace and Comfort.  24" x 30", acrylics on panel, $899 plus s&h. Inquiries may come to  me . Our world needs buckets more of peace and comfort. Although baby horses are wonderful too.

"Leggy," 24" x 36" x 1", acrylics on cradeled panel with painted sides (no need to frame). Available to the  first asking nicely , $1699 (includes s&h inside the US). Thank you so much. This particular painting has gone through several incarnations . Each time I tackle her, I bring several months of continued study and learning to the easel. And while I loved the previous versions, I am doing cartwheels over this one. I always say, anything in my home/studio is fair game for a fresh coat of paint! Yes, please share Leggy. Add beauty to the world! Thanks for supporting my art, Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"(Uni)corn Flower III," 18" x 24", acrylics on panel, featuring a unicorn filly sprouting a crown of corn flowers. $699 will get this baby girl delivered to your door (inside the US), and that's quite a deal! Inquiries may come to me . Lots of changes to this one over the last few days. I think she's all the better for them - and ready to head to a new home. Let me know if that's yours! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

"Butterfly," 9" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, accented with gold leaf, depicting a lively and delicate little filly in a sea of analogous spring-like color. This personality packed original painting is $649, with complimentary shipping inside the US.  Can I ship it to your home? let me know . Butterfly might look familiar - she's gone through several incarnations over the last 18 months. Some paintings take longer than others to be seen to fruition, and often I recognize that a piece isn't complete, but I don't know exactly what it needs. So I have to just be patient. Meanwhile, back at the homefront, another snow day and another sick day (poor Princess). Everyone else is working night shifts, so I escaped earlier for some fresh air. I loaded up on new reads at the library. Stopped for an armload of fresh flowers. Also bought cookies and a case of wine. It could be a long weekend. And they are predicting more snow for us n...

ABOVE "Legs," 24" x 36", acrylics on museum quality panel, portrait of an Arabian filly. There's layers of marks here that one really has to get in close to fully appreciate, and they build up a remarkable play between lost and found edges. I've included a detail below so that you can get a sense of how varied and subtle the surface is. This painting is $4299 with complimentary US s&h directly to your door. This is a chestnut filly, so she's growing up sassy and opinionated, like all chestnut filly's do. She is looking for a home that is equally sassy - if you think it might be yours,  let me know . For those interested in the creation of Legs, there are  in process photos online .  Thanks for your interest in my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com  

"Legs," 24" x 36", acrylics on museum quality panel, portrait of an Arabian filly. She's a chestnut filly, so she's destined to grow up sassy and opinionated. This piece will be offered to a select audience when completed. If you are interested, please let me know . We established that yesterday's easel time was worthless. I couldn't do anything right. And my inner critic had at me about it all last night, too, saying horribly mean things despite my feeding her chocolate. I mean, I stuffed it in her mouth, Ghirardelli dark chocolate, the good stuff. I couldn't shut her up. Today, though, today was a fresh start. I threw yesterday's 6" square panel into the "Paint Over Pile" with great pleasure, then unwrapped a 24"x36" panel and started a nearly lifesized foal portrait.  Because nobody tells me I don't know how to paint. You can follow along with the progress of this one online if you wis...

"Exquisite (Little One II)," 6-1/2" x 9", acrylics on copper, depicting the same little foal as yesterday . This painting is absolutely stunning when studied in the moving light - sections of the surface are exposed copper, and the metal reflects and absorbs the light as the viewer moves in closer. This piece is $699, which includes shipping and handling to a US address.  Here's a short video - you gotta see this to believe it!   Maybe you would like both paintings? We can work that out for certain - $899 will bring them both home.  Let me know  how I can make this happen for you (payment plan, credit card, etc). A Random Comment on Facebook.... ....stating the viewer thought yesterday's painting (above, on the left) was on copper got me thinking. Why not give it a try? A second comment of "exquisite" gave todays piece (above, on the right) it's title. Wow. This comparison truly brings home th...

Available Originals The following paintings are available for purchase directly from my studio. These original works, unless noted, are acrylic on museum quality panel. All prices include s&h within the US. Multiple paintings can typically be shipped together, returning collectors receive 10% off purchases, and I do accept payment plans (6 month plan with art shipped upon completion of payments).  Links to reproductions and other products are at the bottom of this newsletter.  Thanks so much for your interest in my artwork!  Warmly, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com "Sprout," 12" x 16", $959. Inquire directly to me . "What's a Little Mud?" 18" x 24"x1-1/2", $2299. Inquire directly to me . "Swishy," 18" x 24" x 1-1/2", $2299. Inquire directly to me . "Airplane," 9"...

"Sprout ," 12" x 16,  acrylics on Raymar panel depicting a foal. This painting is available for $959, which includes special delivery to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US) - i nquire directly  to me . In process photos  here. I Need a Name Not me (I've got lots of them, some not suitable for print), but this little baby. Originally I had titled this piece "Siesta," because the foal looked incredibly sleepy in my reference photo. However, somewhere along the way, that changed a bit. So I'm open to suggestions! Congratulations to JR who titled this painting "Sprout" - as appreciation, I will be sending her a cell phone case starring this little guy. Want one for yourself?       Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork! Warmly, Kim   ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Frolic", 12" x 16", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a foal (photo reference courtesy of PaintMyPhoto.ning.com ) stretching her legs. Further exploration of edges and blending courtesy of inspiration from studies with  Stanka Kordic . This painting, this little one, she need a home. $959 will bring her to your doorstep (inside the contiguous US) - inquire directly to moi , with in process photos  here . More Gut Listening Pursuant to Puff Ball's painting on Monday , I bring you Frolic. Painted mostly with a wedge and my fingers, with a conscious effort to lose edges, and a focus on super fun color. And size - if you haven't noticed, I've been painting larger lately, too - and this one carries some moderate texture. I'm liking this approach. A lot. It's a new way of capturing energy and motion, all the while allowing me to also dabble with the abstract qualities of the composition. What do you thi...

From the Emerging Series, "Ballerina," 11" x 14", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a beautiful buckskin filly, $599 to the first asking nicely . I started this piece two months ago , then got caught up in other projects with deadlines, and set her aside. Until now. Because today she spoke up, and asked for me to spend some time with her. I was more than happy to do so.  And I am thrilled with the way she turned out! Thank you to Lisa from Team Husar Photography  for the rights to Ballerina's inspiration photo - Lisa shares the best inspiration with me, and it's always super fun to work from her photographs (remember photos are not free for your taking, whether you find them on the internet or elsewhere - you must ask the photographer for permission to work from them). The painting's progression is right here  - there are lots and lots of photos! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, ...