Paintings With Soul

IN PROCESS, ABOVE the full painting, BELOW, a detail: "Squeaker," 48" x 48" x 3/4", acrylics on cradeled panel (with image painted to wrap around the sides, so no need to frame), featuring a mouse on steroids (Squeaker is 24" tall!!!) with an explosion of blooms. Squeaker is available and may be purchased or placed on layaway prior to the piece's completion. He is $8999, which includes shipping and handling inside the US. Inquiries may always come  to me . I started this one late Thursday evening, and have been painting away ever since. The flowers became therapy once I heard of the Orlando tragedy. Senseless and tragic and my heart hurts for what our world has become. Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   

From 2004, a gallery stretched painting titled "Pippen," a lifesized portrait (20" x 34") of a miniature horse.  I heard 3 or 4 years ago that this painting was for sale in northern Michigan, although it initially sold via a gallery downstate for a horse crazy little girl's bedroom. I do hope that Pippen has a home now...... Continuing our  walk down memory lane , I'm sharing older pieces and talking about what I would do differently today. Just because I would do things differently does not reflect poorly on my initial effort (well, not always - yesterday's painting was a really bad one! ). Pippen here is a nice example of a fun and successful painting. However, there are still things I would do differently. 1. Hello, photo reference!! How can I tell? well, the darks and inky blacks are even, regardless of their distance from the viewer's eye. And the highlights are all evenly white, regardless of the local ...

Who Said Easter?, 9" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel depicting the lop eared Maxwell, my newest bunny muse, $549 to the first asking nicely.  #bunnylove introduced me to Maxwell, and his owner gave permission to paint Maxwell's portrait. Don't you just adore this little guy? In process pics are here . I could paint bunnies every single day. Introduce me to yours! Thanks, as always, for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

"Clinker," 9" x 12", portrait of a rescued and wonderfully sweet bunny, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, available to the first collector asking nicely, $540 including s&h inside the US. Inquiries may come to me . And in process images of Clinker's portrait are here . SOLD (thank you!) Baby Clinker was found with her sister and an older male rabbit in my friend's woodpile. Clinker was healthy, but little Stormy was riddled with bot larva and the adult rabbit had a BB in his jaw, making it impossible for him to eat. They now have quite the extended family and a happy home to enjoy. In honor of their happily-ever-after, I will donate $100 from the sale of Clinker's portrait to the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary - a Michigan rescue group that does fabulous things for bunnies in need. Thanks for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Phoebe," 9" x 12," a posthumous portrait done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a beloved companion. Phoebe's painting has a home, thank you, but let me know  if you would like something similar starring your own best friend.   You can view in process pics of Phoebe's portrait on  the studio's Facebook page  - I started her yesterday afternoon (November 26th, 2012)   While it's no secret that I love saturated color, I also love the challenge of working tonally in softer hues. Phoebe's portrait gave me a perfect excuse to hone my modeling skills using subtle tonal and temperature shifts.   And lots of room for abstracted brushwork, too.   Now I'm off to drive The Princess to ballet class, Kim, who is remembering the dozens of white-on-white still lifes she painted to learn subtle value shifts and the Color of White  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com ...

"Puppy"," 6" x 8", portrait of The Man Child, done in acrylics on panel, part of my - well, part of his - personal collection.     Our first Halloween in Michigan (after moving from Southern California), I made toasty costumes for the boys, worried they would get chilled while out trick or treating. That year it was unseasonably warm, and they wanted to go commando underneath their little furry suits. We compromised - new plaid boxer shorts peeked out the open backs of their puppy costumes as they scooted out the door on Halloween night.   It's hard to believe that the little boy I remember sent off his college applications last night. That he will turn 18 in just a few more weeks. That soon he will be out in the real world, touching lives, playing his music, and building a future.   Proudly, Kim, who will be tucking red plaid boxers and the hood to a beloved puppy dog costume in with The Man Child's college gear...