Paintings With Soul

"The Dark Knight," 6" x 18", Golden acrylics on a Raymar panel. This portrait of the original Caped Crusader (not to be confused with my son The Caped Crusader) is inspired by an action figure I snagged at a flea market this summer. You can tuck this masked man somewhere special in your home and never even have to reach for the batphone. The painting is $329, including s&h inside the US. Batphone, Robin, Alfred and the Commissioner not included. Inquiries may come  to me . Oy. Yesterday Was Difficult. The proof is here . I tried to finish The Princess's dance portrait. And then I tried again. And again. But it just wasn't happening. I struggled with my drawing, her anatomy, and then the value of the background. Nothing was working (and yes, I have these days too!). I thought I'd tackle her today, but when I stood in front of my easel this morning, honestly, the painting was a hot mess. And I got a little intimidated (an...

"Conversations II," 8" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting two My Little Ponys. This composition has inspired a new series of toy pieces - I am excited to create them! Conversations II is available for $469 - inquiries may come  to me . Please and thank you! Today's Lesson ha-la-tion - he effect of light spreading and bouncing, pulling reflected color into surrounding objects. Today I focused on this, paying attention to the temperature of the light and how it bounced about, creating color drenched shadows and licks of brightness. As always, Vianna provided a multitude of lightbulb moments. Ideas are still percolating, and I can't wait to try some new things out in my own space. Tomorrow! Meanwhile, there's a photo essay on the three day workshop on my FB page. If you are interested in painting with Vianna Szabo, take a peek at her teaching calendar - hands down, she is the best I've had the p...

"Corpse," 8" x 10", acrylics on a Raymar panel, depicting a vintage porcelain doll from perhaps the 1940s (??). Study done in class, intended for learning purposes, but decidedly pleased with the end result. This one can be yours for $469 (I'll have a better scan of the painting later in the week) - inquire to me . Please and thank you! View Workshop Photos While everyone else is painting fruit and pottery, I'm the one in the corner with a tub of dolls and parts, happily pushing paint. I always was the proverbial Purple Cow. Today we learned that the best still life paintings contain: A design concept superseding the objects painted A whole that is much larger than the sum of the parts Light elevating the setup We talked about the storytelling aspect of a still life, it's symbolic content (whether that's planned or accidental), and how it might read over time (transcendence). We also drew a pa...

In Process detail of "Rag Dolls," 8" x 16," acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting two vintage handmade rag dolls, including one rather sorry looking Raggedy Anne. Inquiries may come to me. Was reading Richard Schmid's "Alla Prima II" over the weekend, and came across a tenderly rendered painting of a doll. He acknowledged that dolls can be spooky, but also said that they are a reflection of who we are.  I was greatly reassured to read his words and know that even a great master like himself also plays with dolls in his studio. More pics of these two ladies, including my still life setup, on Facebook . Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS Thank you JW for your handmade doll - she's been sitting here in the studio all these years, and today was delighted to be chosen for her own special painting!

Doll #3, sketched and loosely painted on scrapbook paper, image roughly 6" x 8", paper 12" square. Preparatory study. Inquiries may come  to me .     I am obsessed with these dolls, and spending all sorts of time thinking about what they mean.   Childhood. Nostalgia. Nurturing. Comfort. Ideal Beauty. Role Playing. Memory. Innocence. Play. Imagination. Story Telling. Growing up. Generations. Life Cycle.   I could go on and on, but I'll spare you.   And I keep painting them, and they continue to creep some people out. And that's part of the doll as subject matter mystery, too.   For example,  I painted this particular doll before , but the painting has a very different mood and feel to it.   Meanwhile, in between working on three larger dog paintings, I'm sketching from life using my doll stash. And asking myself lots and lots of questions. You can  see more of these drawings here  - and feel free...

Bebe, 12" square study done from life, acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a vintage doll head of unknown origin (there is no maker's mark on her anywhere). This painting is available for $299 (it's a study, so the price reflects this) - inquiries may come  to me .     Another treasure from the STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO. This doll head has sleepy eyes that, curiously enough, squeak and groan with each blink.   Somedays I feel like that!!   So what is your consensus? Is this doll creepy?   Kim, who's bound and determined to examine the whole doll thing from every possible paintable angle ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com   PS   Am doing a demo tonite with the  Warren Tri-County Art Guild  - come on out and say hello!

Yoda, 6" x 8", acrylics on museum quality panel, still life painting of a Star Wars Lucas Film hand puppet. This painting is available for $329 - inquiries may come  to me . SOLD (thank you!) I squealed when I found this doll at the STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO (no, that is not a typo, there really is an STD Flea Market in Springfield, MO). I mean, come on, who DOESN'T love Yoda? And he's a great, calming presence in the studio. So I'm shooting to have a good number of doll paintings for an exhibition this coming April. And I'm open to suggestions - when you were younger, who/what was your favorite doll or toy? Like always, in process pics are  on Facebook . Enjoy your weekend, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS   Did you hear about  my painting giveaway ?

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

In 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!   The early stages of this one tell a story - see the light blue shadows underneath the pink ground? That's an old painting back there, testament to a composition that just didn't hold it's own enough to merit completion.   I'm excited about these girls - inspiration photo courtesy of Linda Marr, who shot the pic when cleaning out her now adult children's belongings. The actual dolls are tucked away for future grandchildren to play with, and meanwhile, I get to spend the next couple days with them on my easel.   But first, I'm off for a little grown up play time. My Better Half is home early from work, and we are taking Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson to the Kid Rock show tonite, then loading her on a Florid...

    "Innocence," in process, 9" x 12", portrait of a vintage doll, acrylics on museum quality panel, available when completed to the first one asking nicely for $549.   This painting is a perfect example of the beauty of neutral colors - or "ish" colors, as artist  Vianna Szabo  would say. Without the "ish" colors, there's too much visual noise   Have a cherished doll or toy from your childhood? I'd love to paint it for you!! inquiries can come  to moi !    Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

"Sparkles," 6" x 8", portrait of a vintage clown doll head, acrylics on museum quality panel (so that this little guy creeps you out FOREVER!!). Only $329 to the first one brave enough to hang him in their home!  Inquiries may come  to me .     Here's to a fun-filled summer.   Bwah ha ha ha ha.   And I promise to return to the dogs next week!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

    "Ann and Annie," 16" x 16", portrait of two Raggedy Anne dolls, done in acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, intended for ArtPrize 2013. Continuing the doll paintings and conversations about their symbolic content. It would seem that Raggedy Anne is a safer face than the ones I've painted previously. Not that safe is better, mind you. And not that Raggedy Anne can't have a breakdown and come at you from behind either.... (hee hee!!)   All my ArtPrize doll portraits are here (along with the creepy vs sweet debates) on  the studio Facebook page.  I want to finish these two and another one this week.   And paint a couple dogs while I'm at it as well.   Meanwhile if you like the Ann's, you might also like  this one  I painted last week, which is now available in prints and notecards.   Thanks 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...

  Painting in process in my studio, complete with still life setup of vintage Playmate doll, acrylics on cradeled panel, 16" square. Inquiries may come  to me  (including special requests to paint your treasured childhood toy).     Last year my good friend  Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson  and I participated in  ArtPrize , what I think is the largest art festival in the world. It's an annual event, happening in Grand Rapids, Michigan, about 2 hours west of my home. As I recall, 2012 involved over 1700 works of art displayed throughout the Grand Rapids area. It's a big deal.   It was great fun preparing my ArtPrize paintings last year - I put a call out for  muses  in April 2012 and painted right up until days before  the installation .   Our work was very well received, we enjoyed our time in Grand Rapids and couldn't wait to began planning for this year.    Elizabeth's way ahead o...