Painting a Dog a Day

Parson, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:50:00 +0000

"Parson," painted sketch roughly 5" x 8" centered on a 9" x 12" paper, posthumous commissioned portrait of a most gentlemanly Golden Retriever, done in acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!).

How better to sum up the week than with this face? eh?

Unless you want to see a new doll painting...... I'm starting another ArtPrize piece this afternoon, and will post imagesof her throughout the day.

Enjoy your weekend - hope it's not haunted by wicked dolls and things that go bump in the night -

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Precocious

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:06:00 +0000

"Precocious," 9" x 12", portrait of a stinking cute German Shorthaired Pointer puppy, acrylics on museum quality panel, available to the first asking nicely for $549.

Ask nicely by emailing me!

In process pics are here.

And if this little guy doesn't find a home soon, I'll send him off to a local exhibition. Because while I love shipping and sharing my art around the country, I also think it's important to support art groups close to my own stomping grounds.

And now I'm off to teach tonite's grownUPs Journaling class, where will will be using lyrics as a starting point to create collages. $20 says I come home with glue in my hair.

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Beamer

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:43:00 +0000

"Beamer," 6" x 6", commissioned portrait of a ridiculously cute mixed breed stinker, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!!).

Want a pet portrait of your own? What are you waiting for? email me!

In process pics of Beamer's portrait are on the studio Facebook page - and thanks to my new iPhone, I can create separate photo albums for the paintings, making it easier for you (moving forward) to locate the in process pics of a specific piece!! Yeah for iPhones!!

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Last Chance to Order!!

This poster was created specifically to benefit the dancers at Broadway Dance Studio (where The Princess studies), and it features a beautiful full color reproduction of my painting "Dress Rehearsal." Proceeds from poster sales are earmarked for the team's trip to a Nationals Convention and Competition next year.

Order your copy by 5pm EST tomorrow and support the dreams of a young dancer!

Posters are 20" x 26" and will be shipped in a tube. They are $25 each, with S&H $15/order.

Orders can come to moi!

Thanks so much for helping these young dancers and supporting the arts in ALL it's forms!!

Steffi

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Wed, 15 May 2013 02:09:00 +0000

"Steffi," 5" x 7", commissioned portrait of a much loved and dearly missed Westie, acrylics on museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!!). Inquiries may always come to me.

Who would have thought the ratty doll I picked up at a flea market would elicit such great conversation?!

Does art HAVE to be comfortable or easy to look at?

Why are dolls creepy for so many and yet for others the keystone to a sentimental memory?

How does scale impact our comfort zone with respect to certain objects?

And most importantly, is she an evil talisman or just a sweet little thing?

Please chime in!

And she needs a title, too. I'm drawing a complete and total blank. She must be sucking my brains out in my sleep......

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Order your copy by 5pm EST tomorrow and support the dreams of a young dancer!

Posters are 20" x 26" and will be shipped in a tube. They are $25 each, with S&H $15/order.

Orders can come to moi!

Thanks so much for helping these young dancers and supporting the arts in ALL it's forms!!

ArtPrize 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:13:00 +0000

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 of me - her 2013 piece, an astounding mural depicting a mermaid and goldfish, is nearing completion, whereas I just got started this weekend. I've been busy percolating, though!

I decided to step away from animals just a bit, try out new subject matter and take advantage of a scale that screamed F.U.N.

So they are not Dog a Days, and I do beg your forgiveness, but here is the first of my new series "Family Portraits," starring the faces of some very well loved dolls. I'm planning at least a dozen of these paintings, and they will be displayed in a row, just like traditional family portraits on a mantel.

Regular updates on "Family Portraits" and my journey to ArtPrize 2013 will be posted to a folder on the studio Facebook page. Along with a final version of this portrait (whe will need a name eventually - I'm thinking "Phyllis" after Phyllis Diller). You are welcome to check in, make comments or ask questions.

And thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Keelie, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:20:00 +0000

Keelie, commissioned portrait of a Sheltie, done in acrylics on paper, image roughly 5" x 5" centered on a 9" x 12" paper. Private collection (THANK YOU!)

Below you can see Keelie and her brother Keenan, the Shelti duo captured in paint.

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Keenan, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 10 May 2013 01:41:00 +0000

Keenan, commissioned portrait of a Sheltie, done in acrylics on paper, image roughly 5" x 5" centered on a 9" x 12" paper. Private collection (THANK YOU!)

Keenan is one half of a pair of shelties I sketched today - his older sister Keelie will be shared with you tomorrow.

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Ursula, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:13:00 +0000

Ursula, commissioned portrait of an Australian Shepherd, done in acrylisc on paper, image roughly 4" x 5" centered on a 9" x 12" paper. Private collection (THANK YOU!)

I planned on working on sketches all day, but got sidetracked by following an idea into my own sketchbook. Like Alice, I fell down the rabbit hole for a little.

It was a marvelous adventure!

Oh, and thanks, too, for helping me title yesterday's painting! "Curtain Call" it is!!

Now I'm off to a Lacrosse game - let's hope The Caped Crusader brings home a win for his Dad's birthday!

Thanks so much for supporting my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Curtain Call

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:34:00 +0000

Curtain Call, 12" x 1", portrait of a pair of kitties, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. Warm, warm thanks to Dog a Day fan EW for her laughable series of photos that inspired this painting. $599 to the first asking nicely.

NOTE: Thanks to all who submitted title suggestions for this painting! I think you done good!!

Wow, but did I have a blast reading all your title suggestions for yesterday's painting!! Between FB comments and direct emails, I had well over 200 entries! It was tough picking a winner - congratulations go to Laura Williams for her suggestion "Fiddlesticks."

So let's do this again, shall we? suggestions for today's painting can come to Facebook. If the volume is at all like yesterday's, I can't possibly respond to them all, but know that I'm reading them with a smile on my face and a box of Girl Scout cookies at hand.

And while you are there, you can see the in-process pics of this painting, too! It wasn't an easy one - I had to remind myself of a very important lesson. Multiple times.

Thanks so much for supporting my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Fiddlesticks

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Mon, 06 May 2013 22:14:00 +0000

"Fiddlesticks," 8" x 10", portrait of a sassy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. $469 to the first asking nicely.

Do you remember "Pile," the commissioned portrait that was ultimately donated to a breed specific fundraiser - this painting was inspired by a photo that was included in all the reference materials for the Pile project.

I asked Facebook fans to name the piece -suggestions came via Facebook, and got a hefty number of suggestions. It was tough choosing just one - I could have added several sub-titles!!

And while you are there, you can see the in-process pics of this painting, too!

Thanks so much for supporting my artwork!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

May Desktop Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Mon, 06 May 2013 12:23:00 +0000

Last week was a blur - not sure how it played out the way it did, but it's now history and I'm still here, which I suppose bodes well! I am learning to let the tides take me where they must without too much fretting.

Not too much, at least.

So my apologies for the delay in getting this out - enjoy!

To implement this month's desktop calendar, simply download the file directly from my website. I've set up a couple different ways to do this, either via the photo album or a direct link.

I am by no means an expert on the variety of operating systems, so I highly recommend that if you don't know how to change your desktop wallpaper, don't email me for advice. Instead consult your computer's help files - they will be more concise, more knowledgeable and more responsive than I could ever hope to be.

I've sized this to fit a standard screen height of 768 - I realize there are lots of variables that could impact how the file displays on your screen. Let me know if, once you get the file installed, there are display quality issues (keep in mind, too, that options such as "stretching to fit," "tiling" and "cropping" will impact your display, so check those first!).

Thanks so much for following along!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

My Pretty Pony I

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Sat, 04 May 2013 02:53:00 +0000

"My Pretty Pony I," 10" x 10", the last installment in this year's Derby Week horse inspired paintings, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. $349 to the firstasking nicely.

The Princess was delighted that I had pulled out her ponies - she's not played with these for years, and spent some time brushing their hair and readying the others for a turn on the easel.

A few in process pics are on the studio Facebook page - this is a crummy, dark and flat photo, and I'll have to replace it with a scanned image - the painting has a lot more color and life to it than this properly shows.

And if you know this particular pony's name, please let me know so that I can retitle the painting.

Here's to a safe trip tomorrow for all the horses on the card at Churchill Downs,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Anyone's Race

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 03 May 2013 01:56:00 +0000

"Anyone's Race (was yesterday's Bunched Up)," 7" x 12", a painting in process of a field of Thoroughbreds (12 of them!), done in acrylics on a museum quality panel. $549 to the first asking nicely.

Inspired by a series of photos I shot on the backside at Saratoga last summer - standing nearly opposite the starting gate at the outer rail. These horses are on their second leap - it could be anyone's race.

LOTS of in process pics are on the studio Facebook page.

Many thanks, too, to everyone who bid on the horse paintings I auctioned off in the first part of the week.

Thanks for following along,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS If you didn't hear - I got an iPhone!! finally!!

Skye

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:39:00 +0000

"Skye," 6" x 8", portrait of a Gypsy Vanner (one of my favorite breeds), done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, $329. Inquiries may come via email to me. And thank you!

Don't forget about my horse-themed auction - 8 original paintings will all have new homes come 9pm EST Wednesday, May 1st. Will one of them head to your place?

Bid here. And thank you yet again!

Thanks for following along,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Derby Week - Horse Paintings at Auction!!

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:26:00 +0000

"Watch Eye," 6" x 8", from 2007, one of eight equine paintings I am auctioning off in the next couple days. Details on the auction are below and on the studio's Facebook page.

In honor of Kentucky Derby Week, I've chosen a handful of older favorites starring horses for my next online auction hosted on the studio Facebook page.

These are paintings I love, pieces that were exbibited/on tour up until a few years ago, when they were put in storage for one reason or another. Or maybe they were in a gallery that has since closed it's doors and returned inventory to me. Or maybe, like Watch Eye above, they were personal favorites that we have been enjoying in our home, but need to let go in order to make room for new acquisitions.

These are daily paintings, acrylics done on canvasboard panels, from 2007 - 2010. Because they are older pieces and have been around the block a few times, my current galleries are not interested in hanging them.

But they deserve homes!!

So I'm auctioning them off on the studio Facebook's page. Place your bid by commenting on the photo of the painting you want to adopt. Bidding will continue until 9pm EST Wednesday evening (that's May 1st).

Please note that the winning bidder is responsible for all applicable taxes, shipping and handling fees. I estimate domestic shipping costs of one painting to be $15 and I am happy to combine shipments on multiple purchases.

The entire album of available paintings is here.

This is a great way to get a pony without the vet bills or boarding fees!!

Thanks for helping me find these gems a home!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Oscar

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:28:00 +0000

"Oscar," 6" x 6", commissioned portrait of a little yorkie, done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, private collection (THANK YOU!). I always welcome inquiries on how you can commission a portrait of your own - email me.

Oscar came to the rescue with a fierce infection in his mouth, and ended up losing a good chunk of his jaw.

But he did win the hearts of his eventual forever family in the process.

Thanks so much for following along with my artwork! Don't forget, next week is Derby Week, so grab your fancy hat and get ready for equine paintings!

Enjoy the weekend,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Vinny, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000

"Vinny," approximately 4-1/2" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, portrait sketch of a black lab mix puppy, done in acrylics. This one may be available, and if so, is only $100 to the first asking nicely. Email me and practice your manners!! (Try out that new nifty BUY ME button!!)

Let's see, today's weather has included gloomy skies, sleet, hail, rain and now sunshine. I'm really pulling for the sunshine to stick around a bit. Like 6 months or so.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS Spoke too soon - in the time it took for me to edit and proofread this, sunshine is gone and it's omniously dark. Again.

Stardust, A Painted Sketch

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:44:00 +0000

"Stardust," approximately 4-1/2" square roughly centered on a 9" x 12" paper, commissioned portrait of a Welsh pony, doe in acrylics, private collection (THANK YOU!).

Figuratively back in the saddle today, although my feet would likely be dragging, as I worked on a commissioned sketch of a tiny little pony.

I am unpacked, laundry is nearly done, and I'm almost through the emails that piled up whilst I was teaching.

Which means I can paint undisturbed for days on end now, right? It's just as well...... it's snowing again.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

WORKSHOP: Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:32:00 +0000

My Color Partners in Crime, attendees from the LAAG's Getting Fresh workshop in Baton Rouge this last week

Pics from all 4 days of the Louisiana Art and Artists Guild (LAAG) workshop are on the studio's Facebook page – I pushed these ladies hard, and look at how forced (!!!) their smiles are.

For many, this was their first attempt at acrylics, too, in addition to having all sorts of new concepts thrown their way. They deserve medals of honor for putting up with me. (I did hear something about wringing my neck at one point....)

And despite how mean and rotten a teacher I was, whipping them into a harmonic color mixing frenzy, they sent me home with the dearest gift.

A treasured cookbook of southern favorites.

Filled with signatures and inscriptions recounting all the fun we had.

I am so lucky to count them among my friends!

I miss y'all already - keep painting, ladies, and I hope to come back and visit again!!

If anyone else is interested in info on hosting one of my workshops, let me know!! I'm currently lining up my 2014 schedule.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

WORKSHOP: Day Two

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 13:31:00 +0000

"Pink Tootsie," 6" square, just one of several demonstration paintings from today's workshop.

Oh my goodness, but these ladies are demanding!! Do you know that I spent ALL DAY on my feet, moving from easel to easel, talking about color and value? Then I was force fed Louisiana seafood.

Tomorrow's gonna be even harder. The topic? gestural brushwork. And southern Bar-B-Que for dinner.

Why do I sign up willingly for this kind of torture?!

Thanks for following along!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Workshop: Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:02:00 +0000

So I made it to Louisiana yesterday, despite a little last minute conspiring that got me to the airport later than I preferred (nothing like a little excitement to keep the arteries clear!). Here I am, in the land of green, and I'm not concerned in the least about the humidity because I do not have to dress in layers.

I even had naked ankles today. Shocking, I know, but I wasn't chilled in the least!

It's the little things in life!

So today's workshop was a lot of me talking. I talked and talked and talked and talked some more.

We did a segment on marketing for creatives and building a business plan. We talked about smothering our inner critics and painting with joy and abandon. We discussed our artwork as a product and severing our emotional ties. I introduced the tools that I use - both physical as well as software based.

And then I got started on a demo painting.

And ran out of time! Drat!!

I was game to stay and paint into the wee hours (I had a captive audience!), but I didn't want to grossly abuse my gracious students' attention span. Besides, I have them for three more days.

Thanks for following along!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

A Boston Marathon Benefit Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:15:00 +0000

It was entirely surreal, what happened at the Boston Marathon yesterday afternoon. My heart aches for those who have been injured, family and friends trying to locate loved ones, for the athletes who should have been celebrating a milestone, and for yet another city that will forever be known as the site of such tragedy.

I am donating proceeds from auctioning my backer board, pictured above, (thank you to Facebook fans Susan Elin Zacharius and Karin Golonka for the suggestion to sell my board!) to the Red Cross.

This is the 18" x 24" masonite panel that has been my backdrop for years of painting and working in the studio. I duct tape my smaller panels onto this board and prop it inside my easel, so there may be some tape residue on the surface and there is one area when the paint is peeling off (along the underside of the "e" in Be - this all adds to the overall character of the panel. The panel carries layers of acrylic paint, ink, and other materials, along with inspirational words/phrases. I will add a layer of clear acrylic gel medium to the surface prior to shipping. It is being sold as is.

It will make a beautiful abstract painting that will brighten any decor. Or bring it into your studio and continue adding marks to the surface.

Auction is live now - bid via commenting on the image (click here to be taken to the auction page). I'll accept bids through 10pm EST tonite (April 16th). Winning buyer responsible for s&h costs.

Thank you so much for doing something positive in the face of such senseless violence,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Little Lou

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:15:00 +0000

"Little Lou," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, commissioned portrait of a stinking cute tabby cat, private collection (THANK YOU!). In process pics are on the studio FB page.

Want a pet portrait? Then please, let me know!

Thanks so much for following my artwork,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Lesson Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 02:42:00 +0000

10 Minute Tootsies - the idea is that the artist has 10 minutes to create a study and capture the essence of one still life object. Sort of like gesture drawings, but done in paint.

Today I began designing my lesson plan for next week's 4 day painting workshop in Baton Rouge. Sure, it would be far simpler for me to teach the exact same thing each time I ran a workshop, but since I learn so much from day to day with my own work, I feel like it's only fair that I revamp and refresh my workshop contents regularly, too.

So I reviewed all my favorite exercises, created a few new ones, and grouped them based on the two topics we are focusing on heaviest - color and brushwork.

And I'll spend this afternoon working up new demos and collecting props/materials.

I can't WAIT to reveal the exercises to my students! It's like Christmas!!

Thanks so much for following my artwork and enjoy your weekend,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS Wanna come to a workshop? Want me to come to you? My teaching calendar is always onmy website, and if I'm not coming close enough to you, shoot me an email - I'll share info on how you can host one of my workshops! I'm booking events for 2014 right now......

Begonia, Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Santini) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 22:37:00 +0000

"Begonia," 10" x 16", acrylics on a museum quality panel, still life of potted plants alongside a sleeping orange tabby, $629. Inquiries can come via email, thank you very much.

And don't be afraid to ask about our putting together a special painting starring your furry companion.

Thank you for the wonderful response to my call to throw more creativity and beauty into the world (yesterday). I think I feel a shift in the balance of positive energy already.

And it's not related to the box of Girl Scout cookies I ate this afternoon, either.

Thanks so much for following my artwork,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

photo courtesy of Diana Ostrand - copyright protected

When Diana showed me this pic of her Frieda taking a break from making trouble, she recognized the look in my eyes. I think that's because she's a painter too. I didn't even have to ask (THANK YOU, Diana!).

You'll see that I made a number of changes, all shifts I felt made improvements to the composition.

Life is just an inspiration - at some point we have to put the references aside and go with our gut.