Color Mixing

I used to purely mix color based on what my eye saw. Maybe I should preface that comment with the additional fact that I tend to see saturated or high key color all the time. So I was mixing color all the time with a heightened key, based on it's root hue (like lemon yellow or cadmium yellow), focusing on the value of the color and it's relationship with the values of the colors laid down around it.

It hasn't been until recently that I've realized how much more powerful my paintings can be if I instead focus primarily on the color temperature and less so on matching what the base or root hue is. I'm enjoying this diversion and all it is teaching me.

Winter Lingers

Above is a journal page from my sketchbook.  Titled "Winter Lingers," the theme for this year's spring break, heralded by 7" of newly fallen snow on Monday. 

First I painted the spread in a graduated wash of blue, meant to represent the 24 hour heavy snowfall we had. Then I used my own lino-cut for the lower grasses - a series of flower and leaf designs carved into a Staedtler eraser. The snowflakes came from a purchased stamp, and the sequin embellishments were from my daughter's stash.

I had a great time painting alongside my daughter, and talking about images of spring. I'm discovering journalling allows me the opportunity to work side-by-side with a variety of people in a relaxed environment.

I'll be leading several classes on Creative Journalling this summer. You can see the schedule on my website.

I am also enjoying creating my own little linoleum stamps, despite the serious chunk of thumb sacrificed during the carving of my first design. Pushing to expand my creative comfort zone is always a great way to keep the blood flowing - quite literally!!

Thanks for looking at my art,

Kim 

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Thank you!!

Painting a Dog a Day has been honored recently with several different awards, and I'd like to thank those who so kindly thought of me. It is always a treat to hear that my artwork and ramblings connect with others, and despite the length of time it takes me to respond to such awards, they are very much appreciated.

In keeping with the intent of the awards, I am to list things for which I am grateful, and in turn, forward the prizes onwards. Here goes.

My gratitude list:

1. The song of my children's laughter.

2. My husband's smile, which has the power to brighten the darkest of days.

3. The swell of a great crescendo - it can drown out everything, taking over my mind and directing my energy.

4. Sublime brushwork - it is humbling and oh-so perfect.

5. Walking the dog, as his delight in the world is highly contagious.

6. There is nothing like burying myself in a good read to escape the stress and demands of the real world.

7. Finally, a stolen afternoon with the company of a dear friend.

Arte Y Pico (rough translation: wow, the best art, over the top!!) Recipients:

WARNING - be prepared to be blown away!!

1. Art with a Bark, the blog of the Canine Art Guild, www.canine-art.blogspot.com

2. Elin Pendleton's blog and mini-art lessons, www.elinpendleton.blogspot.com

3. Karen Appleton's gift paintings, www.karenappleton.blogspot.com

4. Sheona Hamilton's Black on Grey on White, www.sheonas.blogspot.com

5. Kathi Peter's Cob Cottage Studio, www.cobcottage.blogspot.com

Love Your Art Recipients:

1. Vianna Szabo, www.viannaszabo.com

2. Sharon Will, www.sharonwill.com

3. Lauren Everett Finn, www.laureneverettfinn.com/paintings.html

4. Carol Marine, www.carolmarine.blogspot.com

5. Karin Jurick, www.karinjurick.blogspot.com

6. The Equine Art Guild, www.horse-art.blogspot.com

7. Aaron Lefferth, www.aaronlifferth.com

I know that the above recipients will, in due time, forward their awards on, and further expand our realm of inspiring artwork. Thank you again to those who honored my work,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Going With the Flow (of Energy, that is!)

The last couple weeks have been challenging ones for me. My mantra this year is "Focus," and I've been repeating that word over and over more so in the last few weeks than in all of January.

The biggest "focus" was with my oldest, who is scheduling his courses for his first year of high school. There was a LOT of information to process and big decisions for him to make. What career path was he choosing? Should he take honors courses? Which other required classes could he test out of because of passing middle school honors courses? Was he planning on playing college sports, because if so, graduation requirements are stricter, so we'de better take that into consideration as well. And schedule auditions for the cadet band and don't forget to pick up the sheet music for band boosters scholarship auditions, too, while you're at it.

All this happened within the blur of a couple days, amidst parent teacher conferences for the younger two, a neice's birthday party, delivering work for one show, shipping paintings off to another exhibition, attending an opening and several guild/committee meetings, and a few other family obligations. 

And of course the kids were also out of school, which means a merry-go-round of friends and neighbors for 5 days straight.

But the one thing I have learned through my "focus"ing is that I have the most creative energy first thing in the morning. If I tap into that I end up being far more productive.

I'm putting that rule to test in the coming week, which should be a little calmer pace-wise. I'm planning on getting to the easel right after walking the dog each morning, THEN moving onto paper- and computer work.

I'd be interested in hearing how other's channel their energy into making days more enjoyable. Feel free to comment!!

Thanks, as always, for following along with my musings,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Progression

I have been thinking lately about the natural progression of an artists' style, and specifically how mine has evolved. 

In my earlier years I copied other artists work (Richard Stone Reeves, Sam Savitt, Wesley Dennis, and horse racing photographers in Sports Illustrated, to name a few), striving for a photo-representational final piece. I worked in charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, acrylic paint and oils, trying to master the hand-eye bit. Success was measured by how close my finished piece got to representing the real thing.

In college I was encouraged to step away from representation and explore the possibilities of color, form and line purely on their own. I lost myself in the joy of laying down shapes and building up texture free from any notions of perspective or actuality. Any surface fell victim to my tools - fingers, scraps of canvas, palette knives, spatulas, vermiculite, and even a garlic press - all called to duty in building my paintings. Success was measured by the balance of pattern and strength of composition, as well as a certain experimentation with the paint and other elements.

Post graduate work had me building installations. I began creating physical spaces asking the viewer to examine their thoughts on ideas like memory, home, and a woman's role. Of course, while I was making this art, I was considering my own life journey, getting married, creating a home of my own half way across the country, and having children. Success was now measured by my internal processing - what questions did I need to ask that would help lead me to my own happily ever after?

And then I stepped away from art-making for a bit.

Now, more than a decade later, I'm back painting. I've been painting subject matter that I love (animals) and doing it pretty much on my own (although I have been taking the occasional class, I'm not completely immersed in any sort of program). Most recently I realized that I've developed my own style, one that blends lessons I've taken in from the earlier phases of my life.

My work is rooted in representation, yet there is a passion for color and gesture that comes from my love for abstraction and art-for-arts-sake (or "just because" sorts of art). And my best pieces also are able to convey an emotion, hint at that relationship, between the viewer and the subject of the painting.

All this sort of smacked me when I got Duane Keiser's latest oddments paintings delivered to my inbox yesterday (www.athousandsmallpaintings.blogspot.com , #57 and #58). He painted some conversation hearts, which you may recall I tried my hand at last month. His hearts look just like what I envisioned mine should have been. Yet at the time I painted mine, I was pleased with my effort, even though I knew they had fallen short of what I wanted them to be.

You see, still lifes are all very new to me, and consequently I feel as though I'm back at the beginning, trying to paint things tightly and very representationally. Yet what I really strive to do is paint them with freedom that comes from total comfort with my subject, my tools, and my talents.

When I shared Duane Keiser's conversation hearts with a friend (Tami Oyler - you must take a peek at her work - www.lookofeagles.com), her response was "Art is when I draw Point A and Point B, and you dance in the spaces in-between."

I love that concept. It sums up where I want to be. And where I'm already en route to. Dancing.

Thanks, Tami!

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com

Random Thoughts

I'm trying here, but it's not always easy to collect my thoughts coherently and get them over to the blog.

What have I been thinking of late?

That the sun last week in Mexico was wonderful, but pales to the glittery ice atop freshly fallen snow. Although the snow gets grimy and dull very fast.

That I need to do something about my Feedblitz feeds before Feedblitz goes "poof" at the end of next month.

That I'm thoroughly enjoying painting the candies. Valentine's Day was an easy excuse, but I really should expend some energy and figure out how to market these paintings.

That I need to clone myself. As I catch up on some tasks, I fall way behind on others. The idea of a virtual assistant is terribly tempting, but a little out of my financial league.

And speaking of finances, I really should start on the studio's 2008 tax preps. And pay 2008's sales tax. Hmmm...

I remain in love with the idea of an annual word. "Focus" has worked extraordinarily well for me. Especially when I get distracted from other things by housework - "focus, Kim, focus!!"

That I am so very grateful to be able to work from home, be here for my family, and follow my dream. What did I do to deserve this?

And finally, I'm thinking I should go start a big pot of soup for dinner. Pasta Fajoli anyone??

Thanks!!

I'll try to check in again next week,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com

2009 - The Year of Focus

There's been all sorts of talk among my friends about choosing a one word theme for 2009, as opposed to setting resolutions and specific goals. This was an idea that I believe should be credited to Christine Kane, but one that carries much merit. 

For instance, it's way easier for me to remember a one-word mantra than to visualize a page of scribbled thoughts.

Hence my Year of Focus.

"Shut up and Paint," which has been written overtop the studio door for a couple years, will get masked out, and "FOCUS" will be written fancifully on the wall.

I could FOCUS and do that today, but instead will FOCUS on the boys and figure out how they can access email through their new handhelds while still preserving our parental controls/screening. Then I will FOCUS on balancing my checkbook, which I have neglected for a little too long. And then I will FOCUS on making a killer breakfast-for-dinner feast for the family, our New Year's Day tradition.

Next week I'll be able to FOCUS on studio work. But for now, the FOCUS is on family.

Happy New Year!!

Kim

PS If you have a minute, you might want to FOCUS your eyes on my new Etsy store, one that has over 80 paintings for sale!! http://ksantini.etsy.com will get you there. Keying in "DOGADAY" during checkout will get you 20% off any paintings on canvasboard.

What on earth was I thinking? My father would answer "you weren't."

It is, after all, my busiest time of the year in the studio. Starting October 1st, I am double, even triple booked, with daily commissioned portraits through December 15th. I work late nights and weekends to meet the holiday rush, mostly because I cannot bear the thought of someone wanting to give a pet portrait and not being able to.

I was completely booked for this year's holiday season last January, yet I still slid in a handful of portraits for repeat clients. There were also a couple stories that tore at my heartstrings, so I made room for them too.

Just with the painting alone, I'd be terribly busy.

Then I go and publish a book on top of this schedule! Yeah, the timing makes sense because of the holidays, and the book will be a great gift. But the paperwork and coordinating necessary in order to calculate how many copies to include in the first run, how much shipping materials I will need for that first mass-shipment, not even mentioning the editing and proofreading and proofreading and proofreading.

Did I say there was some proofreading involved too?

I'm trying more so than in years past to get out of the studio and have some downtime. I've been reading quite a bit (and co-leading my 5th grade son's Battle of the Books team with a good friend), and also started a new knitting project (challenging for me, but ridiculously simple for the rest of the world). And I FINALLY chose a paint trim color for our bedroom after 6 years (it's got some dorky name, but essentially is the color of carmelized pumpkin pie).

Today is mostly paperwork and coordination related to the book. I am looking forward to painting for a few hours this afternoon, though. Painting still is the brightest point of my work days. The next brightest is delivering the works - I love the variety of client reactions.

Guess I'll be getting lots of both in the coming month!! :)
Thanks for following along,
Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
www.turtledovedesigns.com

Good Reading Material

I've been trying to catch up on the stack of magazines in the studio corner. I don't subscribe to that many - Art Calendar, the Artists' Magazine, and American Art Collector - but when time is at a minimum, reading is the first thing that goes. And I've got a small mountain of issues stretching back to the summer months.

I'm newly enamored of Jeremy Lipking and Casey Baugh - Google their names - you will see extraordinary paintings. While I don't necessarily connect with their subject matter, there is no denying their mastertise (is that a word?). Their understanding of light, their manipulation of it as though it is a vase or ghourd or something solid, is extraordinary. And their use of edges - soft, hard, and lost - blows me away.

Ultimately, the one lesson that I walk away with when studying the work of these two is sweat equity. Both artists committed to their vision and worked towards it, despite the odds. That could have meant working two dead-end jobs and painting after hours, or relying on a spouse to hold the family together, or moving 1/2 way across the country to study/paint alongside a mentor. Whatever it meant, they did it, while staying true to that inner voice.

I have a wealth of respect for that.

Thanks for following along,
Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

PS The other thing they both had in common: Richard Schmid. Both (and others) have said that his book "Alla Prima" contains everything they ever needed to learn about painting. It's worth a peek or two - my copy is dogeared. Not that this makes me a better painter, just a disciple. Go to www.righardschmid.com to get your own copy. I recommend his dvds too - they are brilliant!

It's been many moons in the making, but the presses are rolling. I'm thrilled to announce that Painting a Dog a Day - The First Year is available in book form!!

The book includes 100 generously sized 8" x 10" pages of full-color images, including my favorite pieces and stories, along with an essay highlighting the first 15 months of paintings (October 2006-December 2007). I've interjected bits of hindsight and random thoughts about art-making alongside the images.

It's a beautiful publication, one that Dog-a-Day collectors and animal lovers alike will enjoy perusing.

The book is available in both softcover and hardbound editions, and will ship out December 1st via priority mail, in plenty of time for the holidays. It will make a great gift - so check your list twice, and then place an order.

The softcover edition is $39.95; Hardcover (with dust jacket) is $54.95. Shipping and handling will be an additional 4.95 - and I'll gladly combine shipping on multiple volumes. Just ask for a quote.

To order, send an email to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com with the subject line "BOOK". You may also simply send a paypal payment (ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com) for the total amount due, or mail a check directly to the studio (346 N Anderson, Lake Orion, MI 48362). Please include Michigan sales tax if shipping to a Michigan address.

If you pre-order your copy before November 1st, I'll have plenty of time to personalize an inscription and can guarantee holiday delivery.

Thanks, as always, for your time in looking at, and sharing, my paintings (and now my book!) with your friends and family.
Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
www.paintingadogaday.com

Read This!!

From January 2007, "Watch Eye," 6" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, portrait of a gray horse, $279 exquisitely framed. I do not understand why this painting has not yet sold - it is one of my favorites, and has been widely exhibited this past year and a half. Guess he's waiting for the right home. Is it yours? Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com.

Sit down, because I've got some great news.

The Painting a Dog a Day book is ready!! It's finally ready!!

It's been many moons in the making, but the presses are rolling. I am so excited to get these into your hands!

The book includes 100 generously sized 8" x 10" pages of full-color images, including my favorite pieces and stories (like "Watch Eye," above), along with an essay highlighting the first 15 months of paintings. I've also interjected bits of hindsight and random thoughts about art-making. It's a beautiful publication, one that Dog-a-Day collectors and animal lovers alike will enjoy perusing.

The book is available in both softcover and hardbound editions, and will ship out December 1st via priority mail, in plenty of time for the holidays. It will make a great gift - so check your list twice, and then place an order.

The softcover edition is $39.95; Hardcover (with dust jacket) is $54.95. Shipping and handling will be an additional 4.95 - and I'll gladly combine shipping on multiple volumes. Just ask for a quote.

To order, send an email to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com with the subject line "BOOK". You may also simply send a paypal payment (ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com) for the total amount due, or mail a check directly to the studio (346 N Anderson, Lake Orion, MI 48362). Please include Michigan sales tax if shipping to a Michigan address.

If you pre-order your copy before November 1st, I'll have plenty of time to personalize an inscription. VERY IMPORTANT: A pre-order guarantees holiday delivery.

Questions may always come to me at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Thanks, as always, for your time in looking at, and sharing, my paintings (and now my book!) with your friends and family.
Kim

Welcome to the Mac World!!

After years of wishing for a Mac, I finally bit the bullet and bought one yesterday. Let me tell you, life is good right now.

Yes, there is always stress and confusion when one gets a new computer, transferring data over, re-building favorite links and various other settings, and that becomes even more complicated when shifting operating systems. But I simply don't care - I am so happy with this new machine, that I will jump through hoops backwards and upside down.

It's a Sunday morning, I've got a heap of paperwork on my desk to get through, but I have the rolls royce of computers to help me out.

Like I said, life is good. Very good.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com 

Holy smokes, but am I behind here. I'll give you a glimpse of what today has been like, and it's just a sampling of the prior 6 weeks I've gone without posting here.

First thing this morning I dueled with the CD drive on my laptop, which suddenly decided it didn't want to burn the images I needed for my 10am meeting. Debated tossing the laptop through my front window, but decided that would create too much additional work. Brought the damned beast with me to the meeting, and transferred the images to a flash drive.

Discovered the basement had flooded during the prior evening's/early morning rains. Emptied the entire contents of the towel closet onto the basement floor, and left a voice mail message for my husband.

Spent the latter half of the morning with a great crew at the Sterling Heights (Michigan) City Hall, accepting their honor of Artist of the Month. (I should add that my early morning also included an atypical combing of the hair and painting of the face, in preparation for the camera.) Filmed a little chat about the story behind my art, and spent a nice chunk of time with two charming and enthusiastic reporters (thank you Cortney and Deanna).

Visited a brand new Salvation Army that was on my commute home. Scored several items that will star in still life paintings of their own, along with the bargain of the day, a vintage wool peacoat for $16!

Checked in with a local electronics store to research the feasibility of tossing the (Windows) laptop through my front window and purchasing a Mac. Highly feasible.

Raced home to prep for a painting demo and presentation this evening. Drafted an outline, chose my reference materials, packed up a mini-retrospective of works, and whipped through a quick demo in the studio.

Participated in a teleconference on marketing and promotions. Discovered I really had no clue about how to "sell" my work to the rest of the world, but walked away with some concrete ideas on how to bridge that gap.

Welcomed children coming home from school. Reviewed backpack materials, shoved snacks down their throats, rushed them through a wardrobe change, and shuttled them off to soccer practices.

Threw dinner together, set the oven timer, loaded the car, and headed off to the demo, trying not to pull over and vomit along the way (due to nerves, not the flu!).

(Quite unexpectedly) sailed through my presentation, created a lovely demo painting while sounding articulate, and literally basked in the positive after-comments. Made it home safely, despite walking on clouds (in the dark), to find everyone in bed (and -BONUS - smelling clean!).

Tossed the final load of wet towels into the washer (bless you, Rick, for mopping up the basement and starting the laundry and packing lunches), warmed up some dinner, poured a glass of wine in this silent house, pulled in emails, and checked my to-do list. It included a long overdue entry on updating my studio blog.

Which leads me to here. The dregs of a glass of wine, and a good book calling my name.

Goodnight!

The Barbie Series

FROM TOP: "Bad Hair Day (Barbie)," 12" square, acrylic on gallery stretched linen; "I've Lost My Head (Barbie)," 8" x 10", acrylic on gallery stretched linen. Both available for purchase; inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

Friends convinced me to enter some of my toy paintings in an exhibition at a local university. Originally I was going to paint finger puppets, but an afternoon spent sorting through my daughter's closet pushed me into an entirely new direction - Barbies.

These two new paintings are very much part of the "Tags, Toys and Treasures" group. But they have a presence that is oddly unlike the objects I've painted for "Tags, Toys and Treasures," and therefore will become their own entity/series.

Barbie is such a cultural icon that every viewer brings their own bag of memories and feelings to the paintings.

I'm laughing as I play with the dolls in my studio. It's a second childhood, working on these toy paintings, that's for certain! (Having 4 brothers, I didn't play much with Barbies. My oldest brother ripped their heads off to jam firecrackers down their necks. That sort of behavior wouldn't be tolerated these days, but it was pretty common place when I was a kid. We lived dangerously then, riding bikes without helmets and all. Ah, but I digress).

So anyways, here are the two pieces I'll be sending to the show. We'll see how they are received, and what sorts of other compositions I can build from Annie's stash of dolls.

Thanks for your time,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/

Frustrations

I set out yesterday with high aspirations. I was going to paint outdoors, all day, and complete at least one little jewel in oil paints.

The stars just weren't aligned, though.

I did paint outdoors for most of the day. The light was beautiful and the birds were serenading me. I set up near a building that had intricate cast shadows of foliage.

But it just didn't happen. I don't know if the light changed too quickly, or if I just wasn't in the groove. I couldn't see what it was I was supposed to be painting. My palette had all the right colors, but I couldn't get the shapes down, and the edges eluded me.

I wiped out three panels before packing up and heading home. It was far more enjoyable to join up with Rick and the kids lakeside for the remainder of the day.

I'll have another go at plein air work later this week. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around!

Kim
ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com
www.turtledovedesigns.com

Cranbrook House, Plein Air & Oils Part II

"Cranbrook House," 11" x 14", oil on panel. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

I had every intention of returning to Cranbrook Gardens after my class ended, but so far it hasn't happened. I haven't given up on this idea, but rather, am starting to realize how difficult it is in the midst of summer vacation, when I WANT to have 6+ hours to work on site with an idea.

I wanted to try this composition again multiple times, in the morning, mid-afternoon, and evening. Study how the light's angle changes the color and substance. It'll happen, just not this week.

Anyway, this is my second oil painting from my June plein air class. Unlike the last post, which was done from thumbnail sketches and memory, this one was done in the flesh.

I was drawn to the mullioned panes, and the way they reflected the sky and trees. The tiled roof did the same thing - flashes of pink in the highlights, and dashes of softer violets in the shadows.

I ran out of time to get that level of detail into this painting. But I had a great time finessing my drawing, working those edges, and laying the paint down. I think oils and I will be getting along fine in no time at all.

Thanks, as always, foor looking.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Plein Air and Oil Paints

"Twins," 8" x 10", oil painting on panel, inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .

It's been a while since I last posted to this blog. Guess I have been REALLY immersed in the daily paintings. But I did want to share some of the piecess from the plein air course I took last month.

It was a week long adventure into painting out of doors, working directly from the landscape, and using oil paints for the first time.

And of course, being Michigan, the weather did not coorperate.

Day one we wandered the grounds and did thumbnail sketches, planning compositions and breaking them down into planes, using about 5 values.

Day two was cold, windy, and threatening rain. We convened in the classroom to paint from memory, using our thumbnail sketches as guides.

That's where this piece, "Twin Shrubs" came from. The night prior I was drawn to the negative spaces between the low slung, woven branches, and the way the evening light glowed from behind.

This was a nice exercise for me, and allowed a lot of playing with the oil paint, working across the surface of the panel, lifting areas of paint, rubbing others in. I could have kept on working for hours, exploring the properties of the paint.

When we returned to the gardens the following night, I realized how "off" my painting really was. Just gives me another reason to try the same concept at another time.

Thanks, as always, for looking,

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

This painting has been a long time in the making. Our home is always had at least one goldfish bowl, and I've been captivated by the beauty of fantails as they circle through their fantastical world of reflections.

I moved my two black moors from the kitchen into the studio a couple weeks back. I spent a few days playing with different background fabrics, various sized shells, and other oddments. I bounced light off different walls, the ceiling, colored boards. Finally I found a setup that captured my fascination with the goldfish, yet retained a fresh and whimsical quality matching my vintage toy still life paintings.

The image at the top of this blog is the work in process right now. Working title "Fish out of Water," the painting is 26" x 18" on gallery stretched canvas.

I am concentrating on capturing a limited number of values at this point, establishing the weight of the forms and placing them firmly within their space on the canvas.

I also want the light to feel tangible, and that has been a tricky, as this setup is a high contrast one by nature, and therefore the light itself becomes more transient, and those value shifts aren't really value shifts at all, but color temperature changes.

I'll continue working on this painting in preparation for a March exhibition. I'm also finessing a handful of smaller paintings that will be going to the art show held in conjunction with the Grand National Rodeo Championships near San Francisco California in April. And I continue to paint the dog-a-days, which are now booked into March 2009.

I already have my next still life setup - a couple of hand carved wooden vintage horses that were once children's toys, but have seen better days. They definately have that "Velveteen Rabbit" feel to them. I'm excited to start that piece, once I get these fish out of my system!!

A Very Serious Still Life

I received a number of inquiries in the last few days about where I find my inspirations and how I keep going. Besides in all the faces and personalities I get to profile as part of the Painting a Dog a Day project and my daily (strong) dose of coffee, I find them everywhere around me.

• The golden maple leaves dancing right outside my kitchen window.


• My kids' first smile each day (which comes hopefully before their first tear).


• The sound of a dear friend's voice on the phone.


• The way Finnigan's nubbin of a tail glides underneath his skin.


• The purr of my black cat, not just the sound, but the feel of it against my chest.


• The smell of a wet painting.

I'm sure we all have triggers that keep us going - those are just a few. I make sure I am surrounded by handfuls of them, all the time. And for those days when it's tough to get into the studio, I've found a couple of no fail motivators:

• The Nutcracker soundtrack, no matter the season.


• And The Barber of Seville (kill the rabbit..... kill the rabbit....) The right music can almost always get the job done!


• Browsing through Julian Merrow-Smith's website (http://www.shiftinglight.com/) and dreaming of being able to one day paint like him.


• A visit to our local yarn shop, where I can simply sit amongst the rows of colored wools.
  The smell of freshly baked brownies or cookies.


• A brisk walk around the neighborhood, following Finn's nubbin and prance, breathing in the air, listening to the birds/crickets/frogs/silence (when snow is freshly falling)

Here's a bonus painting - one I couldn't help but do. My latest inspiration, you might say.

Yesterday I looked up from the easel and spied a row of puppets carefully lined up by one of my kids, perfectly centered in an unexpected shaft of sunlight. They were brilliantly colored and terribly humorous when visualized as still life objects. It was way more fun than painting pitchers and creamers and ghourds (sorry, Vianna, if you are reading this!!). This guy is the first of a number of lighthearted studies I'll do in the weeks to come - painting something saturated in humor and color was a great diversion!

So I give you "ARGH!! (Puppet #1)," 8" square (larger than life), acrylic on canvasboard, $180. Imagine this guy framed up and hung in a cubicle/office. Or in a child's room. Or even hung overtop a mirror. He will definately brighten up a special corner somewhere. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com .


Thanks, as always, for looking.
And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family,
Be back tomorrow!
Kim

Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings

http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.

Another Human Portrait

Here is last night's class efforts, "Liesel," a 10" x 20" canvasboard of a young woman.

While the painting itself is not a strict likeness of our model, I am very happy with the results for the following reasons:

I captured a beautiful idea of the light and shadow. I paid careful attention to the light, and it's temperature as it travelled across the shape of the face. The color actually cools as it hits boney planes of the face - I never noticed this before.

I also concentrated on my edge work, working hard to eliminate strong lines and gestural brushwork. If you compare this piece to Jerry's portrait from last week, you'll see that it's far softer and less linear in style.

And I really had fun with her hair. Not strictly black, it had areas of orange and blue to it. And that piece underneath her cheek that reflected her skin tone.

You can purchase this painting (which is only visible here on my studio blog, as it isn't animal or pet portrait related) for $349 plus any applicable Michigan sales tax and shipping costs (estimated to be about $15 for within the US).

All inquiries can come to me at ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com.

I'm getting the hang of this thing, though. And surprised at how much fun it has been, too! Think I might try to rope one of my kids into sitting for me over the upcoming long weekend......

Kim