Maya, Inspiration Times Four

"Maya," 6" x 8", Golden Open acrylics on canvasboard, portrait of a rescued Cattle Dog/Red Heeler, $324, with proceeds supporting my local no-kill shelter. Inquiries (including booking your own pet portrait, from miniature size [4" x 4"] to larger than life) may always come to me.

Maya has inspired quite a few lives. Firstly, she captured someone's eye and was pulled from a shelter and sent to a cattle dog rescue. Maya's current "Mom" learned of her via word of mouth and investigated. Living with the high energy and intelligence of a cattle dog takes a special person - these dogs aren't for everyone. But this match, Maya and her new Mom, was a perfect one. She now lives with her extended family in a home where she gets the mental stimulation, activity level and the unconditional love that these dogs thrive on.

Maya then inspired photographer Beth Adams (Candid Canine Photography), who shared imaged from their photo session with me. Beth saw the visual connection between Maya's photos and my artwork in the fall of light and soft range of colors. Then she learned I was owned by a cattle dog myself. The rest is history.

Because Maya then inspired me to paint her. Two times over. You see her Dog-a-Day painting above, and below is a new collage (I'll borrow Elizabeth St Hilaire Nelson'sphrase "paper paintings") also bearing her likeness. This image is the cover of the guest book I'm creating for my "Happily Ever Afters" exhibition at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary next month. It was created using layers of painted papers, scrapbook paper, tissue, foil, acrylic paint and other printed materials.

The guest book will carry rescue stories and experiences from people who are able to view the show as well as collectors of Dog-a-Day paintings. The contributions will eventually be edited and published as a stand-alone volume, with proceeds benefitting homeless animals. More details to follow, so stay tuned to this Bat-Channel.

Thanks, as always, for looking at - and sharing - my artwork and musings with your friends and family.

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.paintingadogaday.com

FACEBOOK: Kimberly Kelly Santini

TWITTER: ksantini

SHOP ORIGINALS & LIMITED EDITION GICLEES: at my Etsy shop

ORDER CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS & REPRODUCTIONS: at Imagekind

COMMISSION A PET PORTRAIT: contact me

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE: contact me

READING MATERIAL: Preview and order each of the Dog a Day books at the publisher's website: The First Year (2006-2007) and That's 14 in Dog Years (2008). If you would like your copy personalized, order them through me.

Tabby Kit

"Tabby Kit," 5" x 7", acrylics on a museum quality panel, depicting a tiny little orange striped guy from Morgue File . This painting can be yours for $289, which includes s&h inside the US. And in case you didn't see it, a little doodle of him is also available for sale here . Inquires may come directly to me . Although it certainly doesn't FEEL like spring here (snow and ice and wind chills, brr!), I can tell that spring is coming. The mercury is rising a wee bit each day and the days are getting longer and brighter. Over the weekend we drove with the moonroof open just to feel the sun's meager and oh-so-very-welcome warmth (although the heat in the car was cranked, too, in the interest of full disclosure!). I wanted to work with spring-like colors today, and this little guy was still on my mind , so I grabbed a small panel and got to work. Of course, I also have Poppy to finish and some changes to make to another po

“Rapt (Shadow),” from the Larger than Life series, 16”x22”, acrylic black lab mixed breed pet portrait on gallery wrapped canvas, $699. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com . SOLD. This is Shadow, who went missing on Sunday night. He belongs to a friend of mine, and has been a fixture in our community for many years. Errant fireworks scared the silly old guy into running off, and his family is busy searching for him. (If you happen to be in the Lake Orion/Oakland County area and have seen Shadow, please call 248-391-0867 or 248-391-6817) I’m confidant that he is safe (somewhere!) and awaiting discovery, but meanwhile, couldn’t help myself from posting his portrait as today’s dog a day painting . He’s constantly on my mind, and probably will remain so, until he finds his way back home. Hug your four legged guys while you can! Thanks, as always, for looking. And for sharing these paintings with friends and family, Kim Kimberly Kelly Santini http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/ dis

NEW! Etsy Store

One of my favorite unsold paintings from 2008, "Lashes & Corkscrews," 5" x 8", acrylic on canvasboard, depicting a tobiano buckskin curly horse, $289. Inquiries to ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com (but read further on how you can get a special deal on this painting!). Now it's ridiculously easy to browse my painting archives. All you have to do is visit my Etsy store . Etsy has a Shopping Cart (so you can pile it high with purchases from a variety of artists), is integrated with Paypal (although you may still pay by check if you prefer to), and is terribly simple to navigate. When the week has ended, I will have listed almost 100 of my favorite (UNSOLD!) paintings here, grouped loosely by subject matter. During 2009 I'll update the shop regularly, and add non-Dog-a-Day pieces as a bonus, thus making it easy to search for that perfect gift. Watch my daily postings for announcements, promotions and discount codes. If you do not receive the Dog-a-Day emails (

Paintings With Soul

Search This Blog