The End of the Day, Dressed to Kill ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

My bedroom door proudly displays "The End of The Day," a 16" x 20" glorious and peaceful equine painting, complete with the most perfect framing job ever courtesy of Accent on Art (Lake Orion, Michigan).  This painting can grace your bedroom door or any wall in your home for $899 - just ask nicely.

When I've thrown my heart into a painting, I want a framing job that is exemplary. And that's what I get every time I take my work to Diana and DJ at Accent on Art.

For this one, DJ floated the painting overtop a shallow linen lined box, and Diana finished off with a beautifully detailed gilt frame with carvings matching the delicate curls in the mare's tail.

This says exquisite on every possible level. And it makes me happy. Very happy.

Let it make you happy too - "The End of the Day" is currently available, and payment plans are accepted. Email me to make it yours.

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

Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

The End of the Day -- Kimberly Kelly Santini

"The End of the Day," 16" x 20", acrylics on panel, depicting a beautifully feathered Gypsy Vanner draft horse, $679 to the first asking nicely.

View In Process Photos

In person this painting literally glows with layers of subtle and harmonic color. I even hear crickets and the drone of a fat honeybee. Paintings can do some remarkable things. I'm sharing some of my secrets in a 4 day workshop next month in Traverse City - we'll do a heck of a lot of painting, but we also laugh pretty hard, eat very well, enjoy sunset wine tasting on the peninsula, and make new friends. We need a few more bodies to make this happen - if you are interested, talk to Kathryn and figure out how you can join us. Thanks, as always, for your interest in my artwork, Warmly, Kim Kimberly Santini www.KimberlySantini.com

Skye by Kimberly Kelly Santini

 

"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

"Dicke Tour" drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Dicke Tour

Pencil on Paper, 50x46 cm

Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved.
Limited Edition Prints available. (Run of 99)

Find out more on how Dicke Tour was drawn by checking out  my blog Sheonas.blogpsot.com

Valarie Wolf, AAEA: "Quiet Nobility" Draft Horse painting

This painting was just named as a Finalist The 29th Annual Art Competition!  I particularly like the shadows on this one.

Lorraine exercises good judgement

I am calling this one done. It was accepted into the Michiana 10th Annual Art Competition in St. Joeseph, MI and will be on display June 15-July 27 at the Box Factory for the Arts.

24x30 oil on canvas $725

Judith A. Johnson

judithajohnson.com

Off to a good start

I haven't painted anything seriously in about 4 months so it is good to get going again.  This is of two draft horses that belong to a friend of mine.  It is oil on canvas, 24x30.  I hope I can use it for the Draft Horse Classic entry later this year.

Judith Johnson

judithajohnson.com

Reflections of friends, Draft Horse Eye, Watercolor by Debbie Flood

I've had this image all Summer, waiting to be painted.

I was at a horse show and across the quiet country road is a Draft Horse farm. The whole herd was out in the pasture. I wandered over to get some candid shots of them just being together, but when they saw me headed towards the fence, one by one, proding each other along, they came over to me.The look of snacks and hand outs was crossing their faces.
I took a whole lot of images. The wind was blowing and their soft long blond manes were whisping all around. The sunlight was catching here and there, in those wisps. It was a delight to capture them with my camera.
Later in the day, when I got home, I was unloading all those precious reference photos. I zoomed in on one. The eye looked very interesting to me. As I got it enlarged to 100% on my computer screen, I could see his pasture pals, reflected in his eye!
I knew I just had to paint that. So here it is. Reflections of friends. 9 x 8.5 Watercolor. $350.00 Inquiries may come to my email at debflood@debfloodart.com

~Debbie

Hurricane. New graphite drawing by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

"Hurricane"
Graphite on Paper. 36x56 cm.
Sheona Hamilton-Grant

Finished.
Hurricane is my first drawing this big.
The result was well worth the extra hours.
In this post I thought it would be nice to share the set of instructions used for preparing and producing this specific drawing.
(p.s:The ingredients used can be found worldwide, the way in which they are combined comes from trial and error.)

INGREDIENTS

1 sheet of Mellotex paper, whole

3 clutch pencils, filled (6B, 2B &2H)

1/2 piece of Blu-Tack

1 gorgeous subject (1.1 tones/2425 lb)

12 finely detailed digital photographs

XL Foam board

Artist Tape

1 “White Lies” cd

2 Marillion cds

Collectors Edition Pink Floyd

11/2l of drinking water (daily)

2 nespresso coffees (daily)

Preheated studio to 19 ºC = 66.2 ºF.

65 hours of drawing time.

Freshly ground passion.

DIRECTIONS

In a warm studio, over angled drawing board, outline subject and study eyes, movement and light. Add a pinch of passion and bring inner vision to a simmer.

Place paper on foam board. Tape corners with artist tape. Secure and set aside.

Turn on music.

Review sketch and bring to parchment. Begin eyes to get a perfect expression.

On a clear drawing board, under good light, add more work to overall subject. Pin down the darks and gradually stir in the lighter values. Allow the lighter grays melt into the drawing, and then add detail to the mix. Work gently for approximately 65 hours until the values are completely coated with details.

Finish with a pinch of zeal and a crack of freshly ground passion.

Serve immediately.

(p.s: More of my work can be found at www.sheonahamiltongrant.com )

Derby Week at Painting a Dog a Day - Go! by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Go!," 8" x 16", draft horse portrait, acrylic on canvasboard, private collection. Inquiries may come to me.

 

I did two paintings yesterday of Tony, and my friend has chosen this one to hang on her wall. I think I have now painted every one of her animals at least once..... (I know she'll correct me if I'm wrong).

 

I wish it were otherwise, but this was one of those days spent focused on the business aspect of studio operations. There is a myth that artists paint all day and do little else - it's actually the opposite. I'm lucky to paint 2-3 hours 5 days a week - it's a constant balancing act and battle to carve more creation time out of my work days. But both sorts of tasks are absolutely necessary in a thriving business.

 

Today was spent (or rather still is being spent) corresponding with clients, following up on inquiries, wrapping and shipping a number of paintings, touching up another portrait, starting a studio deep-clean, and getting some layout work done on the new book.

 

Speaking of books, those new to Painting a Dog a Day may not know that there is a book recapping the first 15 months of the daily dog portraits. I'll be happy to personalize or inscribe your copy - please email me to place your order.

 

Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing these paintings with your friends and family.

Can't wait to share another horse with you tomorrow!

Kim Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com 

Derby Week at Painting a Dog a Day - Afternoon Sun

"Afternoon Sun," 6" x 12," acrylic on canvasboard, from the Painting a Dog a Day project, $359 to the first one raising their hand. On your mark, get set, go!!  ....inquiries may come to me.

 

As tradition in Painting a Dog a Day, the week before the Kentucky Derby is turned over to the horses. This week is an excuse to indulge in my lifelong love - I don't specifically paint Thoroughbreds during Derby Week but revel in all equine shapes and colors. 

 

So here's your first piece, a draft mix lazily grazing his way into the picture plane while the sun glances off his flanks. This is Tony, a huge lug of a sweetheart belonging to a good friend of mine who also happens to be a brilliant equine photographer. Check out Juliet's work at her website, including her newly published book.

 

Tony's piece is a lovely quiet painting that would make a nice accent to a variety of interiors. Email me if you have any questions about how to get this one on your wall. 

 

I can squeeze in one or two more equine paintings this week, if you care to nominate someone. Send your ideas to me via email.

 

Thanks, as always, for sharing my artwork with your friends and family.

Kim Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

www.turtledovedesigns.com

Draft Horse Slates

While getting ready for an upcoming show I put together some draft horse barn siding slates like the ones above. I added some bronze so the horses have just a hint of metalic sheen to them which I think goes well with the texture of the slate-- giving an overall feeling of power, strength and beauty-- just like the draft horses themselves. To see more of my work or to inquire about purchasing equine art or prints go to http://www.suesteiner.com/ or stop by my blog at www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com

Study in graphite of a horses' leg.

Here's "Elbow Room".

The wee story behind this drawing is the direct result of Albert Camus' fantastic quote "freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better".

SO, I decided to take a (well needed) break from commission and exhibition work, let go of the various pressures and see what my mind would give me.

I became deaf to "what might be nice to draw" and set myself instead a biggish technical challenge.

How do you or rather how would I give a vertical line energy?

"Elbow Room" is taken from reference photos I have had (stashed away in both my mind and studio) for over 7 years. This is the foreleg of a Rh.D. Kaltblutt stallion stationed at the Warendorf National Stud (Landgestuet Warendorf) .

I used pencil (2B & 6B) for the entire drawing. The shadow on the left leg is "glazed" over with loose charcoal (6B).

You can see more of my work at www.sheonahamiltongrant.com or  behind the scenes information at my blog "Black on Grey on White"