Little Night Mare, equine art postage stamp.

Little Night Mare

She's not a big scary nightmare, she's just a little one. She might be more like a dream .... If you dream of horses, you might dream of one like this. She's just fun to see.

This original painting was created using a faux encaustic technique with many layers of collage, mediums, paper and paint. When you look at the painting you see down through the layers. She is also covered with texture. The surface of this painting is amazing to feel!

The original painting is for sale and will be posted in my Etsy shop. I'll post a link to her, once she is there.The painting itself, is 7X10", float mounted into a 14X16 " frame.

She's on a postage stamp at Zazzle to be purchased to add a special quality to notes you might send to your friends. If you'd like something special and unique, she's for you.

I hope you enjoy her.
Donna Ridgway

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

Last Laugh by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Last Laugh," 10" x 10", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a bay Thoroughbred horse. This painting is available for $539 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS I know Derby week is over, but I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the horses quite yet. Indulge me for one more day! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

In Process - Squeaky Clean by Kimberly Kelly Santini

In Process, above "Squeaky Clean," 15" x 24", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a blood bay Thoroughbred getting bathed. Inspired by a sunny morning spent in the barn area at the historic Saratoga Racetrack last summer. This painting is available for $1299 to the first one asking nicely. Detail of Squeaky's face is below.

VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS

Every summer I visit Saratoga, New York - I drive through Canada and pick up Linda Shantz near Toronto, then we meet up with Jenifer Trottier (New Jersey), Juliet Harrison (New York) and Sharon Passmore (Tennessee). We spend our time talking horses and art while taking in the local gallery scene and getting as many hours at the track as possible.  Reference photos shot during those few days together fuel a year's worth of creating. That's where the pics behind "Squeaky Clean" came from. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Title This Painting by Kimberly Santini

"Untitled," 12" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a retired Thoroughbred from Old Friends at Cabin Creek in upstate New York. This painting is available for $599 to the first one asking nicely, and proceeds will benefit the Old Friends. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS Last summer I visited Old Friends Cabin Creek and learned about their mission firsthand - providing dignified retirement for racehorses. The farm is staffed entirely with volunteers.  It was moving to hear the stories of their residents, and every single horse appeared happy, healthy, and well loved. I took many photos but very poor notes, and cannot figure out who this fellow is. Maybe the folks at Cabin Creek can tell me? Meanwhile, the painting needs a title. Your suggestions are welcome here.  Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Kentucky Derby Week - Anyone's Race by Kimberly Santini

"Anyone's Race," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a field of Thoroughbreds two strides into a race. This painting is available through Spa Fine Art (in Saratoga Springs New York) for $529 to the first one asking nicely. Spa also carries a large selection of other racing scenes. Please contact them for more information. To implement this month's desktop calendar, download the file directly from my website. 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. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Kentucky Derby Week - Baby Girl by Kimberly Santini

"Baby Girl," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a Thoroughbred filly full of baby curls and chestnut precociousness. This painting is part of my daily painting project and available for $529 to the first one asking nicely. VIEW IN PROCESS PHOTOS This is the 8th Derby Week I've celebrated with daily paintings of horses. How time does fly...... It all starts with a dream, doesn't it? And what better epitomizes the dream of those following horse racing than a baby Thoroughbred, all gangly legs and full of promise? The reference photo inspiring this one is from a visit to friend and fellow artist Linda Shantz's farm. The painting stars Brigette Merlot, now a 2 year old who is just learning about life at the track. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Ice (Luna III) - and a Casting Call - by Kimberly Kelly Santini

ABOVE, detail of "Ice (Luna III)," BELOW, full version, 12" x 7-3/4", acrylics on a cradeled museum quality panel, the newest installation in The Luna Series, a study of black and white, $499. In process photos here. I don't think this painting is going to last long - inquiries may come to me. I want to do a few more paintings of Luna (view Luna I and Luna II), but am far from done with my exploration of black and white. Which means I am casting for additional black and white muses. The ideal muse will have interesting markings and texture along with an expressive face. Nominations may come to me via email with the subject line "Black and White" - include 2-3 non-flash photos that you have taken where your black and white nominee makes up at least 1/3 of the photo.  PLEASE NOTE: Nominating individuals are under no obligation to purchase resulting artwork. By submitting photos, nominating individual is guaranteeing they are both the photographer and copyright owner and are granting me permission to create artwork from submitted imagery. I can't wait to meet a crowd of new faces! Thanks for following along with my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Luna, by Kimberly Santini

"Luna," 7" x 12", acrylics on museum quality panel, depicting a stunning paint horse, in process photos here. Thank you Maggie Weakley (friend and fellow artist) for sharing your muse with me. $499, inquiries may come to me. I know I've always preached that black paint can be a crutch. And I've never used it.  Then Robert Genn called it the Queen of Color. And friend and mentor Vianna Szabo told me she was using it in her new limited palette (and she's taking a group to Italy to paint, in case you are interested). I was already painting black and white horses, falling in love with the abstractions of their markings and the play of light. The next step was to push the boundary even further and eliminate the middle ground. Hence The Luna Series has been born. There's another Luna piece in process on the studio Facebook page. And one in my head, ready to spill out. And more in the works. Black CAN be a powerful tool when used in moderation and tinted with strong blues and reds. I love making new discoveries! Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Clarisse ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Clarisse," 8" x 10", portrait of a Gypsy Vanner mare, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $469 to the firstasking me nicely. And lots of in process photos are on Facebook.   Gypsy Vanners are one of my favorite subjects to paint. They are mythical, curvey, packed with glorious color, and move with grace and beauty. And they have the kindest eyes.   So when I somehow came across Ceo Na Terra Gypsys one late nite on the computer, I was blown away. I started communicating with Shannon, the owner, and she arranged permission for me to paint a number of her horses (remember, you can't just take imagery you find on the internet and repurpose - you have to get permission first!)   I've been in heaven ever since!!   Wait'll you see what happened next!!   Thanks for following along with my paintings! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Saratoga ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

IN PROCESS, and untitled, 24" x 6", track scene from the early, early morning at Saratoga Race Track.  Inspired by many a morning spent hanging on the rail, listening to the horses and riders gallop past. This is acrylics on museum quality panel and will be for sale when finished - inquiries can come to moi!    I started this one last nite, and it proceeded along with a wee bit of drama - pics are on Facebook - I had planned to be done by now, but what can I do?   Thanks for following along, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

My Pretty Pony ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"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 first asking 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 ~~ by Kimberly Kelly Santini

 

"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!!

Jockeying ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Jockeying," from The Saratoga Series, 5" x 20", depicting 5 jockeys and their mounts fighting for position, acrylics on museum quality panel, $599 to the first one asking nicely. Inquiries may come to me. Please and thank you. Remember the hot mess from a couple weeks back? Well, I sweated it through and signed off on it today. Feels darned good, too! This painting is part of a new body of work celebrating Saratoga Race Courses' 150th Anniversary. This summer I'm ushering in the track's birthday party with a live painting session at Spa Fine Art on Saturday July 27th. I was honored to be invited and those of you who joined me last year know how much fun we had - so mark your calendars. Let's do it again! There are lots of in process pics on the studio facebook page - you may have to scroll a bit through the Mobile Uploads folder, as progress on this painting stretched out well over a week. Now I'm off to get a couple sketches going. Thanks as always for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Slop ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Slop," 7" x 15", depicting a field of Thoroughbred race horses nearing the first turn at Saratoga Race Track, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $529 to the firstasking nicely. Please works well.     In process pics are on the studio facebook page.   I literally stood in the pouring rain to get this reference photo. I was seriously waterlogged, no exaggeration. We're talking plastered hair, damp undergarments and puddles INSIDE my shoes. And while I am disappointed that the painting does not convey exactly HOW wet the conditions were, I do find other redeeming qualities in the piece.   "Slop" is headed to Spa Fine Art, my gallery in Saratoga, New York, as part of the track's impressive 150th birthday celebration this summer.   Unless you need this painting on your wall Right Now. In which case, email me and I'll make that happen.   Thanks as always for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Freckles

And now for a touch of the equine and a lovely break from all those pop art pups..

Freckles is a private commission for a birthday gift.. I enjoy the challenge of all those spots and making sure the hair is travelling in the correct direction..  Horse coats seem to have hair going all directions.

Thank you Nikki for commissioning me to immortalise Freckles for you

Freckles

14" x 21"

Pastel

Private Commission

Catherin McMillan

http://www.animalarthouse.com/

email:: catherin@animalarthouse.com

Original artwork for sale

Commissions welcome worldwide

Payment plan offered

Gift Certificates available

Pay pal accepted

Racing Art by Kerry Nelson

"Mr. Eye Opener" 12x16 inches, alkyd oil painting

Available for sale now. buy it here;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140692559389?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

www.KerryOriginals.com www.KerryOriginals.blogspot.com

Small Works by Kerry Nelson

New Work by Kerry Nelson
"Gallant Run" 4x6 inch alkyd oil painting

This is for sale and listed on ebay at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/140686045528?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649


"Ready to Run" 4x6 inch alkyd oil painting

This is for sale on Etsy at

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90156116/ready-to-run-original-4x6-horse-with

www.KerryOriginals.etsy.com
www.KerryOriginals.com

The Importance of Being Educated

Yesterday I had the very great honor of being awarded the 2012 HITS Themal Desert Circuit (CA) Show Program cover.  HITS produces some of the richest and most highly attended and regarded hunter/ jumper show circuits in the country, and to be selected as the cover artist is quite a big deal.  I've been invited to the HITS Ocala Fine Art Gala several times, and I was also honored to participate in the HITS Saugerties Art Gala in 2010.  I've never been to Thermal - in fact, I've never been to California - but it looks like I now have an excuse to go!  Hundreds of riders from across the country attend these multi-week shows, and I'm excited to be able to put my work in front of a West Coast audience.

The HITS Ocala cover was also awarded this week, and it went to a wonderful artist from Florida - Mary Verrandeaux.  I've had the pleasure of meeting Mary a few times (at the Ocala Art Gala, in fact) and I really, really like her work.  But my favorite thing about Mary is that she and I graduated from the same college - the Ringling College of Art and Design.  She graduated in the 1980's, and I graduated in 2000, both of us with degrees in illustration.

I owe a debt of gratitude to my college, and I'm proud to say I'm an alum.  I came to Ringling in 1996, with a decent amount of drawing skill from high school and middle school art classes.  Magazine pictures, attempted photorealism, unremarkable still lifes, the usual.  My first year in college, our professors took all we knew about art and threw it out the window.  They challenged us to rethink the whole concept of how to draw, how to paint, how to SEE, and in the process, they tore down everything we thought we knew about art and forced us to start again from the beginning.  My second year painting teacher had such a formidable reputation that almost of the students assigned to her class switched to the other painting instructor.  I had an unspoken rule never to change professors, so I ended up in a painting class with only three other students, and for a whole year, we had almost an hour of one-on-one instruction every other day. (Painting classes were 3 hours each, three days a week.)  We learned to PAINT.  (We also learned to stretch our own canvas and make our own gesso, but that's another story.)  I had only had one unhappy experience with oil paints (I painted a hideous flower and my mother rightfully banished the painting to the laundry room) before I walked into her class, so if I have any skill at painting today, a huge amount of credit goes to her.  My illustration teacher was an innovator of American illustration (seriously, he's in the book "Innovators of American Illustration" by Steve Heller) and introduced us to the idea of art as narrative.  He gave me some of the best art advice I've ever received in my life, and I often think of his words when I'm particularly vexed by a painting.  His daughter was "into" horses, and she actually showed at Madison Square Garden (pony division, if I recall correctly), and so he and I spent a lot of time discussing horses.  He gave me hope that a career revolving around equine and wildlife art was possible and encouraged me to continue on that path, and I'm forever grateful to him.

I had other influential teachers in figure, printmaking, English lit, and computer illustration, but I will forever cherish the four years of art history we were required to take.  We weren't just taught art history with names of artists, dates and schools of thought, we were immersed in the time.  We learned how the art and the music and the fashion of an era went together, how politics, war, famine, wealth and industry affected not only the art of a nation but impacted the entire worldview of its people, and how such events spurred and nurtured - or stifled - the proliferation of the arts worldwide.  If I am ever fortunate enough to teach art history, that is the model I will use.  Art doesn't develop in a vacuum, and to teach nothing but dry names and dates robs the student - and the teacher - of the most compelling parts of the story.

New!  HoofPRINTS Notecard and Print  

"To the Jumper Ring" Pen and marker on bristol board 

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

Pulling out the orphans... plus dressage!

One of the advantages to being able to pursue both commissioned and self generated work is that I get to start on a lot of really cool paintings that I might never get the chance to work on if I were relying on a client commission.  Many clients want a carefully controlled painting, starring themselves, their horses, their dogs or cats, their subject, etc, etc, etc.  Since this is exactly what a "commissioned" painting is, I'm perfectly okay with that!  If you as a client have the idea and the concept (and the money), I will paint whatever you want in any way you may desire.  And hopefully at the end of the (painting) day, we both go away happy.

On the other side, there's self generated work.  This is work that is done either as a self promotion piece or a learning curve or to fit a possible show theme or simply because you have an idea that you want to try and capture in an "artistic" way.  Since there's no client looking over your shoulder, there's no pressure to get it done a certain way, and lots of happy accidents can occur.  On the other hand, unless you are shooting for a predetermined deadline (upcoming show, advertising, etc) there's no real incentive for you to finish the thing quickly.

Sometimes these paintings sort themselves out wonderfully.  They practically paint themselves, and at the end of the day, you have a nice new piece of art to hang, sell, use, enter, etc.  And sometimes...

... there are the orphans.

Every artist knows what I am talking about.  THOSE paintings.  The ones that are just too cool to throw away, or the ones you've invested too much time/work/paint/frustration in to walk away from (or slink away in defeat), or the ones that are really kinda sorta NICE... if you can just figure out 1) what the problem is and 2) how to resolve it. Sometimes I'm rapturously in love with a single square inch of board, and that square inch is the sole reason for the painting's continued existence.

This is one reason why art studios are usually pretty cluttered, by the way.  It's very hard to give up on a painting or drawing, and so they get stored away, tucked into portfolios and behind cabinets, and then they multiply like evil little failure rabbits.  But every once in awhile, it's nice to unearth them from the clutter, dust them off and see if you as the artist (and master of your own destiny) can make some magic happen.

I've got a bunch of show deadlines in the next few weeks.  A ridiculous amount, actually, the kind of number that drives me from my bed at 4:00 in the morning to come into the studio.  (Hello everybody!) And this is where the orphans come in handy.

As I write, there are 9 paintings/ drawings hanging out in the studio with me, propped up against walls or scattered on the floor.  After carefully reevaluating them with fresh eyes (some of them have been in an unfinished state for several... years (sigh) now), I think there's enough promise here in a few of them to pull out the old paintbrushes and make a concerted effort at finishing a few of the damn things, thus putting me at least a few hours ahead from the dreaded "blank canvas" stage I'd be in otherwise with deadlines looming and panic attacks and all that.  Huzzah!  So now instead of having to start and finish a few paintings by... oh, let's say April 15th... now I only have to FINISH three of them.  And that is much more workable.  (And then start on May's deadlines!)

Really.

Here are a few of my (favorite things) orphans that came under review this morning.  If all goes well, hopefully you will see these guys in their completed incarnation this year in various and sundry venues.

All images © Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

And then, just for fun, here are a few of the almost 800 (yes, 800) pictures that I took at a dressage show today.  The weather was nice, the horses were gorgeous, the drive was peaceful... not a bad way to spend a Saturday.  These are the moments that make life as an equine artist worth living.  Enjoy!

All images © Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com

© Joanna Zeller Quentin 2011.  All Rights Reserved.  www.MoosePantsStudio.com