At the Gate ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

The newest painting in the Saratoga Series, "At the Gate," has been signed. The above photo is from my cell phone, and it's an in-process shot and a little blurry (my apologies) - I didn't think to take a clearer photo before delivering the panel to my framer for trimming. But I think you get the idea! Below is a detail of the same in-process stage.....       This painting will be coming with me to Spa Fine Art in Saratoga, New York - unless someone speaks up in the next 48 hours (email me!!).   The piece is roughly 4-1/2" x 18", done in acrylics on a museum quality panel, and $549.   In process images are on the studio Facebook page - you might have to scroll back through the weekend's posts, since I worked this one up on Saturday.   And yes I did say I was taking this with me to Saratoga - I leave tomorrow!! I'll be in New York through the weekend, and return to daily painting on Wednesday of next week.   Don't forget my live painting demonstration on Friday at Spa Fine Art!! You can call the gallery for details - 518-587-2411. I'm bringing a racing scene and another post parade composition along with me - both very challenging pieces, but ones that should prove to also be very entertaining.    Kim, who cannot wait to watch the sunrise over the track (and I'm a girl who takes her sleep very seriously!) ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Christmas in July

 

The Christmas in July Giveaway is going strong - and last nite I upped the ante and decided to give away TWO paintings - so head on over to the studio Facebook page, people!!

 

"Like" my page (if you haven't already) and share the Christmas in July Giveaway image on your own Facebook page.

 

You gotta do it by the end of this month, though, to be eligable to win.

 

More details are here.

 

Christmas in July ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

Head on over to the studio Facebook page, people!!

If you aren't already a fan, start by "liking" the page.

Then look at my timeline and find the photo/graphic that, when shared, will get you an entry in a giveaway for one 8" x 10" commissioned portrait valued at $469. (Hint: It looks pretty much identical to the image above)

Share said image on your own Facebook timeline.

Now you are entered to win!! Easy peasy, huh?

This portrait will be created in time for 2012 holiday giving (gifting to yourself is A-OK). Winner is responsible for any applicable shipping costs and taxes.

Interested parties must share the aforementioned photo/graphic that is on the studio Facebook page. Shares must be public and from friends/fans of the studio page, and must be shared between now and the end of this month (July 31st). In exchange, the share-er earns one chance at winning the portrait.

Let me reiterate that I've got to be able to see the share - so things sent via private messaging or email or newsletter forwarding do not count. Only shares done publically on Facebook from friends or fans of the studio page are eligible. Sharing and then deleting said share will negate entry eligibility.

Odds of winning are totally determined by how many shares completed. However, odds of winner receiving an amazing portrait and skyrocketing to the top of recipient's Favorite Person list are pretty darned good.

Painting delivery hinges entirely upon winner providing suitable reference photos in a timely manner.

Winning entry will be chosen entirely at random in early August.

Don't you just love the thrill of a good contest?!

Kim, who still wishes she won a carnival goldfish all those years ago

Kimberly Kelly Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Art of the American West, Celebrating the National Day of the Cowboy Museum Exhibit with Debbie Flood

 

Art of the American West, Celebrating the National Day of the Cowboy.

July 21- August 31, 2012.

Sponsored by the Western Trail Art Association & Red River Valley Museum.

The Exhibit will be on display at the Red River Valley Museum, Vernon, Texas.
I'll have two watercolors in this Exhibit and Sale.

Between a rock and a hard place 21 x 29 inches, Watercolor. Double matted and framed in a red mahogany wood frame.

Spirit Horse Pass, 16 x 20 inches, watercolor.

Double matted and framed in a red mahogany wood frame.

Limited Edition Prints are available of the paintings listed above. Prints may be purchased through the Official website of Debbie Flood http://www.debfloodart.com click on the Giclee Prints Link.

The Original Watercolors may be purchased through the Red River Valley Museum in Vernon, Texas.

Thank you,

Debbie Flood

http://www.debfloodart.com

Technorati Tags: Western Trail,National Day of the Cowboy,Red River Valley Museum,Texas,Watercolor,Western Art,Southwest Art,Debbie Flood,Appaloosa horse,Draft Horses,six horse hitch,Cowboy

 

 

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.

Shooting Star by Sheona Hamilton-Grant

"Shooting Star"

Pencil on Paper

44x29 cm

Sheona Hamilton-Grant. All rights reserved

As soon as I saw the reference sent by wonderful photographer and fellow artist Juliet Harrison, all I wanted to do was get tucked into portraying this exquisite running machine.

Focus had to be given to the graceful lines, athletic long neck, beautifully defined shoulders and the ever alert inquisitive eye. 

In order to pep-up and add a wee twist to the final composition, interesting elements, such as his elegant pride, apparent coolness in the spotlight, controlled presence when in the thick of things, were had to feature.

I adored drawing this athlete, all the memories of my days "in the business" came flooding back.  They had a strong magnetic pull on my pencils.   The hours spent on the drawing board one big long refreshing walk down memory lane.

The icing on the cake: both Shooting Star and Up & Running are on their way to Australia as I type. 

Both are finalists in this years Inglis Equine Art Prize and their presence now required on the Australian Equine Art circuit! 

So very very chuffed. 

Actually chuffed to very little pieces!

p.s: Massive thank-yous' once again to Juliet Harrison for generously allowing me to use her material and vision. p.p.s: Juliet's work, her interpretation of the equine form is so beautiful. Her use of light masterful. If you are unfamiliar with her work, you simply must discover her amazing art world at http://julietrharrisonphotography.com/

Dear Copyright Thieves

Dear Copyright Thieves,

Just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's free for the taking. So let's just stop pretending the internet is a free-for-all.

Don't play the card that you didn't know - that's insulting. And don't also tell me that you meant to follow up and get permission but never got a chance to. That's insulting too. And by the way, don't you have a copyright protection notice on your own site?

And don't even try and point the finger at a third party who commissioned you to make a copy of my painting - again, an insult - you and I both know the difference between a reference photo and a painting.

And don't tell me that I asked for it because I share my artwork on the internet. I share my paintings and ideas and the stories behind them so as to encourage others to pursue their own passions. I do not share so that those lacking integrity and morals can copy and market the images as their own.

Don't waste your breath and tell me that imitation is a form of flattery. And don't try to flatter me further by saying you meant no harm. I know what you meant to do - you blatantly copied a copyrighted image and presented it as your own in an attempt to line your pockets in some way. And you thought you would get away with it.

So you've already gotten an individualized cease and desist note from my lawyer. 

And now along with that mess, there's a couple other things you should start preparing for:

• Your entire website will be deleted from your host. They don't smile upon infringers.
• The infringing images are all being dumped from your online storefronts. Again, their terms of service agreements state they don't tolerate copyright violations, and a simple Google search showed me all the places where you were marketing your unauthorized copies of my paintings, selling prints of my pirated art, and using my stolen imagery to advertise your own product.
• And the infringing artwork will be removed from that juried exhibition - I called the exhibition space and spoke with the director personally. I imagine you'll be hearing from her too, because that award has been rescinded.
• I went ahead and emailed the professional affiliations listed on your website and alerted them to the fact that you have misrepresented your artwork. You'll most likely be hearing from them, too.
• I also took the liberty of letting the art guilds and spaces you teach at know that your recent workshops were based exclusively on artwork stolen from my website. I sent them all sorts of supplemental information, too, including an overlay of your recent demo paintings which are tracings of work I created years ago.

I suppose these are minor inconveniences, really. Because tomorrow you most likely will just look elsewhere for someone else's work to flagrantly misappropriate.

However, keep in mind that various artists groups and online communities watch each other's backs. The internet has made our world smaller, and it's just a matter of time before you are discovered and exposed. As a matter of fact, that's how I found you - another watchdog sent me a note with a couple of links.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot - just to err on the side of caution, I alerted several groups to your piracy, and shared saved images of your website inside their archives. So who knows - you might be getting personal introductions in the coming days to some other artists you cared enough about to "flatter" !!

Dear, dear copyright infringers, because you don't know how to create - you just know how to copy - you won't ever understand the thrill of pursuing your own ideas. How sad is that? And while you might call yourself artists, you're really just playing make believe.

I'm watching you now. As is a growing army of angry artists you've also taken advantage of.

We've heard the pathetic excuses too many times. We're not buying them anymore.

Proudly signed by an artist who prides herself on working hard and making an honest living,

Kimberly Kelly Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Dear Fellow Artists, You have my complete and total permission to share this open letter in any format you choose. Feel free to substitute your name or add any necessary bullet points. Post it and links where ever you deem appropriate. Don't be shy to announce to copyright thieves that you won't take it anymore. United we stand! En Garde!  Kim

Like Her Momma ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Like Her Momma," from the "Cherished" series. This little gem is 6" x 8", acrylics on a museum quality panel, and not currently for sale. However, inquiries may always come to me. And in process views of this painting are on the studio's Facebook page. I've entered this painting into an international juried equine art exhibition (for those who are curious, the Equine Jubilee in Delaware, Ohio from August through October of this year). And as such, if accepted, the painting will have to be available for purchase at the event. I sent these ladies along with two other paintings from the Saratoga series - fingers and toes crossed that the jurors like my work enough to include them all. (And yes, I get rejected regularly from shows - it's all about one person's opinion at one particular moment in time, so  don't beat yourself up over it should the same thing happen to you) Meanwhile, if you really, really, really want to purchase "Like Her Momma" (and I totally get it, because she's my current all time favorite painting to come off the easel), shoot me an email and I'll make sure you get first dibs on her via the event coordinators. Or myself, should she not make the cut (I don't want to jinx anything). Thanks for supporting my art!! Kim  ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Happy 4th of July!! I'll be chill-axing tomorrow, painting the front and back porches and doing yard work while tossing the frisbee and setting the sprinkler up for this guy. I hope that your mid-week holiday is equally productive or equally peaceful - however you ordered it up! And let's hope that all those fireworks crazed critters, like Finnigan, stay safe.