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

Peek and Boo ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

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"Peek and Boo," 10" square, portrait of two paint mares, done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel, $489 to the first one asking nicely. Polite inquiries may come to me.   I blocked this painting in a couple weeks ago, but then got sidetracked with some other commissions. I had wanted to finish the horses for an exhibition, but the deadline came and went and there just wasn't enough hours in the day. (That's the risk one takes when practicing only the best sort of procrastination.)   The painting got set aside until this morning when I re-discovered it inside my in-box. I have a number of canine sketches on the docket for this week, but I wanted to work on something rather challenging for today, and these two fit the bill.   And a challenge I got! 1/2 way through my painting session, I realized some major drawing issues, and had to resketch and re-paint the majority of the canvas. Oh, I hate it when that happens.   No amount of paint-pushing can ever fix a badly drawn composition. I've stopped trying to fool myself.   There's in process photos on the studio's facebook page - inside the Mobile Uploads folder.   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Anonymous   It's happening on more and more blogs. Someone checks in, leaves an anonymous message, and then runs away.   Well, the running away doesn't really happen. But seriously that's what I visualize whenever I see an anonymous comment - the fact that the individual don't believe in themselves enough to sign a name undermines their message.   And at the same time they completely eliminate the possibility of any sort of dialogue.   Isn't that one of the best parts of the internet? the conversations that play out because idea sharing occurs over blurred geographic and cultural boundaries?

Nuzzling Hope ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

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"Nuzzling Hope," 6" x 8", done in Golden Open Acrylics on a Raymar panel. Commissioned portrait of a paint mare and foal, the latest painting in my Gratitude Series (paintings of animals who were once homeless).   Hope (the mare above) and Lucky Star (the foal) were 2 of a dozen horses rescued in Arizona this summer. Abandoned, malnourished, some injured, most suffering from foot problems/abcesses/serious infections, the horses were in rough shape.   They were moved to a clean and safe facility, Hoofbeats With Heart, where they received proper veterinary care and nourishment, among other things like feet trimmings, baths, and TLC (You can see photos on a Facebook page dedicated to the 12 horses' recovery).   All 12 have all been adopted out - what a fabulously happy ending to the story, right? Yeah, I agree!   My client, who was involved in the rescue, commissioned Hope and Lucky Star's portrait. She is donating this original painting to Hoofbeats With Heart, where the piece will be auctioned off as part of their Charity Horse Show the weekend of October 1st.   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my paintings with your friends and family, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Holiday Cards   This year I have a reliable vendor who can deliver custom notecards bearing the image of your favorite Dog a Day painting.   Whether you are mailing or gifting, these notecards will bring smiles and warm hugs to the recipient.   Order "Holiday Lights" (above), Mona Lisa's first Christmas portrait, here.   Or browse the nearly 200 images I have available here.   Don't see what you want? Shoot me an email and I'll dig it out for you!!   Thanks so much!

'Secret Getaway' Equine Watercolor by Debbie Flood

This is one of my latest Watercolors. Secret getaway. You know, when I had horses growing up, I was always making a get away on my pony or horse. Such a wonderful feeling to jump on and go. It takes one to another place and time of imagination and stresses just melt away.
For me, now, I don't have the horse to jump on to 'getaway'. I probably couldn't jump on one now, if my life depended on it! But what does take me away, is creating works like this in my studio. The light in this bounces all around, the colors are bold, and the horse is sculpted in the paint. It takes me away every time I look at it.
Secret getaway is 11 x 13 inches and being offered for $1,200.00.
For more of my equine watercolors, visit my website at http://www.debfloodart.com

Thank you!
Debbie Flood

"Summer Paint" 9x12 oil by Kerry Nelson

"Summer Paint" 9x12 alkyd oil on panel

   A lovely palomino paint mare grazes peacefully in a grassy field dotted with summer wildflowers. Attended by her entourage of snowy egrets that eagerly snap up the disturbed insects in her path, the mare moves contentedly from grass tuft to tuft, sampling the various grasses in her home pasture.

Currently for sale on ebay.  To view more detail images or purchase this painting Click Here!

More work by Kerry Nelson is available at these links;

www.kerryoriginals.etsy.com/

http://www.kerryoriginals.com/

http://www.kerryoriginals.blogspot.com/