Derby Week at Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

FROM TOP: "Illy," 4" x 8", equine portrait, private collection (THANK YOU!) and "Bay Mare," 5" x 7", horse painting, $249. Both in acrylic on canvasboard, both from the Painting a Dog a Day project. Inquiries may come to me.

 

The brushwork in both these paintings makes me happy. I've learned to say more with less, and I very much like this style of painting.

 

There's new paintings added to my Etsy store. This is a great location where it is easy to browse through unsold Dog-a-Day artwork, and there is a mess of other wildly talented artists and artisans over there as well. Enjoy your time on Etsy, and pick up something special for Mother's Day.

 

For that matter, if you tell me your purchase is for a Mom, I'll give you 10% off. What the heck, let's include newly booked commissions for Moms in that as well - through Mother's Day, all purchases intended for Mom's qualify for 10% off. Sound good? hope so!!

 

Meanwhile, I'm headed back to the easel to work on another painting. Can't get enough of it today!

 

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

Will see you tomorrow!

Kim Santini

ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

The Waitin Game by Catherin McMillan

The Waitin Game

this is my latest work to aid TREW horse rescue here in Australia. Still has a couple of refinements to make nothing major. As with all my works for TREW 10% is donated directly to that rescue.

6 1/2" x 9" pastel

SOLD

email catherin@animalarthouse.com

website: www.animalarthouse.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 

Presence

I painted this 30x40 oil on gallery-wrapped canvas as I was transitioning between series. I had been working on Equine Spirit paintings - somewhat abstracted/fantasy/dream images of horses that had more to do with capturing the essence of equine rather than literal interpretation. I was moving into (although I didn't realize it at the time) my totem animal series.

In this piece I really tried to suspend my own idea of what the painting should be and let the horses guide me. The thing I kept thinking about was the very subtle way horses communicate with each other - the position of an ear, a swish of a tail, an almost imperceptible shift in weight. To the untrained eyes, this small band of horses may seem to be completely at rest, unaware. But if you look at their ears, you can see as a group they are listening to each other and to sounds from the woods beyond. And they are aware of the viewer.

Click here for more information about "Presence."

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

Dawn's Early Light

Three horses wait for breakfast in the dawn's early light. This piece is painted in a very loose, painterly style. My intent in painting this was to create a painting that "reads" like it has detail but actually has very little. I'm happy with the results. 6x12, oil on gallery wrapped canvas.Click here to find out more about this painting.

www.katedardine.com

Belgians in the Field and other Daily Paintings

Original Oil Paintings by Sue Steiner

For several months now I have been posting 'daily paintings' on my blog at http://www.amulti-coloredlife.blogspot.com/ I confess I don't do a daily painting each day but rather fit them in between commissions and other more involved paintings. A daily painting for me is one defined as being completed in one sitting. The idea is to pack as much as I can into these paintings but because of the self imposed time limit I can not get too 'fussy'. What happens is the brushstrokes become bolder and more efficient and the work is looser and livelier. Thats the idea anyways! I sell my daily paintings at my Art Studio at Second April Art Gallerie or online at my Etsy Shop thru paypal.

Above you will see a few examples of my daily paintings on sale now. I paint horses but also do other animals as well. Some of my work also has an Amish or rural theme since that is representative of where I live.

To see more art by me please stop by my web site at http://www.suesteiner.com/

Thank you!

Sue Steiner

Equine and Animal Artist