Lolly Llama ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Lolly Llama," 6" square, portrait of a llama, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. The painting can be yours for $299 - inquiries may come to me. From photos taken at the Michigan State Fair a few years back, I present for your viewing pleasure a lovely llama draped in all the colors of spring. And then some. Can you tell I'm in denial over the snow continually getting dumped on us? I have threatened to lay astroturf over our front walk and porch, just to add a much needed touch of green to the yard. ORDER NOTECARDS. ORDER REPRODUCTIONS (once the original is sold). Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend! Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family - Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com A demo page from my journal done with watercolor crayons and Ebony pencil Journal, Baby! I'm leading my fearless group of young journallers in a class focused on texture and color this weekend. I'm also organizing a new grownUPs Journalling group that will meet once a month. If you are interested in any of the above, please let me know! Thanks!! ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Back in the Saddle

 

With the Brumby Whisperer completed for Arizona its time to get stuck back into Back in the Saddle
I really enjoy painting black and white watercolours so Ive made the decision that half of the pieces for Arizona will be black and white watercolours.
Upon completion Back in the Saddle will be 10" x 14"

Catherin McMillan
http://www.animalarthouse.com/
email: catherin@animalarthouse.com
Commissions welcome.. gift vouchers available

Lay byes welcome
Pay Pal accepted

The Brumby Whisperer

The Brumby Whisperer

Well I think this fellow is finally finished... didn't want to add to much colour to the horses mane being white or cream in colour it could have become quite messy.

The Brumby Whisperer will be part of the Arizona exhibition in August unless sold before hand

10" x 14" watercolour  
Catherin McMillan
http://www.animalarthouse.com/
email: catherin@animalarthouse.com

Commissions welcome ... gift vouchers available

Lay byes  accepted.

Pay pal welcome

Driving Through Flowers

                                                                             "Driving Through Flowers" casein 24 x 12"

Yesterday I finished this casein on board.....Another painting inspired by the beautiful Friesian mares of Tanbark Acres Farm in Cana, Virginia. They are in the middle of foaling season on their farm now.....I am hoping for more beautiful Friesians to paint from their bevy of beauties!
Thank you, Tanbark Acres! The painting is available and can be seen on my website.

Part of being an artist is making decisions. Decisions on what to paint?,,,what medium to use?..what format to do?...how to start and when to finish each painting.?? And then what paintings should go to what galleries?..... what invitational shows?.... even what to blog about? [ If one chooses to blog...another choice! ] I am very bad at making decisions.....and that is how my day started today....What to eat for breakfast? One or two cups of coffee? Stay in my pj's to paint? or actually get dressed in jeans? ......I am tired already.

Our Cobs mares.... waiting for hay!

But I need to feed the horses hay again and do barn chores..........so, I think I will stay in my pj's under my snow pants, bundle myself into my down coat and head to the barn. All those other decisions can be decided on later.....as we say in Italy.."Domani Domani!!

Kathi Peters AAEA Assoc.,WAOW Assoc.



A Gentle Breeze ~~ Painting a Dog a Day by Kimberly Kelly Santini

NEARLY FINISHED: "Gentle Breeze (Nitro)," from the "Black and Whites" series, 8" x 10", portrait of a horse, done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessoboard. Almost completed - and can be pre-purchased for $469. Please send your inquiries to me. Those of you who follow the studio on Facebook heard me bragging last week about an ambitious piece I started. Monday had me lamenting about a painting that was giving me problems. They were one and the same, the piece I'm sharing with you today. First it sunk deep into "The Uglies" - that stage where the artist is still working things out, and nothing quite yet meshes or works visually. Every piece goes through this phase - it's just that some linger longer than others. And Nitro refused to budge from "The Uglies." And I didn't know how to fix him. Over multiple days, I studied the piece in a mirror, upside down, and from my periphery. I used red cellophane to work out issues with values (laying a piece of red cellophane overtop a painting reduces it immediately to a value study, enabling you to see any problematic areas). I imported a jpg to Photoshop and experimented with other choices. I thought a lot about the depth I was hoping to achieve and visualized the color theory and practices that would make it work. I closed my eyes and painted it, over and over, in my head until I had the confidence for another try. This morning I tackled things immediately. Within 10 minutes there was an incredible shift in the painting, and I had my mojo back! I thought I was done, but now see some subtle shifts to make that will shift the mane towards translucency and better connect the shadowed barrel to the head. But that can wait! For now I want to celebrate the completion of this one and bask for a bit in all that I've learned via "Gentle Breeze." Thanks so very much for following along with my artwork! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com PS I painted Nitro already before - you can see his first painting, "Freedom," on the Painting a Dog a Day blog and onFineArtAmerica. My winter herb garden, compliments of my sister-in-law, enjoying the sunshine filled kitchen. Early Spring?? Michigan has been blessed with several gorgeous, entirely unseasonal days this week. I've never done winter well - I pretty much bundle up and hibernate until May. But this week has been very pleasant. We've enjoyed long walks, thrown 1000 snowballs for the dog (it sure felt like 1000!), gotten re-acquainted with the sun, and even gone for a bike ride. The bunny hutch got a good scrape down yesterday, which made Lily and Clover happy. And the crocus-es and wild iris already peeking up got a good feeding of bunny poo, which made them happy as well. This is February! In Michigan! I just might have to fire up the Bar-B-Q tonite! Hoping wherever you live that you are enjoying your days equally as well as the Santinis!

EquiSearch

EquiSearch

The Brumby Whisperer.. work in progress

 

The Brumby Whisperer Stage 2

Started work on the horses head .. blocking his head and neck... and started work on the horsemans face and beard..

 

Some artists make beards on men look so easy.. Ive decided its a challenge as you dont want it to look like a line around the jaw but dont want it to look like a muddy puddle either.

Will continue working on the horse and then come back and re-work the horsemans face..

The Brumby Whisperer is10" x 14" and watercolour

Catherin McMillan

http://www.animalarthouse.com/ 

email: catherin@animalarthouse.com

Original work for sale

Commissions welcome

Lay byes and gift vouchers available

Pay Pal accepted