Lengthening Her Stride ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Lengthening Her Lead," from the Saratoga Series and fresh off the easel, 5" high by 22" wide. Details of each side are above, with the full view below. Add this painting to your collection for $599.     In process views of this painting have been uploaded to thestudio's Facebook page the last couple days.   Inquiries can always come to me!!! And thank you!!

Hope everyone has fabulous plans made for the weekend - we'll be spending time at the Dog Bowl in Frankenmuth, Michigan, hanging with family, and getting our veggie garden in.   Special thanks today to the veterans who's own personal sacrifice has enabled the freedoms we enjoy today, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Horse Portrait by Theresa Paden

 Horse Portrait

Commissioned Painting

"Buck"

By Theresa Paden

20 x 16"

Oil on 1.5" gallery-wrapped canvas

Sold- commissioned piece

This painting was commissioned by a collector 

who is giving it to his wife as a surprise for her birthday. 

This is her horse, Buck. I can post it here because 

she doesn't know about my blog yet, 

so it will remain a surprise :)

You can see more of my paintings all in one spot

on my website, just click here.

Click here to visit my blog

theresapaden@gmail.com

Hugo's pARTy !!

it's a pARTy !!   What's a pARTy, you ask? It's when a group of artists use the same reference material to create their work.   In our case, it was the photo above, supplied by Linda Shantz, starring one of her Thoroughbred babies, Hugo.   She invited a core group of friends to participate. Each of us work in a different style or media, and we had 24 hours to create our piece.   I was so impressed with the resulting art that I offered to share it via my blog and newsletter.   Here are all the Hugo's, in alphabetical order by artists' name.   I hope you enjoy!!   Thanks!

"Klein Hugo" pencil on paper 20x23cm 260 EUROS, inquire Sheona Hamilton Grant oil on canvas paper 8" x 10" NFS Sharon Simons Passmore         "Linda's Colt" oil on copper panel, varnished 7" x 5" $325, inquire Kathi Peters "Hugo" oil on canvas 8" x 10" $275 CDN, inquire Jennifer Pratt                 on pen and ink paper 9" x 12" NFS Donna Ridgway "Hugo" acrylic on panel 8" square $399, iinquire  Kimberly Kelly Santini     "Walk the Walk (Hugo)" oil on canvas 10" x 8" $450 CDN, inquire Linda Shantz   digital media NFS Barb Young         Thanks, as always, for following along with my - with OUR - artwork, Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Hugo ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Hugo," 8" square, painting of a fresh baby Thoroughbred, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $399 to the first asking "pretty please."    Be the first to ask.   In process views of this painting are available on the studio Facebook page.

My friend Linda Shantz (she's a darned amazing artist!) runs a small Thoroughbred farm near Woodbine (in Ontario). This year (in addition to a bunch of grownup babies) she's got three foals, each with personalities bigger than the other.   Born on Oscar night, Hugo was the first baby to arrive. Ever since, she's been regaling me with stories and adventures - these three will most certainly tear up the track (or whatever they put their minds to tear up) when their turns come.   In the meanwhile, they are keeping Linda on her toes.   This week Linda challenged a group of friends to make Hugo-inspired art, pARTy style. She shared a jpg and we all are to work from that image. I'll share all of the art next week.   This is my submission, not so creatively titled "Hugo" (I considered "Daddy Long Legs," but didn't want to confuse those thinking perhaps this was a baby portrait of the Derby horse by that name).   I don't think this will be the last time you see this guy - I'm looking forward to taking more pics of Hugo (and his siblings Elvis and Brigitte), along with their comrades later this summer when I get a chance to visit Linda.   Thanks, Linda, for sharing such a great inspiration! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Heads or Tails ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"Heads or Tails," 4" x 9", equine painting done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $279 to the first person to ask nicely. Inquiries may always come to me. And thank you!   A couple in process views of this painting are available onthe studio Facebook page.

Special thanks to Facebook fan MW who titled this one while it was still wet and on my easel!!   Other potential titles:   "I Can't Do a Thing With My Hair" "Where's the Detangler When You Need It?" "Tail End" "Kiss My ___" "Equine Backcomb"   Tomorrow I will be painting a foal, and, if time permits, another small track scene. I can't believe there's only 2 days left till the Kentucky Derby.   Who's your pick?   Thanks, as always, for looking at and sharing my artwork with your friends and family!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

Palominos #51 by Katie Upton, reproduced with permission of the artist.    Another Inspiration, Katie Upton   I happen fall in love with artists who's work exemplifies qualities I feel my own lacks.    California artist Katie Upton is a perfect example. What does she do that is so masterful? I'll tell you!   Her lines ooze with steely confidence. Even frozen in time, her subjects carry tremendous movement. She breaks form down into simple, gorgeous planes that retain every element of the overall shape while simultaneously carrying great strength as abstractions. No one can place a dab of color and make it sing like she can. Seriously, look at those greens and oranges and purples - it's like the Hallelulia Chorus!! She's created such a signature style that her work is distinctive and identifiable in an instant.    Thank you, Katie, for giving me all sorts of great eye candy and setting the bar so darned high!!   You can view more of Katie's work on her website.

Lorraine exercises good judgement

I am calling this one done. It was accepted into the Michiana 10th Annual Art Competition in St. Joeseph, MI and will be on display June 15-July 27 at the Box Factory for the Arts.

24x30 oil on canvas $725

Judith A. Johnson

judithajohnson.com

And Down the Stretch They Come !! ~~ Kimberly Kelly Santini

"And Down the Stretch They Come!!," 7" x 14", painting of a racetrack scene inspired by Saratoga, detail (which more accurately reflects the painting's color) below, done in acrylics on museum quality panel, $549 to the first asking nicely.    In process views of this painting are available on the studio Facebook page.   Requests may always come to me (and yes I am happy to set up a payment plan and yes I take credit cards and yes return collectors get 10% off all original panel paintings all the time).

I am so happy May is here!!     Because it's Derby Week, baby!! All horses!!   I spent last night reviewing photos, editing and cropping and trying to figure out what to paint this week. So many choices, not enough days!!   I've got 8 compositions but only 5 painting days, so I'll have to work quickly and productively if I want to do them all.   I cut to the chase this morning, bypassing most of my morning studio routine to get right to work. All day long I heard the thunder of hooves and the roar of the crowd, over which echoes the famous line "...and down the stretch they come!!"   It's going to be a fantastic week!!   I hope you enjoy!! Kim ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com

From Amazon, the book "Belmont Park, A Century of Champions," featuring artwork by Richard Stone Reeves.   Richard Stone Reeves, My First Equine Artist Mentor   I was one of those kids who never stopped drawing horses. And took every opportunity to look at them, whether it was nose plastered to the car window on Sunday drives, scouring the latest Sports Illustrated magazine for photographs of equine athletes, or pouring over every single book in our library that included horse illustrations.   When I was a young adult/teenager, over the course of 6 years, I had a Richard Stone Reeves book continuously checked out.   In high school I wrote him a letter (I'm dating myself, because this was long before email!) asking his advice on becoming an artist.   He told me to never stop drawing. To take every opportunity I had to draw everything I saw - not just horses. And to never stop learning and working to get better at truly seeing the world. That if I couldn't draw well, I could never expect to be a decent painter.   I am so grateful for his advice, as it truly shaped my approach to making art. And I am proud to carry it onwards and share with my own students.   I wish I'd have had the opportunity to meet Mr Reeves, who passed away in 2005. I satisfy myself with enjoying his artwork in person whenever possible and continuing to thumb through my own copies of his books.