FRASIER
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Hi. I'm Anna Santini. Sometimes my mom calls me "The Princess" but I'm not really one. Mom can be delusional at times. But I don't really mind. It can make things a little more exciting. I wanted to help her out this week. Because I'm not in school, I asked if there was any studio work. She said I could be her guest blogger. Then she got a big grin. Probably because this would give her all sorts of extra time to bake cookies for me and my brothers. So this is a sketch from my journal. I will tell you a little bit about it. It is a toy dog from the bins of old toys my Mom has in the studio. There's more in her closet and the garage. And some others in storage, too. We like to hunt for fun things to draw and paint when we go to the flea market. This page has colored pencils and drawing pencil and pen on it. I like to mix materials up like this. So that is it for today. Thank you for reading and being our friends. Sincerely, Anna Santini PS My Mom says I can't share my own email here, but if you send her a note, she'll make sure that I get it. End of Year Celebrations As you've seen above, we've got a guest blogger this week. The Princess (my 10 year old daughter) will be sharing pages from her journal while I'm taking care of the business side of things. And, apparently, also baking cookies. I'll be in the studio off and on throughout the end of the year. I'll return emails and phone calls as soon as possible, and commence with my daily paintings once the holidays have been duly celebrated. I have a couple paintings in process, too, which I might blog about. We shall see what happens. But meanwhile, enjoy yourselves! May your homes be full of love and light and laughter. Have a wonderful holiday! Fondly, Kim |
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| Pastel by M Theresa Brown |
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"Ziggy," 6" x 8", Golden Open Acrylics on Raymar panel, commissioned rescued Havanese portrait, private collection (THANK YOU!). Ziggy has recently found his forever home, and his portrait will join that of his siblings Milo and Emma, who I painted a few years back. Ziggy's family fosters for a group that's new to my radar,Mill Dog Rescue. They've recently saved dog #4001 - can you imagine?! What a dedicated group they must be - I'm looking forward to getting to know this group and learning more about the personalities behind the scenes. There's so many people who go above and beyond every single day. And I'm blessed to have many of them within my circle - thank you! Thanks for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Happy holidays - Kim
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I know, there is snow on the ground now, so I'm a bit late in posting this, but things have been busy here at Sheltie Hollow, and Winter Is still a week away.
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"Andre," 7" x 10", ink on multimedia artboard, commissioned Boxer portrait, private collection (THANK YOU!). This is another holiday gift that will be headed home shortly. Andre's health took an unexpected turn for the worst last week, and my collector asked if I could put together a portrait in time for the holidays. We got to talking about the concept and this sweet lug of a boy, and I realized that an ink drawing would be the perfect touch. I used to do these ink drawings all the time when I was a teenager. They are such a great exercise in reducing your subject to values - darks and lights - and are a nice way to deliver an intimate depiction. I hadn't done one in years, and thoroughly enjoyed myself this morning. I like the contrast between the delicate lines and the big ole dog, too. Let's hope that Andre remains comfortable through the next few weeks and blesses his family with one more holiday. My fingers and toes are crossed for them all. Thanks for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Happy holidays - Kim PS I received a sad note from Andre's family that today was his last day with them. Please keep them, and all others who have said goodbye to loved family members, in your thoughts.  Tuck a Gift Certificate Under The Tree Looking for a last minute gift? A certificate for a pet portrait is a great idea that will give the recipient the opportunity to participate in the portrait process, resulting in a painting they will cherish for years to come. Email me for more information. |
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"Penny," 8" x 10", Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, commissioned Yorkshire Terrier portrait, private collection (THANK YOU!). I painted an earlier version of Penny a few weeks back, but afterwards we decided that portrait, while beautiful, was a bit too pensive.** My client wanted to remember her as a bright little spark, and the first painting was a bit too quiet. I was happy to give Penny another shot, and this version has gotten the two thumbs up. It'll get shipped home on Monday, and then carefully wrapped and held till Christmas. It's fascinating how color choice and body language can completely change a painting. These two pieces aren't quite so subtle, but sometimes it boils down to my minutely changing something and the expression is entirely transformed. So this little one ties up the Yorkie portraits for a bit. I've got a Havanese and a Boxer and a German Shorthaired Pointer and an equine and a few other faces lined up for this weekend and early next week. And then I get to do my own wrapping, baking, decorating, mailing and celebrating. Thank YOU for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Wishing you a very happy holiday season - Kim **I still haven't had a chance to download and edit the video footage I shot of Penny's first painting. Perhaps I'll have a chance to do that over the holiday break! However, if you are interested in purchasing the earlier version, let me know! I can get it to you in time for the holiday. |
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ABOVE: "Jojo," 8" square. BELOW: "Tuffy," 8" x 10". Both done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, both commissioned portraits of a Yorkshire Terriers, private collection (THANK YOU!) These two are companions to "Couch Potato (Sophia)" (from Tuesday). I worked on Jojo and Tuffy simultaneously yesterday, with Sophia's portrait in my peripheral, so that there was a continuity to the works. They will make an excellent grouping, don't you think? Now I'm off to put a dent in the few remaining commissions I have due prior to the holidays. My own ship date and deadline is next Monday - I've already got 7 paintings heading out. Let's see how many more I can add to that mix. Wish me luck! Thank YOU for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Wishing you a very happy holiday season - Kim   Tuck a Gift Certificate Under The Tree Looking for a last minute gift? A certificate for a pet portrait is a great idea that will give the recipient the opportunity to participate in the portrait process, resulting in a painting they will cherish for years to come. Email me for more information. It's Here :: The Third Book Have you ordered your copy of "Come Sit Stay" yet? This volume summarizes Dog a Day paintings from 2009 and has lots of other extras. If you want it (or either of my other two titles) by Christmas, the order deadline is coming up. Place your order viaBlurb. The Blurb website also has additional information about ship dates and order deadlines. Last I peeked there were some coupon codes, too, that will help out with the ship costs. FYI, the costs are the same as last year - this is a great value! Softcover, $44.95 Hardcover, $59.95 Image wrapped hardcover, $64.95 Thanks so very much! |
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"Couch Potato (Sophia)," 12" x 7", Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, commissioned Yorkshire Terrier portrait, one of 4 Yorkies I'll be painting this week. I've added some new colors to my palette. For those of you new to the Dog a Day project and my artwork, I paint with what's referred to as a limited palette. This means I set the exact same colors out for every single painting. One of the benefits of working this way is that because I am always working with the same ones, I become more intimate with the properties of specific colors, leading to a better understanding of mixing. It also ensures perfect color harmony every time. I'm continually using a balanced selection of pigments that compliment each other, and never introducing a new color that might throw that harmony off. And now, after working this way for 4+ years, I can almost mix color without having to look at my palette. However, I found myself wanting to improve my understanding of darker shadows and deeper colors. So I decided to mix things up and add some new colors (darker pigments/values) to what I laid out. This week I'm working with (the asterisked colors are the new ones): Titanium White Ultramarine Light* Prussian Blue* Anthro Blue Pthalo Blue Green Dioxazine Violet Jenkins Green* Terra Verte* Green Gold* Van Dyke Brown* Quinacridone Scarlet Cadmium Red Dark Cadmium Red Light Light Magenta Raw Sienna* Cad Yellow Dark Cad Yellow Medium Hansa Yellow Can you see the difference in the colors from this week's paintings and ones I did over the summer? Now I won't necessarily keep all these paints in my palette, but I will work with them over the coming weeks and decide which (if any) are my favorites and which (if any) are worth keeping. Thank YOU for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Wishing you a very happy holiday season - Kim The Third Book!! Over the weekend I completed - and published - my newest book, "Come Sit Stay." This volume summarizes all the Dog a Day paintings from 2009 and has lots of other extras. I've gotten many requests about ordering personalized copies of the book. I do regret that my workload precludes the offering of signed copies this year - I can barely stay current with email!! In past years, the inscribing, wrapping and shipping of well over 100 personalized copies took up 3-4 full days. This December I needed that time for painting and planning a January exhibition (and staying on top of my emails)! However, I CAN inscribe a card which you may tuck into the book. Let me know if this is something you would be interested in - and of course, with holiday gift giving, time is of the essence. Meanwhile, you may order your copies directly from Blurb. (and I have a coupon code for free shipping on 3 or more copies to the same address - email me your destination and I'll get the code to you!) Softcover, $44.95 Hardcover, $59.95 Image wrapped hardcover, $64.95 I also kept last year's price structure, just to make it a little bit easier for you. Thanks so very much! |
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"Marc Anthony," 6" square, Golden Open Acrylics on an Ampersand Gessobord, commissioned Bulldog portrait that was SUPPOSED to be a surprise but someone started reading someone else's emails and the cat (or Bulldog, as the case may be) is out of the bag! I've been painting holiday commissions since September, but it's finally starting to feel a bit like Christmas. Was it freezing our pa-tooties off at our Holiday Lighted Parade (GO DRAGONS!! our State Football Champs, wahoo!!)? Was it putting up the (mostly naked) tree (because we were a-feared that Mona would run haywire inside it)? Was it designing the Santini holiday card? Was it starting holiday baking (mmm, chocolate turnovers.....)? Was it placing the first (and homemade) gift under the tree? It might have been those things. But I think the clincher was the fresh snowfall we got this morning. It made everything look like a winter wonderland. So to celebrate, I splurged on a steaming hot gingerbread latte. And painted to The Nutcracker under the glow of Christmas lights. Thank YOU for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Wishing you a very happy holiday season - Kim PS As you probably already know, the internet was riddled with problems over the weekend. I had limited connectivity, and am therefore STILL working on getting emails out to those collectors with paintings in the new book. Thanks for bearing with me!! |
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"Balto," 8" x 10", done in Golden Open Acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord, private collection (THANK YOU!). I painted Balto at the end of October for one of my collectors' families. It was a birthday gift intended for Balto's Mom, especially important because Balto had crossed the bridge a few months prior. Balto's reference photos were accompanied with letters from the kids who grew up with him, sharing fond memories of what made this guy so very special to their family. I felt like I knew, I mean really knew, this dog. And that showed, I think, when it came down to the painting process. I am so touched to have been asked to memorialize this guy for a family that's begun to feel as though they are an extension of mine. Thank YOU for looking at, and sharing, my artwork with your friends and family - Kim PS Don't forget!! Tomorrow will be Artist Q&A Day on theblog - ask any art related questions over there, all day long, via the comments field, and I'll do my best to answer them!! PPS The proof of the new book has arrived! My goal is to have all tweaks completed and the ordering activated by tomorrow!! Emails to all collectors with artwork included in the book will start going out tomorrow as well.  Rosie !! "Violet Rosie," from November 2009, 4" x 5", acrylic on canvasboard, available for $189. Last year I painted Rosie, a yellow lab diagnosed with Evan's Syndrome. 50% of dogs pass away within 2 weeks after being diagnosed. Good ole Rosie is showing them who's boss! Evan's Syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, is a mysterious disease, one that attacks humans as well. Proceeds from the sale of Rosie's paintings (of which there were two - the other has found a home) will be donated to Meisha's Hope Fund, set up specifically for canine health studies of autoimmune/immune mediated hemolytic anemia, like Evan's Syndrome. Inquiries about Rosie's painting can come to me. If you want to know more about Evan's Syndrome, however, please visit Meisha's site. |
