Kimberly Kelly Santini believes public recognition is best reserved for artists whose body of work reflects many years of effort and dedication.
It is with modesty, then, that Santini will be the recipient of this year’s Artist of the Year Award from the Orion Art Center. She will be presented with the award at the Art Center’s 2007 Snowflake Ball on Sat., Feb. 10 at Indianwood Country Club.
While Santini may be comparatively young to receive such a prestigious award, her love for art dates back as far as she can remember, she says.
‘I think I always had a crayon in my hand,? she recalls. ‘I’d always doodle on my homework and spelling tests. My passion for art melded with my love for animals.?
Portraits of animals are what Santini still loves to do, and selling them has put a little extra bread on the table for her family; husband, Rick, and children, Domenic, 12; Evan, 9; and Anna, 6.
Santini drew some of her earliest inspiration from a favorite aunt, and later, the wife of one of her father’s business friends.
‘My earliest memories of art are spending time with my Aunt Mary,? she says. ‘She would buy me new boxes of crayons. In a family of brothers, getting new crayons was comparable to a new baseball glove to my brothers.
‘One of my first supporters was a woman named Ari. She was an Indian woman who was married to one of my father’s co-workers. I was attracted to her clothing, her long dark hair and everything about her.
‘She could take a pencil and draw the most amazing lines. Everything she touched became art. She seemed to know who she was and she had a purpose.?
Ari’s sense of purpose left an impression on Santini, one that has spiraled into a successful and rewarding business and career in the arts.
Her ‘Painting a Dog a Day? project keeps her busy and focused on meeting deadlines. Her plan for the project is to complete one dog painting each workday for the remainder of 2007.
It’s an ambitious goal, but one Santini feels confident she’ll meet.
She says the paintings are all done in acrylics (her preferred medium) on canvasboard ranging in size from 4-inch square to 8 inches by 18 inches.
‘Christmas was insanely busy,? says Santini who is routinely asked to paint portraits of current pets, as well as deceased canines to honor their memory.
She typically works from reference photographs because dogs tend to be a little too fidgety to sit and pose for any extended period of time.
Digital images may be sent to: ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com. She completes the artwork on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Besides producing her own artwork, Santini gives lessons at the Orion Art Center and Orion Township Library. Her next class at the library is an animal drawing class for children ages 7 and up on Thurs., March 15. She is also planning a four-week teaching session for teens and adults at the Art Center in the fall.
There is yet another art-related program on her menu — one that could be invaluable to other local artists wishing to promote their work.
On Mon., March 5, Santini will present a Portfolio Development Class at the Orion Art Center, beginning at 7 p.m.
‘Having a portfolio is an artist’s statement,? she says. ‘It’s a way for an artist to expose his/her work to gallery owners, stores, the media and others. It’s very important for anyone who is contemplating earning an income as an artist.?
By nature, artists tend to be severe critics of their own work, but Santini says her personal standards for excellence generally apply to other artists as well.
‘I look for passion and an understanding of the subject matter,? Santini says. ‘Technique isn’t so important. It’s about the emotion and the use of light and color.?
One of her favorite local artists is Vianna Szabo of Romeo, from whom she has been learning how to better use light and color. ‘Vianna has an astounding grasp of how to handle paint,? she says.
Philosophically, Santini views art as an essential aspect of life, and one that doesn’t receive its deserved attention or respect.
‘Art is a way to personalize your world,? she says. ‘A piece of art can move you. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a high enough appreciation for art in the world today. Most of us need instant gratification and don’t appreciate the time and workmanship that goes into a piece of art.
‘I do believe that the arts are undervalued in our society,? she says. ‘The arts are not considered a valid career choice for young people to get into. I think children need a certain quantity of art in their lives, whether it’s in visual arts or in music. They don’t always have to be looking at a computer screen.?
Santini doesn’t limit herself solely to animal portraits or other representative art. When she has time, and the inclination, she retreats to her artistic roots — abstraction.
‘When I was in college, I used to work almost exclusively in abstraction,? she says. ‘Experimentation is the key to keeping creatively fresh.
‘I try to be creative every time I step in front of the easel. I don’t ever want to be 100-percent comfortable. I want to challenge myself — to indulge in exercises of pure expression.?
Santini acknowledged the board of the Orion Art Center for its continued support of the arts and for the Artist of the Year Award.
‘It’s a huge honor,? she says. ‘I think of an award like this as something that caps off a lifetime of achievement. I don’t feel I’ve done that. But it’s a tremendous gift to be acknowledged by the Art Board, and I’m very thankful for it.?
Santini is a founding member of Canine Arts Guild, a PTA board member at Stadium Drive Elementary, and sits on Lake Orion’s Main Street Design Committee and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee.
Contact Santini at (810)908-9003 or ksantini@turtledovedesigns.com.
Kimberly Kelly Santini earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in painting and a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from MSU. She did Master’s work at Cal. State-L.A.