There’s so much to share with you that’s happened these last few months, and many new things that’ll go down in the weeks to come.

First off, I would like to thank Margot van Horn of Margot’s Gallery in Oxford Michigan for hosting my first solo show ever this past March.  What a tremendous evening the opening was, and I was delighted to see so many familiar faces there.  Thank you also to my family of friends and clients – old and new – who contributed to the success of the show.  You’re pushing me onto greater heights!

One of those will be classes I’ve begun taking with portrait and still life artist Vianna Szabo (you can view her work online at www.viannaszabo.com).  She already has me exploring new ideas about color and light.  Already I feel as though my eye and technique has improved drastically.  I am excited to bring what I’ve learned into my animal portraits.

Speaking of which, two of those pieces were juried into the "Man's Best Friend" exhibit at the Carriage Factory Gallery in Wichita, Kansas.  They will be on display through the month of May.  The entire show will be available online after May 2nd (www.carriagefactoryartgallery.com).

I’ve officially jumped on the blog bandwagon.  What’s a blog you ask?  It’s an online journal of sorts.  Mine is more directed as a studio diary – chronicling various paintings (perhaps your portrait is out there!), and sharing some of my successes and failures as I continue to grow and mature as an artist.  You can check it out at www.ksantini.blogspot.com .

I will be continuing in my role as teacher through a Beginning Painting class taught through the Orion Art Center on Monday evenings this May.  I’m planning the course outline right now – but it will include some demos, and participants will be leaving the class with at least one completed painting.  Check in with Reggie or Trish for more information (248-693-4986). 

I’ll also be running a drawing workshop at the Orion Township Public Library as part of their summer reading program.  This summer’s theme is “Animals,” and I’m very excited to be a part of it.  I'll be instructing children in two age specific groups.  Check back on my Exhibitions page for more information as that develops.

I am thrilled to announce a new group for dog artists.  The Canine Art Guild, or CAG for short, was founded by a group of 6 artists (myself included) who wanted to form a cohesive, supportive environment and network of resources for those who paint dogs.  We’ll provide on-line instruction, internet shows, offer linking into a webring, and maintain a calendar of events (internationally).  The CAG will provide a web presence for those artists who do not yet have their own website.  It also will act as a resource for clients seeking portrait and commission work.  All levels and styles of artists are welcome to join – more information will be available at www.canineartguild.com in the weeks to come.

Spring time events include:

•  Continuing through May 3^rd  at the Orion Township Public Library, All Media Show.  I have three paintings on display as part of this annual showcase for southeastern Michigan artists.
• Thursday, April 6^th, Orion Oaks Elementary School’s 10^th Annual Fine Arts Night, 7-9pm, Lake Orion, Michigan.  I’ll be working on a painting, and have many samples of my portrait work on hand to view.
• Friday, May 19^th, Mystery Tour and Art Crawl, Downtown Lake Orion, Michigan.  I’ll have three paintings on display during this fun event, which includes a scavenger hunt through the artwork, and ends with a wine tasting at the new Whiskey’s in downtown Lake Orion.
• Saturday, May 20^th, Art in Bloom/Flower Fair, Downtown Lake Orion, Michigan.  I’ll be set up and painting live in the streets all day – swing by and say hello, and see the finished version of “Chauffeur,” the larger than life piece I started at last year’s Flower Fair!  I’ll be set up with the Orion Art Center. 

In addition to all the above events, I am continuing to accept commissioned pet portraits.  I do plan on taking some time off this summer to rejuice and enjoy the kids and sunshine, but some of that time will also involve a venture into landscape painting.  Stay tuned to see what comes next!!

Meanwhile, enjoy the sunshine and the longer days!