On Point - New Ballet Painting~

On Point

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

On Point is a new Ballerina painting. I have two daughters and have tripped over toe shoes many times.....This painting is available for purchase in my EBSQart online gallery and in my Etsy.com store. I will be finishing another ballerina painting this evening. "The Swan" will also be a 5" x 7" oil on canvas panel.

I will be finished the sugar bowl painting this evening and working on the large Field of Poppies commission. After that, expect to see "Tar Heel Art". I have been watching Tar Heel basketball lately and feel some new Tar Heel Art will be listed soon.

Well, I had better get to the studio, I have so many things I want to paint!

Thanks for dropping by!

Torrie

Vodka Martini, New Daily Painting

Vodka Martini

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~SOLD~

This is a new daily painting. I admit I am struggling trying to keep up with daily painting, commissions, and the real job. But, things will get better once I get into the routine. There are so many things I want to paint, inspiration is not the problem...it is the "only 24-hours in a day" thing. I really need about five more!

The new Vodka Martini painting is currently available for purchase in my online gallery at EBSQart.com and in my Etsy.com store.

I am currently finishing up the Red Sugar Bowl painting and I am in the process of a large poppy landscape. I have not neglected my Different Strokes for Different Folks, it is in the beginning stages.

Well, off to the studio!

Torrie

The Ballerina

The Ballerina

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~SOLD~

There are not enough hours in the day! Pretend it is Monday morning.....I have been trying to get to this all day! There was so much to do today, including taking the babies to the Vet to get a check up and their nails done. The keys are still sticking on the computer keyboard....don't know why, I spilled diet coke.....so, why are the keys sticking....there is probably a diet coke conspiracy and they are putting real sugar in it......

The Ballerina is currently listed for sale in my Etsy.com store and my online Gallery. I love painting ballerinas, I need to paint more of them.

Well, I better get to the studio, there are paintings that need to be finished. I bought Krispy Kreme donuts using the excuse to use them in a painting.....I better get some reference photos before I eat all of them!

Until the next post~

Torrie

Afternoon Tea and Small Gold Pear

Afternoon Tea

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Small Gold Pear

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I have been playing catch up, I have had the place all to myself and what do I do~~~ waste time enjoying the peace and quiet and sleeping. The dogs have enjoyed my laziness, relaxing with them and doing nothing.....but back to the real world! There is house cleaning, laundry, and last but not least, painting to do. I am so behind on emails and updates!

I have finished my Afternoon Tea painting and I am very happy with the results! I was on a roll and decided to followup with another gold pear painting. I have almost finished a new ballerina painting. I have a feeling that one will disappear when the girls get home!

Afternoon Tea and Small Gold Pear are both currently available for purchase in my EBSQart Gallery and my Etsy.com store.

I will be finishing up the ballerina painting and working on a large commissioned poppy painting this evening.

Thanks so much for stopping by, please forgive my recent laziness with painting and updates, hopefully that is out of my system for a while~~ I have things to do!

Torrie

Lemons on Red ~ Available for Purchase

Lemons on Red

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I have recently joined Daily Painter's Marketplace showcasing the work of daily painters. I have done really well with keeping my commitment with daily painting. The only day I did not post~ the painting was so bad, I threw it away. I sure in the upcoming year of daily painting, that may happen from time to time.

I love the new lemon painting. My two favorite things lemons and red! This painting is available for purchase currently in my EBSQart.com Gallery and in my Etsy.com. It is listed in the Daily Painter's Marketplace with links for purchase.

I have no clue what I will be painting tonight...I guess I will surprise myself when I get in the studio. I have been doing some pastel drawing. Another artist and I were commenting the other night how we don't really draw...just paint. I am going to try to find time to spend more time with drawing in the very near future.

Well, better get busy, there is much to do!

Thanks so much for stopping by~

Torrie

New painting listed today! The Bird's Nest

The Bird's Nest

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

The Bird's Nest is a new painting for today. This painting is available for purchase in my EBSQart.com Gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

The hardest part of daily painting for me is deciding what to paint next! I am currently working on some commissioned paintings as well, so maybe before the day is over I will think of something. ~~Maybe a floral still life....

Well, I have to straighten up the house, then to the studio to paint!

Check back tomorrow, there will be something new.

Torrie

Jefferson Memorial ~ DSFDF Challenge Painting

Jefferson Memorial

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

Different Strokes from Different Folks is a Painting Challenge blog where a photograph is provided and artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. What started as a weekly challenge has grown to include so many artists, we are now doing a painting every two weeks instead giving more artists the opportunity to participate.

Weekly Challenge for this week: Jefferson Memorial at Night.

This week we were asked to paint the Jefferson Memorial at night. I am having the time of my life participating with the painting group at "Different Strokes from Different Folks" . It is challenging me to paint subjects I would not have ordinarily tried to paint. I am very happy with the way the painting turned out. It was very difficult to get an accurate digital photo, but I tried to get close.

This painting is currently available for purchase in my Gallery at EBSQart.com and in my Etsy.com Store.

UP NEXT!

So many things coming up...I have a commission for a large poppy landscape (18 x 24). I have not painted large in a while, it should be fun. I will be finished up the Red Sugar Bowl painting. Also on the list is a new Bird Nest painting and maybe still life paintings including lemons and cantaloupe.

I am also thinking about working with pastel and figure drawing. ~I haven't done "nekked" people....this should be fun!

Well, off to the grocery store and then paint, Paint, PAINT!

Until next time~

Torrie

Pomegranate Martini~~

Pomegranate Martini

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

Continuing with the pomegranates~~ Pomegranate Martini. I have had so much fun with the pomegranate paintings. This will be the last one for now. I have some commissions to complete. One just happens to be a pomegranate, then I will finish the Red Sugar Bowl to go with the Red Creamer. Pomegranate Martini is available for purchase in all the same places including my Etsy Store and my online gallery.

I have recently joined with Daily Painters Marketplace. It is a blog with several other artists who are painting daily and selling the paintings online. This is a huge step for me, a commitment to paint everyday. I am going to try my best! If I can just keep the "real life" out of the way.

Well, Happy Friday to everyone! I am going to play catch up this weekend and try to get everything done.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

The Rooster III 6" x 6" Oil on Canvas Panel

The Rooster III

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

I was supposed to be painting the Jefferson Memorial and I got side tracked. It was a long day at the real job yesterday and I did not feel like working on a painting with so many straight lines! Painting a rooster was much more fun. So, here is The Rooster III, available for purchase in my Etsy.com store and in my EBSQart.com gallery.

The girls are making me cook tonight! Well, after that, maybe I'll paint!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Different Strokes from Different Folks Portrait Challenge

Torrie Smiley

Painted by Chelsie Brady

I have been having a wonderful time participating in the "Different Strokes from Different Folks" painting challenge blog. At the end of the year, our photos were anonymously matched with another artist and we were asked to paint a portrait from the supplied picture. I was a bit hesitant, not being a portrait artist and not wanting to embarrass myself or disappoint the artist I was painting. I must say, I am so glad I decided to participate. I received the most lovely portrait from a fabulous young artist that I would have never met otherwise. I feel fortunate to have been matched with Chelsie Brady. She is a talented young artist with many years of success to come! Chelsie's work can be seen at her website Chelsie Brady and you can purchase her paintings from her Etsy.com store.

New Different Strokes from Different Folks Challenge

Jefferson Memorial at Night

photo by

Karin Jurick

New Year and new DSFDF painting challenge. This is going to be a challenge. I have not done many "night time" paintings. I will be painting this on a small canvas in either oil or acrylic.

Well, off to the studio to get a bit accomplished before bed!

Torrie

Pomegranates! Another new painting!

Pomegranates

6" x 6"

Oil on Canvas Panel

***Sold***

This is the second pomegranate painting this weekend....I was on a roll. I have had fun with the deep red color. This painting is currently available for purchase at my Etsy.com store and my EBSQart.com gallery.

I will be watching the pretty dresses on the Golden Globes and cleaning house tonight....having company tomorrow. Then, more painting!

I will have to finish my challenge painting of the Jefferson Memorial for the "Different Strokes from Different Folks" painting blog/challenge. Then on to something new. I had so much fun working with end of year portrait challenge, I think I might paint more people!

Well, better rush off, Stella and Sadie are ready for their evening stroll.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

My Pomegranate

My Pomegranate

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I just finished the new pomegranate painting. Courtney Grace is hooked on pomegranate. Pomegranate lotion, shower gel, chapstick, chewing gum......she left pomegranate juice in my refrigerator when she went back to school......Pomegranate martinis for me!

The new painting is available in my Etsy.com store and at my Ebsqart.com gallery

I slept the morning away....(I never sleep late!) so, I am off to a late start! There will be lots of painting done this weekend, getting back into the swing of things since the Holidays. Check back again soon and see what I paint next.

Thanks for dropping by!

Torrie

Strawberry Cupcake~~ A new painting!

Strawberry Cupcake

7" x 9"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

Strawberry Cupcake was inspired by my baby girl who baked me a chocolate cake with strawberry frosting before she went back to school at UNC. Smartest thing I ever did...teach the kids to cook! Strawberry Cupcake is currently available for purchase in my Etsy.com store and in my EBSQart.com gallery.

I have been so busy fussing over photo software. I had marvelous software that I new how to use and get good quality images of my paintings for the Internet. Well, nothing lasts forever.....especially software! I am not a big fan of change ~~mainly because of the learning curve that comes with new software, but I am slowly getting the hang of Paint Shop Pro. I think it will be fabulous once I figure out all the bells and whistles. Maybe now I can get back to painting instead of working on the computer.

Now back to painting! Cheap Joes had a canvas sale and I placed on order--it should be here any day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

New Paintings!

Lemons with Silver

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

The Red Pear

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00 plus shipping

Field of Poppies IV

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

***Sold***

There are three new paintings available for purchase. These are available in my EBSQart.com gallery, the Etsy.com store, and my eBay store. I have been busy~~trying not to dwell on the fact that Courtney is going back to school. We have had such a wonderful time during the holidays. But, I guess it is time to get back into the routine.

My revamped studio has been wonderful....I am getting so much done! It is probably because I now know where everything is!

Time to order more canvas! Hopefully it will get here before I run out of ideas! I am thinking of doing more portraits, Chelsie's portrait put me in the mood. More still life paintings of food and kitchen items are on the way.....I have my eye on a cupcake that is in the kitchen~~it will look good on canvas......or maybe I will just eat it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

New "Little Big Bird" by request~

Little Big Bird

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

This is a new little painting requested by a collector. It was fun to re-paint the original emu. I am continuing to work on commissioned paintings along with new paintings to be added to the online stores.

I have not painted a landscape in a while. I will be starting a new poppy landscape this week. I also have a lemon still life painting almost completed. There will be more pear paintings in the mix!

Check back tomorrow to see what I get accomplished, the girls are headed out to the movies so I will have some time in a nice quiet house for a couple of hours!

Torrie

Portrait of Chelsie Brady~

Chelsie Brady

10" x 14"

Pastel on Black Strathmore Paper

Reference photo of Chelsie Brady

First of all, my portraits are few and far between and usually done of my children. When the "Different Strokes from Different Folks" painting challenge announced that we would be doing portraits of each other, it took a long time for me to sign up. I knew I would struggle with the portrait. Karin sent me this wonderful dramatic photo and I felt I had gotten so lucky ~ I could do this. I did not know who the young artist was until she posted her painting of me. Chelsie Brady is very gifted and so lucky to have started painting so young. She will have many years of painting to enjoy! Thank you Chelsie for doing such beautiful work on my portrait! This was fun and I am so glad I participated.

Of note, I did not realize how hard it was to get a good quality photo of a pastel portrait on black paper. I tried several different lighting situations to get a good quality photo without much success. I can't wait for Chelsie to see it in person (it is not so fuzzy).

Up next! I am finishing a requested small Big Bird painting and then I will be painting everything that pops into my head!

Thanks so much for stopping by~ visit the Different Strokes from Different Strokes blog to see the 130 artists who participated.

Torrie

New Painting ~~ New Year!

Happy New Year!

Pink Flamingo III

12" x 16"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~SOLD~

I am so excited about the new year ~ this will be the best year ever! Thank you to everyone who helped make my 2008 fabulous!

I have just finished Pink Flamingo III and it is available for purchase directly from me at my EBSQart.com gallery, the Etsy.com store, and eBay.

I will be finishing my portrait for the weekly challenge blog "Different Strokes From Different Folks." Then, there are requests that need to be filled. I am painting a smaller version of my logo painting "Big Bird" and I have another pink flamingo painting started. I will be painting a companion piece to go with the Red Creamer~~The Red Sugar Bowl. I have so many paintings swimming around in my head, I will be painting for a while!

Thanks for stopping by~best wishes to you for 2009, make it your best year ever!

Torrie