An Evening at the Mint!

 STANDING AMONG THE ASPENS

24" X 30"

Me at the Mint!

The Last Inning - On the Mint Website!

A once in a life time opportunity!  I now can say my artwork has hung in the Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte and my painting "The Last Inning" is currently on the Mint website!  It really doesn't get any better than this.  I want to thank the Guild of Charlottes for making this opportunity happen for over 150 hard working artists in and around the Charlotte community.  So many talented artists in one room!  Filled with family, friends, and collectors; it was a great evening.

The Mint was filled with artwork of all kinds, abstracts, representational, fiber, collage, jewelry, pottery, too many to mention.  It is a wonderful exhibit.  Try and make it to the 5th floor of the Mint and enjoy the celebration of art!  Wednesday at the Mint there is free admission and plenty of parking at 550 S. Tryon St,  Levine Center and Mint parking.  

I plan on going back to the Mint to see the show.  There were so many at the opening, it was hard to see all of the art.

Thanks for stopping by and continuing to follow my adventures!

Torrie 

NEXT UP-- THE MINT MUSEUM!

 

Standing Among the Aspens

24" x 30"

Coming in just a few days!  The opening reception for the "Guilding the Mint" Guild of Charlotte Artists show at the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte will be Wednesday, April 23rd, 6-9 pm.  Admission to the Mint is free on Wednesdays.

The painting is finished, just need to apply the varnish, let it dry and then frame in a gold floater frame.

This will be my last show until the fall......maybe.  I will be a juror for the next Guild show, so I will not be participating.  It is the "Small Works" show, which I always love doing, since painting small is my favorite! 

I will be completing several small paintings to upload to the online stores in the coming months. I have been busy with constant shows since January and it will be nice to spend with time with family this summer.

Check back again soon!  I will definitely be up to something!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Opening Day Charlotte County Day!

                         

This evening is the Opening Night Reception at Charlotte County Day Art Sale!  I will have 23 paintings available for purchase at the event.  Here are just 20 of the paintings that will be available.  The sale hours are the following times and days:

                                Wed, April 9th 5 - 7pm: Opening Night and Sale

                                Thurs, April 10th 10am - 7pm: Art Sale

                                Friday, April 11th 10am - 7pm: Art Sale

                                Saturday, April 12th 10am - 3pm: Art Sale

I spent the morning yesterday hanging the paintings at Charlotte Country Day and forgot to take a picture of all the paintings after they were hung.  I will try to get pictures when the sale opens today.

Thank you for continuing to follow the blog, next week I will be posting the information for the upcoming Mint Museum show in Uptown Charlotte.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you at Charlotte Country Day~

Torrie

Charlotte County Day Art Sale!

More White on White

The Monarch II

The Peacock Eye

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Blue Morpho

These are just a few of the paintings that will be available at the Charlotte County Day Art Sale!  I have 23-paintings that will be available at the sale.  They include large framed hanging pieces, and small 6" x 6" paintings you can sit on a shelf or table or frame.

This will be my first time to participate in the sale and I am really looking forward to it.  The sale begins April the 9th and closes April 12th.

I am currently working feverishly to finish the large landscape painting for the Mint Show.  I will post pictures as soon as the painting is finished.

Thank you for stopping by,

Torrie

 

I'm Back! More Shows and More Paintings

Could you tell I disappeared for a while.  I had the opportunity to visit my daughter who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.  We had a great time and I can't wait to go back!  This is the view from her back yard.  I will definitely stay long enough next time to do some painting.  Virginia is a beautiful place!

Summer Strawberries

~SOLD~

The Last Inning 

~SOLD~

The Cain Center of the Arts Director's Choice show was definitely this year's highlight.  These two paintings sold and are off to live in their new homes.  I am honored someone has chose one of my paintings for their home.  Now off to more bigger and better things.

I have entered the Union County Center of the Arts Spring Exhibition in Monroe, North Carolina.  Two of my favorite paintings were entered.  More on that show to come!

ROBIN'S TWO EGGS

24 x 30"

ORCHID SOLO

20" x 20"

I am currently working on my painting for the Mint Museum show in April.  I don't do many landscapes---especially large ones 24" x 30"!  I will post pictures as soon as the painting is presentable.

Now off to paint!  Enjoy this beautiful spring day!

Torrie

 

Shout Out North Carolina Interview

 Torrie Smiley

This year has started out so exciting!  The Cain show opening was fabulous!  The Guild of Charlotte Artists Winter Show painting, Orchid Solo, was a fun painting with loads of color.  The show opening was a great evening.  And now this~, I was honored to have been asked to share my story with the online magazine "Shout Out North Carolina".  

You can read the article HERE.

I have managed to complete a few small paintings during all the fabulous adventures.  You can find them in my Etsy store or at my website, TorrieSmiley.com

There was also time to help move children to new homes and celebrate the boys 10th birthday.  I can't wait for all the fun coming next!

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

The Winter Show, Guild of Charlotte Artists

Orchid Solo

20" x 20", Framed

Me, with the framed painting

The Winter show opening with the Guild of Charlotte Artists was Thursday, February 6th, at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, NC.  There were over 80 paintings to view.  The show was well attended and so much fun!  The show will run through March - stop in the Good News Gallery to see the show and purchase a favorite!

Now on to the next adventure.  I have some new smaller paintings coming.  I will be uploading the new painting "Oranges and Cranberries" into the stores online tomorrow.   

There is an interview coming out soon for "Shoutout North Carolina". I will post a link when it goes live.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Cain Center for the Arts Show

 

Robin's Two Eggs  24" x 30"

Summer Strawberries. - Sold  6" x 6"

       

The Last Inning  6" x 6"
 

   

I had the immense honor of being selected to participate in the Director's Choice Exhibition and Sale at Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius, NC.  The event runs January 21 - March 15, 2025.  You can view the show online here         

There is so much to do!  This is going to be a very busy year.  

Next up is the Guild of Charlotte Artists Winter Show at Christ Episcopal Church, 1312 Providence Road, Charlotte.  The opening reception is this evening beginning at 7 pm.  I have a new painting "Orchid Solo" in the show.  I will post an update with a picture tomorrow.

Coming next~ I have a new small cherry painting that I need to upload to the stores and the cranberries and orange painting will finally make it in the online stores tomorrow.

Thank you for continuing to follow along with my painting adventure.

Torrie              

Getting Holiday Ready!

 

The Christmas Flower - Framed 

The Christmas Flower

6" x 6"

Available for Purchase without frame

This painting is currently in the Online Holiday Gift Art Show with the Guild of Charlotte Artists and available for purchase.  That show will run through the Holiday season with purchase available directly from the artist. 

I have four framed paintings in the upcoming Holiday Celebrations Around The World with Union County Community Arts Council, 327 S. Hayne Street, Monroe, NC 28112.  This show's opening reception is Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 4:30-6:00pm, prior to the City of Monroe’s Christmas Tree Lighting Event. Reception open to the public.

Here are the four paintings that are available for purchase through the Community Arts Council in Monroe.  These are all framed.

 

The Last Inning II in Black Floater Frame

6" x 6"

Red Pear in the Spotlight with Gold Floater Frame

8" x 8"

The Robin's Nest VI with Gold Floater Frame

6" x 6"

Another Pear with Lemons and Grapes Framed

5" x 7" 

There will also be framed paintings uploaded to my online stores for those wishing to purchase framed paintings for gifts.

Now off to paint!

Thank you for stopping by!

Torrie

The Butterfliles!

 

THE BUTTERFLIES!

The Peacock Eye Butterfly 

6"x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Profile Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Monarch Butterfly -SOLD

6"x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Profile Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly 

6"x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Profile Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Blue Morpho Butterfly 

6"x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Profile Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I have finally got all the butterflies together and posted in my Etsy.com store and at TorrieSmiley.com

This month is flying by!  Show, online shows, PopUp Markets!  So busy having so much fun.  I hope your holiday season is full of fun, family, and making memories.  There are more paintings to come...but, I have to finish my granddaughter's paintings for her upcoming 15th birthday.  This is a busy birthday month with one daughter and two grandchildren having birthdays.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the art!

Torrie

The Ardrey Pop Up Market

 

This was the best day!  The weather was perfect.  There were 24 booths of widely ranging items from designer cups, roasted coffee, hand carved sharks to hang on the wall, local honey, hand tooled wooden bowls, cookies, bread, and Christmas items.  

There was a very large crowd for a neighborhood event and everyone was so nice.  I plan on doing it again next year.  

Kathy Collins and I both sold some of our favorites paintings, but none of the butterflies (and I thought they were the best!).  This means all the butterfly paintings are being uploaded to TorrieSmiley.com and my Etsy store

Here are the different butterflies that are available for purchase.  They will all be available at my website

~Sold~

Now, it's time to get ready for Christmas!  There is an Online show with Guild of Charlotte Artists that will have one of my paintings in for sale.  More on that when the site becomes live.  I will also have paintings in a Christmas show in Monroe, NC.  More details on that will follow when the show goes up.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the fall weather in your area. 

Thanks for stopping by ~ Torrie

The Rocks of Lake Lure before the storm

 The Rocks of Lake Lure

16" x 20" 

Acrylic on Canvas

The Wittmer Collection

May 16, 2007

One of the first large landscapes I painted after a trip to Lake Lure.  It was purchased by the Wittmers of the Lake Lure Inn and added to their collection.

This has been a very difficult week.  The amount of devastation in the mountains of western North Carolina is hard to comprehend.  I am so fortunate my family is safe with little damage and back home with power restored.  

I will be spending this weekend in upper Cleveland County near South Mountain in my daughter's home. I will be back to the studio next week.

Thank you for stopping by,

Torrie

Hanging out with the Kids!

 

The past few weeks have been filled with the kids and travel!  I went to Charlottesville, Virginia to see the kids and celebrate their anniversary.  Charlottesville is not that far from Charlotte and the scenery is beautiful.  It makes me very anxious to get started on new landscape paintings.

Then a quick trip to the country to celebrate Miss Lucy's 10th birthday.  We watched her soccer game and then had a birthday cookie.  While in Casar, I noted a barn that needs to be in a landscape painting!  Good thing I will going back in a couple of weeks.

The Guild of Charlotte Artists major event ~ the PopUp Market at the Mint Museum was this past weekend.  I had a blast!!  I did not sell my work at the market.  When the event was in the planning stages, I was still working full time so I didn't have time to devote to painting.  I volunteered to help the artists unload and set up their booths.  It was so much fun, and very inspiring to see so many wonderful artworks in one location.  

Now off to finish updating my studio~ 

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Summer Strawberries

 

Summer Strawberries 

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Profile Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Love this painting!  Well love-hate this painting.  It was much harder than I thought it would be and took way longer to complete than I thought it would, but I am very happy with the result.  Fresh strawberries in a transparent blue bowl.  The dish was found in the garage of my daughter's new home when she moved in during the spring of 2020.  It is sitting on my Amazon dish towel.  

Since retiring from the "real job", I am slowly working my way up to daily painting.  My studio needed a much needed clean up (almost 20 years of clutter and hoarding art supplies).  I am looking forward to a slimmed down studio with more room to be creative.

Here are some progress shots of the painting.  I am trying to get better about taking pictures as I am painting.  I know that is a fan favorite, but I sometimes get so caught up in the painting process; I forget to takes pictures.  

This painting has sold but others are available for purchase at TorrieSmiley.com or in my Etsy Store.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

FULL OF HOPE

 

Full of Hope

24" x 30"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Collection of the Artist

I'm back!  How many times over the years I have said this.  Now is the time--I have waited years to paint full time and enjoy my art adventure.  I retired in June and hit the ground running.  I have completed three shows and am working at getting back to daily painting full time!

I am now on the board of the Guild of Charlotte Artists and having the time of my life.

Full of Hope was created for the Myers Park United Methodist Church Gallery opening.  I love how the painting turned out and is one of my favorites.  I have decided to keep this one for a while.  

You can purchase prints of the painting at Fine Art America.com

I am not quite back up to painting.  I am cleaning up my studio and completing some commissioned work and then the fun will begin!  

Thank you all for continuing to follow my work.

Current works available can be found at my website www.torriesmiley.com

Torrie