Day Five of the 30 in 30 ~ Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII

6" x  6" 

Acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

~Sold~

"I'm a Tar Heel born, I'm a Tar Heel bred. And when I die, I'm a Tar Heel dead."

Day Five of the  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  

I had my first toss out today.....there are always days when nothing looks quite right, those are the days you clean your brushes, put the easel away, and go see the grandchildren.  The best thing about grandchildren is they think you are the best grandma ever!  After lots of hugs and kisses, pretend tea out of plastic cups, and a rocking chair full of Minnie, Mickey, and me; I return to the studio with an uplifted spirit and renewed confidence~

This is another collector favorite composition that I have painted many times.  The Tar Heel Series of paintings began when my baby headed off to school.  Her and her husband have now settled in Chapel Hill and are raising a little Tar Heel of their own.

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality Ampersand Gessobord with painted sides to allow for display without a frame.  This painting can be framed or placed on a small display easel.  

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Large Pear Paintings~

Big August Pear
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Really Big Red Pear
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

This is what I have been working on lately. Two large pear paintings were commissioned by a collector who wanted two more pear paintings to go with the one she purchased earlier this year. They will be shipped out as soon as the varnish dries.

Up Next~

Painting for fun~

I am painting a cat for the Daily Paintworks Challenge "The Whole Cat and Caboodle Challenge." I may not be a "cat" person but I do love painting them. This painting will be available or purchase when it is finished.

There is a new series in the works......

"Chapel Hill"

I still can't decide if it will be a watercolor series, or maybe a little bit of everything - pastel, watercolor, and acrylic. Check back again soon for more updates.

Thank for stopping by~

Torrie

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred V ~ New Painting

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred V
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

"I'm a Tar Heel born, I'm a Tar Heel bred. And when I die, I'm a Tar Heel dead."

It's that time of year again~ March Madness, Basketball, and Tar Heels. It was a fun season and I can't wait until next year.

Yes, I am originally from West Texas and will always be a Texan, but these past few years I have become a Tar Heel. The baby girl will finish at UNC Chapel Hill this next year and is employed at the Daily Tar Heel~ so, needless to say, I am a Tar Heel Mom!

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred V was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting has sold. To see more paintings currently available for purchase, please visit my Website gallery or my Etsy.com store.

Up next~

New small bird's nest painting, and a small landscape painting will be finished and posted this week. The rest of the time will be spent working on larger paintings for the upcoming show in May.

Enjoy the coming week~

Torrie

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred IV ~ Finally a new painting!

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred IV

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

"I'm a Tar Heel born, I'm a Tar Heel bred; and when I die, I'm a Tar Heel dead."

Whenever Courtney is home from Chapel Hill, I get the urge to paint Carolina blue.

This painting is available for purchase in my online gallery or in my Etsy.com store.

Trying to get back into the routine. I am getting used to the new studio. Lots of space, I just have to remember where I put everything. I will post pictures, once it is presentable. It is still a bit of a mess.

UP NEXT~

Finishing up commissions~ a lily pond painting, new rendition of Lemons and Red Bowl, and a new version of Alabama Cow.

Thanks for stopping by, now off to work~

Torrie

Lemons, New Painting Today!

Lemons

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Just finished "Lemons", a new painting today. Taking a very short break from pears, but there will be more this week. Lemons is available for purchase in my EBSQart.com online gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

Also coming up, "The Old Red Boat", this time 16" x 20", also it is about time for more martini paintings, and finishing up the newest Tar Heel painting.

Off to the studio!

Stop in again,

Torrie

Mystery Art Reception and Sale~

Pear VII

The Swan II


The Green and Red Pear

Finished! I have been getting ready for the Mystery Art Show and Sale to benefit the Cleveland County Arts Council. We were given 5" x 7" canvas to paint and donate to the sale. I painted new versions of some of my favorite paintings for the Show and Sale. If you would like to attend, the Opening is April 30, 2009 from 5:30 pm until 8:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

Tonight, back to work! There are more commissions to be finished ~~ then,looking forward to painting new Tar Heel Basketball art!

Check back again soon~

Torrie

Flow Blue and Pomegranate~

Flow Blue and Pomegranate

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

This is another of the commissioned pomegranate still life paintings. I will be working on other commissioned paintings this evening.

Once again, congratulations UNC Chapel Hill Tar Heel Basketball! It has been a wonderful fun-filled season enjoying the games with the family. Best wishes to the team members who will be moving on, and I am looking forward to next year! There will be more Tar Heel Basketball paintings to come~

Thanks for stopping by, check back again soon,

Torrie

Fresh Pear with Grapes ~ New Pear Painting!

Fresh Pear with Grapes

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Still playing catch up, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel....it looks like a pear! This is the newest in a seemingly endless line of pears~ Fresh Pear with Grapes is currently available for purchase in my EBSQart.com Gallery and in my Etsy.com store. It is so nice to be home and painting again.

Coming Soon! Well, tomorrow~

Soon to be Red Pears

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I don't usually include unfinished or in progress paintings on my blog, but everyone is being so nice and patient while I slowly get caught up, I thought I would give you a sneak peek.

Two Red Pears VI will be finished and online for purchase tomorrow. Check back to see, there will be two very bright red pears on the muted gray-green background. (The red pears are Miranda's favorites!)

Next, three new pomegranate paintings that have been commissioned. I will post pictures before I send the new small paintings away.

Also on the to-do list: A new red boat painting, another large poppy landscape, and more Tar Heel paintings ~Go 'Heels!

Thanks again for stopping by, and I will see you tomorrow!

Torrie

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred III ~ New Painting Today!

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I'm a Tar Heel Born, I'm a Tar Heel Bred, and when I die, I'm a Tar Heel Dead! ~ I am a Tar Heel Mom, and this is my newest version of Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred. It seems during basketball season, I am inspired to paint by UNC Chapel Hill themed art. I have several more "Tar Heel" paintings in my head that I can't wait to get on canvas. As soon as I am finished with all the current commissioned pieces, I will be painting basketballs! This painting is available for purchase in my EBSQart.com online gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

I am taking the baby out for her birthday, she is home from Chapel Hill this weekend. Then back to more painting.

Check back again soon, up next is big ballerina feet!

Torrie

Pears and Pink Tulips, Just listed for Sale!

Pears and Pink Tulips

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I have just finished "Pears and Pink Tulips". You can purchase directly from me by clicking the link above, or shopping in my Etsy.com store or at ArtbyUs.com.

I have started something new. My baby girl has come home for Spring Break from UNC Chapel Hill. It is so nice to have her home safe. While we were watching the Duke/UNC game the other night, it came to me. I will be painting a Martini painting very similar to the Award Winning "Martini, Stirred". This time it will be Carolina Blue--with a Basketball in the center instead of the olive. Check back again soon to see how it turns out! I often catch Tar Heel fever after a visit to the campus. Courtney thinks she gets to take it back to school with her.....we will have to see about that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Big News at Etsy.com

More White Wine

More White Wine 8 x 10

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5228436

Big News!

I will be in the featured showcase front page on Etsy.com Saturday. I am so excited. This is great exposure! Wish me luck! Traffic has picked up on FineArtAmerica.com also.

I have had a request for more martini art, so there is more on the way. I have not painted new pears in a while, so that will probably be next. I will be sketching the new watercolor commission this weekend and another small Tar Heel painting is in the studio. So much to do--

The baby is officially settling in at Chapel Hill. I will be checking out the new dorm soon--the one with purple doors and green furniture---we didn't have cool rooms back when I was in college, but of course the dinosaurs were still in the way!

Well, off to work.

Thanks for stopping by, come back soon.

Torrie

http://www.torriesmiley.com/

Tar Heel Born - Tar Heel Bred

Tar Heel Born - Tar Heel Bred

Available for purchase at my eBay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/Torrie-Smiley-Original-Works-of-Art

This is the newest painting to be listed on eBay. My baby is heading off to Chapel Hill going back to school. This idea just popped in my head, and I had to paint it. I will be visiting UNC often during the next school year, so there will be more Tar Heel art. I am usually inspired when I visit the campus, after all, "I am a Tar Heel Mom".

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

International Artist Magazine

The Redhead

"The Redhead" has been entered in International Artist Magazine, People and Figures Competition. Winners and other entries will be published in Issue number 58, the December/January 2008 issue. The link to magazine is:

http://www.international-artist.com/iam/current.aspx

Click on the "Art competition" section, then click on "see other entries"

I have been busy cleaning my studio. I bought my house four years ago this month, in part for the small studio space just off the living room. But, it is a very small space and had gotten very crowded these past four years. So, I have cleared the clutter and found spaces for everything, --almost. Now, I will have more room to spread out and paint. The freshly organized studio will surely bring out new painting ideas.

Also, the baby is getting ready to head back off to UNC, Chapel Hill, along with that usually comes new ideas for Tar Heel Art. I have one in my head, but not on canvas yet, the working title is "Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred".

Well, getting late. Have to go dream up more ideas.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

UNC Chapel Hill Tar Heels

Baby Courtney watching basketball!

GO HEELS!

Today is for painting and watching Basketball!

Thanks for checking in-

Torrie