Flow Blue and Three Lemons ~~ In progress!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Flow Blue with Three Lemons in Progress

Reference Photo

I will be busy passing out candy to strange children in costume this evening and will not be painting~~so, I have posted the progress of my new lemon still life painting. I can't wait to finish it....but, there is a sidewalk sale in Charlotte at Cheap Joe's Art Supply in the morning... AND.... I have not finished painting the fence yet and tomorrow should be warm enough to finish. Well, so much to do so little time!

Enjoy the sneak peak at the painting and check back again soon to see it finished!

Torrie

Giverny Lily Pond ~~ New Painting in the Series

Giverny Lily Pond

5" x 7" Oil on Canvas Panel

***SOLD***

I have finished another small oil painting in the Giverny Series of the pond and gardens of Claude Monet's home in Giverny, France.

Next up~~ I am currently working on the Flow Blue and Three Lemons painting.

It has been a long day and the dogs need the evening stroll.

Thanks so much for keep up with my painting adventures!

Torrie

The Lily Pond at Giverny Oil painting on Canvas Panel

The Lily Pond at Giverny

5" x 7" Oil on Canvas Panel

***SOLD***

I am doing a series of small oil paintings on canvas panels. These paintings can either be framed or placed on a small easel to place on a tabletop, bookshelf, or mantle. This painting is available for purchase directly from my gallery using the link above or at my Etsy.com store.

The Lily Pond at Giverny is the first in a series of Monet inspired paintings. Next, almost finished is another impressionistic lily pond painting. After that, I will paint a poppy landscape painting using the style of Monet.

Currently planned paintings are lemon paintings featuring Flow Blue china and more pear paintings.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Design Style Guide!

The new website is up and running! Check out Design Style Guide! It is a brand new website catering to Interior Designers and Shoppers looking for unique one-of-a-kind handmade items to decorate and furnish homes. This is a one stop shop comprised of hundreds of Etsy.com designers and store owners. You purchase nothing from this site.....it provides you with information and links to the individual shops you are interested in visiting.

The different categories of shopping at the website are: Furniture, Holiday Gifts and Decor, Home Accessories, Pillows and Quilts, Pottery and Glass (my favorite), and Wall Art.  My paintings are included under Wall Art- original paintings.

Check this out when you are net surfing....who know what treasures you will find! New items will be added daily as the store owners add items to the site.

New Painting!

Red Tulips

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase

***SOLD***

You can see this and other paintings at the new Design Style Guide website. This painting is available for purchase in all the usual places

Thanks for stopping by....more paintings and fun to come!

Torrie

New Pear Painting! ~~ Pear V

Pear V

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

This is the newest pear painting. I was in the mood to paint something colorful and loose. Pear V is available for purchase in all the usual places, Etsy.com, ArtbyUs.com, and in my gallery at EBSQart.com.

I will be painting another pumpkin painting very similar to the White Pumpkin painting challenge. When I did the orange underpainting for the white pumpkins, I really liked how it looked orange and will probably do a pumpkin painting using orange pumpkins this week.

Well, I had better get back to work....it is turning cold and I have to get the winter clothes unpacked and pack up the summer.

Stop in again soon!

Torrie

The Orchid and the Dragon - SOLD

The Orchid and the Dragon

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I have just finished "The Orchid and the Dragon"

I bought an Orchid at Lowes one year. When the blooms died, I sat the little pot near the window in my studio. It had just two leaves draped slightly over the pot. I watered it when it was dry and my little clay pot with two leaves kept me company. Slowly, there came two more leaves.....and then this little stalk started winding its way out of the little clay pot. I really don't know how long it took to bloom, but I was so proud when four blossoms came. The flowers lasted for quite some time sitting on the mantle in the living room. I took several reference photos, I was so proud of my little orchid. The blooms have long since died and the little orchid had to be transplanted into a larger clay pot. It is once again getting watered regularly at the window in my studio, waiting patiently for another bloom.

The teacup is from a Dragonware tea service that belonged to my grandmother.

This painting is also available for purchase directly from my gallery using the link above or in my Etsy.com store.

Well, I had better get busy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Three Red Pears

Three Red Pears

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

I finished the red pear painting. This is three bright red pears in a gold - brass bowl with a muted soft green background. The painting is available for purchase in my Etsy Store and in my EBSQart.com gallery

Stop in again soon to see what I finally decided to paint!

Torrie

The Rooster II, New painting available!

The Rooster II

12" x 12" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~SOLD~

This is the newest Rooster painting available for purchase at my EBSQart.com gallery or in my Etsy.com Store. I have really enjoyed getting back to painting roosters. It was a pleasant break from the weekly painting challenge.

Miranda and I are currently recovering from all the "Fair Food"--caramel apples, funnel cakes, vinegar fries (I did not eat those.....or the fried pickles). The roasted corn looked really good....but I had the Bar-B-Q, onion blossom, and peach cobbler-with ice cream, whip cream, and pecans. Good thing the county fair is just once a year.

Miranda brought home another fish that she won throwing balls in a fish bowel. I am sending it to live with Courtney in Chapel Hill with her fish Gil and Gabby. Sebastian, the goldfish the girls won at the fair six years ago does not want company, so Midas is currently living in a travel tank. I did not know that fed well and given a clean tank to live in, a goldfish can live thirteen to fifteen years! Sebastian, the county fair fish from six years ago is currently in a 20 gallon $250.00 tank set up living like a king!

I will be attempting paintings from the reference photos that we took at the Fair. Maybe small watercolors at first. I will let you know.

Next up!

I am going to finish the pear painting and then I better clean house and do laundry. It will be time to get back to the real world for a while.

Check in with you later.....

Torrie

The Rooster ~~ New Painting!

The Rooster

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~SOLD~

Just off the easel! I have finished the first rooster painting. It is available for purchase at my EBSQart.com gallery and at the Etsy.com Store I have another rooster started on the easel. It is 12" x 12" and will be different colors. It should be finished some time next week.

I have also started the small pear painting. It is red pears in a bowl with a gray-green background, 8" x 10".

The Lily pond painting is next. It is 16" x 20".

I will be away at Chapel Hill Monday and Tuesday to see Courtney. She has an echocardiogram scheduled and I am going to hold her hand......I really think it is the other way around. She will be holding mine! She is handling all of this much better than I am.

I will check back in when I get back! Hopefully, I will be able to find gas for the trip!

Torrie

Field of Lace, "Flower of the Month Show" at EBSQart.com

Field of Lace

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

"Flower of the Month Show"

This is my entry to the "Flower of the Month Show"~ Queen Anne's Lace at EBSQart.com

I have not entered shows in a while, but the Spam and Flower shows were quite tempting. Stop by EBSQart.com and check out the shows.

Tomorrow then....

Torrie

Spam Martini~~ My entry in the Spam and Trout Show

Spam Martini

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This is my entry into the "Spam and Trout Show" at EBSQart.com . I had not planned on entering, but then the idea popped into my head and I put in on canvas. Check out the show, this is a fun one!

If you are interested in purchasing my Spam Martini, it will be available for sale only at EBSQart.com at the link above. If I put it on other websites away from the show, people may think I have gone a bit "nuts" with the martini art.

I have also started a small landscape for the "Queen Anne's Lace Show", I hope I get it finished in time. The need for "home repairs" is taking over. Courtney came home to visit this weekend and immediately noticed the cover over the back porch was collapsing....how did I miss that.... I guess that means ~~ladder, nails, hammer, caulking gun, paint, Ben gay, bed rest, Advil~~I should knock it out in about a week! HA!!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the Spam Martini and check back again soon!

Torrie

The White Pear

The White Pear

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

I painted all day yesterday.....but it does not count. It was my fence. My sister was so nice to come and help me put in a new gate. This one is the new plastic fencing that I don't have to paint and it does not weight a ton. I painted the fence surrounding the new gate and Bobbie built the gate. The gate is 11 feet wide and the old wooden gate was falling apart and to heavy for an "old lady" like me to open and close. Stella and Sadie are not too sure about the new gate. It is much shorter, much like a picket fence gate. They can clearly view the entire neighborhood and bark at all the neighbors. It must be intimidating to them to feel that they have so much more area to patrol!

I did have time this week to finish my new little pear painting, The White Pear. It is currently available for purchase in all the same places.

I will be painting today. Stop back by again soon to see the finished Rooster painting.

See you again soon.

Torrie

Finally! New Paintings~~

The Robin's Nest

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

Two Golden Martinis

8" x 10 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

New paintings! Trying to get back into the swing of things. The Robin's Nest was just a fun painting to do, something a little different for me. I love working with the 6"x 6" canvas.

Two Golden Martinis is the small study I did in preparation for the Marriage of the Martinis Painting. A more impressionist martini than usual.

The weather is starting to change ~~time for a new season and new ideas.

Up Next: Roosters!

There are new chicks on my block. Yes, I live downtown, somehow the neighborhood ended up with Guinea hens. So far, different neighbors come up with different numbers, but there are at least eight chicks following these two big birds around. They did visit my backyard one day....until Sadie and Stella convinced them to move on. I guess my new feathered neighbors is what inspired the bird's nest painting and the Rooster.

After that, hopefully more surprises!

Thanks for checking in!

Torrie

The Martini Commission

Marriage of the Martinis

18" x 24 Acrylic on Canvas

Here is the finished commissioned painting. It is funny how you get into the studio and paintings just happen. This is the only thing I have been working on lately. Hopefully, I will get back into the studio with renewed inspiration and energy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

An unexpected break!

Miranda and Courtney at the Journey Concert

I am sorry I disappeared for a while. Courtney has not been feeling well lately and it is hard to feel creative in the midst of worry. I made a quick trip to Chapel Hill this weekend to be with the baby. I will be traveling to Chapel Hill more often until she is back to her old crabby self.

I am in the middle of a Martini commission that will be finished by the end of the week... and then I don't know. I am extremely fortunate to have two wonderful, beautiful, intelligent daughters who make everyday an adventure in laughter and love. I am going to slow down, enjoy my girls and the canine babies Sadie and Stella.

When I get back in the studio, it will be with new ideas to fill all the blank canvas.

Thanks for stopping by~~

Torrie

New Poppy Landscape Painting!

Field of Poppies III

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for purchase at

Flourish Boutique and Gallery, South Bend, Indiana

I have been painting large landscapes lately....something I usually don't do. I have painted Field of Poppies before, first as an 8" x 10" and then as a 6" x 6". Now, much larger. I love painting poppies...there may be more poppy paintings to come!

This painting is available for purchase at etsy.com, from my online gallery, and at ArtbyUs.

Now, I have to take time to clean the house!

Check back again soon....there is an orchid still life painting coming (8" x 10") and a pink rose painting (8" x 10") in the works.

Torrie

New Lily Pond Painting!

The Lily Pond II

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase at

Flourish Boutique and Gallery, South Bend, Indiana

This is the newest painting available for purchase. I have started a series of Lily Pond paintings modeled after the paintings of the water Garden of Giverny by Claude Monet. Monet applied his artistic beliefs to the design of his water garden in Giverny and created a garden of forms and colours which was a masterpiece in itself. Monet had the waterlilies for his pond imported from Japan. I always start a series not knowing how many there will be. I just stop painting the series when I tire of the subject and colors. I think I will be doing the Lily Pond paintings for a while. There are so many different ways to paint the subject. This painting is currently available for purchase in all the usual places...Etsy.com, eBay.com, ArtbyUs.com, and my gallery. Flourish Boutique and Gallery has also asked for Lily Pond paintings for their gallery.

Up Next!

Field of Poppies -2007, sold

Currently on the easel: I painted Field of Poppies in 2007. It was 6" x 6" oil on canvas. I have decided to paint it again much larger. This time I am painting the subject 16" x 20" using acrylic paint. I will be making the poppies in the foreground much larger with detail. Check back again soon to see the completed painting.

That is what I am currently painting. Thanks so much for stopping by!

Torrie

New Painting~~Pear IV avilable for purchase for a limited time!

Pear IV

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase at

Flourish Boutique and Gallery, South Bend, Indiana

There is just not enough hours in the day! I have finished with current commissions. I am now working on getting a number of paintings ready for the Grand Opening of the Flourish Boutique and Gallery in South Bend, Indiana. This painting is currently available for sale in my etsy.com store and my online gallery.

Off to dinner and then paint, paint, paint!

Check back again soon!

Torrie

Beyond the Tuscan Sun

Beyond the Tuscan Sun

18" x 24" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Commissioned Painting

I have finished the commissioned painting. I really enjoyed painting the large landscape. I have not painted one in quite some time. I may have to paint a few landscapes...I know, I have been saying that for months.

Well, better go, I am going to a concert tonight and there is so much to do before then.

Check back again soon.

Torrie

New Pear Paintings!

Gold Pear on Red

6"x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Gold Pear with Grapes II

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

****SOLD****

The Gold Pear

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

***SOLD***

These are the newest in the small pear paintings. I took a short break from the current commissioned landscape painting and painted a few pears.

I should be finished with the newest version of Tuscan Sun by the end of the week. After that, I have more pear paintings. I will be sending new paintings to Flourish Boutique and Gallery to replace ones that have sold.

There will also be new small landscapes available soon....and I think I'm in the mood to create a new rooster painting.

Courtney is home from the summer session at school. She will be here long enough to pick up furniture and shop to decorate the new apartment. No more dorms! ~~ She also wants new paintings, I told her I would put her selections on the "list of things to do"~~ She does not like being on that list....It should be named "the list Mom will never get to do".

Well, back to the studio....time to paint some poppies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie