The Bay Bridge ~ Last "Ripped Off" Entry~

The Bay Bridge

12" x 24"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

by

Torrie Smiley

San Fran Bay 2

by

Carissa Martos

This is my third entry into this year's Ripped Off show. This time I partnered with Carissa Martos. She had such a diverse and fabulous portfolio, it was difficult to select a piece to "rip". I finally decided on her San Fran Bay 2. I have not painted a bridge before, so this was definitely a challenge. Click here to visit here EBSQart gallery.

Thank you Carissa for giving me the opportunity to partner with you this year. It was so much fun and I can't wait for you to see the painting in person. Click here to see the entire "Ripped Off" Show at EBSQart.com.

The Bay Bridge was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting was gifted to Carissa Martos. Prints of this painting can be purchased from Fine Art America.com.

Well, off to the next painting adventure~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Carissa Martos ~ Ripped Me Off~

Afternoon Tea

by

Carissa M. Martos

Afternoon Tea

by

Torrie Smiley

Participating in the "Ripped Off" Show has been so much fun~ This is the "Ripped Off" version of my painting Afternoon Tea. Carissa Martos is my third partner in this year's show. She chose to rip one of my very favorite paintings. I love what she has done and cannot wait to see it in person.

Visit Carissa Martos' gallery at EBSQart.com. She has a fabulous and varied gallery.

San Fran Bay 2

by

Carissa M. Martos

Now, I have to get busy finishing my last entry in the show. I am "ripping" Carissa's San Fran Bay 2. I have never painted a bridge before and this is indeed a challenge. The painting is on a 12" x 24" gallery wrapped canvas and I am cropping the composition a bit and focusing on the bridge. Check back soon to see the finished painting. I have to hurry the deadline is rapidly approaching!

Thanks for stopping by and following my work,

Torrie

Orchid for Amanda~ Finally Finished!

Orchid for Amanda

16" x 20" x 1.5"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Room, with a View

by

Amanda Makepeace

This is my second entry into this year's Ripped Off show. I was so excited to partner with Amanda Makepeace. It gave me the opportunity to rip a painting of hers that I love! I just didn't know how hard it would be~ I painted my version of her Room, With a View. I cropped her painting to focus just on the flower and put in my greenish-yellow background that I use on so many of my paintings.

To see the entire show, please visit EBSQart.com.

Thank you so much Amanda for asking me to partner with you this year. I loved painting the orchid (even if it was such a challenge~) and pleased to send it to you.

Orchid for Amanda was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting was gifted to Amanda Makepeace. Prints of this painting can be purchased from Fine Art America.com.

Now, time to move on to the third challenge painting.... this one will be of the Golden Gate Bridge....no, I haven't painted a bridge before~ Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Ripped Off ~ by Amanda Makepeace~ Evening Cup

Evening Cup

by

Amanda Makepeace

Entry in "Ripped Off Show" at EBSQart.com

Morning Cup

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

2009

I love it! The best part about participating in the "Ripped Off" shows is exchanging the pieces of art after it is done. Amanda Makepeace chose to rip off my Morning Cup. I like her version much better than mine and I am so excited about hanging it in my kitchen.

Stop by the Amanda Makepeace gallery at EBSQart.com and see this paintings and others. I love her work~

Click here to visit the "Ripped Off Show" at EBSQart.com.

I have finally finished my version of Amanda's painting Room, With a View. I will be posting the painting tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Four Cherries ~ New Painting Today~

Four Cherries

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel
~Sold~

I have started participating in the new challenge painting group at www.rookiepainter.blogspot.com
~ when time permits. This was a fun painting to do....I love painting cherries.

Four Cherries was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a small canvas panel. Painting can be framed or placed on a small display easel. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting is no longer available for purchase.

Currently, in the studio~

I am working on my submissions for the "Ripped Off" show at EBSQart.com. I am about half done with the Orchid painting and I will be shopping this weekend for a canvas for the third painting. It is going to be the Golden Gate Bridge and I want a long thin canvas.

Well, it is late and tomorrow will be a very long day~

Stop by again soon,

Torrie

Sherry's Rain ~ My "Ripped Off" Entry

Sherry's Rain

16" x 20" x 1.5"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Nature's Art

by

Sherry Key

Sherry's Rain ~ Progress 3

before the rain was added


Sherry's Rain Progress 2
Getting a little scared....don't really
know what I am doing....



Sherry's Rain, getting started

painted black over sketch

This is my entry into this year's Ripped Off show. I love participating in this show. It gives me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and do something new and different. This is the first time I have attempted painting with a knife. It was so much fun, I may have to do more knife paintings!

I "ripped" Nature's Art by Sherry Key. Thank you so much Sherry for asking me to partner with you this year. It was and honor and tons of fun to rip your work.

Sherry's Rain was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting was gifted to Sherry Key. Prints of this painting can be purchased from Fine Art America.com.

This is the first of three entries I will be painting for "The Ripped Off" show at EBSQart.com. Next, I am ripping "Room with a View" by Amanda Makepeace. That painting will be posted later this week.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Artist Sherry Key ~ Ripped me off~

E-MOTO

by: Sherry Key

Entry in EBSQart.com "Ripped Off" Show

Ripped ~ Big Bird

Watercolor, 2002

I love participating with other artists in the Ripped Off shows at EBSQart.com. I have partnered with Sherry Key this year, and she finished way ahead of me. This is her entry in the show. She ripped the original watercolor big bird painting I did in 2002 ~ I was a newbie to painting then and I signed my paintings "Victoria".

Check out this painting and other original works by Sherry Key at EBSQart.com.

I will be working on Sherry's painting for the next few days, hopefully posting a picture of the final painting soon.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

EBSQart ~ Blogger of the Week

Torrie Smiley

I was thrilled and honored to be EBSQart blogger of the week. I started blogging in May 2006. My blog is still a work in progress. My goal is to have a blog that is informative, fun, and that gives my collectors more information about me and my paintings.

Check out the interview at EBSQ - Art Meets Blog for the full interview and the interviews of other EBSQ artist that I follow and admire.

Thanks for stopping by~ I will be painting later today. (Small loosely painted pear).

Torrie

It is time to RIP OFF!

Claudia's Calla Lilies

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Ripped Off Entry 2009

One of my favorite things every year is the Ripped Off show at EBSQart.com. This is where you pair up with someone, and go through their portfolio and "rip off" a piece of their artwork. It can be one piece or a combination, your interpretation of their work, ideas, medium, technique. This year I have paired with three artists. I will be very busy this month trying to finish all the paintings on time. The first one to tackle is a photo from Sherry Key. I plan on painting this with acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped canvas (16" x 20"). I chose this piece because it is loose and colorful and I can play with swirling puddles of paint.

My next artist to rip is Amanda Makepeace. I have loved this painting since I first saw it and I can't wait to do my version of her lovely orchid. I am still working with several ideas, I can't decide whether to crop the painting and do a version of just the center or back out and do the orchid ~ I have time to decide while I finish my version of Sherry's photo. My orchid painting will be acrylic paint on a 16" x 20" gallery wrapped canvas.

Now comes the hardest part, I am torn between the two photographs from EBSQ artist Carissa Martos. I love both the photos and don't know which one I can render the best painted version. I would love to paint the Golden Gate bridge, but I am afraid my skill level is not quite there yet. I have decided to paint this one last, that way I have time to decide and maybe paint both and see which one I like the best.

Well, as you can see, I have my work cut out for me and I had better get busy. I will be posting the paintings as I finish them before I send them off to live with their artist owners that I Ripped Off.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Daisies and Lemons ~ New small painting

Daisies and Lemons

6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

After unloading everything from my daughter's baby shower in October 2009, I had a few centerpieces at the house. I put one on the table added a few lemons and took reference photos thinking that needs to be a painting someday......someday finally got here and I painted a small still life of the flowers from her shower. Yes, the baby is here and she is beautiful and 7 months old. Yes, I am finally getting caught up and painting new and different things~

Daisies and Lemons was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

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

Coming up~

I am so excited to be included in the EBSQ artists who blog~ the interview will be coming out next week and I will post a link then.

It is time for the Ripped Off show at EBSQart.com. I have agreed to participate with three artists this year (what was I thinking!) I had better get busy~ I will post the paintings as they are finished along with link to the various artists websites.

Yes, I am still working on the martini painting...I have come to the un-fun part, and I guess that could be why it is sitting in the corner half finished.......staring at me with that "you don't love me" glare. All that is left to do is the detail of the glass-- may this week.

Well, I had better get busy, there is much to paint and so little time~

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

The Lazy Red Pear II ~ New small pear painting

The Lazy Red Pear II

6"x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A new small pear painting is a composition I have done before. I just this painting. I am very happy with the way it turned out.

The Lazy Red Pear II was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

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

Up Next~

I am almost finished with the martini painting, taking a brief break from it to do smaller works. I am also starting still life painting from a reference photo I took of flowers at my daughter's baby shower. My granddaughter is now seven months old, so that was a while ago.

Thanks for stopping by and check back again soon.

Torrie

Red Geraniums ~ New Small Painting

Red Geraniums

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

The original plan was to sit on the porch and paint~ well, the heat wave came much sooner than I expected and I have not been able to sit and paint on the porch, so the next best thing--paint what is on the porch. This potted red geranium lives on my front porch with several other geraniums of varying colors. Hopefully, at some point in time, I will be able to sit and enjoy the porch and paint without burning up.

Red Geraniums was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting is available for purchase by using the Paypal button above or at my website gallery or in my Etsy.com store.

This weekend has flown by and I did not get as much done as I wanted, but tomorrow is another day~ check back again soon and see what I come up with.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Yellow Pear II - Redux ~ New Pear Painting of Old Pear Painting!

Yellow Pear II - Redux

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Yellow Pear II

~2005~

Yellow Pear II - Redux is my entry to the 2010 Redux show at EBSQart.com We all change. We all grow and evolve. We all have things in our past that we would do differently if we were to be presented with the same situation today. This show gives you the opportunity to do just that. For Redux, you revisit a work of art you created in the past, and reinterpret it in the present.

This was so much fun to do~ I selected one of my early pear paintings from 2005. I have painted so many pears over the years, 2005 is just about where the pear phase started. These were both painted using acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped canvas.

Yellow Pear II - Redux has sold.
~Coming up next~
I am almost finished with the new large version of Martini Stirred. Just the detail work on the glass left to do. I have also started a small painting of the red geraniums on my front porch.
Thanks for stopping by,
Torrie

Finally~ A New Pear Painting!

The Big Red Pear

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A big red pear with a loosely painted light colored background.

The Big Red Pear was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

The Big Red Pear has sold.

Well, vacation is over and Mom is back safely to Texas, time to get back to work. There is so many things I need to get caught up~ the new martini painting is almost finished. There are paintings to do for several challenge blogs and then there is the "Rip off" show coming next month.

Check back again soon, I will be painting as fast as I can.

Torrie

Golden Martinis ~ New Large Martini Painting

Golden Martinis

16" x 20" x 1.5"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Collection of the Artist

Two loosely painted golden martinis with a hint of olives.

Golden Martinis was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a deep gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting is in the collection of the artist.

It has been a while since I painted martinis-- it has been fun. I am almost finished with the new Martini, Stirred painting. After that, there is the large pear painting to finish.

There are so many things I want to paint~ and so little time!

Check back soon for another new painting.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Martini Painting in Progress~

In Progress~

Martini, Stirred VIII

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Martini, Stirred VII

~Sold~

This weekend was supposed to be filled with painting.........well, didn't happen.

Miranda and Dustin found the perfect house for their little family and we spent the weekend moving from various storage buildings in Charlotte and Shelby to Morganton. It was a fun filled weekend with the unforeseen mishaps that often accompany moving. Once all the boxes are unpacked and everything is in place, we will have fun with decorating!

Time to get back to painting. By popular demand, I am working on two martini paintings. Here is a glimpse of Martini, Stirred VIII in progress. This will be similar to the previous Martini, Stirred painting, but I think I will add more swirls of color.

The second martini painting will be shades of gold, yellow, brown and a touch of red. This will be a very loosely painted and more abstract martini painting.

Hopefully, there will be a completed martini painting soon.

Have a happy Monday~

Torrie

Salt and Pepper on Green ~ Prints now available

Salt and Pepper on Green

Available now in Print

A collector purchased my Salt and Pepper on Red painting and decided her best friend needed the same painting in green. She commissioned this small salt and pepper still life painting. A print of Salt and Pepper on Green is currently available in my Gallery at Fine Art America.

I spent last evening at the gallery crawl in the NoDa area of Charlotte. It was so much fun~ Viewing the work of other fine artists is so inspiring.

Today~


I will be spending the day in the studio today. Currently in progress are two new martini paintings and a new large pear painting. All the paintings are 16" x 20". The new pear painting is a colorful red pear with a light in color loosely painted background.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Now Available at Fine Art America

Big Bird - 2007

I have recently partnered with Fine Art America to offer prints of my original paintings through their website. You can now choose from a large portion of my work including paintings that are in my private collection.

When I painted Big Bird - 2007, I never imagined how popular he would become. Prints and cards are now available at Fine Art America.

Up Next~

Coming soon, almost finished with new martini paintings and new large pear paintings. Check back again soon.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

New Ballerina Painting ~ The Swan IV

The Swan IV

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I have finished the second large ballerina painting. I love painting ballerinas.

The Swan IV was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

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

I have been asked to paint more pear paintings. After looking through my online stores, I do need to add a few pears in different sizes. Watch for new pear paintings on 6"x 6", 8" x 10", and 16" x 20" gallery wrapped canvas.

Well, off to get busy, I am still unpacking boxes from the move....and mom's upcoming visit is just weeks away!

Stop by again soon,

Torrie

The Glass Birds ~ New small painting

The Glass Birds

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

This is my latest painting for the challenge painting group at www.rookiepainter.blogspot.com. These birds are so cute.

Reference Photo

www.rookiepainter.blogspot.com

The Glass Birds was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

I have been enjoying participating in the different challenge painting blogs. It takes some of the pressure off of deciding what to paint next. Yes, sometimes you do run out of ideas. I am trying to get time to finish one for www.virtualpaintout.blogspot.com I have been wanting to jump into participating in this one for a while, but just now finding the time.

This is a big weekend around the house, Paige is 23 today and there will be a weekend of fun. Audrey Grace will be here. She is 6-months old today. ~Time does fly. I will try to work in some painting between the fun and pool time.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Torrie