Day at the Beach ~ New Knife Painting

Day at the Beach
6" x 6"
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I wanted to try a little something different to get out of my painting "funk" lately. I think this worked. Painting with a knife is fun! It was so hot today, I kept thinking of the beach.

Day at the Beach was painted using a knife and 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.

I haven't decided what to paint tomorrow yet, maybe I will dream something up tonight!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

New Pear Painting~ A Pear for the Dramatic

A Pear for the Dramatic
6" x 6"
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

When I painted the red pear in my last painting, I liked it so much, I thought I would paint the same red pear again, this time with dramatic lighting on a dark background. I love the way it turned out.

A Pear for the Dramatic 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.

Now time to get busy~ there are so many paintings I have started. I am painting a "little" something special for Courtney Grace.....48" x 30" . I don't usually paint this large! It should be fun. I will post pictures when I am finished. I am also working on a small portrait of Audrey Grace and of course more pears!

Check back again soon~

Torrie

My Favorite Things ~ Painted!

My Favorite Things
8" x 10
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Reference Photo

This was so much fun to do! I have joined the painting group at Daily Paintworks This has been a fabulous experience so far, participating with so many accomplished artists. As often as possible, I participate in the weekly challenges. This challenge was the "Paint What You Paint With Challenge". I am a little late getting it done - slowed down by a recent eye infection.

Included in the painting of my favorite things are my brushes and Liquitex acrylic paint in Naples yellow. I think every one of my paintings have included some Naples yellow. I also included the worn out and paint covered pink spray bottle used to mist the paint to keep it from drying too fast on the palette. The bottle looks much worse in real life - misshapen from the sun and covered in paint. I used my favorite background color, the funny greenish color, that I use in so many of my still life paintings. Last, but not least, I had to include a pear.

This painting has sold.

Now, back to painting!

Torrie

New Paintings~

Summer Poppies III
8" x 10"
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

The Bird 2011
11" x 14"
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I have finished the above commissions and have started two new paintings. I am working on a submission for The Daily Paintworks "Paint What You Paint With Challenge" this is going to be fun one. It is a composition with paint brushes, my little mister bottle, paint, and of course a pear. The background will be my favorite greenish-gray color that I use in several of my paintings.

Next, I am painting a portrait of my granddaughter. I took a picture of Audrey standing looking out the window in my studio when she was just learning to stand and walk. I hope it turns out as well as I envision it in my head.

Well, that should keep me busy. I will sneak in a little 6" x 6" painting of something in the meantime.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

The Lazy Red Pear III ~ New Pear Painting!

The Lazy Red Pear III
6" x 6"
Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I have been busy with commissions and decided to take a break and paint one of my favorite pear compositions. I love painting pears and the loose colorful ones are my favorites!

The Lazy Red Pear III 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.

Now, back to work! I will be finished with the last commission by the end of the weekend and then I will be painting something for the Daily Paintworks Challenge. After that~ I am going to do a plein air painting of the field near my house - before they clear it for the new houses.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

New Pear Painting~ Golden Pear with Grapes

Golden Pear with Grapes
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Finally, a new small pear painting~

I am still working to finish a commission but decided to take a break from that and paint a little pear.

Golden Pear with Grapes 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.

Golden Pear with Grapes has sold. To see more paintings currently available for purchase, please visit my website gallery or my Etsy.com store.

For more information, click here to email the artist, Torrie Smiley.

Well, it is late, off to bed to dream up more paintings~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Torrie Smiley at Daily Paintworks!

Just a quick note to let you know I now have a Gallery Page at Daily Paintworks. I have participated in the Challenges in the past and now have a gallery page on the site.

I am thrilled to show my painting along side many of the artist I have followed online for years. Stop by and see what I mean....so many beautiful paintings in one place. Some of the artists are daily painters and others are like me - paint when we can painters.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Don't you hate it when that happens.....

Southwest Pear
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

When getting ready to varnish this painting, I noticed a flaw in the canvas. Usually, I notice things like this before I finish the painting~ I have pulled the painting from the stores, so sad, I really loved this one.

Well, back to painting. I am finishing up a new poppy landscape commission and then working on a new Emu painting~

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Porch Geraniums ~ New Challenge Painting

Porch Geraniums
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I painted this for the Daily Paintworks Painting Challenge ~ The Outside Your Window Challenge. I love geraniums and have bright red ones on my porch, just outside my studio window. I think my love for geraniums comes from memories of my grandmother. She always had red and pink geraniums.

Porch Geraniums was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality 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.

Now off to paint!

Thank you for viewing,

Torrie

Bird Nest on Red ~ New Nest Painting

Bird Nest on Red
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I am having so much fun painting bird nests. It is like an addiction. I have started another one today.

Bird Nest on Red 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 is available for purchase using the PayPal button above or at my Website Gallery or my Etsy.com store.

Up Next~

I have started a new nest painting~ I couldn't help myself, they are too much fun. This one has a blue background and is going to have some green in the nest, maybe a leaf or two.

I have almost finished a large (18" x 24") gold pear painting. It should be done by the end of the weekend.

The commissions are coming along. One is a poppy landscape. I will post pictures when it is finished.

Now, off to paint~

Torrie

Bird Nest Paintings~

Abandoned
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Robin's Three Eggs
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Abandoned II
4" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Robin's Three Eggs III
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I have been in the mood to paint bird nests lately, must have been the Spring ~. I am almost finished with the newest nest painting - on a red background (I think inspired by the current heat wave).

These paintings are currently available for purchase in my Website Gallery and my Etsy.com store.

It seems whenever I say I have finished commissions and will be painting whatever pops into my head~ then I get more commissions. I am currently working on three~ after that, I will be painting whatever pops into my head.. ... HA!

I have started a small painting of the geraniums on my porch for the Challenge Painting blog. Hopefully, this will be finished by the end of the weekend.

Thanks 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

Painting, painting, painting~

The Pear Chronicles 012
4" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Tornado II
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

The Pear Chronicles 013
4" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

Back to painting~ I have been completing commissions and painted a few new small paintings for the online stores. I have neglected painting pears lately, I have missed them. There will be more pears to come.

I have enjoyed painting the tornado paintings. Swirling the paint and making clouds is so much fun. There will be more "weather related" paintings to come. We have had so many storms lately, I have a wonderful collection of storm reference photos to use.

The show at the TV studio will be over soon and I will be listing the paintings in my online stores. These paintings will be available beginning Memorial Day weekend.

Well, off to paint! I have two large pear commissioned paintings to finish.

Check back again soon!

Torrie

May ~ WSOC-TV Studio

May at WSOC-TV Studio

The show at the WSOC-TV studio is hung~ I left WSOC yesterday evening, came home and fell asleep. I have been working several months to get everything ready and I guess it was just time to get some rest. My paintings will be shown until the end of the month. There are 23 paintings some new and a few that are in my collection.

I have two commissions to finish and I will be finally adding new small paintings to my online stores. Of course there will be pears, I have neglected painting pears lately and I have missed them.

If you would like to see the complete list of paintings in the show, please visit my Facebook Page.

Now, off to play~

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Tornado! ~

Tornado!
18" x 24"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I have been wanting to paint a tornado for a while and when I was given the opportunity to show my work at WSOC-TV in Charlotte, I immediately thought of doing a weather related painting. I finally put the tornado in my dreams on canvas.....you know what I mean, the recurrent tornado dream......I am so pleased the way it turned out, this will be a series! There will be tornadoes in all sizes and colors, after all, I do have those peaky dreams for reference.....HA!!!

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

This painting was created for my upcoming show in May at the ABC affiliate TV station WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina.

This painting will be available for purchase online after the show beginning in June 2011.

This will probably be the last painting created specifically for the show in Charlotte. It is time now for framing and finishing touches for the show.

UP NEXT!

Break~ I have a very full calendar in May, spending time with children and babysitting Audrey Grace. They have all been very nice about my constant painting the last few months. I have two pear commissions to finish and then back to painting for the stores.

I will be posting all the paintings included in the show in Charlotte in the days to come.

Thank you so much for stopping by~

Torrie

New Painting~ Three Figs

Three Figs
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Canvas Panel
~Sold~

When time permits, I like to participate in the various challenge painting blogs hosted by several different artists and groups. I sometimes don't get finished before the submission time, but trying different compositions out of my "routine" is a wonderful learning experience. This composition is from Paint and Draw Together.

I love the way this painting turned out.
Three Figs was painted using professional grade acrylic paint on a museum quality canvas panel.

This painting has sold.

Up Next~
I have been painting like a crazy person and running out of time. I will have to finish all the paintings by the weekend to allow them to dry and be varnished in time or the show in May. I will be posting pictures of all the show paintings soon.
Thank you so much for stopping by~
Torrie

Orange Bell Pepper by Torrie Smiley

Orange Bell Pepper
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I have been painting like crazy trying to get ready for the upcoming show. In between the large paintings for the show, I have been creating a few smaller paintings for the online stores. Kevin was cooking the other day with the most beautiful bell peppers. I grabbed this one and took a few reference photos before we ate it..... I am very pleased with the way this little painting turned out.

Orange Bell Pepper 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.

Now, back to painting!

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Interview~ The Etsy Times

California Poppies
30" x 40"
Collection of the Artist

I was honored and thrilled when I was approached to do an interview for The Etsy Times. It was nice to share a bit of my life and painting history. I am very fortunate to be able to finally have the opportunity to do something I have always loved. I love painting and look forward to playing with paint and canvas. My big dream is to one day be a full-time daily painter~until then, I am painting as fast as I can to put all the paintings that are floating around in my head on canvas before the inspiration passes!

Thank you to everyone who follows and purchases my work. I love it when my little creations go off into the world for someone to enjoy and share with their friends and family.

Now, off to paint~

Torrie

Painting, painting, Painting!

Robin's Three Eggs III
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

A small bird nest with three bright blue robin eggs and a soft painterly background.

I have painted this several times before, but I am about to paint a large one for the upcoming show, so I thought I would practice a bit before I went BIG!

Robin's Three Eggs III 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.

Harvest Moon
6" x 6"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas
~Sold~

I have been painting still life works for so long, I think I have been neglecting landscapes. I thought I would paint a few for a while.

Harvest Moon 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.

UP NEXT~

Painting like crazy!

I am currently working on large versions of two bird's nest paintings, both 18" x 24". I am also doing a large coffee cup painting 12" x 24". These will be for the show in May. I will be posting pictures as soon as they are finished.

I am posting and painting as fast as I can, still playing catch up~

Thanks 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