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

Yellow Tulips ~ New painting today~

Yellow Tulips

7" x 9"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I have completed my painting for the painting challenge at:

http://www.rookiepainter.blogspot.com/

I am so glad I finished my commissions in time to participate. This was really a fun painting and I am very happy with the way it turned out. The reference photo we used for the challenge is below.

Reference photo for Yellow Tulips

Yellow Tulips was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a canvas panel. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

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

UP NEXT~

I am finishing up the second ballerina painting (16" x 20"). I am also thinking of painting a geranium in a clay pot to go with the challenge painting that I just finished.

The next large painting will be a martini painting. I have not painted a martini in a while.

Well, off to paint~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

New Large Ballerina Painting~ The Ballerina IV

The Ballerina IV

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A ballerina in pink and white with a muted gray/blue/green background.

The Ballerina 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.

I love painting ballerinas and should paint more of them. I have a larger version of The Swan almost finished. It is also 16" x 20" and is the same as the previous small versions of The Swan.

I have finished my painting for The Rookie Painter painting challenge blog. I will post the painting tomorrow after I take pictures. It is nice to get back into the swing of things. I am almost finished unpacking boxes after the move to Charlotte and Audrey Grace is almost six months old- healthy and beautiful. Life is good~

Check back tomorrow for my painting of the yellow tulips.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Happy Friday!~ New Lily Pond Painting

The Green Boat at Giverny

11" x 14"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I am painting a large Monet-type lily pond painting for myself and currently working on small studies to see which composition I like best. I went through several paintings and pictures from Monet's pond and loved the green boat.

The Green Boat at Giverny was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality canvas panel. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

Up Next~


This weekend I will be finishing up the two ballerina paintings. Just a few final touches and they will be done.

After that ~ who knows. I think it is time for new rooster paintings and a new martini painting.
Thanks for stopping by,
Torrie

New Pear Painting~ The Green Pear

The Green Pear

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

A single green pear with a light loosely painted background.

The Green Pear was painted using professional artist grade oil 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 available for purchase using the Paypal button above for $35.00 with $8.00 United States Priority shipping.

You can also purchase this painting from my website or my Etsy.com store.

UP NEXT~

I will be finishing up my last two commissioned paintings this weekend. They are two paintings of a lily pond. I will post pictures as soon as they are finished. The buyer is choosing between the two. One of the paintings will be available for purchase. This will end the backlog of commissions.

I will be finishing the large ballerina paintings next. These are both 16" x 20" versions of the original smaller Ballerina painting and The Swan paintings.

After that....who knows, I have so many ideas. I will be doing a few large paintings for my new place, I will post pictures when they are done so you can see the paintings that I keep.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend~

Torrie

Mystery Artist Show and Sale

The Mystery Artist Show and Sale

Torrie Smiley

The Family

Kevin, Audrey Grace, and Dustin

The Gallery

All the paintings in the show were 5" x 7"

Refreshments

The Mystery Artist Show and Sale in Shelby, North Carolina was so much fun. I love participating in the event and will be there again next year.

I spent the weekend in Chapel Hill, NC visiting with Courtney and wandering around taking pictures. I take my camera everywhere and take reference photos for future paintings. There will be some fun ones coming up soon.

Today, I will be finishing my last commission that should have been done several months ago, then I will be finishing paintings that have been on the easel for a while. Ballerinas, pears, flowers~

Have a wonderful day, thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Mystery Art Show and Sale ~ Paintings completed!

The Royal Academy of London calls it the "Secret Postcard Event", Artworks of Cincinnati calls it "Secret Artworks", and The Arts Council of Moore County calls it "Anonymous Art". The Cleveland County Arts Council in Shelby, North Carolina calls it

"Mystery Art"

~ An art "Whodunnit" of miniature proportions~

This is the second year that I have participated in the Mystery Art Show and Sale. It is always so much fun. There are 200 paintings included in the event. They are all painted on 5"x 7" gallery wrapped canvas. These small creations are hung anonymously in the gallery and the identity of the artist is given to the purchaser of the painting. All paintings are available for $35.00 with the proceeds going to the Cleveland County Arts Council. Come and join in the fun at the opening reception April 29, 2010 from 5:30 through 8:30 pm. Come early~ the paintings sell quickly.

This year, I painted small versions of some of my favorite pear paintings and "best sellers".

Green Pears on Linen IV

This is a smaller version of the painting that hangs in my kitchen.
I have painted this composition several times. The paintings are in collections in the United States and Australia.

This is the third version of "The Lazy Pear" painting titled:

The Lazy Red Pear

Pear IX

The number nine says it all~ The brightly colored, loosely painted pear is a collector favorite. I included a version of this painting in last year's sale.

I am very honored to have been allowed to participate in this charity event to support the Cleveland County Arts Council in Shelby, NC. I moved to Charlotte at the first of this year, but still try to help out whenever I can. I publicly showed my first painting at the Council's Artist Competition in 2001, so there is a soft spot in my heart for the Council.

Look forward to seeing you there~

Torrie

Two New Pear Paintings Today~

The Pear - 2010

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A beautiful weekend with plenty of time to paint! Finished two pear paintings that have been in the studio for a while.

The Pear - 2010 is the first large pear painting of this year. A brightly colored pear with a muted background.

The Olive Pear was painted using basically three colors. The dark color which is a mix of Ultramarine Blue and Cadmium Orange. This dark color is then used with only Naples yellow and Unbleached Titanium. This is the result--I call it The Olive Pear~

Both paintings were painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted sides. Paintings were finished with a light coat of varnish.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

www.torriesmiley.com

www.torriesmiley.blogspot.com

Coffee on Red ~

Coffee on Red

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A fresh, hot cup of coffee in a white ceramic cup on a bright red background.

Coffee on Red 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 can also be placed on a small display easel. 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 or my Etsy.com store.

There are so many paintings floating in my head that need to get on canvas! The weather is beautiful and everything is blooming. It is very inspiring. The series "Paintings from the Porch" is currently on hold until the green/yellow mist of floating pollen eases up just a bit.

I am currently finishing up the two lily pond paintings. Half finished and waiting for my undivided attention are two large ballerina paintings and a large pear painting. Look for posts on these paintings in the coming days~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

www.torriesmiley.com

www.torriesmiley.blogspot.com

Torrie Smiley, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

New Tea with Mint and Lemon Painting~

Tea with Mint and Lemon II

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase

~Sold~

This composition was painted again, this time on a gallery wrapped canvas.

Tea with Mint and Lemon 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. This painting can also be placed on a small display easel. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting sold 4/2/2010

UP NEXT~

I should be finished with my Lily Pond paintings by the end of the weekend. I have also finished a second teacup painting, and will be finishing my cup of coffee on red this evening. So much to do, so little time.

Spring is here, the trees and blooming around Charlotte. I will have to take time to drive around and take pictures. They are all so pretty.

I am still planing to do a series of painting from my porch. The weather is just perfect and the porch is ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

The Pear Family ~ New small pear painting

The Pear Family

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Sold

This was just a small fun painting to do in order to get back into the swing of painting. Momma pear and her three baby pears in shades of blue, gray, green, gold, and yellow.

This painting is currently available for purchase using the Paypal button above, at my website, and in my Etsy.com store.

The Pear Family was painted using professional artist grade oil 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.

Spring is here! More daylight, better weather, and everything is blooming. This is my favorite time of the year in North Carolina. Time to get busy and paint! I am thinking of starting a series of "paintings from the porch", small creations while sitting on the porch upstairs. I will let you know how that idea progresses.

Well, off to spring clean a bit and then spend the day painting!

Have a fabulous Sunday~

Torrie

Fresh Orange II ~ New Painting.

Fresh Orange II

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I originally painted this composition in 2008. It is hard to believe it has been two years! It seems like yesterday. I loved painting it then and it was just as fun the second time around.

Fresh Orange II was painted using professional artist grade oil 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.

I am busy finishing the lily pond paintings. I started painting two different compositions, now it is going to be three. I am going to do a rendition of one of Monets' paintings of a woman in a boat in the pond at Giverny. Hopefully, they will all be finished by the end of the week.

Next up, the ballerina paintings are going to be finished and I am beginning a large pear painting (16" x 20").

Thanks for stopping by and check back again soon.

Torrie

Paintings Available at the Cleveland County Heart Ball

On Point II

18" x 24"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Field of Poppies III

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

On Point III and Field of Poppies III was requested to be included in the silent auction at the Cleveland County Heart Ball in Shelby, North Carolina, February 27, 2010.

The 2010 Cleveland County Heart Ball is one of the region’s premier black-tie events. For the past several years, the Cleveland County Heart Ball has attracted the city’s largest companies and most recognized corporate, healthcare and social leaders. It is the mission of the American Heart Association to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. The association's impact goal is to reduce coronary heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. For more information regarding the American Heart Association and upcoming events, click here.

This is the second year I have participated in the event. I am planning to continue working with the Heart Association and their Annual Heart Ball in the coming years.

Now, back to painting~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Lemons on Blue - Happy Valentine's Day!

Lemons On Blue

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lemons on Blue was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped museum quality canvas with painted side to allow for hanging without a frame. This painting can also be placed on a small display easel. Lemons on Blue was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting is available for purchase using the PayPal button above or purchasing from my website, or my Etsy.com store.

Painting today. I am getting paintings ready for upcoming painting challenges. I am working on a still life painting of three oranges against a dark background. In the reference photo, the background appears to be black. I am going to mix a bunch of colors and make my own black instead of using a flat black color. Hopefully this will add depth and interest to the background of the painting. Hopefully, I will have it finished and posted by tomorrow evening. Here is the link to this months' challenge http://www.rookiepainter.blogspot.com/ Wish me luck!

Well, off to mix paint~

Torrie

New Painting Available, Red Apple and Lemons

Red Apple and Lemons

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Taking a break from painting pears, I painted lemons and an apple. This small painting is available for purchase by using the Paypal link above or you can purchase it in my Etsy.com store.

I am almost finished with the Lily pond painting that was commissioned. It is coming along nicely. In between working on the pond painting, I have been painting lemon still life paintings.

I have to finish a large ballerina painting for the upcoming heart gala in March and then I have a long list of paintings I want to complete now that I am back to painting. Coming soon will be poppy landscapes, roosters, I am even thinking of painting a cat. I have so many ideas, I need to make use of my sketch book and write these ideas down before they disappear from my brain, only to be replaced by something less important or colorful.

Well, it is late and the intermittent wireless is aggravating. Check back tomorrow for another new lemon painting.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

www.torriesmiley.com

New Paintings Completed~

Lemons and Red Bowl IV

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

The Robin's Nest

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

The Cow

11" x 14"

Acrylic on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I have finished with this group of commissioned paintings that were to be completed before Christmas. The customers have been so nice and patient waiting on me to get back to work. I have a few more to get finished.

Up next:

I am painting Monet's Lily Pond at Giverny. I have a customer who has bought two of my lily pond paintings and has commissioned a third to go with the grouping. I will be painting the lily pond and including Monet's green boat that he featured in his paintings. This should be a fun commission to do.

Last but not least, I will be finishing up paintings that have been promised to the American Heart Association for the upcoming gala and auction.

It is nice to be back to painting on a regular basis.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Lean on Me ~ New Pear Painting

Lean on Me

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

A new romantic pear painting just in time for Valentine's day.....give me a break, I am no romantic--but, I do like how cute the pears are cuddled up together.

Lean on me was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for hanging without a frame. Painting can also be placed on a small display easel. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish.

This painting is no longer available for purchase.

Well, off to paint the pretty face of a cow.

Thanks for stopping by and stay warm!

Torrie

Prickly Pear Cactus ~ New kind of "pear" painting.

Prickly Pear Cactus

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

A bit of a departure from my usual pears~ This was a fun painting that made me a little homesick for West Texas. Prickly Pear Cactus was painted using professional artist grade oil paint on a museum quality canvas panel. This painting can be framed or sat on a small display easel.

I have almost finished with my commissioned paintings and then I will be finishing my large (16" x 20") ballerina paintings. I am anxious to get back to work on them.

Check back again tomorrow, there is a new red pear painting coming soon~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

EBSQart.com Spotlight on Still Life Interview with Torrie Smiley

The photo taken from across the room

Later with photo software, zoom and crop

Zoom and crop again

The featured Gallery at EBSQart.com this month is Still Life. I was asked to do an interview for their blog. Here is the interview, you can also see the interview on their EBSQ: Art Meets Blog.

What do I find compelling about Still Life is such a hard question to answer! I had to really think about it and what I discovered, to my amazement, is I love still life paintings. So many times when I set up to paint just for fun, it is still life. Landscapes and portraits seem like work.

When visiting galleries, I always gravitate toward the still life paintings. The different compositions-the setup, lighting, the everday objects The differences in technique can make the same still life look so different. I love detailed realistic still life and at the same time enjoy loose impressionistic still life paintings.

I often find myself looking at everyday objects the way the light is hitting it, the random placement, and immediately I think "that's a painting". I was eating at a restaurant in Ohio not long ago and from across the room I saw their water table set up, the light was hitting it in such a way, it was beautiful. I immediately grabbed my camera and discretely took several photos.

I guess what I am randomly trying to say is, I never set out to be a still life painter, my brain just led me that way.

This was then end of the interview. I have included the photos from the restaurant that day in Ohio. There is the original photo, the cropped versions of what could be two different paintings. See what you think....who knows when I will get around to painting it.

Have a wonderful day, I am off to actually cook dinner (lemon chicken with carrots)....those of you who know me are laughing right now.

Check back again soon,

Torrie

New Poppy Painting today~

Two Poppies

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I took the photos for this painting this past summer of the poppies blooming along Highway 74 through North Carolina. They were beautiful. I took several reference photos and then went on to painting other things. I came across some of the photos while moving the studio and decided to a paint poppies.

Two poppies is available for purchase by using the paypal button above or my online gallery with ebsqart.com or my Etsy.com store.

I am finishing up Lemons and Red Bowl for a commissioned piece and then getting busy with another Lily Pond painting. It is so nice to be painting again.

Thanks for stopping by and check back tomorrow~

Torrie