Sneak Peek at 2007

New Work 2007!

It starts with wandering around the wine aisle at the grocery store, searching for that special bottle....it really has very little to do with the wine, it is all about the bottle.

Then it is time to get the bottle and the idea in the head to appear on the canvas with little effort. HA! Never happens that way..... but here is where I am at today... I am pleased with the start.

This is a 12 x 24 x 1.5 inch gallery wrapped canvas.

Check back again soon. If I am successful, the painting will be listed in my store.

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

Happy New Year!

Torrie

Christmas!

Miranda and Courtney, beginning home construction.

Miranda had to change clothes....some of the icing is going on the house...

It is nice to have the babies home decorating gingerbread houses, baking Christmas cookies, and making pecan brittle. We are having a wonderful Holiday Season. I have started working on new paintings for 2007 (when were are not baking or shopping). There will be large wine paintings, poppy still lifes, and even a four foot tall naked lady. These will all be listed on eBay beginning in January.

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

Merry Christmas and check back soon!

Torrie

Big Sale!!

It is time to start thinking of the new year and new projects. I lowered the price on several listings in my eBay store to make room for new projects in the coming year.

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

I am currently working on commissions for Christmas. I have some things that need to be finished, and hopefully will be in the mood to complete them before starting the new works. Enjoy your Holidays and thanks for collecting!

Torrie

Pansies, Entry for Art Show

Pansies

Available on Ebay

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

Pansies has been entered in the November Flower of the Month Show at EBSQart.com. Please visit the show and vote for your favorite pansy painting http://www.ebsqart.com/Shows.asp

Well, the fun is over and the hard work begins... I will be working on commissions probably through the Holidays. If I get some free time, there will be new works available on Ebay--but no promises. I will post the commission work when it is finished so you can see what I have been up to. First will be completeing pet portraits. Then on to people portraits.

Have a wonderful shopping season!

Torrie

Spring at Chapel Hill

Spring at Chapel Hill

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

Spring at Chapel Hill is now available for purchase in my Ebay store. I hope your Thanksgiving went well. Mine was filled with cooking and eating and cleaning! It was really wonderful. Courtney helped with the tree decorating this year. Miranda was only here for Thanksgiving day, she works retail, so I will not see much of her until after Santa goes back home for the year. Courtney is headed back to Chapel Hill today. I will be cleaning gutters and hanging Christmas lights.

Next on the agenda:

I have drawn out the flower-of-the-month Pansy painting for the EBSQ show. Time is running out, so I will be working on that later today.

I have a pet portrait in pastel commission to complete before Christmas, that will be next.

Then, hopefully, I will finish the half dozen or so paintings in progress to close out the year.

The holiday season frenzy has begun!

Torrie

New to Ebay

Rooster III

Available on Ebay

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

Dancing Rooster

Available on Ebay

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

These are the two newest paintings available on Ebay. I will be painting more roosters, but I have some other things I have to do first.

I am finishing up a new painting of Chapel Hill that will be ready by the weekend, hopefully. I have started an entry for the Flower of the Month Show on Ebay. I have to have it completed by the end of the month.

I also have a portrait commission to have done before Christmas.

The next wine painting will be a Merlot. It is also in the works. There is just so much to get done.

Then there is that whole Turkey and green bean casserole thing.....so much to do...I am a very lucky women.

Check back soon for the progress.

Torrie

New Painting for Ebay Store

The Shadow II

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

This is the companion piece to The Shadow. Both pieces are available for purchase in my Ebay store. Upcoming paintings planned: A rooster is next, then a Chapel Hill painting. There are still some large pieces that I need to get finished. Staying too busy with falling leaves. Going to pick up Courtney at school this weekend. It will be nice to have a critic back in the house.

Check back again soon.

Torrie.

New to the Bar Art Paintings

Very Dirty Martini

Chianti for One

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

New to Ebay, back by popular demand. Bar Art. These are the two newest Bar Art paintings. I will be doing a series of wine paintings along with Martinis.

Thanks for checking in,

Torrie

Home Before Dark

Home Before Dark

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

I was homesick and in the mood for Western art, and this is what I came up with. Cows and cowboys will be popping in unannounced as the moods swing. I hope you like this one. I been thinking of painting a white face hereford. I will let you know...

Torrie

Poppies by the Sea

Poppies by the Sea 8 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas

Poppies by the Sea is the newest painting from the easel. It will be listed for auction this evening on Ebay. I am working on a western painting...don't know if I like it yet. I will let you know. I have to spend the day in the yard. Fallen leaves are taking over. Stella (my dog) is convinced the leaves are chasing her. I will be in at dark-thirty, which today will be pretty early.

Bye for now,

Torrie

New to Fripp Series

Evening Storm at Fripp

Ocean View at Fripp

These are the two new paintings in the Fripp Series listed on Ebay.

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

There will be more to come, but quite possibly after the holiday season. Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

New Pears, End of 2006 Series

Pears of Color II

The flu really took a toll, but I am up and painting again. These last series of pear paintings marks the end of the 2006 Pear Series. I love painting pears but I have several commissions and other pieces that need to be done before Christmas. Next on the agenda is Roosters and a Wine Series of pretty wine bottles.

The new Pear Series will be listed on Ebay beginning Sunday, October 22, 2006.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Pears of Color - New

Pears of Color

New Painting to be listed on Ebay. I am trying to get back into my routine after struggling all week with the flu. It is never a convenient time to be under the weather, but I am too busy to "rest". The weather is beautiful, the fair is in town, the hedges need to be trimmed, and the porch needs to be painted -- and there are pictures in my head that need to go on canvas before they disappear deep into the gray matter. I hope you enjoy the new painting. There will be more to come!

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

News Update --- Plans and Big Ideas

Business has been wonderful and I truely appreciate all my new collectors. I am selling paintings now faster than I can paint new ones. I have several large pieces in the works:

A large version of Happy Hour. This new rendition will be 18 x 24 inches.

I am almost finished with Lady in Red sings the Blues (working title). This piece is 30 x 40.

I am still painting small pieces from the Fripp Collection. I am planning on doing larger versions of the Fripp Collection on 16 x 20 and 18 x 24 inch canvas.

I have plans for a companion piece to The Shadow. It will be a compliment piece with a blue accent intead of the red.

I will be spending the weekend with the girls in Chapel Hill. Miranda and I will be sweeping Courtney off her feet and out of the dorm for shopping, movies, and wandering in galleries.

When I get home, it will be time to seriously get started putting everything that I see in my head on canvas. Wish me luck!!

Thanks for checking in....

Torrie

The Long Goodbye

This is the second in the series of Fripp Island paintings. Going to the island is always a treat, but I am always ready to come home to my own house and studio, but it is hard to leave knowing the opportunity to visit may not come again.

Now I am off to clean flower beds....I would much rather paint, but the weeds are taking over.

Torrie

Memories of Fripp

Memories of Fripp

I have started a series of beach pictures. Most from photos and recollections of my trips to Fripp Island. I am enjoying taking a step back in time to the vacations taken there. I hope you enjoy them. I know there will be three painted....if I don't get into something else before then. I hope you enjoy the new work. Let me know!

Torrie

Field of Poppies

Field of Poppies

Field of Poppies is now listed on Ebay. Today has been a wonderful day to paint. Now for the real job. Have a great week!


Torrie

New Pear Paintings for Ebay

Red Pears II


Green Pears on Linen III

These are small (8 x 10) paintings that will be listed on Ebay for sale this evening. I am working on a poppy landscape that should be ready to list on Ebay this week. There are just some days where the painting is easier than others. This is a good day.

Later, Torrie

Oscar and Frank

This is Oscar and Frank. They were a commissioned pastel piece. Now I am back to painting for fun for a while. I am starting a landscape with lots of poppies and more pears.

Torrie

Yellow Roses New on Ebay

Yellow Roses

Yellow Roses is the newest from the easel. I will have it listed on Ebay beginning this evening. I have a couple of commissions to do for now (pastel portraits), then more fun art! Call or drop an email if you need something special.

Torrie

New Painting for Ebay - Red Pears

Red Pears on Linen was painted using the Old Mater's style of underpainting and then glazing. I really like how the painting turned out. I plan on doing others, including some portraits. I will let you know how it turns out. The following is the finished painting, the completed underpainting, the beginning of the underpainting, and the reference photo for this painting.

Torrie

New Ideas

I went shopping and picked up some yellow roses and red pears. I came home and raided the china closet. I think I will paint this weekend. I will let you know how it turns out....
Torrie

Frame Your New Painting

Three Pears

Wisteria House

I have added to some of my auctions, pictures of the painting slipped into an open back frame.The right frame adds a new dimension to a painting. Finding the perfect frame may be easier and less expensive than you imagine.

The majority of my paintings are standard size gallery wrapped canvas painted on the edges suitable for hanging without a frame. However, if you would like the finished appearance of a frame, there are ways of achieving this without a high framing price.

The samples above are standard size open back frames purchased from Hobby Lobby. Michaels also sells standard open back frames. These are frequently on sale for half price --- a real bargin. The frames pictured above retail for 29.99 and 24.99--on sale they were only 15.00 and 12.50. Framing hardware can be found at Lowes and Walmart. I use the hanging wire with the hooks, to hang. There are framing clips in the hardware section at Lowes you screw in the back of the fame to hold the canvas in place.

****REMEMBER MOST IMPORTANT****

Take your painting with you to select a frame. Find three to four frames that match your general decor, then slip the painting into each one to see which one suits it the best.

I hope these tips and pictures have been a help. I am not a professional framer, but I have framed a lot of pictures on a budget.

More art to come!

Torrie

New on Ebay

I love this painting. I like the size of the canvas. At 8 x 16 inches, it was fun to work with.

Coming up next, I have started a new small landscape for the 2006 Lanscape series. This will be titled Tuscany Poppies. Hopefully, it will be ready for Ebay next week.

Take care and I will check back soon.

Torrie

New Rooster

This is the new Rooster in the 2006 Rooster Series. It is now listed on Ebay.

I have a lot of ideas....but nothing drawn on the canvas yet. I do want to paint geraniums and I want to do a piece for the cactus show. I will check in again soon and let you know how things are going.

Torrie

New Paintings of Pears

Here are the latest in the Pear Series for 2006. These will be listed on Ebay this evening. I have another pear painting started and then will be painting a new Rooster.

Enjoy the new pears.

Torrie

Pears for Breakfast

Pears and Shadows

Rooster for Mom

Mom is here for her visit from Texas and I had promised her a rooster for her kitchen. This rooster will be relocating to Buffalo Gap, Texas with mom.

Graduation is tonight, then more painting.


Torrie

Poppies in Blue Vase

Just finished and soon to be on Ebay, Poppies in Blue Vase. This is the first of what I hope to be many floral paintings that I do this summer. I have started a rooster for mom. I will check back later. I hope you are enjoying the art.

Torrie

Taking a Break

Graduation! The baby is graduating and the festivities have begun. Grandma is here from Texas and we will be partying for a few weeks. This June will be a family time before Courtney goes off to college and the nest will be empty (except for weiner Stella). I will be painting, but Grandma has a few things she would like painted. I will return to Ebay with new paintings I hope you all will love. Thanks for checking in.... Torrie

Green Pears on Linen, Large

Green Pears on Linen II, the larger version, is finished and ready to be glazed. I have wanted to do this painting for my kitchen for a long time and it is finished. It will be framed in a soft brush nickel finish frame and hung in my kitchen.

Next, the rooster and a new wine painting.

Check back again soon,

Torrie

New Painting for Me!

I painted a small Green Pears on Linen and really loved the painting. It sold and has gone to live in Florida. I have decided to try it again larger for my own kitchen. I hope it comes out as nice as the original. I am painting it 24 x 36 to put above my stove.

Here is a picture of the original Pears on Linen (8 x 10 acrylic on canvas) and the beginning of the large one. -Torrie

Blue Wine Bottles on Linen

Blue Wine Bottles on Linen is complete. It will be listed on Ebay. This is an 18 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides.

This was a fun painting to do using my favorite wine bottles, and my favorite snack...the apple.

Torrie

Blue Bottle Painting progress

Things are moving right along. The drawing was last night. The undercoat and painting begins today.

Torrie

On the Easel - New Western Series

Getting back to work was a little intimidating. Winning an award and having a fresh new studio, I felt I had a lot to live up to and taking the first step to the next painting was tough.

I have started to work on a new western silhouette watercolor series. I have started three new pieces. I will also be drawing the blue wine bottle painting tonight while the watercolor is drying.

Thanks again for your interest in my art, and I will check back soon.

Torrie