International Artist Magazine

The Redhead

"The Redhead" has been entered in International Artist Magazine, People and Figures Competition. Winners and other entries will be published in Issue number 58, the December/January 2008 issue. The link to magazine is:

http://www.international-artist.com/iam/current.aspx

Click on the "Art competition" section, then click on "see other entries"

I have been busy cleaning my studio. I bought my house four years ago this month, in part for the small studio space just off the living room. But, it is a very small space and had gotten very crowded these past four years. So, I have cleared the clutter and found spaces for everything, --almost. Now, I will have more room to spread out and paint. The freshly organized studio will surely bring out new painting ideas.

Also, the baby is getting ready to head back off to UNC, Chapel Hill, along with that usually comes new ideas for Tar Heel Art. I have one in my head, but not on canvas yet, the working title is "Tar Heel born and Tar Heel bred".

Well, getting late. Have to go dream up more ideas.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Pears and Grapes, Three Olive Martini, Etsy, etc..

New Art

Three Olive Martini - II

Available for purchase at my eBay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Torrie-Smiley-Original-Works-of-Art

Pears and Grapes

Available for purchase at my eBay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Torrie-Smiley-Original-Works-of-Art

These are the two new paintings listed on eBay. Please check them out. I have joined another artist website. You can find it at http://www.torriesmiley.etsy.com/ The art will be the same as listed on eBay, (I can only paint so fast), but it will be just another site for my work to be found and purchased. Check it out, you may find other artists using that website that would like to collect.

I am staying busy with painting, working, and the other real-life daily stuff. I have painted my last Martini for a while. There has been several requests for more Martinis but I am ready to paint something different. I also have some commissions to do. The commissions are in watercolor, so I will have to re-tool the studio for watercolor.

I am going to try to start plein air painting once a week....I may end up twice a month, but I will let you know. The weather is great and it will be fun to paint outside. I plan on doing quite a bit of outdoor landscape painting in the fall and take advantage of the trees changing color. I am lucky enough to live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, I should take advantage of that.

Well, I had better get to the studio. I have been on the computer all day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

New Martini Painting for sale on eBay

Martini, Stirred - II

Available for purchase at my eBay store:

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

Back by popular demand! Here is a new version of Martini, Stirred. It will be available for purchase later today on eBay. Painting is going well, there will be more painting tonight.

Thanks for checking in and your continued support!

Torrie

New for Today! Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo

Available for purchase at my eBay store:
http://stores.ebay.com/Torrie-Smiley-Original-Works-of-Art

This picture does not do justice to the fact that this painting is four feet tall. I am only 5' 1" and I was covered in paint before this painting was finished. My studio seemed very small when this was on the easel. There will be more flamingo paintings to come, but they will be smaller.

I will be painting a Martini Painting today. I have to take Sadie to the vet for a checkup and then just painting and waiting for it to rain. I am fully stocked up on treasures from the art store, and there are more paintings soon to come. I have been asked to do a Tuscan Sun again, but much bigger....it will probably be 16 x 20 or 18 x 24. I will be doing a wine painting also, 16 x 20 of both red and white wine.

Well, I had better go. Miranda is coming home for lunch, and I have to paint a sign for PaPa.

Check back again soon.

Torrie

Cheap Joe's Grand Opening

I had the best day! Spent way too much money, but it was wonderful. I am in love with Cheap Joe. Go to www.cheapjoes.com and you will be in love with him too. I met him today in Charlotte. He is talented, charming, handsome, and best of all.....his canvas was on sale.

The grand opening of the retail outlet in Charlotte appeared to be a big hit. I arrived when the doors opened to get the best selection and the place filled up fast. I spent only an hour there, but it was quality time. I could have stayed all day, but I didn't trust myself to not spend more money. There were artists there painting and drawing, and a gentleman with a wok....melting something and putting it on canvas. He had drawn a crowd and I did not get close enough to get the details, but the work was beautiful. My studio is now packed full with my purchases and I have to get busy spreading paint on all the new canvas.

Word of advice.....do not shop for pastels wearing white. The pastel aisle is the best. Rows and rows of single stick pastels. The colors are amazing and best of all...you can touch them. I have plenty of pastels, but there were some colors that screamed "take me home" so I did. I showed them proudly to my daughter, Miranda, who looked at my beautiful flesh tones and pinks and said---"going to work on portraits mom".

There was so much I left behind in the store that I could use to create wonderful art. --But, I can find my way back and Charlotte is much closer than Boone.

Tomorrow will be filled with fun in the studio....the dirty house and laundry can wait one more day.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Big Bird, New emu painting

Big Bird - 2007

Available for purchase at my eBay store:

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

I painted Big Bird originally in watercolor in 2003. It was sold and moved away. I entered the digital image of that watercolor in the Wild Animals show at EBSQart.com in April 2007 and it was a big hit, winning Member's Mention. So, by popular demand, I have painted Big Bird again using acrylic on canvas and bigger! Big Bird is a joy to paint and makes me smile throughout the process.


Thanks for requesting a new Big Bird!



Coming soon: A Pink Flamingo on a 4 foot tall canvas. There is also a new seascape and landscape in the works.



BIG SALE at Cheap Joe's Art Supply in Charlotte Saturday.... I will be there!



Thanks for stopping by.....



Torrie

The Redhead, New painting for sale on eBay

The Redhead

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

This is my newest painting. I don't usually paint nudes. The people I paint generally have clothes on. This was fun to do and I may do more. This is the first painting of my "painting week". This will be listed later this evening on eBay.

I have heard composers say they dream music and the next morning have a song almost done that they dreamed the night before. Well, while napping with the dogs this morning, I dreamed a painting....a tonalism landscape. I am going to see if I remember it well enough to get on canvas. Wish me luck!

Check back again soon for more from "painting week".

Torrie