Spending time in Texas

My Mom is ill and I have gone to be with her in Texas. I will be home and painting again March 10, 2009. I will check in when I can and leave updates on Twitter when I can find access to the Internet.

Keep us in your prayers~

Have a wonderful week!

Torrie
http://twitter.com/TorrieSmiley

The Golden Pear II ~ Yes, another pear painting!

The Golden Pear II

8" x 10"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Yes, it is yet another pear! Things have been absolutely crazy! But, I am catching up~ I don't know where the week went, but I hope I enjoyed it....because it has been a blurrrrrr......

I am going to put my paintbrushes to the grindstone...sort of, and try to get caught up~

On a more personal note, have you tried the Krispy Kreme minis (the tiny little versions of the originals). I have decided they are small~ so the calories don't count~ so eat as many as you like, I did! I swear KK cures everything from the common cold, allergies, and headaches. Just have a hot glazed donut and tell me if you don't feel better. Yep, you guessed it~~there will be a donut painting in the near future.

Have a wonderful Friday!

Torrie

Pomegranate on Black ~ Oil on Canvas

Pomegranate on Black

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I am currently painting a series of pomegranate paintings in preparation for several pomegranate commissions. This painting is currently available for purchase in my EBSQart.com gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

Paintings currently commissioned and in the planning stages are: Boat paintings, Bird's nests, Lily ponds, a new Emu painting, floral and poppy paintings, martinis, and of course, more pears. Coming soon: Tar Heel art! I love basketball season!

I am almost finished with the larger paintings and then I will be back to the little 6" x 6" canvas that I love!

Thanks so much for stopping by~

Torrie

The Rooster IV ~ New Painting!

Rooster IV

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

Painting away~

This is the newest Rooster painting. Rooster IV is available for purchase in my EBSQart online gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

I am in the middle of painting huge (18" x 24") ballerina feet as requested by the American Heart Association for the upcoming Gala and silent auction. I will also be finishing up the Poppy Landscape they requested.

Well, off to finish the big feet~

Stop by again soon,

Torrie

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred III ~ New Painting Today!

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred

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! ~ I am a Tar Heel Mom, and this is my newest version of Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred. It seems during basketball season, I am inspired to paint by UNC Chapel Hill themed art. I have several more "Tar Heel" paintings in my head that I can't wait to get on canvas. As soon as I am finished with all the current commissioned pieces, I will be painting basketballs! This painting is available for purchase in my EBSQart.com online gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

I am taking the baby out for her birthday, she is home from Chapel Hill this weekend. Then back to more painting.

Check back again soon, up next is big ballerina feet!

Torrie

The Creative Habit, a question from Annie Salness

Annie Salness, a fabulous artist I met through Karin Jurick's "Different Strokes from Different Folks" blog, sent out the question "The Creative Habit" an artist's habits, routines, or rituals of preparation for their day, their work, a new project, etc. She was kind enough to ask me to participate. Here is what I posted to her question:

My creative habit...now, everyone will know I am a nut~

I just need more hours in the day!

I have a full time "real" job that keeps me busy Tuesday through Friday. I paint nights and weekends. I joined the group "Daily Painter's Marketplace" to remind me of my commitment to myself to paint daily, if only for an hour.

I work from home as a medical transcriptionist sitting typing one report after another. I have the TV on in the background with painting videos playing. I think some of the technique and inspiration sinks into my subconscious while I am typing. I also place the reference photo of my current and next project near the computer screen in my visual field while I work. It may sound crazy, but when I go to actually paint the picture....it seems easier. I could be totally wrong, but I am convinced the brain absorbs your entire surroundings, even when you are not aware.

If an idea for a painting pops into my head, I immediately write it down or sketch it on any paper I can find.....sometimes the thought totally disappears 15 minutes later if I don't write it down. I know I have forgotten more paintings than I have painted.

So much of my inspiration is quite by accident. For instance, the other day I took all my leftover paint on my palette and mixed them altogether...really expecting to get a horrid brown. To my surprise, I have this beautiful teal blue. There are so many wonderful things to do with this beautiful color. My only problem now is I have no idea how to recreate my new favorite color.

If I feel there is nothing left for me to paint and my little bag of inspiration is empty....I paint my old familiar stand by, a pear. I love paintings pears. I paint a small pear to get back into the groove.....If the pear comes out ugly, oops :(

For more from Annie Salness and other artists regarding the Creative Habit, visit "What is Your Creative Habit".

Torrie

My Favorite Pear~ New LARGE Pear Painting!

My Favorite Pear

16" x 20"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I paint a lot of pears and I always think the one I just finished is my favorite, but this time I titled it my favorite. I usually paint small, but an artist friend of mine told me I needed to go BIGGER....well, this is big for me. "My Favorite Pear" is currently available for purchase in my online gallery at EBSQart.com and in my Etsy.com store.

My shipment of new canvas arrived yesterday. I am so excited it was delivered so quickly, thanks Dick Blick! I am still playing catch up with all my commissioned paintings. I will be adding new paintings to the galleries in between the commissioned pieces. There are several new basketball-themed paintings on the way....after all, it is basketball season! Go 'HEELs!

Thanks for stopping by~ check back again soon!

Torrie

Little Gold Pear ~ New Pear Painting!

Little Gold Pear

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

I know I paint a lot of pears, but I really like how this one turned out. I am taking short breaks between the commissions and painting whatever comes into my head for the day. Today, it was a small golden pear, loosely painted. This painting is available for purchase in my online EBSQart gallery and in my Etsy.com store.

Tomorrow, off to Lowes....painting a huge project....the bathroom!

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Torrie

Summer Poppies, New Small Landscape Painting!

Summer Poppies

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

This is a new small poppy landscape painting. I have been working on a large (18" x 24") commissioned poppy painting and took a break last night and painted a small version. I knew I would be distracted by the basketball game, so I didn't want to work on a large scale.

GO 'Heels!

This painting is available for purchase in my Etsy.com store and in my Online Gallery at EBSQart.com

Up next~

I am very fortunate to be very busy! I have requests for pomegranate paintings, blue flow china paintings, bird's nest paintings, and even more UNC Tar Heel art! I will be slipping in a few small studies for sale in my online gallery and stores in between the special orders.

Thanks for stopping by and check back again soon. There is no telling what I will be up to!

Torrie

New Paintings~ Pears, Pears, and More Pears!

Two Golden Red Pears

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Lazy Golden Pear

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Pears! I love painting pears, which is a good thing~ I will be completing "Another Two Red Pears" this evening. I have been commissioned to do a number of small pear paintings. This will temporarily put an end to the small pear paintings until the new shipment of canvas arrives.

The new poppy landscape painting is almost complete. It, too, was a commissioned painting. It would have been finished a while ago....but I tend to be a bit picky.

After the commissioned paintings are completed, I may venture out to something new and different....a change of pace.

Happy Birthday Courtney!

On a more personal note, my baby girl is 21 today! Have a wonderful day and stay out of trouble!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Interview with Jill Smith

Torrie

In the studio

Jill Smith, a professional artist from Lincolnshire England, interviewed me for her Artist blog this past week. You can read the interview at Jill Smith Art.

Later today, I will be listing "The Red Sugar Bowl" in my online stores. But for now, it is off to shop for the baby's birthday present, she will be 21 this week. The time has flown by~

Thanks for checking in!

Torrie

Green Pear and Red Grapes~ New Pear Painting!

Green Pear with Red Grapes

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

The newest little pear painting is Green Pear with Red Grapes. Green Pear with Red Grapes is currently available for purchase in my Etsy.com store and my EBSQart.com online gallery.

I will be busy all weekend with so many projects. I will be finishing several commissioned pieces. I will also be finishing up a new painting in the ballerina series. There is a two week break with the Different Strokes for Different Folks painting challenge, this will give me some extra time to catch up on paintings that are trapped in my head before I forget them.

Enjoy your beautiful weekend!

Torrie

Red Pear ~ New Painting!

Red Pear

6" x 6"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I am currently working on several commissioned paintings. In between the commissions, I have one more Ballerina painting sketched on canvas. I also have begun several "Tar Heel Basketball" sketches that will be paintings by the time the season is over.

Well, off to the studio, there will be more new paintings tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

San Francisco Victorian ~ DSFDF Challenge

San Francisco Victorian

6" x 8"

Oil on Canvas Panel

Available for Purchase

$25.00, plus shipping

Different Strokes from Different Folks is a Painting Challenge blog where a photograph is provided and artists are encouraged to paint or draw their own interpretations. What started as a weekly challenge has grown to include so many artists, we are now doing a painting every two weeks instead giving more artists the opportunity to participate.

Challenge for this week: San Francisco Victorian

This week we were asked to paint a San Francisco Victorian structure/home. I am having the time of my life participating with the painting group at "Different Strokes from Different Folks" . It is challenging me to paint subjects I would not have ordinarily tried to paint.

This painting is available for purchase in my EBSQart.com Online Gallery and in my Etsy.com Store.

In the studio tonight, I will be finishing the Red Sugar Bowl and working on the large Field of Poppies commissioned painting.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful evening and stay warm!

Torrie

The Swan ~

The Swan

5" x 7"

Oil on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

This is the newest in the series of Ballet-themed paintings I have been doing. This is Courtney's favorite. After almost 400 paintings, she has picked a favorite. The Swan is currently available for purchase in my EBSQart Online Gallery and in my Etsy.com store. This concludes the ballerina paintings for a while. I have more I plan to do, but I will be concentrating on commissioned pieces for a while.

Almost complete and will be probably finished by tomorrow is the Red Sugar Bowl painting. I am also continuing with the large poppy landscape painting. I will be starting a new series of pears that have been commissioned.

I have several "Tar Heel Basketball" ideas swirling in my head that I am dying to get on canvas. After previous commitments...those will be next!

Thanks to everyone who has been so kind to comment on my blog~I appreciate you all so much...you seem to instinctively know when I need a "lift"~

Now, off to work.....Happy Superbowl Sunday! (I will be watching the commercials!)

Torrie