Saturday, February 28, 2009

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

Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Golden Pear II ~ Yes, another pear painting!

The Golden Pear II
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

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


Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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

Sunday, February 22, 2009

The Rooster IV ~ New Painting!

Rooster IV
5" x 7"
Oil on Canvas Panel

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

Saturday, February 21, 2009

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

Sunday, February 15, 2009

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

Friday, February 13, 2009

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

Thursday, February 12, 2009

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

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

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

Saturday, February 07, 2009

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

Friday, February 06, 2009

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



Thursday, February 05, 2009

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

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

San Francisco Victorian ~ DSFDF Challenge

San Francisco Victorian
6" x 8"
Oil on Canvas Panel

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

Sunday, February 01, 2009

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