It has been awhile!

Hidden Treasure

12" x 12" 

Acrylic Paint and Gold Leaf

~Sold~

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately.  We have been busy with family traveling and catching up, but now back to painting!

I don't usually paint abstract paintings, I prefer still life and landscapes.  I had an idea and decided to give it a try--on a small scale with a 12" x 12" canvas.  

I started with a very colorful, loosely painted background.  (I may have to do this again....but much larger!

The next step, I covered most of the canvas with a thick impasto layers of similar colors using a knife.  I wanted it to look like broken plaster.

I then added just a very narrow edge along the openings with gold leaf.

Are you still with me?  Next came more layers of the impasto plaster-type layers in lighter colors to give it depth.

I then added a white edge next to the gold leaf, for more definition.

I added more layers of the "plaster type layer". 

Lastly, a bit of touch of on the colored under layer (where I had wayward gold leaf.)

I then framed the painting in a gold floater frame. 

My little abstract adventure has sold and will soon be shipped to its new home.

I hope you have enjoyed the progress pictures of my abstract adventure!  It will be a while before I do another one. 

Up next is another baseball painting.  This one will be going to the "Smalls" show in Mint Hill.  I am currently working to finish two more small paintings for the show.

Thank you for stopping by and continuing to follow my painting adventures.

Torrie

 

About the baseballs.....

 The Last Inning II

6" x 6" x 1.5" 

Framed Black Floater Frame

~Sold~

There will never be enough baseballs!  This goes way back to the day I put an old baseball of Kevin's in a box to create a deep shadow......and the rest they say is history.

The Baseball was on the front page of the Mint Museum Website announcing the 

"Guilding the Mint Show"

The thing about the baseballs, is no two are the same.  Every baseball looks different. Some aspects of the baseball has improved with repetition over the years, and the "looser" painted baseballs are my favorite.

I will continue to paint baseballs as long as someone wants to hang one in the baby nursery, for Dad for father's day, and for the new baseball player in little league.

Thank you all for your shared love of baseballs. ⚾

Torrie

The Monarch II

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Blue Morpho Butterfly

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

The Peacock Eye Butterfly 

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Current Available Butterflies

This has been a very busy time, but I did get a new Monarch Butterfly painting competed and there are currently four available at torriesmiley.com

The Mint Museum Show continues in uptown Charlotte through the end of May.  I have a small abstract to complete and then will be doing a series of small still life.  

I am going to try and get started with the local plein air group, so be on the lookout for more landscapes.  I have not painted landscapes very often and its time to start doing more!

Thank you for stopping by!

Torrie

 

An Evening at the Mint!

 STANDING AMONG THE ASPENS

24" X 30"

Available to ship after the close of the exhibition.

Me at the Mint!

The Last Inning - On the Mint Website!

A once in a life time opportunity!  I now can say my artwork has hung in the Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte and my painting "The Last Inning" is currently on the Mint website!  It really doesn't get any better than this.  I want to thank the Guild of Charlottes for making this opportunity happen for over 150 hard working artists in and around the Charlotte community.  So many talented artists in one room!  Filled with family, friends, and collectors; it was a great evening.

The Mint was filled with artwork of all kinds, abstracts, representational, fiber, collage, jewelry, pottery, too many to mention.  It is a wonderful exhibit.  Try and make it to the 5th floor of the Mint and enjoy the celebration of art!  Wednesday at the Mint there is free admission and plenty of parking at 550 S. Tryon St,  Levine Center and Mint parking.  

I plan on going back to the Mint to see the show.  There were so many at the opening, it was hard to see all of the art.

Thanks for stopping by and continuing to follow my adventures!

Torrie 

NEXT UP-- THE MINT MUSEUM!

 

Standing Among the Aspens

24" x 30"

Coming in just a few days!  The opening reception for the "Guilding the Mint" Guild of Charlotte Artists show at the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte will be Wednesday, April 23rd, 6-9 pm.  Admission to the Mint is free on Wednesdays.

The painting is finished, just need to apply the varnish, let it dry and then frame in a gold floater frame.

This will be my last show until the fall......maybe.  I will be a juror for the next Guild show, so I will not be participating.  It is the "Small Works" show, which I always love doing, since painting small is my favorite! 

I will be completing several small paintings to upload to the online stores in the coming months. I have been busy with constant shows since January and it will be nice to spend with time with family this summer.

Check back again soon!  I will definitely be up to something!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Opening Day Charlotte County Day!

                         

This evening is the Opening Night Reception at Charlotte County Day Art Sale!  I will have 23 paintings available for purchase at the event.  Here are just 20 of the paintings that will be available.  The sale hours are the following times and days:

                                Wed, April 9th 5 - 7pm: Opening Night and Sale

                                Thurs, April 10th 10am - 7pm: Art Sale

                                Friday, April 11th 10am - 7pm: Art Sale

                                Saturday, April 12th 10am - 3pm: Art Sale

I spent the morning yesterday hanging the paintings at Charlotte Country Day and forgot to take a picture of all the paintings after they were hung.  I will try to get pictures when the sale opens today.

Thank you for continuing to follow the blog, next week I will be posting the information for the upcoming Mint Museum show in Uptown Charlotte.

Thanks for stopping by!  See you at Charlotte Country Day~

Torrie

Charlotte County Day Art Sale!

More White on White

The Monarch II

The Peacock Eye

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The Blue Morpho

These are just a few of the paintings that will be available at the Charlotte County Day Art Sale!  I have 23-paintings that will be available at the sale.  They include large framed hanging pieces, and small 6" x 6" paintings you can sit on a shelf or table or frame.

This will be my first time to participate in the sale and I am really looking forward to it.  The sale begins April the 9th and closes April 12th.

I am currently working feverishly to finish the large landscape painting for the Mint Show.  I will post pictures as soon as the painting is finished.

Thank you for stopping by,

Torrie

 

I'm Back! More Shows and More Paintings

Could you tell I disappeared for a while.  I had the opportunity to visit my daughter who lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.  We had a great time and I can't wait to go back!  This is the view from her back yard.  I will definitely stay long enough next time to do some painting.  Virginia is a beautiful place!

Summer Strawberries

~SOLD~

The Last Inning 

~SOLD~

The Cain Center of the Arts Director's Choice show was definitely this year's highlight.  These two paintings sold and are off to live in their new homes.  I am honored someone has chose one of my paintings for their home.  Now off to more bigger and better things.

I have entered the Union County Center of the Arts Spring Exhibition in Monroe, North Carolina.  Two of my favorite paintings were entered.  More on that show to come!

ROBIN'S TWO EGGS

24 x 30"

ORCHID SOLO

20" x 20"

I am currently working on my painting for the Mint Museum show in April.  I don't do many landscapes---especially large ones 24" x 30"!  I will post pictures as soon as the painting is presentable.

Now off to paint!  Enjoy this beautiful spring day!

Torrie

 

Shout Out North Carolina Interview

 Torrie Smiley

This year has started out so exciting!  The Cain show opening was fabulous!  The Guild of Charlotte Artists Winter Show painting, Orchid Solo, was a fun painting with loads of color.  The show opening was a great evening.  And now this~, I was honored to have been asked to share my story with the online magazine "Shout Out North Carolina".  

You can read the article HERE.

I have managed to complete a few small paintings during all the fabulous adventures.  You can find them in my Etsy store or at my website, TorrieSmiley.com

There was also time to help move children to new homes and celebrate the boys 10th birthday.  I can't wait for all the fun coming next!

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

The Winter Show, Guild of Charlotte Artists

Orchid Solo

20" x 20", Framed

Me, with the framed painting

The Winter show opening with the Guild of Charlotte Artists was Thursday, February 6th, at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte, NC.  There were over 80 paintings to view.  The show was well attended and so much fun!  The show will run through March - stop in the Good News Gallery to see the show and purchase a favorite!

Now on to the next adventure.  I have some new smaller paintings coming.  I will be uploading the new painting "Oranges and Cranberries" into the stores online tomorrow.   

There is an interview coming out soon for "Shoutout North Carolina". I will post a link when it goes live.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Cain Center for the Arts Show

 

Robin's Two Eggs  24" x 30"

Summer Strawberries. - Sold  6" x 6"

       

The Last Inning  6" x 6"
 

   

I had the immense honor of being selected to participate in the Director's Choice Exhibition and Sale at Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius, NC.  The event runs January 21 - March 15, 2025.  You can view the show online here         

There is so much to do!  This is going to be a very busy year.  

Next up is the Guild of Charlotte Artists Winter Show at Christ Episcopal Church, 1312 Providence Road, Charlotte.  The opening reception is this evening beginning at 7 pm.  I have a new painting "Orchid Solo" in the show.  I will post an update with a picture tomorrow.

Coming next~ I have a new small cherry painting that I need to upload to the stores and the cranberries and orange painting will finally make it in the online stores tomorrow.

Thank you for continuing to follow along with my painting adventure.

Torrie