Almost time for the Craft Fair at Polkville Baptist Church!

Polkville Baptist Church Craft Fair!

Saturday 9 am.- 2 pm

September 27th

The Lazy Red Daisy

Dandelions

It's almost time for the Craft Fair at Polkville Baptist Church in Polkville, North Carolina.  My children attend church there and my granddaughter will be sharing a table with me selling her adorable crocheted animals.

Small Turtle with a Heart

Audrey will be traveling to Europe with her school over the summer and the proceeds from our Craft Fair will go to pay her expenses for the trip.  To help her reach her goal, I will be selling small paintings on 300 lb paper.  These are acrylic paintings approximately 5" x 7".  They will be matted to fit a standard size 8" x 10" frame.  All these small paintings will be available for $20.  There will be 20 to choose from.  To see the facebook event details click HERE

After next weekend, I will be painting for fun for a while!

Thank you for stopping by, see you next week!

Torrie

Polkville Baptist Church Craft Fair

4214 Polkville Rd, Polkville, NC 28136

Saturday, September 27th, 

Up Next! Opposites Attract Show at the Cain Center

New Show at the Cain Center of the Arts, Cornelius, North Carolina

Filigree 

20" x 20"

Crack of Dawn

11" x 14"

I am always so excited and honored to participate in exhibitions at the Cain Center.  It is a beautiful place dedicated to the arts in Cornelius, NC.  Click the link for more information about the Cain.  

The Opposites show was a new adventure for me.  For someone who loves color, painting with just black and white was a challenge.  I also added an abstract -- which I almost never paint!  The show reception will be Thursday, September 26th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Both these paintings will be available for purchase at the show.  

My next adventure will be an upcoming pop up market with my granddaughter at Polkville Baptist Church in Polkville, NC.  She will be selling her crocheted animals and I will be selling small paintings ~ more about that in the coming days. 

The weather is cooling down and I plan on taking the opportunity to get outside and paint!  I have never painted outside before, even though it has always been on my list of things to do. 

Well off to finish another large painting!

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              

The Ardrey Pop Up Market

 

This was the best day!  The weather was perfect.  There were 24 booths of widely ranging items from designer cups, roasted coffee, hand carved sharks to hang on the wall, local honey, hand tooled wooden bowls, cookies, bread, and Christmas items.  

There was a very large crowd for a neighborhood event and everyone was so nice.  I plan on doing it again next year.  

Kathy Collins and I both sold some of our favorites paintings, but none of the butterflies (and I thought they were the best!).  This means all the butterfly paintings are being uploaded to TorrieSmiley.com and my Etsy store

Here are the different butterflies that are available for purchase.  They will all be available at my website

~Sold~

Now, it's time to get ready for Christmas!  There is an Online show with Guild of Charlotte Artists that will have one of my paintings in for sale.  More on that when the site becomes live.  I will also have paintings in a Christmas show in Monroe, NC.  More details on that will follow when the show goes up.

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the fall weather in your area. 

Thanks for stopping by ~ Torrie

Hanging out with the Kids!

 

The past few weeks have been filled with the kids and travel!  I went to Charlottesville, Virginia to see the kids and celebrate their anniversary.  Charlottesville is not that far from Charlotte and the scenery is beautiful.  It makes me very anxious to get started on new landscape paintings.

Then a quick trip to the country to celebrate Miss Lucy's 10th birthday.  We watched her soccer game and then had a birthday cookie.  While in Casar, I noted a barn that needs to be in a landscape painting!  Good thing I will going back in a couple of weeks.

The Guild of Charlotte Artists major event ~ the PopUp Market at the Mint Museum was this past weekend.  I had a blast!!  I did not sell my work at the market.  When the event was in the planning stages, I was still working full time so I didn't have time to devote to painting.  I volunteered to help the artists unload and set up their booths.  It was so much fun, and very inspiring to see so many wonderful artworks in one location.  

Now off to finish updating my studio~ 

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

FULL OF HOPE

 

Full of Hope

24" x 30"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Collection of the Artist

I'm back!  How many times over the years I have said this.  Now is the time--I have waited years to paint full time and enjoy my art adventure.  I retired in June and hit the ground running.  I have completed three shows and am working at getting back to daily painting full time!

I am now on the board of the Guild of Charlotte Artists and having the time of my life.

Full of Hope was created for the Myers Park United Methodist Church Gallery opening.  I love how the painting turned out and is one of my favorites.  I have decided to keep this one for a while.  

You can purchase prints of the painting at Fine Art America.com

I am not quite back up to painting.  I am cleaning up my studio and completing some commissioned work and then the fun will begin!  

Thank you all for continuing to follow my work.

Current works available can be found at my website www.torriesmiley.com

Torrie

Scattered!

Scattered

24" x 30"

Acrylic Paint and Gold Leaf

Currently Showing at McDowell Arts Center Matthews, NC

This is my only abstract painting~  it was so much fun to paint, it may not be the last!  The idea came about due to a little brain trouble that led to some very interesting medication.  I am no longer on the drug that made everything so colorful, but hopefully will retain some of the wonderful, colorful ideas~

Scattered was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint and gold leaf on a museum quality gallery wrapped deep profile canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

To see this painting, head to Matthews at the McDowell Arts Center for the Guild of Charlotte Artists show happening now~

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

FIve Lemons

Five Lemons

18" x 24"

Acrylic on Deep Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase 

$300

I have painted this composition a couple of times small.  I thought it was time to go big.  I love painting lemons and will be doing another lemon painting soon!

Five Lemons was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped deep profile canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

To see this painting and all the current available paintings to purchase, stop by my Etsy.com store.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Flamingo in Progress

Flamingo in Progress

20" x  20" x  1.5"

Here are progress shots from today's painting.  I will be starting on the bill next, then the body.

Tomorrow I will be spending the day with the children~  steaks on the grill and playing at the pool.

More pictures later in the week ~  

In the meantime, visit my Etsy store to see paintings currently available for purchase~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

The Lemon Tree

The Lemon Tree

6" x  6"

Acrylic Paint on Ampersand Gessobord

~Sold~

This is one of my very favorite paintings, one I thought of keeping~ but, there is no room in the studio to keep all of my favorites.  

The Lemon Tree was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality Ampersand Gessobord with painted sides to allow for display framed or placed on a small easel.  

I am currently working on four commissioned paintings~ hopefully, will have something new for the stores soon~

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

  

April Nest

April Nest

24" x  36"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Not for Sale

I am still painting!!  This was a commissioned painting that I have just finished.  I am currently working on larger commission works, but I plan on slipping in some smaller ones that will be available for purchase very soon.

Thank you so much for continuing to follow my work.  I hope you enjoy the new format of the blog~  

Check back again soon,

Torrie

SPRING SALE!! Time for a change~

 

The Lemon Tree

6" x 6"

~Sold~

 

Good Morning Silas

18" x  24"

Private Collection

It is March 5th,  and I have completed seven paintings for the year.....  for a daily painter, that sucks!
The two paintings above are my favorite of the seven.    I have closed my Amazon store and put everything in my Etsy store on sale.  I have decided it is time for a change!

Winter is always hard, but this year seems to have been worse.  Spring will soon be here and the trees have started flowering, so things are looking up!

I have always wanted to try plein air painting and now is the time.  Walking and standing continue to grow more difficult-- if I am ever going to paint on location, I had better get started.

I also want to start painting BIG!!  I have generally been painting small--- 8" x 10" and under, mostly 6" x  6", so this is going to be quite the challenge....painting large canvas sitting down!  HA!

You can visit my Etsy.com store sale by clicking here.   I will continue to post new work when it is completed and will continue to sell my paintings at Etsy.com and Daily Paintworks.com when I can. Thank you to everyone who has collected my small paintings and followed my painting adventures~ The best is yet to come!

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Day 10, but not painting #10 HA! Martini, Stirred XI

Martini, Stirred XI

8" x 10"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Day Ten of the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  I love painting martinis almost as much as drinking them!  Time to put the vodka away and get busy!!  I am so many paintings behind on the 30 in 30.  This is actually the sixth painting for me~

Martini, Stirred XI was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

This painting has sold.

I have no clue what to paint for tomorrow~ 

Thank you for stopping by,

Torrie

Day Four! New Year Cherries

New Year Cherries 

6"  x  6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Day Four of the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  This is my all time favorite cherry painting.  I love how it turned out!   The soft-fuzzy look is intentional, kind of, --I really don't know how I did it---but I hope I can do it again!

New Year Cherries was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

This painting has sold.  You can find paintings available for purchase at my Etsy.com store. 

Day Five may be delayed......Miss Stella needs a bath!  

Thanks for stopping by,

Day 2! Cupcake 011

Cupcake 011

6" x  6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Day Two of the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  Cupcakes!  I like eating them more than painting them.  

Cupcake 011 was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

Day Three tomorrow~  Off to paint!

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

January 2016!! Thirty Paintings in Thirty Days is Back!!

Tar Heel Martini III

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

8" x 10"

Sold

Happy New Year!  This is going to be a fabulous year! ~ best year ever!!

Yes, I am going to do the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  No I have not learned my lesson, I know I never get the 30 completed~ but I am determined to do better than the previous challenges.  

The first painting is Tar Heel Martini III.  I am a born and bred die hard Texan....but, I am now a Tar Heel mom, and one day will I probably be a Tar Heel Grandma.  My daughter and her husband decided to stay in Chapel Hill after they graduated and raise their family.  Who knows, I might end up there one day myself.

Enjoy Day One of the challenge, and I will see you back here tomorrow.

Thank you for stopping by,

Torrie

Winter Pear

 

Winter Pear

6" x 6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

It is cold!  I can't wait until June and it gets warm again~  I am not a winter person--but I do love the colors of fall and winter.

Winter Pear was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

This painting has sold.

Time to finish a few commissions, it is the busy holiday season!

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

New Painting! Robin's Blue Eggs VI

Robin's Blue Eggs VI

6" x 6" 

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

It has been a busy time~ Lucy's first birthday, getting the girls ready for Halloween, and Audrey's birthday~  Finally Back to painting!  

Robin's Blue Eggs VI  was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Fall Pears

 

Fall Pears

6" x  6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

It is that time again, the days are getting cooler and shorter and the leaves are turning the beautiful colors of fall.  I sat down and decided to paint pears with the rich colors of fall.  

Fall Pears was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame. Painting was finished with a light coat of varnish. 

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Painting #10 on Day Seventeen of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days

Three Tulips

5" x 7"

Acrylic Paint on Ampersand Gessobord

~Sold~

Day Seventeen of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta and this is painting #10.  I love tulips and can't wait for Spring again.  

Three Tulips was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality Ampersand Gessobord. Painting can be placed in a small frame and also be placed on a small easel for display.

Thank you so much for stopping by~  tomorrow I paint!

Check back Saturday for another painting!

Torrie