How it all started...About me...

Yellow Pears I  -  2005  

                                                           One Yellow Pear - 2020

I have been drawing as long as I can remember.  I spent more time drawing in class when I probably should have been paying attention.  In high school, I had my first opportunity to paint with a wonderful local artist Nell Bennett.  That is when I fell in love with painting.  I really can’t call myself self-taught because there are so many people through the years who have helped me be a better artist.  

As with many of artists, the slight detour came when I became an adult and fell victim to the phrase; “You need to get a real job, painting is a hobby not a career.” 

Fast forward twenty years, my daughter had an art class project that she, of course, waited until the last weekend to start.  She had to complete a painting for art class.  I told her I used to paint back in the day, and we would paint together.  We bought acrylic paint since she needed it to be dry by Monday.  We both started from the same reference photo.  That weekend was all that it took—

Being a single mom with two teenage girls, painting kept me from going crazy!.  Painting was my drug of choice, it was addicting. I soon realized I would not be able to afford my new “hobby” if I didn’t find a way to pay for the paint—quality art supplies are expensive.  I decided to put a few of my small paintings on eBay.  If they sold I could buy more paint!  I guess you could say the rest is history.  

Since that time, I have sold over 700 small daily paintings in my various online stores.  My children often referred to it as my hobby that got totally out of control.  I was fortunate to be selling art online and have been selling my art on Etsy since the early years.  I was one of the original artists to join Daily Paintworks started by Carol Marine and her husband David.  I have followed wonderful daily painting artists like Carol, David Keiser, and Qiang Huang along with many others which have helped me grow as an artist.  The explosion of painting websites, youtube, instagram, downloadable instruction videos, and online workshops make this a great time to be an artist.  

I am now painting both small daily paintings and larger paintings that I enter into local and online shows.  My paintings are available for sale here on my website, Daily Paintworks, and my Etsy Store.  Prints of my paintings are available through Fine Art America. 

If you would like to know when the new paintings are coming online before they are released, sign up for my new art alerts and newsletter. 

Thank you for stopping by and following my adventure!  I am having the time of my life! 

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

The Bay Bridge ~ Last "Ripped Off" Entry~

The Bay Bridge

12" x 24"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

by

Torrie Smiley

San Fran Bay 2

by

Carissa Martos

This is my third entry into this year's Ripped Off show. This time I partnered with Carissa Martos. She had such a diverse and fabulous portfolio, it was difficult to select a piece to "rip". I finally decided on her San Fran Bay 2. I have not painted a bridge before, so this was definitely a challenge. Click here to visit here EBSQart gallery.

Thank you Carissa for giving me the opportunity to partner with you this year. It was so much fun and I can't wait for you to see the painting in person. Click here to see the entire "Ripped Off" Show at EBSQart.com.

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

This painting was gifted to Carissa Martos. Prints of this painting can be purchased from Fine Art America.com.

Well, off to the next painting adventure~

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

Orchid for Amanda~ Finally Finished!

Orchid for Amanda

16" x 20" x 1.5"

Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Room, with a View

by

Amanda Makepeace

This is my second entry into this year's Ripped Off show. I was so excited to partner with Amanda Makepeace. It gave me the opportunity to rip a painting of hers that I love! I just didn't know how hard it would be~ I painted my version of her Room, With a View. I cropped her painting to focus just on the flower and put in my greenish-yellow background that I use on so many of my paintings.

To see the entire show, please visit EBSQart.com.

Thank you so much Amanda for asking me to partner with you this year. I loved painting the orchid (even if it was such a challenge~) and pleased to send it to you.

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

This painting was gifted to Amanda Makepeace. Prints of this painting can be purchased from Fine Art America.com.

Now, time to move on to the third challenge painting.... this one will be of the Golden Gate Bridge....no, I haven't painted a bridge before~ Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie

Now Available at Fine Art America

Big Bird - 2007

I have recently partnered with Fine Art America to offer prints of my original paintings through their website. You can now choose from a large portion of my work including paintings that are in my private collection.

When I painted Big Bird - 2007, I never imagined how popular he would become. Prints and cards are now available at Fine Art America.

Up Next~

Coming soon, almost finished with new martini paintings and new large pear paintings. Check back again soon.

Thanks for stopping by~

Torrie