Director's Choice Exhibit Now Open and Morning with Thomas McNickle

 

Orchid Solo

20" x 20"

Avocado Bunch

8" x 8"

I am honored to once again be included in the Director’s Choice Exhibition at The Cain Center in Cornelius, NC.  Simone and her staff have curated a lovely collection of fine art. You must go see it! I will be at the reception February 26th.

The year is already flying by!  I am trying to focus on new art~. I have a couple of commissions to finish and then I will be moving to landscapes!  I plan on learning to paint plein air!

I have recently been to an artist talk at Melberg Gallery with Tom McNickle speaking.  This made my desire to move to landscapes even stronger.  Here are a few pictures from the Melberg Gallery.

Thomas McNickle 

Thomas McNickle

His work is beautiful!  It was a really fun morning and he gave me a lot of things to think about in regards to my work and how to manage the days when the painting just isn't coming together as it should.

You can listen to the Artist talk on You Tube HERE

Thank you again for stopping by,

Torrie

New Year-- New Paintings!

 

Tar Heel Martini

Blue Devil Martini

Commissioned Set

The last painting of 2025 is varnished and drying.  Time to get started on the new year!  

This year is going to be filled with new things!  New paintings, new fun art things to see and do.  The first was the Anne Neilson opening for Millie Gosch.  The paintings were lovely!  Next, the "RooDoodles" class at Anne Neilson with Michael Haun.  I am looking forward to learning something new and making new original artwork!  

Then there is the Melberg Gallery opening next with the works of Thomas McNickle.  His representational landscapes are full of vivid color!  I can't wait to see them close up.  That is where the inspiration for my new landscapes will come from.  I have painted mainly still life for years. It is time to mix it up.  

I am looking forward to new paintings, maybe some plein air.  Classes when they are available.  Shows if they fit into my schedule.

Hopefully, as the year moves along, you will see a painting you like....let me know if you do!

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Sunflower Bakery East 7th, Charlotte NC

 

2001 East 7th Street, Charlotte, NC

Show excited to show and sell my paintings at Sunflour Bakery!  These paintings will be available for purchase through November 23rd-- Just in time for the gift giving season.

I have 23 paintings for sale ranging from $25 original paintings on paper to the large Orchid on canvas framed for $300.   I know this is a challenging time and tried to keep the paintings at a more comfortable price point for people who want to give original art to family, teachers, and friends this holiday season.

I have enjoyed doing the small paintings (6" x 8") so much, I will probably continue.  These small pieces are matted to 8" x 10" inches to fit easily in a standard 8" x 10" frame from Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

I continue to work on several commissioned large paintings, and will start adding new work to the online stores when these are completed.  If there is something you would like to see in the stores for purchase, just let me know.  One of the hardest things for an artist is deciding what to paint next, so send me your suggestions!

Thank you again for stopping by, and if your local to Charlotte drop by one of the Sunflour locations and grab something delicious!

Torrie

The 6" x 6" Butterflies are $50 a piece

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

The following are a few the small paintings on paper $25

SOLD

 SOLD

 SOLD

 SOLD

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

Mint Hill Arts Tiny Treasures Show

 

Italian Lemons

6" x 6"

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Framed

Red Cherries III

6" x 6"

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Framed

Well Played II

6"x 6" 

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Framed

Audrey's Lilies

6" x 6" 

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Framed

This was my first year participating in the Mint Hill Arts Tiny Treasures Show.  It was a great show with so many wonderful paintings.  The show will run through September 5th.  Paintings are available for purchase through the Mint Hill Arts Store here.

Hidden Treasures from the previous post has been varnished, framed and sent off to its new home in Virginia.

The summer has flown by and have so many fun things coming up soon.  New and different paintings are on the way!

Thanks for stopping by,

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