Day Five of the 30 in 30 ~ Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII

6" x  6" 

Acrylic on Ampersand Gessobord

~Sold~

"I'm a Tar Heel born, I'm a Tar Heel bred. And when I die, I'm a Tar Heel dead."

Day Five of the  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  

I had my first toss out today.....there are always days when nothing looks quite right, those are the days you clean your brushes, put the easel away, and go see the grandchildren.  The best thing about grandchildren is they think you are the best grandma ever!  After lots of hugs and kisses, pretend tea out of plastic cups, and a rocking chair full of Minnie, Mickey, and me; I return to the studio with an uplifted spirit and renewed confidence~

This is another collector favorite composition that I have painted many times.  The Tar Heel Series of paintings began when my baby headed off to school.  Her and her husband have now settled in Chapel Hill and are raising a little Tar Heel of their own.

Tar Heel Born, Tar Heel Bred VIII was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality Ampersand Gessobord with painted sides to allow for display without a frame.  This painting can be framed or placed on a small display easel.  

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Day Four of the 30 in 30! Avocado with Bell Pepper II

 

Avocado with Bell Pepper II

5" x  7" 

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

It's Day Four of the  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  

Rolling right along, it has not gotten complicated yet....it is a holiday weekend with plenty of time to paint!  It will soon get tricky when I juggle home, work, and painting!  I will have to do a lot of planning to have everything stay on track~

You can see I have been revisiting old compositions, it is always best to start with the familiar when you have been away from painting for while.  Today is a throwback from years ago. I love the bright reds and subtle greens, this is always fun to paint

Avocado with Bell Pepper II was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality canvas panel with painted sides to allow for display without a frame.  This painting will easily slide into a frame or can be placed on a small display easel.  

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

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Day Three of the 30 in 30! Baseball VIII

Baseball VIII

6" x 6" x 1.5"

Acrylic Paint on Deep Gallery Wrapped Canvas

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It's Day Three of the  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  

Yes, I have painted this baseball eight times, exact composition-same ball.  It is my most requested commission and I love painting it.  Even after painting this eight different times, there are no two the same.  I always think the latest one is the best~

Today is going to be a fun day of painting~  The storm has passed and the light and weather are beautiful!

With a Carolina blue cloudless sky this morning, painting a Tar Heel painting will be easy~

Baseball VIII was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality deep gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides to allow for display without a frame.  This painting can either be hung on the wall or stood on a shelf like a block.  

This painting has sold.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Posted 13 hours ago by Torrie Smiley

Day Two of the 30 in 30! Red Pear in the Spotlight

Red Pear in the Spotlight

8" x  8"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for Purchase

It's Day Two of the  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  

I love painting pears!  This has to be one of my top five favorites paintings.  I have painted this composition many times before, this one is the best

I have spent this rainy day painting and getting ready for day three and four~  Look for baseballs, more food, and maybe even a fish~

Red Pear in the Spotlight 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.  This painting is currently available for purchase at my Etsy.com store.

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Day One of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days!

Fresh Cut Lemon

5" x  7" 

Acrylic Paint on Canvas Panel

~Sold~

It's that time again!  30 Paintings in 30 Days in September with Leslie Saeta.  I have participated in this adventure for several years.....never really getting farther than day 20. Completing a painting everyday can be a challenge when the real world continues to demand equal time.  

I have started this adventure with a small lemon painting.  There will be a variety of paintings painted this month.  I decided not to choose a theme this year, I am going to paint what pops into my head that day.  Of course, there will be pears, various food still life, baseballs, and I may throw in a rooster and a landscape here and there.

I have high hopes of completing the entire 30 paintings~  wish me luck!

Fresh Cut Lemon was painted using professional artist grade acrylic paint on a museum quality canvas panel. Painting can be easily framed or placed on a small easel for display. 

Thank you for stopping by~

Torrie

Mission Health and Claudia's Calla Lilies

Claudia's Calla Lilies

8" x 10"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

I received an email the other day from a representative with Mission Health in Asheville, North Carolina.  They requested the use of the image of my original painting Claudia's Calla Lilies to use in their upcoming awards and recognition program for their Certified Nursing Assistants.  The calla lily is the national flower of CNA's.  She stated they would be using the image on certificates, programs, and advertising regarding the event.  She went on to detail the specifics and conditions for use.  

I was so thrilled, I immediately called her and thanked her for the consideration.  I told her I would send her a full release to use the image as she wanted for the CNA program at Mission Health in any manner they choose.  She had no idea when she selected the image from her search on the Internet that I had a very strong bond with Mission Health.  My very first grandchild was born there.  My daughter was admitted very ill 10 weeks before her due date. They gave my daughter and very small premature granddaughter excellent care in their NICU for almost three months.

Miranda and Miss Audrey today~

I will be forever grateful for their care and kindness during my family's stay. Allowing them to use the image of my painting is really the least I can do.

Thank you again Mission Health.

Now, back to painting.

Torrie

Lucky Winner!

Dahlia

5" x 7"

Palette Knife Painting

by 

Sharon Durbin Graves

I love the Internet!  Artists are so kind to share their knowledge and experience through blogs, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.  There are several artists that I follow and learn so much from their demonstrations, tips, and progress photos.  Sharon Durbin Graves is a wonderful artist I follow. 

Every month Sharon gives away a painting to one of her many blog readers.  I was so fortunate in May to be selected to receive one of her beautiful paintings.  I contacted her immediately and insisted we trade!  She sent me the beautiful Dahlia painting above and I sent her my tulip painting.

Three Tulips

5" x 7"

Acrylic Paint on Ampersand Gessobord

We both had an opportunity to add new paintings to our growing collections.  

Please visit Sharon Durbin Graves' blog~ you just might win a beautiful painting! I did~

I am back to painting again after a long time away~  I will explain more tomorrow!

Thanks 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 9 ~ Robin's Blue Eggs VII

Robin's Blue Eggs VII

6" x  6" 

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Day Nine of the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  I am behind a few paintings, but I plan on catching up!  I love painting bird nests and eggs.  I love that they all all start the same but turn out a bit different in the end.

Robin's Blue Eggs 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 paintings available for purchase at my Etsy.com store. 

Day 10 is finished and will be posted tomorrow.....then I am going to catch up maybe on a few previous days

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 Three of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days~ Pear 2016-1

Pear 2016-1

6"  x  6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

Day Three of the 30 paintings in 30 days with Leslie Saeta.  My first pear painting for the year!!   I have a feeling there will be many to come.

Pear 2016-1 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 Four tomorrow~  

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

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"

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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

2016 Calendar!

The 2016 Calendar is finally off to the printer!

Can't wait for it to arrive~  

 SOLD OUT!

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 Pear Painting Today! November Pear

November Pear

6" x 6"

Acrylic Paint on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

~Sold~

It is so nice to be painting and I love painting pears!  There is so much painting to be done and so little time!  

November 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. 

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