News Update --- Plans and Big Ideas

Business has been wonderful and I truely appreciate all my new collectors. I am selling paintings now faster than I can paint new ones. I have several large pieces in the works:

A large version of Happy Hour. This new rendition will be 18 x 24 inches.

I am almost finished with Lady in Red sings the Blues (working title). This piece is 30 x 40.

I am still painting small pieces from the Fripp Collection. I am planning on doing larger versions of the Fripp Collection on 16 x 20 and 18 x 24 inch canvas.

I have plans for a companion piece to The Shadow. It will be a compliment piece with a blue accent intead of the red.

I will be spending the weekend with the girls in Chapel Hill. Miranda and I will be sweeping Courtney off her feet and out of the dorm for shopping, movies, and wandering in galleries.

When I get home, it will be time to seriously get started putting everything that I see in my head on canvas. Wish me luck!!

Thanks for checking in....

Torrie

The Long Goodbye

This is the second in the series of Fripp Island paintings. Going to the island is always a treat, but I am always ready to come home to my own house and studio, but it is hard to leave knowing the opportunity to visit may not come again.

Now I am off to clean flower beds....I would much rather paint, but the weeds are taking over.

Torrie

Memories of Fripp

Memories of Fripp

I have started a series of beach pictures. Most from photos and recollections of my trips to Fripp Island. I am enjoying taking a step back in time to the vacations taken there. I hope you enjoy them. I know there will be three painted....if I don't get into something else before then. I hope you enjoy the new work. Let me know!

Torrie

Field of Poppies

Field of Poppies

Field of Poppies is now listed on Ebay. Today has been a wonderful day to paint. Now for the real job. Have a great week!


Torrie

New Pear Paintings for Ebay

Red Pears II


Green Pears on Linen III

These are small (8 x 10) paintings that will be listed on Ebay for sale this evening. I am working on a poppy landscape that should be ready to list on Ebay this week. There are just some days where the painting is easier than others. This is a good day.

Later, Torrie

Oscar and Frank

This is Oscar and Frank. They were a commissioned pastel piece. Now I am back to painting for fun for a while. I am starting a landscape with lots of poppies and more pears.

Torrie

Yellow Roses New on Ebay

Yellow Roses

Yellow Roses is the newest from the easel. I will have it listed on Ebay beginning this evening. I have a couple of commissions to do for now (pastel portraits), then more fun art! Call or drop an email if you need something special.

Torrie

New Painting for Ebay - Red Pears

Red Pears on Linen was painted using the Old Master's style of underpainting and then glazing. I really like how the painting turned out. I plan on doing others, including some portraits. I will let you know how it turns out. The following is the finished painting, the completed underpainting, the beginning of the underpainting, and the reference photo for this painting.

Torrie

New Ideas

I went shopping and picked up some yellow roses and red pears. I came home and raided the china closet. I think I will paint this weekend. I will let you know how it turns out....
Torrie

Frame Your New Painting

Three Pears

Wisteria House

I have added to some of my auctions, pictures of the painting slipped into an open back frame.The right frame adds a new dimension to a painting. Finding the perfect frame may be easier and less expensive than you imagine.

The majority of my paintings are standard size gallery wrapped canvas painted on the edges suitable for hanging without a frame. However, if you would like the finished appearance of a frame, there are ways of achieving this without a high framing price.

The samples above are standard size open back frames purchased from Hobby Lobby. Michaels also sells standard open back frames. These are frequently on sale for half price --- a real bargin. The frames pictured above retail for 29.99 and 24.99--on sale they were only 15.00 and 12.50. Framing hardware can be found at Lowes and Walmart. I use the hanging wire with the hooks, to hang. There are framing clips in the hardware section at Lowes you screw in the back of the fame to hold the canvas in place.

****REMEMBER MOST IMPORTANT****

Take your painting with you to select a frame. Find three to four frames that match your general decor, then slip the painting into each one to see which one suits it the best.

I hope these tips and pictures have been a help. I am not a professional framer, but I have framed a lot of pictures on a budget.

More art to come!

Torrie

New on Ebay

I love this painting. I like the size of the canvas. At 8 x 16 inches, it was fun to work with.

Coming up next, I have started a new small landscape for the 2006 Lanscape series. This will be titled Tuscany Poppies. Hopefully, it will be ready for Ebay next week.

Take care and I will check back soon.

Torrie

New Rooster

This is the new Rooster in the 2006 Rooster Series. It is now listed on Ebay.

I have a lot of ideas....but nothing drawn on the canvas yet. I do want to paint geraniums and I want to do a piece for the cactus show. I will check in again soon and let you know how things are going.

Torrie

New Paintings of Pears

Here are the latest in the Pear Series for 2006. These will be listed on Ebay this evening. I have another pear painting started and then will be painting a new Rooster.

Enjoy the new pears.

Torrie

Pears for Breakfast

Pears and Shadows

Rooster for Mom

Mom is here for her visit from Texas and I had promised her a rooster for her kitchen. This rooster will be relocating to Buffalo Gap, Texas with mom.

Graduation is tonight, then more painting.


Torrie

Poppies in Blue Vase

Just finished and soon to be on Ebay, Poppies in Blue Vase. This is the first of what I hope to be many floral paintings that I do this summer. I have started a rooster for mom. I will check back later. I hope you are enjoying the art.

Torrie

Taking a Break

Graduation! The baby is graduating and the festivities have begun. Grandma is here from Texas and we will be partying for a few weeks. This June will be a family time before Courtney goes off to college and the nest will be empty (except for weiner Stella). I will be painting, but Grandma has a few things she would like painted. I will return to Ebay with new paintings I hope you all will love. Thanks for checking in.... Torrie

Green Pears on Linen, Large

Green Pears on Linen II, the larger version, is finished and ready to be glazed. I have wanted to do this painting for my kitchen for a long time and it is finished. It will be framed in a soft brush nickel finish frame and hung in my kitchen.

Next, the rooster and a new wine painting.

Check back again soon,

Torrie

New Painting for Me!

I painted a small Green Pears on Linen and really loved the painting. It sold and has gone to live in Florida. I have decided to try it again larger for my own kitchen. I hope it comes out as nice as the original. I am painting it 24 x 36 to put above my stove.

Here is a picture of the original Pears on Linen (8 x 10 acrylic on canvas) and the beginning of the large one. -Torrie

Blue Wine Bottles on Linen

Blue Wine Bottles on Linen is complete. It will be listed on Ebay. This is an 18 x 24 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas with painted sides.

This was a fun painting to do using my favorite wine bottles, and my favorite snack...the apple.

Torrie

Blue Bottle Painting progress

Things are moving right along. The drawing was last night. The undercoat and painting begins today.

Torrie