Poppies by the Sea

Poppies by the Sea 8 x 10 Acrylic on Canvas

Poppies by the Sea is the newest painting from the easel. It will be listed for auction this evening on Ebay. I am working on a western painting...don't know if I like it yet. I will let you know. I have to spend the day in the yard. Fallen leaves are taking over. Stella (my dog) is convinced the leaves are chasing her. I will be in at dark-thirty, which today will be pretty early.

Bye for now,

Torrie

New to Fripp Series

Evening Storm at Fripp

Ocean View at Fripp

These are the two new paintings in the Fripp Series listed on Ebay.

http://stores.ebay.com/Torrie-Smiley-Original-Works-of-Art

There will be more to come, but quite possibly after the holiday season. Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

New Pears, End of 2006 Series

Pears of Color II

The flu really took a toll, but I am up and painting again. These last series of pear paintings marks the end of the 2006 Pear Series. I love painting pears but I have several commissions and other pieces that need to be done before Christmas. Next on the agenda is Roosters and a Wine Series of pretty wine bottles.

The new Pear Series will be listed on Ebay beginning Sunday, October 22, 2006.

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Pears of Color - New

Pears of Color

New Painting to be listed on Ebay. I am trying to get back into my routine after struggling all week with the flu. It is never a convenient time to be under the weather, but I am too busy to "rest". The weather is beautiful, the fair is in town, the hedges need to be trimmed, and the porch needs to be painted -- and there are pictures in my head that need to go on canvas before they disappear deep into the gray matter. I hope you enjoy the new painting. There will be more to come!

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

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