Martini, Stirred VIII - New Bar Art!

Martini, Stirred VIII

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This is the newest painting in the Martini Series.

I have been commissioned to paint the complete Flow Blue Series for a collector. I will be busy with that for a while. I will try to work in a few new small paintings in between.

The weather has been absolutely beautiful! The flowers are blooming and the hydrangeas are going to be perfect this year. Look for floral paintings in the near future.

Well, off to paint!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Torrie

Grandma's Lemons, New Painting!

Grandma's Lemons

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This lemon press/juicer has been used to make lemon pies for five generations of my family. I had bought a bag of lemons to use in still life arrangements --after taking reference photos....we made a pie.

My apologies for my gallery being down for the last few days. EBSQart.com which hosts my gallery lost a server. The new server is in place and the gallery is again up and running and even faster!

Currently working on new martini paintings. These should be done hopefully by the end of the long weekend.

I am really going to finish the landscape paintings in the studio.....the Monet style pond and the poppy landscape are on their way to being completed.

I have to weed the flower bed and plant the tomatos---then back to painting!

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Flow Blue and Lemons, New Painting!

Flow Blue and Lemons

Flow Blue and Lemons

Available for purchase

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

New Painting! Flow Blue with Lemons is the newest in the Flow Blue series. Finished this one last night. This is my favorite Flow Blue pitcher. It will probably be painted again---maybe with pears.

Miranda is coming home from her Florida vacation today. I am off to the airport to bring her home.

The next painting will be a plein air cloud painting for the show at www.EBSQart.com if the weather cooperates!

Check back again soon!

Torrie

Finally---New Paintings!

New Paintings Available for Purchase

Lemons and Red Bowl III

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

                                                                                        Pear Trio

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Paintings are available for purchase at the links on the right.

Things are getting back to normal, whatever that is.....Courtney has gone back to Chapel Hill. She will be taking classes this summer. Miranda is off to Florida for vacation and I will have a week to myself. Time to paint-paint-paint!

I have painted a new version of Lemons and Red Bowl. The lemon paintings have been fan favorites. There are more lemon paintings to come.

Pear Trio is a new pear painting. It wasn't planned. I just felt like pears.

Check back again soon. New paintings on the way!

Torrie

Hi Honey, I'm Home!

Back from the Beach!

Me and my fabulous new camera are home from the beach. I took this picture from my fifth floor hotel room balcony of the birds on the beach. I had a marvelous time. The staff at the Patricia Grand Resort were very nice and the three days went by too fast! I took several pictures of children playing in the surf and on the beach. There will be watercolors of the vacation coming soon.

The baby is coming home for two weeks from Chapel Hill before she starts the summer classes. We will be grilling out and bonding before she leaves home again. She will also bring home great new ideas for paintings.

Well, I better get going. 250+ emails to catch up on and tons of sandy laundry.

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

To the BEACH!!

GONE TO THE BEACH!

I am doing my part to stimulate the economy! I have taken my $600.00 from the Government and gone to the beach! I will be back when the cash runs out...

Look for new watercolors of the beach and other new fun paintings when I get home.

Torrie : )

Bowl of Strawberries - New painting today!

Bowel of Strawberries

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Mom has made it back safely to Texas and settled in with Flakoti. I am back to the routine. This is the newest finished painting since taking a vacation with Mom. It is also the first painting that I have photographed using my new Cannon Digital Camera.....I love my new camera! This painting is currently listed in my Etsy.com store.

There will be more paintings to come this week. Check back again soon!

Torrie

Two More Green Pears, New Painting Today!

Two More Green Pears

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Sorry, I have not been around.....my mother is here for a visit and we went to Atlanta this past weekend to see my sister graduate from college. Yeah! We had a wonderful road trip.

This is the last of the small canvas. I will have to get some more of these soon. But first! While on the road trip I picked up a new Flow Blue Pitcher. It will be the center of new still life paintings to come.

I also have an orchid in bloom. My little plant that has sat quietly in my studio has come to life with three magnificent blooms. This will be featured with my new little Japanese teapot in a still life.

I have new martini paintings on the way and I am still working on the "Monet-like" pond garden painting. This should keep me busy for a while.

I would like to thank all my new "fans" on Facebook! Thanks for keeping up with my art!

Well, I had better go.... so much to do, so little time.

Torrie

Two Gold Pears, New Painting Today!

Two Gold Pears

Two Gold Pears

6"x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Two Gold Pears is the newest painting on the small 6" x 6" canvas I have recently been using.

Two Red Pears sold quickly after being listed on the internet. I am sorry for those who missed the opportunity to purchase. If you would like to commission one for yourself, just send me an email. You can also choose your size.

Staying too busy, but the paint is flowing smoothly!'

Off to the studio....the ideas are flooding in!

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie

Two Red Pears, New Painting today! ~~SOLD~~

Two Red Pears - SOLD

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available for purchase directly from Artist

This is the newest pear painting! I am almost out of the case of 6" x 6" canvas that I purchased. I have enjoyed them so much. I will definitely have to order more. That is the down side of living in a small town. --No art stores. The last time I drove to Charlotte to buy canvas, they were out of my size. Since gas is ridiculously expensive, I think I will just continue to order online from http://www.cheapjoes.com/ The staff at Cheap Joes are wonderful and ordering is simple, but I miss strolling down the aisle looking at all the pretty art supplies and wondering what I could do with them.... My favorite is looking at the pastels. A wall of color neatly organized and on display.....it is like a rainbow on the wall. Well, back to the real world.

I do have the water lily pond started....I guess I am intimidated by the beautiful ponds of Monet....I have been putting off really getting into it. I will post it as soon as I have conquered my fear and finished it.

I have recently opened a store on www.zazzle.com/torriesmiley At my zazzle store you will be able to buy stamps, mouse pads, note cards, coffee cups and many other items made from my original paintings. I will not be selling any prints of my paintings, just gift items. I have not fully stocked the store yet, so if there is a painting you would like to have made into note cards, postage stamps, etc..., just email me and I will add the item to the store.

Well, I had better get going. So much to do.....

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the new painting!

Torrie

Three Olive Martini IV

Three Olive Martini IV

Commissioned Painting

I am caught up! For the time being.

I have sent five paintings to be included in the gallery opening of Flourish Boutique and Gallery in South Bend, Indiana in June. If you are near there in June, stop in and check it out! I will give more updates as the time for the opening nears.

I have just finished this commissioned martini painting and can now get back to the other paintings I have been working on.

I will be opening a store at http://www.zazzle.com/ soon. You will be able to purchase my art in prints, cards, and other gift items. I will update you when the store is opened.

The weather has been wonderful! Much needed rain is here! I have planted hydrangeas, begonias, azaleas, and calla lilies. Soon there will be paintings of them all!

Biggest news! My orchid plant that has been in my studio for two years.....just three green leaves and a stick has finally bloomed! There are three beautiful orchids. These will definitely be in a painting very soon.

Thanks for stopping by....there will be more paintings soon,

Torrie

Two New Paintings!

Pear II

8" x 10" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Tomato

                                                                    6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

These are two new painting just listed for sale, you can purchase through the title link at my http://www.torriesmiley.etsy.com/ store or from me directly at my website gallery http://www.torriesmiley.com/

Things are starting to slow down. Courtney is back at Chapel Hill, after a mild concussion. (Low blood sugar resulted in a fainting spell and a knot on her forehead the size of a small country!) She is doing well, but I am exhausted. My children are making me old! My worry wrinkle is getting deeper----

I have been getting paintings ready for a gallery opening in June in South Bend, Indiana. I will give more details as the time draws near.

I am still working on the martini commissions...but there are some other new paintings that will be finished soon...so keep in touch.

Torrie

Sunlit Tomatoes - New Painting!

Sunlit Tomatoes

8" x 10" Acrylic on Canvas

I just finished "Sunlit Tomatoes". It is available for purchase from all the usual places or just click the title above to buy directly from the artist.

I am in the process of getting some paintings together for a gallery opening in April. I will update you more as it progresses.

I have been on vacation this week, accomplishing not-a-whole-lot. I guess I better develop that old Southern 'gitter done' attitude and get busy.

I am going to paint a smaller tomato painting. I have two commissioned martini paintings to finish, and I still have not painted my bathroom.......

Well, guess I better get busy. Enjoy the new painting. For a list of online stores selling my work, go to www.torriesmiley.com

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

Tar Heel Martini, New March Madness Painting!

Tar Heel Martini

16"x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Available on Auction at eBay

It is that time of year again! March Madness! It all started when my daughter was accepted at UNC Chapel Hill. Since then, I have started watching a lot of basketball. This painting has been in the back of my mind for a while.....well, I let it out and here it is......

Tar Heel Martini, --- my daughter said it needed more Carolina blue, but I like it.

I will be headed off to UNC to take her back to school from Spring break this weekend. There is no telling what I will be inspired to paint while I am on campus!

I will be painting more than usual this next week....but it will be the bathroom walls. I am doing some more work on the continuing project that is my house.

I do have a waterlily painting drawn on canvas and ready to paint, similar in style to the ones of Monet. There will also be more pear paintings.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the art!

Torrie

http://www.torriesmiley.com/

Pears and Pink Tulips, Just listed for Sale!

Pears and Pink Tulips

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

I have just finished "Pears and Pink Tulips". You can purchase directly from me by clicking the link above, or shopping in my Etsy.com store or at ArtbyUs.com.

I have started something new. My baby girl has come home for Spring Break from UNC Chapel Hill. It is so nice to have her home safe. While we were watching the Duke/UNC game the other night, it came to me. I will be painting a Martini painting very similar to the Award Winning "Martini, Stirred". This time it will be Carolina Blue--with a Basketball in the center instead of the olive. Check back again soon to see how it turns out! I often catch Tar Heel fever after a visit to the campus. Courtney thinks she gets to take it back to school with her.....we will have to see about that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Torrie

The Old Red Boat

The Old Red Boat

16" x 20" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This is the newest finished painting. Don't worry the tulips are next! I was just in the mood to paint something loose. I have painted this boat before, but never this large. The painting has a thick textured appearance. I am very pleased with how it turned out. This painting is available for sale directly from the artist, or through my etsy store at http://www.torriesmiley.etsy.com/ or through http://www.artbyus.com/

Up next: The tulip painting. I will start this new painting tonight. It is also going to be 16" x 20".

Thanks for checking in!

Torrie

Sneak Peak!

Currently on the easel

This will be titled "Pink Tulips, Green Pears"--maybe..

Remember when John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"--well, that would explain the lack of posts and new paintings! I have now figured out, I get the flu shot, so I can take care of everyone who chooses NOT to get the flu shot! Gallons of ginger ale, soup, and Lysol wipes later......it is time to paint!

And now for planned art ~~ : )

I don't generally post the reference photo when I have just finished the drawing, but I wanted to give you a hint. Tomorrow's game plan is to start painting this wonderful tulip painting. I guess I am just hurrying spring, but I picked up these tulips for a centerpiece at this past week's Mary Kay party and had to paint them.

I have also begun drawing a water lily painting/koi pond. (Another hint that I can't wait for spring!)

And last but surely not least---I have a started another "Old Red Boat" painting...this time 16" x 20" oil on gallery wrapped canvas.

These are not my usual paintings....I am stepping out of my usual comfort zone and painting spring!

Check back again soon to see the progress.

Torrie

Pink and Yellow Pears

Pink and Yellow Pears

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This is a new painting listed for sale today. Click the link above to purchase directly from the artist. You can also purchase painting from my stores at www.torriesmiley.etsy.com and

www.artbyus.com

Pink and Yellow pears is a loosely painted Bosc pear painting using a bit of a different color scheme.

I will be painting all weekend. Check back again to see what else I come up with.

Thanks for stopping by,

Torrie

New Pear Painting! Green and Red Pears

Green and Red Pears

6" x 6" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

This new painting is available for purchase at my website www.torriesmiley.com or just click the link above.

The weekend is almost here! I love weekends--lots of painting to do. I do have to go to Charlotte to pick up canvas on Saturday. I have a commission that requires a special canvas.

I will be starting a landscape this weekend. It will be posted by Monday if I like it.

I am in the mood to paint something different.....a departure from what I usually do, I just haven't decided what it is yet. Among the possibilities...portraits, horses....cows....you can tell I am getting homesick for Texas when I start painting western art.

Etsy meeting in Gastonia on Saturday! I can't wait! Panera Bread and lots of fun!

Well, better go for now.

Torrie

Martini, Stirred VII, New Painting!

Martini, Stirred VII

16" x 20" Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

A new martini painting just listed, available for purchase at www.torriesmiley.com

I will be closing my eBay store tomorrow and joining the eBay boycott. My paintings are still available at other online venues and directly from me!

Don't know what's coming up next. I am working on a pastel portrait--and then may be some watercolor. Landscape? I am thinking of working on my versions of Monet and Cezanne. Email me if you have some ideas--

Thanks for stopping by.

Torrie