Santa Fe Glory

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Santa Fe Glory  20"x16"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas / unframed (no frame needed)

$750 + sh/h in US
Available on ArtfulGalleries.com

I was in Santa Fe last October for the Carol Marine workshop. The Chamiso shrub was in unmistakable brilliant bloom. Our workshop was held at the Immaculate Heart of Mary retreat center, which just happens to be nestled in the pinon-covered foothills of the Rocky Mountains. These blooming chamiso shrubs where everywhere - around our classrooms and all along the hiking trails behind the center.  They turn a luminous gold in late summer and early fall and become irresistible photo opportunities. And painting opps as well. I used both brushwork and palette knife application in this one - a new favorite combo. 

Chamiso is one of the earliest native shrubs to green-up in spring in this area and it grows wildly along the dry, sandy watercourses. Over 25 subspecies have been identified. It's found from sea level to as high as 10,500 feet, yet it still thrives in this cold desert climate. Dense clusters of yellow-green flowers turn to rich gold by late summer, turning arroyos into golden rivers. A tea made from chamiso leaves is said to be good for colds and stomach disorders. Hmm, may have just discovered a new favorite tea as well!! All perfect.

Lighthouse II ©

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Lighthouse II  24"x24" 

Oil on 1.5"-wide gallery-wrapped canvas / unframed (no frame needed)

SOLD

I painted this scene in the 12x12" format back in 2006 after our trip to California. It's a view of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse just north of Santa Cruz in Pescadero, CA. I LOVE the west coast! Was inspired to paint it again, only a bit larger and using both brushwork and palette-knife application. (Click to enlarge to see more detail.) I install it Sunday at the Scarborough Building main lobby here in Austin, all thanks to sweet Kristin Schimmel. Hope you'll have a chance to take a look!

My Fine Art Website

Hope you'll visit my new FINE ART website. Have been thinking about it for a while and finally created it. I will continue to tweak and add new work. It is not an e-commerce site per se but will have links to the PayPal BUY NOW buttons here on my blog. Feel free to contact me to see work in person. Studio is always open. :-)

Also, I found out today I will officially be participating in the WEST Austin Studio Tour April 27-28 and May 4-5. I'll be a guest artist of Studio J in the Thornton Road Studios near Oltorf and S. Lamar. Yay!! Thanks Christine, Corlandus and Studio J members!!

Healing Light

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Healing Light  30x24"

Oil on .5" gallery-wrapped canvas  / unframed (no frame needed)

 $1300 + sh/h in Contiguous US

Contact me for purchase

This is special to me. I often get "downloads" or inspirations from my angels. One Saturday morning last fall, I woke up and received what I now consider a powerful light healing meditation. That morning, my mind was quiet and happy and blank. I was lying down. All of a sudden I started getting mental images of large squares of white light, about six feet by six feet, thin like a dryer sheet, going through my body starting at my feet and up to my head and surrounding space around me. They swashed though me one by one and then started coming faster and faster till it was just one strong light at my feet shining through me like a big strobe light. The thought came to me: "purification." Then I started seeing, in my minds-eye remember not thru my eyes, dark inky-blue purple light coming up my body, starting with my toes and slowing moving up my body. The thought / word came to me: "fortification." I understood that all the cells in my body were being fortified. This took several minutes - was slow like a software download on the computer. Finally, I saw a burst or flash of vibrant red light shoot up my spine to my neck. The word/thought came: "repair/reparation." I've had disc surgery in my neck and I have referred pain occasionally from this. Thus, the red repair light appeared where it was optimum for ME. So purify, fortify and repairing of cells must be the optimum way to heal. Works for me!!!!

I was inspired to paint this "Healing Light" piece so everyone could do this light healing meditation. The large white-ish area above represents the purifying white light. I put a Roman numeral I at the bottom right to indicate it is the first passage of light. The purple is actually next, so I put a II symbol in the bottom right. There is a tiny III in the red area. So now you can do your own "light healing" meditation. I am sure it was meant for all!! 

This painting is available. It uses techniques I am embracing - layers, varying thicknesses and using bold brush strokes and a variety of palette knife styles of application. It will be exhibited in the Scarborough Building main 6th street lobby from March 3 thru mid April. After that, any interested buyer can take it home. :-)

On the Rocks

©Debbi Smith Rourke

On the Rocks 12"x12

Oil on canvas, framed in natural wood and black float frame
$500 + sh/h 
Contact me for purchase

A big thanks to Carol Schiff who named this painting for me. Yay! Perfect. I love these water scenes from my trips to California. And am digging the thick paint and how it mimics the swirling water flow. LOVE IT!! It's going in my Scarborough Building exhibit March 3 - April 15 if it's not purchased before March 3. If purchased during the exhibit, I'll ship as soon as I can after taking the show down sometime in mid April.

San Juan Islands

© Debbi Smith Rourke

San Juan Islands 6x8"

Oil on archival panel / Framed in black and gold float frame
$250 framed + sh/h 
Available on ArtfulGalleries.com

I painted this little guy this morning and am posting tonight! Yay! Hope to make a habit of that. Seeking that balance between painting larger works and these small daily paintings. Any tips?

Windy Point ©

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Windy Point   18x36"

Oil on 1.5" wide gallery-wrapped canvas 

SOLD

I painted this last weekend and am finally posting it. You can click on it to make it larger. I just love this view of Lake Austin and Mt. Bonnell looking toward DT Austin from Cat Mountain. When it came time to name it, this name just popped into my mind. It does indeed get windy at this spot. This is one of my new works (after attending the Sandy Ostrau workshop in Berkley last month) that will be on display in the sixth street Scarborough Building lobby in March, and possibly West Austin Studio Tour. News to follow. All good!! Yay!!