Hill Country Colors / Energy & Stillness Exhibit / Santa Cruz #Contemporaryart

©2015 Debbi Smith Rourke
 Hill Country Colors  16"x16"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas
Was accepted in Energy and Stillness National Abstract Exhibit
$625.00 + sh/h
Available via ArtfulGalleries.com

I'm excited to announce that I will be part of a national abstract exhibit in Santa Cruz, CA entitled "Energy and Stillness," juried by John Maxon. If you are in the area, hope you will attend. The opening reception (which I will unfortunately miss) is Saturday Oct. 29, 3-5pm. The exhibit extends from Oct. 22 to Nov. 13. See the full exhibit here! So pleased this 16"x16" gem was accepted.

Kauai ©DSR #debbismithrourke #sidexside

©2015 Debbi Smith Rourke

Kauai  12"x12"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

$400 + $30 sh/h
Contact me for purchase

This painting is now part of my "Nature Interpreted" exhibit with photographer Jack Marshall now on display at Bruegger's Bagels in Westlake, ATX through Feb. 27. Join us for our morning Art Opening Saturday, Jan. 23 from 10 AM to noon and grab some bagels, cream cheese, brandy milk punch and apple cider. Check out all the photographs that inspired this series. Hope to see you soon! Thanks for swinging by whenever you get there.

Emerging Spring © #emergingspring #DSRabstract

©2015 Debbi Smith Rourke

Emerging Spring 36"x48"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

Contact me for purchase

I named this latest 3'x4' abstract Emerging Spring because it felt like the earth was busily and happily churning new life energy and then spewing it out as glorious young foliage. My color palette for this abstract painting is one of my favorites. I adore teal, lime green and rusty reds with golds, plus the more ethereal muted tones of each.  Then I found the perfect setting for the painting. LOVE IT! Now "Emerging Spring" is ready to reside in a new home just like this one. Contact me if you are interested in collecting this piece, prefer local pick up, or want to come to my studio to see it. Always an important step.

Heart of Art Exhibit, CA #EastBayartshow #Valentinesartshow #heartofart

 

Heart of Art Exhibit, 2/7 - 5/2

Artist's Reception: Saturday Feb. 7,  5 to 8 PM

Alina B in Danville, CA

I'm California bound!! Whee!!! If you live anywhere near the San Francisco Bay Area, I hope you'll come to this Valentine's inspired art exhibit at Alina B's boutique in Danville, CA. I will be exhibiting my contemporary works (abstracted landscapes, abstracted still life images) along with contemporary works by my dear friend and amazing artist Nancy Hartley!!! Can't wait!! So thrilled Alina asked us to participate. The work will be up Feb. 7 - May 2 and I'll be there for the big reception on Sat. Feb. 7, so I hope to see you!!! My heart is very full, indeed.

Thank You for 2014! #happynewyear #debbismithrourke

Thank you all for helping make 2014 a banner year for my art endeavors. The paintings below are just some that sold or were commissioned over the last year. The increased interest, commissions and sales were delightful and mean so much. I so appreciate my collectors! And supporters!

Wishing you inspiration, fulfillment, health and joy throughout 2015.

With gratitude!
Debbi  

 

Cedar in Tall Grasses  8"x10"

 

Cloudcroft Spring  8x10"

The Dance 30"x24"

Early Morning Lake View / Vertical 40"x30"

Tropical Breeze 16"x12"

Into the Leaves 10x8"

 

Lake Shore  8x10"  

Garden Tour 5"x7" 

Mount Bonnell Bend  5"x7" 

Thoughtful Girl 16"x16"

 Trial Islands  8"x10"

Lake Shore © #SidexSide #bluebonnets #TexasWildflowers

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Lake Shore 8"x10"

Oil on canvas panel
SOLD

This is the first new work for my next Side by Side exhibit with Bill Oakey this October at the Old Bakery and Emporium. Working on a batch of new works, all based on his photography. You'll have to come to the show to see his image. :-) Love these abstracted landscapes with lots of of thick, juicy paint. Love using the palette knife and mixing in a little brushwork. Fun!!

Ranch Road ©

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Ranch Road 11"x14"

Oil on canvas / framed in natural wood and black frame
SOLD
 

My parents sold their farm and ranch home near Lockhart, Texas last month. Will miss the lovely views, but painting them will help keep the memories alive. This painting uses some of the simplification techniques I learned in Sandy Ostrau's workshop. I enjoy using both brushwork and palette knife application. I think I want to paint this again and simplify it even further. Will also paint it more realistically, though still in an impressionistic style. I love experimenting in my art, trying new techniques to see what I respond to and what might emerge. It's all a delightful adventure!

SOLD! Thank you!

"Thistles" ©Debbi Smith Rourke  20"x20"

"Inspired Dream" ©Debbi Smith Rourke 30"x24"

"Winter Holiday" ©Debbi Smith Rourke 8"x10"

"Spring Snowfall" ©Debbi Smith Rourke 11"x14"

"Illinois Gold" ©Debbi Smith Rourke  8"x10"

"Sweetie Pie" ©Debbi Smith Rourke 8"x10"

"Two Peppers"  ©Debbi Smith Rourke  6"x 8"

"Jamaica Mon"  ©Debbi Smith Rourke  8"x10"

These are some of my favorite oil paintings that were sold in 2013. Yay! So appreciate each and every one of my art patrons, from this year and through the years. Your support and encouragement mean a great deal. I'm also now leasing artwork and teaching art classes to adults and children 9 to 12 years of age, here in my home studio. Contact me if interested. More inspired work to come so stay tuned. All the best to your and yours in 2014.

Teal Hills © / In-Home Studio Holiday Sale

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Teal Hills 24"x 24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas
SOLD

I am enjoying painting abstracted landscape imagery, particularly of Lake Austin. Unexpected surprises arise when I explore techniques such as multiple layers, interesting new color mixes and a variety of textures.

This Friday and Saturday, December 13 and 14th, I am hosting a Holiday Art Sale in my home and home studio. Email, text or FB message me for my address. The inside of our home is decked out for the season and my paintings are hanging throughout the house — an homage to myself! If you are in Austin, pop by! 

Home Studio in NW Austin

Friday, 12/13: Noon to 5 pm

Saturday, 12/14: 11am to 5 pm

Mom's Mum ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

"Mom's Mum" 10"x8"

Oil on canvas panel / framed in gold plein air frame
NFS

I painted this from a flower arrangement my mom created. She brought me some flowers  and then graciously arranged them beautifully in several different vases to set around my home. This was a very dramatic view of a mum in a white pitcher. It became the still life for my first painting class for adults. Yah! Love this split-complementary color scheme. I just had to paint it myself using the palette knife. Thanks for the inspiration, Mom! xoxo

Gabriel's Call ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Gabriel's Call  24"x30"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas / unframed (no frame necessary) 
$1300 + sh/h in Contiguous US
Contact me for purchase

I enlarged this piece from a study I did called "Missing Arizona." As this one turned out to have a lot of bronze colors (the colors associated with arch angel Gabriel), and the dark rust markings toward the bottom reminded me of an angel flying with a long trumpet, I decided to title it "Gabriel's Call." It is on exhibit at Bruegger's Bagels in Westlake through the 24th of November. Contact me via if interested. If you are outside of Austin, I will set up a pay pal button for you with personalized shipping costs. So appreciate!!!

Santa Fe Holiday ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Santa Fe Holiday 24"x30" 

Oil on 1.5" gallery-wrapped canvas / unframed (no frame needed)
$1300 + sh/h 
Contact me for purchase

Isaiah 1:18

Verse Concepts

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.24Ln6wYv.dpuf

Isaiah 1:18

Verse Concepts

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.24Ln6wYv.dpuf

Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18

Verse Concepts

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow;
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Snow#sthash.24Ln6wYv.dpuf

It was so thrilling to enlarge this image I have painted twice as an 8x10". My goal is to bring the same simplicity of form to my large works that exists in the small, with very little new information. I call this an abstracted landscape because the shapes, forms, textures and colors become more important than capturing the true representational nature of the scene. I'm trying to express the FEELING of being there rather than seeing every detail that was perceptible. And that is thrilling because I remember the glowing of my very full heart that day, at this scene on my Santa Fe holiday! So much love, fun and fantasy gets wrapped up in paint and canvas! All wonderful! 

Happy to meet you for coffee @ Bruegger's Bagels in Westlake if you want to see the show with me. Up for just another 25 days!! 

P.S. Today is my mom's 76th birthday! Happy Halloween birthday, Mom! Love you!

Winter Holiday II ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

"Winter Holiday II" 10"x8"

Oil on canvas, framed in natural wood and black frame
$350 framed + sh/h
Contact me for purchase

I decided to try a vertical of this photo I snapped from my trip to Santa Fe in December 2011. My friend Nancy Hartley and her husband Brian took us to visit some artists friends who lived just outside of town in a winter wonderland. We had a lovely visit with Bunny Tobias and Charles Greely and toured their home and gallery. Special memories. I also have a horizontal painting of this same scene.

Sweetie Pie ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Sweetie Pie 8"x 10"

Oil on canvas panel
SOLD

I set up this still life for my 9-year-old art student for her last still life class. A split-complimentary painting. She did an amazing job. So I decided I should paint it as well...before my husband ate all the pie. I suggested this title and he laughed. He had a great back-up title: "Life of Pie." We know around here that the life of this pie was quite short, but indeed sweet!

Autumn Gold ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Autumn Gold 30"x24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas 
NFS

Bill Oakey and I have enjoyed collaborating in our artistic endeavors since 2007. This year's "Side by Side" work offers new views into this theme of parallelism. My fascination with abstracting the essence of a scene is more pronounced in this years' body of work. We also have some solo pieces in our October exhibit, so some of my purely abstract works will also be exhibited.

Autumn Gold was painted from a photograph Bill shot in Illinois. When you see this in person, it feels like you can just step right into the scene. It feels to me as if the natural world is inviting us to venture beyond the open meadow and into the mystic woods. Aren't you curious what lies ahead? I am. I want to just slip away into the magic.

Illinois Gold ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Illinois Gold 8"x10"

Oil on canvas panel framed in gold/black float frame

SOLD

This is another painting I created for the Side by Side exhibit with Bill Oakey. He shot a number of lovely earth-toned images on his trip to Illinois last fall that were ideal for our inspirational and collaborative process. And after he saw this painting, he decided to buy it!! Gotta love that! Hope to see you next Friday at our exhibit at the Old Bakery & Emporium at 10th and Congress.

Port Aransas Twilight II ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Port Aransas Twilight II  24"x30"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas (no frame needed)
$1300 + sh/h in Contiguous US
Contact me for purchase

The 2013 "Side by Side" exhibit opens Oct. 4! Come see new works from photographer Bill Oakey and my abstracted interpretations of those stunning images in oil. This has been a fun year of exploring abstracted imagery and texture – and painting with the palette knife. As always, color is vital to the work. Hope you will come see what fills our hearts with joy and inspiration! 

The reception is Friday, Oct. 4, 5 - 7pm. There is limited parking in the lower level lot behind the Old Bakery & Emporium. As daytime workers leave, street metered street parking is usually available. If you miss the reception, the show is up Oct. 4th - Nov. 6th. Gallery hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Look forward to seeing you!!
 

Cloudcroft Spring ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Cloudcroft Spring 8"x10"

Oil on canvas board
SOLD
 

I painted this scene a bit larger, 11x14", back in early July and it sold to my good friend Cindy. It was painted from an image shot by photographer Bill Oakey which will be part of our upcoming "Side by Side" exhibit. SO, since the first one sold, I had to paint it again. :-) This one will be part of our October exhibit at Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery at 10th and Congress.  I so enjoy using the palette knife to push paint around. The process is hipnotic! 

Ocean View ©

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Ocean View 8"x10"

Acrylic on canvas panel

Unframed: $250 + $25 sh/h in Contiguous US

Contact me for purchase

I painted this a couple of weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to posting it. It is painted in acrylic, a change for me. Was a nice surprise to be able to paint and clean up so quickly.

Port Aransas Dawn ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Port Aransas Dawn 12"x24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas
$650  + sh/h 
Contact me for purchase

Bill and I are working on more "Side by Side" works for our October exhibit. I painted this from a photograph he took recently in Port A. Here's his beautiful image of the beach at dawn -- so lovely and serene, while my version is a bit more edgy and textural. It's all interpretation and totally inspirational. Collaboration is fun. All good!!!

© Bill Oakey