"Lake Shore II" © #sidebysideexhibit #abstractedlandscape

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Lake Shore II  24"x30"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

$1300 + sh/h in US
Contact me for purchase

I painted this from a photograph by photographer Bill Oakey for our 2014 Side by Side exhibition Sept 1 - 30 downtown at the Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery. (Reception Friday Sept 5, 5 - 7 pm!!) I painted a smaller version that was an abstracted landscape with a bit more detail - see "Lake Shore 8x10." As I created this larger version, I simplified the image even further. Isn't that interesting? You'd think you'd put in more detail but I keep trying to simplify everything down to basic shapes. Enjoying this road to further simplification. And digging these colors.

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!

Springtime Drive ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Springtime Drive  11"x14" 

Oil on canvas / Framed in natural wood and black frame
$525 + sh/h 
Contact me for purchase

I love taking drives through the Texas hill country each spring. You have to hit it at just the right time of the season. Despite recent droughts, we were blessed to have a beautiful spring last year. This was painted from a photo I took on the famous Willow City Loop near Fredericksburg in 2012. I did a quick under painting which I took to my Sandy Ostrau workshop in January and played around using Sandy's techniques. Artist Nancy Hartley stored it for me til it dried and mailed it to me. Then I swirled some more paint around using the palette knife and a brush or two, leaving some original painting showing through, and landed on this gem. I love it. Hope it brings you joy as well. 

Fall Morning II

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Fall Morning II   8x6"

Oil on archival panel / framed in gold and black frame
Sale: $65.00
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This is a further-abstracted version of a painting I did two years ago - posted below. This new one is smaller and has less detail. Yet all the juicy color and streamlined detail is all the info you need I think. I am loving working with bold brush strokes and sometimes just the palette knife. No palette knife here - all flats and brights. More to come!

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Fall Morning  14x11 oil on canvas

Available in gold plein air frame here. 

Fall Countryside Study

©Debbi Smith Rourke

   Fall Countryside Study    8 x 8 x 1.5
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas.  
$210 + $15 sh/h in contiguous US

I love to take photos on road trips - when I'm the passenger that is! We went to Galveston last fall for my husband's family reunion of the Cantini family. Italian family reunion at the racetrack on the mainland - we didn't actually go into Galveston this trip. On the way back I was snapping photos a plenty. This one struck a chord with me and had to paint it. Hope to enlarge soon!