Fort Davis Church #DebbiSmithRourke #contemporaryart

 

© 2017 Debbi Smith Rourke

Fort Davis Church 12"x12"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

$400 unframed + sh/h

Contact me to purchase

Continuing in my simplified landscape series of Texas highway and byway scenes. I snap pics on our trips and find cool subjects and compositions. And then I push the color. All fun and games. 

 

Texas Farmland ©DSR 2017 #DebbiSmithRourke #contemporaryart

© 2017 Debbi Smith Rourke

Texas Farmland 36"x48"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

$4000 unframed
Available via ArtfulGalleries.com

I painted this from a pic I took on our way back from South Texas -- no idea where beyond being south of Bastrop and north of the King Ranch. Big area I know, but this is reminiscent of many country road scenes. Stylistically, this is leaning into my abstracted landscape territory, influenced by California artists like Raimond Staprans, Diebenkorn and Sandy Ostrau (check her out!). So look for more in this vein. #abstractedlandscape #contemporarylandscape #Texaslandscape #contemporaryfineart #oilpainting #AustinFineArtist

Island Colors ©DSR #DebbiSmithRourke #beachseries #oilpaintings

©2016 Debbi Smith Rourke

Island Colors 8"x8" 

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

$210 + sh/h
Available on ArtfulGalleries.com

This abstract is part of my beach series as it contains all the colors from my beach series palette. Love the warm muted greens and rusty colors against the light and airy sky colors. Yummy. Looking for it's forever home. ;-)

Boat Ride ©2016 DSR #beachpaintings #contemporaryart

©2016 Debbi Smith Rourke

Boat Ride 11"x14"

Oil on canvas panel
SOLD

One more in my beach series that will be on exhibit Nov. 4  - 30 at Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery located at 10th and Congress in Austin. Hope you'll swing by the exhibit, especially next Friday evening for our artists' reception - Nov. 4 from 5 - 7 PM. Our Lens and Brush exhibit will also feature works from Christine Gilbert, Bill Oakey and Jack Marshall. 

Moraine Lake ©DSR #DebbiSmithRourke #abstractoilpainting

©2015 Debbi Smith Rourke

Moraine Lake 24"x24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas
SOLD

This is another new abstract inspired by nature images by Austin-based photographer Jack Marshall. His Moraine Lake image, shot in Canada, is below. See more of our latest collaborative efforts in "Nature Interpreted" in Austin now through Feb. 27 at Bruegger's Bagels (3267 Bee Caves @ Walsh Tarlton, SW corner). Swing by our Art Reception Saturday morning Jan. 23 from 10AM - noon - we'll have bagels and cream cheese, brandy milk punch and apple cider! Can't wait to start off the year with our friends and supporters! Happy 2016!

"Moraine Lake" photograph by Jack Marshalls

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.

Coastal Feeling in Kitchen Setting #DSRlandscape

 

"Coastal Feeling" ©2012 Debbi Smith Rourke

©2012 Debbi Smith Rourke

Coastal Feeling

12"x12" oil on canvas

Framed in natural wood and black float frame 

$500 + sh/h
Contact me for purchase

Finding some lovely interior setting to display may artwork via my stock photography search. It helps envision scale and possible environments or settings. More to come!

Teal Hills and West Austin View #DSRpaintings #DSRsettings

 "Teal Hills" ©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke / Oil on canvas  / 24"x24" SOLD

 "West Austin View" ©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke / Oil on canvas  / 24"x24" SOLD

 "Teal Hills" & "West Austin View" ©2013-2014 Debbi Smith Rourke / Oil on canvas  / 24"x24" BOTH SOLD

I'm having fun imagining my paintings in lovely interior settings. Which is your favorite? More to come! These two paintings are both abstracted views of Lake Austin. Teal Hills is a spring view and West Austin View is an early December view. They work as a pair or hung individually. - Update: sold as a pair. So grateful to have wonderful collectors!!! 

©Debbi Smith Rourke 2014

"West Austin View" 24"x24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

SOLD

©Debbi Smith Rourke 2014

"Teal Hills" 24"x24"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas

SOLD

Canyon Lake #canyonlake #DSRlatestlandscape

©2015 Debbi Smith Rourke

Canyon Lake 8"x10"

Oil on canvas board 

SOLD

I have been admiring some photos I took several years ago at our friends' home on Canyon Lake. I was considering painting a very large abstract from them. But first, thought it best to do a smaller version. I just LOVE what emerged. Using the palette knife and some brush work, adding just the right amount of texture and movement, lights and darks, mixing the perfect shades of colors and knowing when to stop....ahh, I think I may have finally learned a few things. :-) Love it when it comes together so nicely. And now, I'm occasionally adding some environment images. Enjoy! 

"Tropical Breeze" © #mayanrivieramemories #austinpaletteclub #palmtreepainting

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

"Tropical Breeze" 16"x12"

Oil on canvas

SOLD

I painted this yesterday in a demo I did for the Austin Palette Club, hosted by Joe Cates and Shirley Slaughter. Thank you! Was so much fun and loved the painting that resulted. I brought it home and tweaked it a bit. I'm inspired to continue painting from all the fab pics I took a few years ago when Jim and I visited Grand Velas on the Mayan Riviera. Swanky place in paradise! What more can I say. All good!

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!

Early Morn Lake View / Vertical © #commission #LakeAustin #360bridge

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Early Morn Lake View / Vertical 40"x30" 

Oil on unstretched canvas 

Commissioned / SOLD

Last Saturday, I put the final touches on this commissioned work for a client in Ohio. She has an Austin connection and loves this view. Her interior designer is also my dear friend Kay Rasoletti. Gotta love that! They were keen on teal and burgundy colors and requested a vertical version of a prior painting of mine. The requested size was large, 40x30" plus 1.5" on each side to cover a gallery-wrapped canvas. And it had to be shipped, so I worked on loose canvas so it could be rolled and shipped in a tube. I learned many things in the process, so I thought I would share the stages. It was challenging trying to get a good photograph in my studio. I wasn't able to get a good photograph until it was finished and dry and I could carry it outside to shoot in natural light. So pardon the quality of my process photos.

 

I bought unstretched canvas and cut a size larger than my 43x33 needs, stapled it to a plywood board and created registration marks for the surface size (40"x30") and the full size.

 

I added three coats of gesso.

Next, I put in the darks and established the basic layout, and established the lighter areas.

 I added detail, mid-tone values, texture in layers, put burgundy glazes over the lower, dark hills and softened the sky.

 Preparing to roll, put in a tube and ship!

 You can get a sense of the scale when you notice the legs of my office chairs in the background.

In a tube and on its way to Ohio!!

Sandy Ostrau Workshop Jan. 2014

 

Sandy doing a landscape demo 

I was thrilled to attend Sandy Ostrau's 3-day workshop in Orinda, California (Bay Area) in January. Everything about it was delightful. My dear friend and fab artist Nancy Hartley invited me. She and her hubby Brian went all out to make every moment of my trip so delightful. Thank you, all!!! I was inspired on so many levels.

 Sandy's color mixing

 Sandy showing ways to optimize use of layers

 Another sweet Sandy demo

Learned a few fabulous tips: 

- Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. 

- Experiment. You can always paint over the work, or turn it 90 or 180 degrees.

- Color gets all the credit. Value does all the work.

- Quinacridone red and white make a luscious sky color.

- Learned to make earthy taupes that mix well with oranges and greens.

- Unexpected color pops brilliantly when placed next to a neutral.

Play time!!! I burned the candle at both ends. Up early for breakfast then Nancy picked me up and we laughed our way to class. We watched Sandy and were endlessly inspired, painted with amazing painters all day, enjoyed al fresco lunches, went gallery gazing, took walks on the reservoir, dined out, laughed and shared, enjoyed home cooked meals and even attended Brian's running club's annual gala in San Francisco the last night. On top of that, I met ad pal Roberta Taub Abel for a delightful dinner, too! She drove into Danville from Berkley to see me and catch up. What fun.

 

Nancy Hartley's paintings at Layfayette Gallery

 Yummy home-cooked meal at Nancy and Brian's. Delightful and healthy. Oh the stories I must have told.

Nancy and me after painting, shopping and drinking. Art buddies for life!

 Nancy and Brian on gala night in San Francisco. So delighted to be their guest. We danced all night!

 Dinner with Roberta Taub Abel. We worked at Leo Burnett and JWT together in Chicago 

too many years ago. So many stories and so many common friends!!

 Sad departure. Glorious views!!

Thank you, Nancy!! What a dear, dear friend!! Lot's of love to you! XOXO

Snow Shed ©

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Snow Shed  6"x6"

Oil on 1.5" wide gallery-wrapped canvas

$150 + sh/h in contiguous US
Contact me for purchase

I painted this from I photo I took on a delightful winter excursion near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Love the little shed tucked into the trees. So enjoying painting snow scenes, even though I am totally ready for hot weather! My feet are cold!!!

Trial Islands Lighthouse ©

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Trial Islands Lighthouse 8" x 10" 

Oil on canvas panel

SOLD

I recently took a workshop from Sandy Ostrau in the San Francisco Bay Area. She paints intriguing abstracted landscape, water scape and figurative works. This is the first painting I've completed since my return from the workshop where I used more of her simplification techniques and some color-mixing ideas. WAS SO MUCH FUN!! These islands are near Victoria, BC and I have wanted to paint this scene for a couple of years. So glad I waited!!

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

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.

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.

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!