Early Morning Bridge 24x30"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Early Morning Bridge   24x30"

Oil on canvas. Original NFS
Gallery-wrapped canvas prints available from 8x10" to 28x35".
Contact me for print prices based on preferred size.

I have so  many pictures of Lake Austin and the 360 bridge. Love shooting it at different times of the day and throughout all the seasons and during a variety of weather conditions. Sunny, cloudy, stormy, foggy, hazy. Amazing how much the same landscape varies each day. This was early morning in December and you can see where the light is hitting the tops of the trees but lower areas are still awaiting the day's sun. This painting is a gift so not for sale - but plan to do more!! Merry Christmas!!! Hope Santa is good to everyone. 

Thanks Mom and Dad / Italian Villa

I just discovered the 30 Thanks Gratitude Adventure or #30thanks started by Marissa Bracke. How inspiring. As today is Nov. 10, I am starting with what she suggests for today which is thanking a parent. Boy, I have two wonderful parents and am so blessed to have had their constant, steady love and guidance throughout my life. And particularly their devotion to and care of one another as an example of how to live a beautiful and happy life. This photo was taken at their home on Thanksgiving day 2 years ago - how appropriate. Look forward to celebrating again with them this year. 

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Italian Villa 17x23.5" unframed. 

Pastel on paper. 27x33.5" framed in black with white matte, UV glass.
$675 + tax (TX only) + $35 shipping.

OK - for an art image. This is a pastel I did 4 years ago from a photo Mom and Dad took on on of their many trips - this one to Italy. I have it hanging in my home and so enjoy it. So thanks again Mom and Dad for getting out and seeing the world and then sharing your photos with me for my art adventures. This has been a fun exercise!! Let's see what tomorrow brings.

Chichen Itza

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Chichen Itza   8x8x1.5"

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. 
NFS

I painted this last weekend and so reminded me of  a wonderful trip I took to the Mayan Riviera and Mayan ruins back in 2003. I love Mexico and pray it will be safe to travel there again soon. 

Mayan Riviera

© Debbi Smith Rourke
Mayan Riviera  24" x 24"
Oil on canvas. $740 + tax (TX only) + $22 sh/h.

I sure love the Mayan Riviera and miss vacationing there. Hope to go back soon. Last time I was there, you could see large white angel fish swimming at your feet!!!! Divine!! Or is it Mayan magic?

Lake Austin Sunset Study

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Lake Austin Sunset  Study   12x12"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. 
$220 + tax (TX only) + shipping. 

A painting weekend. Yea! This one came together very easily - gotta love that. I enjoy these looser brush strokes. I painted this from a photo I took of the sunset over Lake Austin. 

Clouds Over Bridge

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Clouds Over Bridge  12x12"

Available at Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery, 
1006 Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas.

(Canvas prints also available from 8x8" to 16x16". Contact me for pricing.)

After two tough weeks and having to put my sweet kitty KC down (miss him!!!!), I am finally back to painting. I am committed to painting the many wonderful photographs I have taken of Lake Austin - both west views with the bridge and east views toward town. 

Red Bud Isle

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Red Bud Isle  16x12"

Oil on canvas board. $255 + tax (TX only) + $18 sh/h.

I painted this on a paint out at Red Bud Isle near the low water crossing near Tom Miller dam in a Laurel Daniel class. Miss those ladies!! Friends may remember it as I painted it in 2007. Currently working on a diptych of a morning view of the Pennybacker bridge with some light fog. So lovely. Hold good thoughts!!

Thistles

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Thistles   20 x 20 x 1.5"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas.
SOLD

My latest entry in the Side by Side series - my oil or pastel interpretations of photographer Bill Oakey's images. Bill's photo (below) is so interesting and almost looks like a painting. It's a slightly digitally enhanced photo, highly cropped image of some plants. This was so much fun!! Love the colors. Enjoy painting larger. This painting was exhibited at the Butridge Gallery/Dougherty Arts Center for "Art of Collaboration" Aug. 5 - 28th, 2010. Here's Bill's photo:

Fall Countryside

© Debbi Smith Rouke

Fall Countryside 20 x 20 x 1.5"

Gallery-wrapped canvas prints available from 12x12" to 28x28". 
Contact me for prices based on preferred size.

This is an enlargement of a study I did earlier this year.I really like working larger. Many of you know I am about to lose my dear grandmother of 98 years. She has lived a vibrant happy life and I am so blessed to have had her in my life. Monday night when I swung by her house, she had just awakened and was sitting on the side of the bed. I got to chat with her and got 3 sweet kisses. And she called me a rascal! So I was pumped and went home and started this. Finished it yesterday afternoon and am just now getting it posted. Off to Oma's house once again and would love another visit, but if she prefers to sleep and move along on her journey, that is wonderful too. She is about to embark on something very exciting and she is totally prepared - that happened very quickly. She will be missed!!! Go hug your loved ones!!

Dusk on South Padre Island

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Dusk on South Padre Island   8x6"

SOLD

I just spent a glorious 9 days on South Padre Island, returning 6/27, 3 days before hurricane Alex blew in . Had a wonderful time and the beach was gorgeous.  I took tons of pictures. I'm not a big plein painter like other artists I admire who can walk on the scene and in an couple of hours, create an amazing painting. I prefer painting from photos in my studio - photos I take myself (mostly) and remember the inspiration from the location and the moment. Then I like to live with them, see which ones most inspire me, crop them and even do a few pastel sketches. That's my process and it works for me. And I love taking photos!! Imaging all the possibilities with each one - cropping, color and value options. :)

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! 

Charlottetown Colors

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Charlottetown Colors   8x10"  NFS

I painted this Tuesday morning but with the holiday festivities and prep, plus work (which I'm grateful to have), I'm just now getting this posted. This is a Christmas gift for a family member, so let's see if anyone in the family is reading this??? Ha! Painted this from one of Bill Oakey's wonderful photographs he took on a Canadian cruise. This shot was taken on Prince Edward Island. Will enlarge for our  Side by Side continued works. Hope everyone is staying sane and seeing friends and family and enjoying the frenzy!!! xoxo

Deck View #3

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Deck View #3  8x10"

 Oil on 8x10" canvas. Framed size 12.5 x 14.5"  

$150 framed + tax (TX only) + $15 shipping.

Did this small study this morning from a photo taken from my deck. I have so many photos of our views as each day I am convinced I am looking at a uniquely beautiful setting. Time of day and seasons are so fun to watch. This kind of high key painting is new to me but I really like it. Larger version to come soon. Want to keep the large one simplified so think it is best to start small to find the essential elements. ...Oh yeah, always appreciate your support, feedback and sweet comments!!!!!

Falls River Study

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Falls River Study  6 x 8" 

Oil on canvas panel. $85 + tax (TX only) + $10 sh/h.

During our recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, one day was quite cold and rainy so we were not able to hike in the afternoon. So we drove around and I found this lovely area in Horseshoe Park with a steam coming off Falls River. Hopped out of the car to snap this photo and got back in before the rain picked up. May try again with a more natural color scheme. I was drawn today to the triad of lime green, red orange and blue violet.

Nova Scotia Lighthouse

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Nova Scotia Lighthouse - SOLD.

17.5" x 23.5" pastel on paper. 

Here's a better photo of this pastel. It sold to Bill Oakey who took the photograph I painted from. Thanks, Bill. :)

Mountain Spring 5"x7"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Mountain Spring  5x7"

Donated to Arthouse at the Jones Center 5x7 Invitational 2009

Was trying a looser, more colorful and whimsical approach with this one, painting quickly from an old photograph. Not very realistic and that's what I like about it - it starts with the framework of a typical landscape, yet has an air of fun and whimsy - though subtle. Seems cheerful. I may do more like this. NFS

Vineyard Road

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Vineyard Road   5x7"

Oil on canvas. 

Donated to Arthouse at the Jones Center 5x7 Invitational 2009

I painted this scene of Benzinger Vineyards from a photo of our trip to the wine country in a 9" x 12" version a while back and have always planned to do a larger version. This is obviously a smaller version. Still look forward to doing a big one. My friend Bill Oakey purchased this little jewel at the Arthouse 5x7 show!!! What fun we had.

Japanese Garden

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Japanese Garden 17 x 22"

Pastel on paper. Original SOLD.

Giclee prints on archival paper:  $275 + tax (TX only) + $16 sh/h.

Giclee print framed in glass with matte: $425.
Recommend local (Central Texas) pick up. Contact me for purchase.

I enjoyed Thanksgiving so much, I never painted. So I'm posting this pastel painting I did last year. It was accepted into AVAA's 30th Anniversary Exhibit in the summer of 2007.  The original has sold but I do have several very high quality giclee prints printed on a beautifully thick archival paper - which makes them look like originals! Happy to send larger images to review. 

I was recently tagged by Kelley MacDonald, an art pal I met in Carol Marine's Santa Fe workshop. It's an honor to be tagged because it comes with sort of a blessing from the sender. It is an affirmation of friendship, good wishes and blog-love. So thanks for sharing the blog love, Kelley!!! 

The Rules:

1. Put a link in your posting to the person who tagged you.

2. List 7 unusual things about yourself.

3. Tag 7 other bloggers at the end of your post (*including their blog link*) and comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged.

Now....I'm tagging:

1. Gorgeous landscapes by Judith D'Agostino

2. Jann Alexander and her Vanishing Austin blog

3. Watercolorist John Wright

4. Colorful and distinctive works by Karen Schmidt

5. Canadian artist Sylvia Jenstad

6. Carol Schiff- check out her "Just an Apple." It's anything but.

7. Austin artist Carole Sikes 

Bull Creek

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Bull Creek  12x16"

Oil on canvas board. Framed size: 17 x 21"

$295 framed + tax (TX only) + $17 sh/h.

Happy to send a photo of this one framed. A favorite among my family members. Original post: Since boxes still surround me and I haven't been able to set up my easel, I am posting a painting I completed before moving. Love this one! I painted it in Laurel Daniel's plein air class and it was exhibited this summer in an AVAA juried show at the Scarborough Building in downtown Austin. As for the studio - the good news is my art board is up, and my next-to-the-easel table is up. Just have to set up my easel and buy new paints. I learned in Carol Marine's workshop that it's not optimum to buy paints with the word "hue" in them - it means they have added some filler to the paint preventing you from achieving the richest color. So bye-bye Cad Red Hue and Cad Yellow Hue! Hello cad red and cad yellow.

Vineyard Road

Vineyard Road  9x12" 

Oil on canvas board.

SOLD

Well it's Nov. 4, election night. As I watch the historic returns, I realize it is also a good time to look forward to new beginnings in my world. Seems the perfect time to get my art blog going again. Here is a piece I did last year in Laurel Daniel's class, then came home and adjusted it in my studio. I gave this to a good friend as a gift but plan to do a larger version. It's inspired from  a photo I took at Benzinger Vineyards while we were touring the Napa/Sonoma wine country in 2006.