Coffee Time ©

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

Coffee Time 10"x8"

Oil on canvas panel / unframed

$250 + $25 sh/h in Contiguous US
Contact me for purchase

I started this painting over a year ago and set it aside. I took it to my Sandy Ostrau workshop and added more layers of color and texture. Now I love it. Everybody needs a little coffee time, right?

Carol Marine's Advanced Workshop

I returned 2 weeks ago from Santa Fe where I took Carol Marine's advanced workshop with thirteen other lucky women. Part of the magic was watching Carol's demos. Most days she would set up a still life before class (there was a race to get there early so we could watch her set it up) and then paint it magically before our eyes. Above she is showing us how to paint glass. Below is a short sequence of her painting a couple of mugs with grapes on a reflective surface.

First she gets her drawing correctly proportioned and positioned on her 6x6 panel.

She rubs off her initial marks and starts to paint the juicy colors first.

Here she puts in notes of the background and begins the reflections.

Drum roll.....Magic. These were just taken with my iphone. Yet you still can see how fabulous this painting is, complete with her signature fork. She gave us the opportunity to purchase these paintings and they all sold quickly. :-)  Thank you Carol for letting me post this sequence!!!! You are so gracious with your knowledge and inspiration. Now...HERE IS MY REFLECTION PAINTING (below) that I did in Carol's workshop. Yes, a red pair, two red grapes and a lemon.

 ©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Fruit Plate 6"x8" 

Oil on archival panel / framed in gold and black float frame
$250 + $25 sh/h in Contiguous US

 

 ©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Fruit Plate 6"x8" 

Oil on archival panel - FRAMED in gold and black illusion frame.

$130 + $18 sh/h.

This framed painting is sitting on a taupe, textured place mat. The frame has no checkerboard texture. :-) Note to self, "Don't photograph gold framed on textured cloth the same color."

Lilies 30x24"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Lilies 30x24" 

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas 

SOLD

Our 2012 Side by Side show is up!! New works! Photographer Bill Oakey and I are continuing our series - his favorite photographs and my interpretations of them in oil or pastel. "Lilies" is my favorite of my new entries. We are exhibiting, along with Kay Hughes and her encaustic works, at the Old Bakery and Emporium Gallery through August 30th. Reception is Thursday night, August, 9th from 6 - 9 pm. Hope you will join us! 

Here is Bill's inspiring photograph he took in a Las Vegas hotel. I added more contrast and pumped up the color, something I love to do.

© Bill Oakey

Wildflower Field Study

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Wildflower Field Study  8x10"

Pastel on paper
NFS

This is a small pastel study I did in preparation for a full size 24x36" pastel I am working on as a commission for a dear friend. The Wallace sand paper that is the base of the actual commission piece is now being permanently dry mounted to the foam core, so I will be able to start the final work in a few days! Yea! 

Thistles 20x20"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Thistles

20 x 20 Oil on canvas
SOLD

Our Side by Side exhibit came down from the UT Club last night, where I sold one painting! Woohoo. We had a wonderful reception Wednesday evening with so many great friends! Side by Side will be hung tomorrow, Sat. April 9, @ the Authenticity Gallery at 910 Congress. We are so thrilled to be part of the "I Art Congress" Art Walk next Thursday April 14, from 6 - 9 pm. Come on out!! It's a dream come true to have our work at such a lovely DT gallery!! Our Side by Side books will be for sale @ Authenticity and soon on this blog. 

Oma's Vase & Dessert Dish 10x8"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Oma's Vase & Dessert Dish  10x8"

Oil on canvas panel. $115 + tax (TX only) + $13 sh/h.

Oma loved to entertain and she certainly loved dishes - always adding to her serving ware. This white vase and dessert dish were a couple of my first selections from her kitchen goodies. I love white on the serving table. And thankfully these are also wonderful items for my studio, too! BTW, I had no idea how difficult gerber daisies were to paint! I had the rest of the painting done quickly and repainted the flower several times. Finally happy with it. This is also more of a monochromatic palette - new for me - but seemed to work well with the white. Very simple and clean. Thanks for your good wishes on this series!!!

Sunflowers

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Sunflowers 16" x 16" 

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD.

These flowers were a hostess gift from my friend Connie for our July 4th celebration. They were too lovely not to paint. Thanks, Connie for the inspiration!! I attended Carol Marine's exhibit/opening reception tonight at the Wally Workman gallery and it was WONDERFUL - so inspiring. Also attended the "What Does Texas Mean to Me" juried show at Austin Art Space. Also inspiring. Can't wait to keep painting. 

Three Vases / Back from Santa Fe

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Three Vases 14" x 14" 

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. NFS

Update: This was gifted to my dear friend and talented artist Amy Hillenbrand for her 2010 Christmas gift. She got to pick it out from everything in my studio. So happy this sweet painting found it's home - it's a favorite of mine as well. 
Original post: I just returned from Santa Fe where I attended a one week workshop with "painting-a-day" artist Carol Marine. Was fabulous! I am now inspired to get back to painting regularly, as this year my husband and I have been building a house and  painting time has been hard to find. Will be challenging during a move...but very soon I'll get those brushes in hand!! Decided to post one of my still life images I painted in Laurel Daniel's class in late 2006.