Fruit Plate

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Fruit Plate 6x8"

Oil on archival panel / framed in gold and black float frame

SOLD

This red pear and fruit is my favorite painting from Carol Marine's advanced workshop in Santa Fe. On the last day, she gave us tips on how to paint reflections. I brought this home and then lightened the reflections and darkened the background. Now I love it!! Here are some pics of my art buddies in the workshop. We had such fun!

Amy Hillenbrand on a painting break.    

         Pam Holnback with one of her paintings.

Nancy Hartley with one of her paintings.

Kelley MacDonald with one of her paintings.

The gals on a Canyon Road Gallery tour. Amy, Mary, Pam, Kelley and Debra. 

Yes, that shadow is me taking the picture.

Sweet Tart ©

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Sweet Tart  8x6"

Oil on panel, framed in gold and black float frame (seen below)
$250 + $20 sh/h in Contiguous US

Another painting I created during the Carol Marine workshop I attended last month. She was demonstrating how to paint white objects on a white background. Not an easy task. I was being called to play with color so I put my white plate on this loud red background. Yes, I am a bit of a rebel. :-)

Tomatoes and Pitcher

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Tomatoes and Pitcher   16x12"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. 
NFS

I donated this 2010 painting to the LBJ/LASA Project Graduation online auction held Nov. 1 through Nov.15. It's for LBJ - a northeast Austin high school, a Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy and the public magnet school for AISD gifted students.

LBJ PTSA organized Senior Celebration, a drug- and alcohol-free lock-in that gives seniors the opportunity to commemorate their achievements and stay safe. So that no senior is turned away for lack of funds, LBJ PTSA holds this auction. My friend Julie Pastor, co-chair, selected this painting from my studio. 

HeartGift Austin Auction / Fruit Basket

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Fruit Basket  16x16"

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas

NFS - Donated to HeartGift Austin

I am pleased to donate this painting to HeartGift Austin and their Fine Wine and Luxe Living Auction to be held this Sunday, Nov. 13th at the Driskill Hotel in DT Austin. This is an amazing charity that saves the lives of young children around the world who have life-threatening heart defects and no hope for care in their native countries. One of the cardiac surgeons who co-founded the organization here in Austin is the same surgeon who performed the quadruple by-pass on my dad in 1988. So grateful to Dr. Oswalt!! My dad is doing well today. 

Hoping my food themed painting ties in well with the Fine Wine theme of the event. Hope it brings them lots of $. What a great organization. Love these synergies in life!!

Breakfast at Oma's

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Breakfast at Oma's 10x8"

Oil on canvas board
$250 +$15 sh/h in contiguous US

Oma's caregiver for two years is a special woman named Ellie who would arrive each weekday morning at 7am and wake her up at 9am. Oma, always glad to see her, would start whispering "Oatmeal, oatmeal, oatmeal." She rarely asked her weekend caregivers to cook it for her, so she and Ellie enjoyed their oatmeal each weekday morning. Sorry, none here. These are my sweet Oma's breakfast dishes I now have. I added the strawberries for color.  She lived to be 98. You may want to eat oatmeal too.

Oma's Coffee Mug & Creamer

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Oma's Coffee Mug and Creamer  10x8"

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

I have always loved these ivory colored, swirled coffee mugs of Oma's. And I now I'm enjoying having 6 in my kitchen and one slightly chipped one in my studio. Had to go get the matching creamer for this painting. 

Lemon Shot

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Lemon Shot  5x7 
Oil on canvas. SOLD.

Last of the shot glass series. Moving on to more self-imposed art assignments: Side by Side series, MAP juried AIBA show, Spring in Central Texas theme for our Austin Art Buddies April Challenge , and "What Texas Means to Me" - juried show at Austin Art Space.  

Shot of Lime

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Shot of Lime  5x7

Oil on canvas. SOLD.

This started as 3 objects: shot glass, lime and a salt shaker. Was too complicated for the size so I wiped it off and simplified it and love it!! My favorite colors. Interesting that after I decided to quit drinking alcohol (better for my energy, weight, allergies),  I'm painting images that make you think of knockin' down shots on the beach during a tropical vacation.  Hope you'll follow me on twitter, too!   http://twitter.com/debsmithrourke

Pears & Knife

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Pears and Knife  16x12"  SOLD.

Finally had a chance to paint today!! I did the underpainting for this a week ago, and set up the still life drapery several weeks ago. But as I have been busy freelancing and seeing my grandmother after she had a stroke on March 8 (and she seems to be perking up the last 2 days - yeah), I am back in the groove. I am SO thankful to be painting again!! :)

Tomatoes & Pitcher

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Tomatoes and Pitcher   16x12"

Oil on gallery-wrapped canvas. 
NFS

Today was the second day of Laurel's workshop for our reunion and I was more rested. I chose a challenging still life and learned a new block-in technique. I eventually went back to drawing in my under painting with the dark neutral, putting in the darks, then adding color. Color is so much fun to pop in! Loved these little yellow tomatoes. I was painting along with Pam Holnback and Nancy Hartley and sitting very close to Kelley MacDonald who sweetly shared her paper towel trash bag with me. There were many wonderful paintings created that day!!!

Lemons on Parade

© Debbi Smith Rourke 
Lemons on Parade 12x16"

$265 + tax (TX only) + $16 sh/h.

What  a whirlwind of a week!! Santa Fe art workshop women convened in Austin this week - starting with a gallery tour, lunch at Corazon and dinner at my house Wednesday night. Followed by a 2-day art workshop with Laurel Daniel at Laguna Gloria (AMOA's Art School). 11 attendees, 2 instructors and 3 husbands (including mine) were here for dinner Wednesday night. Had an amazing time. This painting was from the first day. I struggled with the initial drawing, but once I got it down, was determined to finish and not paint the same subject on day 2. Speed seemed to help - sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Tweaked it a bit when I got home. Think that still counts as Ala Prima. Will miss everyone. Had our last dinner out last night at Cantina Laredo. Bye everyone. Happy painting. You all do such lovely work. Can't wait for the next reunion!! Start planning.

Cantaloup

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Cantaloup  8"x8"x1.5" 

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. SOLD.

Painted this last Thursday or Friday. Was in the groove. Love that!  We've now eaten the fruit - so starting anew.