Sprinkles ©

©2014 Debbi Smith Rourke

"Sprinkles" 8"x10" 

Oil on canvas panel / unframed
$250 + sh/h in contiguous US
Contact me for purchase

My first donut painting! I have been teaching the most talented 10-year old girl in my still life classes. She loves donuts. She was so excited when I had a set-up for her with this donut, sans coffee mug. She painted a more overhead shot. Was so sweet, I decided to paint it myself, though this is a more straight on view and I added the mug. Pretty fun. And I bought and extra donut for my hubby, which he loved. He named this, by the way. :-)

Sweetie Pie ©

©2013 Debbi Smith Rourke

Sweetie Pie 8"x 10"

Oil on canvas panel
SOLD

I set up this still life for my 9-year-old art student for her last still life class. A split-complimentary painting. She did an amazing job. So I decided I should paint it as well...before my husband ate all the pie. I suggested this title and he laughed. He had a great back-up title: "Life of Pie." We know around here that the life of this pie was quite short, but indeed sweet!

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!!

If Books Could Cook

© Debbi Smith Rourke

If Books Could Cook    20 x 20 x 1.5"

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. 
$550 + tax (TX only) + $20 sh/h.

Also thought about calling this "Dreaming of Dinner." I have so many nice cookbooks that sometimes I prefer reading them to actually cooking. Not always of course, but there are days I prefer to contemplate new menus rather than prepare them. Was fun!

Oma Series / "Guest Room Hymnal"

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Oma Series / "Guest Room Hymnal"

10 x 8" oil on canvas panel, framed.
$150 framed + tax (TX only) + $13 sh/h.

This painting was exhibited in the "Library Foliage" exhibit at the Studio2Gallery Dec. 4 - Jan. 22. Austin Chronicle review of exhibit is glowing!!! Yea!!

Oma's second bedroom was my aunt Mary's room growing up. Mary is just 8 years older than me, so she is more like a sister.  I remember sharing the room with her when I was a young girl and getting roped into rubbing her back. But did get to learn all her big-girl fashion and hair tips. Even learned to play spoons and card tricks in this room. Later on, this room became the guest room for whatever family member was visiting, and ALWAYS remained the sewing room. The bedside table has looked like this as long as I can remember, until the house was cleared out anyway. So sweet of Oma to put a church hymnal by the bed. Miss just hanging out and watching her sew. 

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 Old Coffee Pot

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Oma's Old Coffee Pot    8x6"

Oil on panel. SOLD.

Many of you know I lost my dear, sweet Oma (grandmother) last month. She was 98. And a half. At that age you start counting half years again. In honor of her and to remember her home  of 60 years she loved so much, I am starting a series of paintings devoted to her. You will see a combination of still life paintings from objects I received from her, or settings in her home and gardens. So stay tuned. I finished the first new one tonight, but alas, too dark to photograph. So I am starting with her coffee pot I painted last year. She thought it would make a good painting subject - and it did. Then she kept asking for her coffee pot back! Ha! My uncle Don has it now. Think he plans to brew some coffee the old fashioned way.  

Bear Lake

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Bear Lake  / 16 x 16 x 1.5" 

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas.

$380 + tax (TX only) + $22 s/h. 

I delivered 21 paintings today, including this one, to the First Presbyterian Church for my art show with art buddy Amy Hillenbrand! She paints interiors - including a wonderful chair series, and another shoe series. I put in landscapes and still life works - couple in pastel and the rest oil. Thanks Laurie for hosting us!!! Hope you'll swing by - the show is up through July 18. 

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

Two Shots

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Two Shots  7x5

Oil on canvas board. SOLD.

Two shot glasses - one with lots of detail in the crystal. Not too easy but always like a challenge. Well, I've heard other artists talk about, after a break in painting, feeling like they've forgotten how to paint. That's what this experience was like. After a frustrating beginning and satisfying finish, here's what I am pleased about: I finished a cool little painting. And I learned it's optimum to plan the color scheme first on my color wheel.  Cut crystal is not easy but this looks new and different for me.  Next one will have an even brighter background  color.  I'm being more adventurous and I'm posting again!! Happy Easter everyone.

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!! :)

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.

Kissing Cousins

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Kissing Cousins  20x16" 

Oil on canvas. $385 + tax (TX only) + $25 sh/h.

Finished this yesterday in 2 settings - so almost ala prima. Love the bright colors and loose feel. Can't wait to paint more. Will be working on more "side by side" images from Bill Oakey's photographs.