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!

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.

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. 

Two Peppers

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Two Peppers 6x8"

Oil on archival panel.
SOLD

Here is one of my paintings my week in Carol Marine's advanced workshop in Santa Fe in early October. Carol's lessons included painting white on white, flowers and glass, metal objects and reflections. This is my metal-object painting. More to come!

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!

Trio of shot glass paintings

©Debbi Smith Rourke

Lemon Shot  / Two Shots  / Shot of Lime
Originals 5x7 each / Contact me for prints of individual images or combo of 3.

The word it out - these were my three submissions to the Arthouse at Jones Center Annual 5X7 Fundraiser. What a wonderful event. I attended the Art Splurge last Thursday night and heard Friday night's Art Social was fun too. And these three all sold! Yeah new followers! Hoping when I find out who bought them, that they won't mind if I make prints of this combo shot. We'll see! Think they make a nice set for a bar.  Contact me if interested in prints!

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.

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.

Gourds Galore

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Gourds Galore 12x12" 

Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. $175 + tax (TX only) + $15 sh/h.

I love these fall gourds - so many shapes and colors. Have oodles of them. They also remind me of one of my favorite towns in Provence - Gordes. Stayed very near there for a couple of weeks a few years ago. Loved it!! This painting started slowly but then came together in the end rather quickly.  So thankful for my lovely painting days with painting buddy Amy. Have you noticed I love teal?  OK, food painting recipe time. Since gourds are from the pumpkin family, here's a link to a Praline-Pumpkin Torte (cake) I've served at 2 different Thanksgiving feasts and was always a big hit. Enjoy.

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.

Cream and Sugar

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Cream and Sugar 8" x 10" 

Oil on canvas board framed in wide, decorative gold frame.
$175 + $35 sh/h

This painting currently graces the bar area in my kitchen. Happy to send pics of it framed. My inspiration for this came from an array of vivid colors that popped in my head one night. I saw a vision of glowing lime green surrounded by lots of white, with deep aqua around the outside. So I found some items around the house to design a still life that could mimic the same color combination as I don't typically paint abstract paintings. It worked, though this is clearly more traditional than my vision. But I love this look. Kinda Van Gogh-ish! Enjoyed painting with white - I don't do it often.

The Proposal

 

© Debbi Smith Rourke

Proposal  12 x 12 x 1.5"

Oil on canvas. SOLD.

Guess she said "Yes." I submitted this to the Austin Art Space show "For the Love of Art." Yeah - it got in!! As did the Red Pepper painting earlier this month - called that one "One Hot Mamma." (Was all about your interpretation of love.)  In this painting, I learned it's best to complete the painting in one day (ala prima) if possible, for the simple reason of keeping the paint wet, loose and flowing. Otherwise I have to wait 2 days until it is dry to start again. This painting was also accepted into the Austin Lima Sister Cities Juried Show -  Oct. 3, 2009.