International exposure may not have come to Granite Bay artist Debora Smith in the conventional manner, but her paintings and photographs are making an impact in other regions of the world.

Although she has sold many paintings, won ribbons and high honors at state and county fairs and her painted tiles were recently featured in a home along the "Street of Dreams," her pieces of international acclaim aren't hanging in famous galleries or luxurious homes.

Her artistic "gifts" are hanging in Ugandan orphanages, a mission in India and a facility for the homeless locally. Soon her work will be viewed at a children's home in Mexico.

Smith was instrumental in helping form Adventure in Fine Art, a group of Christian artists that wanted to show they are capable of producing more than religious figures or symbols.

"It's a little glimpse of what's in my heart or mind," she says. "I wanted the kids to see something that is beautiful. I wanted to give them some hope and show them there is beauty in this world."

The group was organized in 2005 when Heather Taewo of Rocklin approached leaders at Adventure Church in Roseville with the suggestion of a rotating art show in the church library. The idea was to give those who attended the church a platform to show their work and a time to meet with each other.

Smith saw her chance to share her zeal for art and desire to use it as a tool.

"I've been painting my whole life but I just delved back into it in 2003 after a stretch (of time off)," Smith says. "I saw the announcement about the art group in the church bulletin and was really excited to have the opportunity to use my artistic talents in a way that would bless others. Art is a very passionate talent and when Heather and I met we both were looking for opportunities to use our artwork to glorify the Lord and bless others"

Taewo says Smith has been valuable to the group.

"Debora has been very active," Taewo says. "She was the one who came up with the name and a lot of ideas and artwork to help other ministries. She fills leadership roles by coming up to the plate when any work needs to be done."

At the organization's first meeting members agreed to not only promote Christian artists, but to use their work to carry a message. Its first project was a donation of six art pieces to the Gathering Inn in Roseville, an organization that helps the homeless.

The generosity of Adventure members had enabled Pastor Jackson Senyonga from Uganda to oversee the building of 21 houses for the country's orphaned children. But when he returned to Adventure with an update and photos, it was obvious there was nothing hanging on the walls where the children lived.

"After seeing the video of the homes that were built, one of our members, Lynn Rosenthal, had the idea of sending art to hang on the walls of each of the homes," Smith says.

Each of the four artists who participated in the original library showing has a different style and subject matter that they work with. Taewo creates lifelike drawings with pencil and colored pencil, Smith paints pictures of horses and photographs nature, Rosenthal creates paintings for children and Joann Cochran paints vivid pictures of sea life and birds. The ladies selected 21 pieces from their original work and adapted them.

"We take photos of our work and send it to a company that makes them into posters," Cochran says. "They are too large for laminating so we have to place strips of contact paper to keep them from getting scratched."

It was Rosenthal's idea to put a Scripture verse on each poster and translate it into the recipient's native tongue. Those sent to Africa had verses written in Lugandan and English.

"I thought it was a great idea for kids to see the verses and learn about how God loves them through beautiful paintings, color and things a child would like," she says.

A representative from Christian Life Ministries took the finished products to Uganda in October. The artists received a report and photos of the reaction their pieces got from the kids.

"The children were smiling and pointing to our posters," Cochran says. "We just sent nine more pieces to India. This time the art pieces will have scriptures in Hindi and English. In March we will send a few pieces to an orphanage in Mexicali and there is a church facility in Berkeley that needs artwork."

A couple of the Adventure in Fine Art members have moved or been commissioned to other churches. Taewo now attends Bayside Church and has launched Worldwide Evangelism Christian Artists Network or WE CAN. Rosenthal and her family moved to Meadow Vista. Both artists, however, continue to donate to the group.

"Our group is not limited to artists who attend Adventure Christian Church," Smith says. "It's open to all Christian artists who want a venue to share the talents that God has given them."

The artwork is a labor of love, but getting the finished products ready for their new homes does get costly.

"It's expensive. After printing the posters, buying the matting boards, laminating and buying the chords for hanging it costs about $30 each," Smith says. "This is our giving portion - a tithe of our art."

Cochran sees one way to finance their ministry is through selling originals.

"We are all professional artists," she says. "We want to set up a Web site so if we sell a little of our artwork here or there we can pay for our expenses."

Smith says the time it takes to create a work of art or photo for someone who may not get a glimpse of something beautiful is her "art tithe."

"I love doing it," she says. "It is my giving portion."