Rocky Path

“Rocky Path”     Pastel     5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis 
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            Just a few days ago I was enjoying cool breezes, and painting on location in Maine. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love painting rocks of any type as well as the ocean. I was searching for a slightly different perspective than the one I usually paint while here on Bailey Island, ME. I found that if I set up my easel and stood squeezed in between some trees, the formerly jagged-looking rocks now appeared to form a rocky path. I could paint these rocks and the ocean a million times and still learn something new about their colors and textures! I feel so fortunate to have been able to escape the heat and humidity of Georgia and to enjoy painting this beautiful part of our country.

All the Colors of the Rainbow

All the Colors of the Rainbow      Pastel         5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis
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            When packing for our trip to Maine, I decided to bring the smallest box of pastels possible that would still allow me to capture the colors here accurately. So before leaving, I painted from some reference photos I had of Maine and this is one of them. The sea seems to change colors so drastically depending on the sky, wind, and temperature. At the moment, it is a gray-blue color on this cloudy day, not at all as colorful as on the sunny day my painting shows.

           Happy Weekend!

Acadia

“Acadia”          Pastel          5” x 7”       $50       © Sharon Lewis
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            Last year we visited Bar Harbor, Maine and stayed at the beautiful Coach Stop Inn, run by the inimitable Jim and Anna Brown. If you like staying in beautiful rooms, eating delicious food, and being treated like royalty, this is the place to stay.

Of course, like any visitor to the Bar Harbor area who loves nature, we visited Acadia National Park. According to the Park Service, which refers to Acadia as the “Crown Jewel of the Atlantic,” this park has the highest rocky headlands along the Atlantic coast, with 158 miles of hiking trails, and 45 miles of carriage roads with 16 stone bridges. I’ve visited this park many times over the years and I’m always discovering a new hike or view.

Down to the Sea

“Down to the Sea”          Pastel         12” x 9”       $100     © Sharon Lewis
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In a recent trip to San Francisco for a conference, we took a break one afternoon and wanting to get away from the city and hike, we discovered a gem of an island. Angel Island, in the middle of San Francisco Bay, is a state park and former army fort (Fort McDowell).  It’s beautiful there! You can walk up a hill and then hike around the island with gorgeous views of the sea, the scent of eucalyptus trees, and cool breezes from the water. I really didn’t want to leave!

Standing Together

“Standing Together”       Pastel         5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis
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            I saw what I thought was a lone tree thriving in the middle of this marsh but then I looked more closely and saw it had a companion. It was a nice surprise reminding me that no matter how strong we are, we truly flourish only when we stand with others.

            Happy Weekend!