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“Dunes Walk” 8 x 10 Oil $160 © Sharon Lewis
I’ve always been attracted to the play of light and shadow on the landscape. However, when we stopped at this National Recreation area, I thought I wouldn’t be able to find anything worth photographing, given how intense the sunlight was. Then I saw these dark shadows falling across a path, contrasting with the bright sand giving me my inspiration for this painting.
Happy Weekend!
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“Summer in the Mountains” 6 x 8 Oil $144 © Sharon Lewis
It was a beautiful summer night when I was lucky enough to have this view. The sun was setting beyond the mountains and flinging beautiful colors up into the sky. The clouds starting drifting lower until they started to hide the tops of the mountains. The air was rapidly cooling as the colors grew more intense and then gradually faded away.
Happy Weekend!
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| “Pink Mums” 14 x 11 Pastel $260 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I find that if I want to continue to grow as an artist, it’s a good idea to take a class or workshop from time to time. It’s not that easy to try another artist’s method when I’m used to my own, but I’ve discovered that I often end up adopting at least one idea or technique from the array presented, I often gain a different perspective or learn an alternative approach to painting, and I always meet some wonderful kindred souls in these classes. I started this painting in a class taught by Margaret Dyer, an amazing figure painter. Happy Weekend! |
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| “Delightful Diversity” 8 x 10 Oil $200 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Buy |
When I decided to paint this scene, I didn’t really stop to consider the difficulty of painting so many different shades of green. However, once I began painting, I just got into painting all the beautiful textures and forms of the trees and plants in this park. Although each plant is green it differs subtly from some of the plants around them. This reminds me of how delightfully different we all are and yet, in the end, we are all humans, worthy of kindness, respect, and compassion. I admire the people of Minneapolis who are going out of their way to help their neighbors. They are demonstrating through their sacrifices, what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.
Have a safe and Happy Weekend!
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| “Finding the Light” 14 x 11 Pastel $300 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Buy |
I ran across an older social media post where I referenced Amanda Gorman’s poem, The Hill We Climb, and thinking of those in Minneapolis, I want to share these words:
We will rise from the golden hills of the West.
We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked South…
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
I have great admiration for all the people out in the bitter, Minnesotan cold, helping their immigrant neighbors.
Happy Weekend!
“Warm Colors in the Cold” 4 x 6 Oil $70 © Sharon Lewis
I’ve been thinking a lot about good teachers lately. I’ve been lucky to have had good teachers in both my Psychology and my art careers. The teachers that stand out in my art career as being exceptional have been of course, excellent artists themselves but they have also been kind, especially when giving critical feedback (criticism is so important when you’re starting out but it can also be demoralizing). They’ve also been: generous (with both helpful information and praise), patient (as you continue to make that same mistake that they pointed out last time), good problem solvers (as they help you out of the mess you may have created), and passionate about art. I think of Karen Margulis when it comes to teaching pastel painting. She is one of the most dedicated and talented artist-teachers I know. I also think of Karen Appleton who no longer teaches oil painting but is an exceptional artist. I love her creativity, her kindness, and her compassion. I learned so much from these outstanding artists.
The painting above is based on a modification of a still life that Karen Appleton set up for a class several years ago.
Happy Weekend!
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“Loving Pink” 10 x 10 Oil $ 225 © Sharon Lewis
With these grey days and the news getting increasingly scary and heartbreaking, I find myself trying to focus on something beautiful. When I go grocery shopping (a chore I hate for some reason), I treat myself to some flowers. I tell myself that I’m investing in a painting subject (which is true in this case) but sometimes, I just need to a reminder of the wonderful fragrance and colors of nature.
Happy Weekend!
