Delightful Diversity

“Delightful Diversity”    8 x 10     Oil    $200    © Sharon Lewis
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            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!

Finding the Light

  “Finding the Light”        14 x 11     Pastel    $300    © Sharon Lewis
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                      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

 “Warm Colors in the Cold”      4 x 6     Oil    $70    © Sharon Lewis

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             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!

 

Loving Pink

“Loving Pink”      10 x 10     Oil    $ 225    © Sharon Lewis

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            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!

 

The Colors of the Season - Happy New Year!

“The Colors of the Season”        9” x 9”         Pastel         $160      © Sharon Lewis

On these cold winter days, I hope you’re warmed by the company of those you love. Wishing you a Happy New Year and in the words of an Irish blessing: May love and laughter light your days and warm your hearth and home.

 

"Cool Company" - Merry Christmas!

“Cool Company”    Pastel      8” x 10”    $160     © Sharon Lewis

            I hope wherever you are, there are blue skies, the laughter of children, and the warmth of family and friends.

To all my family and friends that celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas and as always, Happy Weekend!

 

Winter Sunshine

    

“Winter Sunshine”        7 x 5     Oil    $105    © Sharon Lewis
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            Sunflowers are fun to paint any time of year but they’re especially so when winter brings us grey skies and cold temperatures. I did a deep dive into all things interesting about sunflowers and I’ll share just a few. I discovered that in addition to being beautiful, the sunflower provides us with sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and is a symbol of the sun god in some cultures. Wild sunflowers produce many flowers on each plant but small seeds and the domesticated varieties produce a single large flower and larger seeds. Sunflowers are considered heliotropic in that they follow the path of the sun through the day. Finally, they can remove toxic elements from the soil, like lead and uranium, which is pretty amazing. So sunflowers are both beautiful and beneficial. 

            Happy Weekend!