Happy New Year!

“Happy New Year!”   7” x 5”  Pastel      n.f.s.     © Sharon Lewis

                             May this next year bring you peace, good health, and happiness.
 

Mom, Always One Step Ahead

 

  “Mom, Always One Step Ahead”         12” x 12”      Pastel         $175       © Sharon Lewis

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             We don’t often get snow in the Atlanta area but in early December of 2017, we got a surprise snow fall and we all, kids and adults, went crazy over it. This is the fun of a snow fall in the south; it’s unusual enough that we take the time to fully appreciate it.

            This painting is based on a wonderful photo taken by my good friend, Ken Carter in a local park. The photo features a beautiful blue sky, glistening snow, and if you looked really carefully, this mother and child out enjoying an unexpected day in the park.

            Merry Christmas and Happy Weekend!

    

Rise Up

“Rise Up”     9” x 9”      Pastel           $100       © Sharon Lewis

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             Sometimes a painting title eludes me and other times a painting smacks me in the face with its name. This one seemed to reach out and sing softly, my name is “Rise Up” and I remembered this great song by Andra Day with the same title. The lyrics are inspiring and quite relevant while Andra Day’s voice is wonderful!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Hope is a Dream of Time

“Hope is a Dream of Time ”    12” x 18”      Pastel           $250       © Sharon Lewis

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I’ve borrowed my title from a poem by Carl Sandberg, “Hope is a Tattered Flag”.

I’ve been feeling a little more optimistic now that we’re hopefully going to have a vaccine approved and distributed. It’s a positive change after so many months of news that seems always to get worse and worse. To brighten up your day, I want to share just a little bit of the poem:

 

Hope is a tattered flag and a dream of time.
Hope is a heartspun word, the rainbow, the shadblow in white
The evening star inviolable over the coal mines,
The shimmer of northern lights across a bitter winter night,
The blue hills beyond the smoke of the steel works,
The birds who go on singing to their mates in peace, war, peace,
The ten-cent crocus bulb blooming in a used-car salesroom,
The horseshoe over the door, the luckpiece in the pocket,
The kiss and the comforting laugh and resolve—
Hope is an echo, hope ties itself yonder, yonder.
The spring grass showing itself where least expected,
The rolling fluff of white clouds on a changeable sky….

Happy Weekend!

Just Around the Corner

“Just Around the Corner”    10” x 10”      Pastel           $125       © Sharon Lewis

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            When I painted this scene, I was thinking that better things are just around the corner…..if we can be patient, continue to think of others and wear our masks and keep our distance then eventually, we can once again experience good things….like hugs and gatherings of friends and family, like dancing and singing, like traveling by plane to distant places, and whatever you have missed this very, very long year.

            Happy Weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Family Gathering”         6” x 6”        Pastel         © Sharon Lewis

I hope that wherever you are this Thanksgiving, that you are gathered with love to celebrate this holiday of gratitude.

Windswept

“Windswept”           12” x 16”        Pastel           $200       © Sharon Lewis

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            I’ve needed a respite from the non-stop scary-bad news about COVID and maybe you do too. So, look out a window or better yet, take a walk outside if possible. Notice the trees, listen for the sound of birds, even if you live in a city. Or just sit still for a moment or two, close your eyes and remember a favorite vacation scene….a relaxing, beautiful scene and take a deep breath. The scene I’ve painted is one that I find relaxing and fascinating. The beautiful mountains stand out and I never get tired of them but I also love the interesting patterns on the water created by shadows and wind. Ahhhhhh.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Looks Like Blue Skies Ahead

            

“Looks Like Blue Skies Ahead”       6” x 9”      Oil          $80       © Sharon Lewis

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             I realize this is a strange title to be posting in the middle of surges in COVID across the nation but at this stressful time, I’m focusing on some positive news. The 2020 election is over and hopefully we will begin to work on solutions to our country’s and the world’s most pressing problems. I’m hoping that the rhetoric will eventually become less vitriolic, less personal, and more focused on the acute issues before us. I’m also focused on the good news about vaccines and hope that soon we will have an administration focused on distribution to those who need it the most.

            Happy Weekend!

The Dawn of a New Day

“The Dawn of a New Day”      8” x 10”      Oil          $95        © Sharon Lewis

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            The election returns are still coming in as I write this but the trend suggests that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be our new President and Vice-President. I am so looking forward to a return to honor, decency, compassion, and honesty in high office and to a return to respect for our democratic values. I’m looking forward to rational, thoughtful, decision-making that reflects informed opinions from respected professionals. I look forward to “gut” responses or emotional responses being used only when someone chooses maybe new shoes or the color of their walls but not for making decisions for our country. As a country, I think that we have always been stronger when we invite diverse people to sit together at the table to solve problems. I know however that we have much work to do if we are to honor the principles identified in our Declaration of Independence. We must work hard to change conditions in our country if we are to protect each citizen’s inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, for now, I am happy to welcome a new day for the US presidency.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Autumn Warmth

“Autumn Warmth”     8” x 8”      Oil          $95        © Sharon Lewis

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            I know Halloween is so different this year with either no or modified trick or treating but I couldn’t resist trying to get into the spirit a bit by painting some pumpkins. Thanks to photographer, J.E. Frantz for the use of her/his photograph.

            Hope you have a very Happy Halloween!

Just Visiting

“Just Visiting”     7” x 5”      Pastel           $50        © Sharon Lewis

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             I used to dislike plein air painting…not the idea of it; being outside and painting essentially married two of my loves. It was the reality of it that I wasn’t crazy about. It wasn’t the bugs or the heat or cold; it wasn’t gusts of wind that threatened to topple my easel or blow my painting out to sea. It was all of the beauty in front of me and the struggle to ignore some of that beauty to make a workable composition. It was having to make good and effective choices very quickly or the light shifted or the clouds moved away. I’m getting a tiny bit better at this and I have to say nothing beats plein air painting. I’m outside, in hopefully a beautiful place, and if I keep my swearing to a minimum, slowly but surely, all of the wild creatures come out of hiding as they get used to this odd visitor to their home.

            Happy Weekend!

 

A Beautiful Day

“A Beautiful Day”        8” x10”      Pastel           $75        © Sharon Lewis

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             There’s probably never a time when I would turn down going to the beach. After all, I grew up on the east coast where some of my best memories are exploring the beach with my brothers and sisters. We’d overturn rocks much like these to see if we could discover worms for fishing or pick up soldier crabs on the shore just to see what was inside. I also remember never getting tired of looking at the sky for there were always amazing clouds overhead.

            Hope you see some beautiful skies this weekend!

 

Sunset Swirls

         

  “Sunset Swirls”       5” x7”          Pastel           $50           © Sharon Lewis

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            It’s a grey, cloudy, fall day with rain arriving soon. With no sun likely until maybe Monday it’s not surprising that I was drawn to painting this beautiful, glowing sunset.

            Happy Weekend!

       

Tranquility

“Tranquility”           11” x 14”          Pastel           $150           © Sharon Lewis
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             I don’t know about you but after all of the news this week, I’m in need of some peace and tranquility. I hope this view helps you get a little closer to this state.

            Happy Weekend!

That Shining Light

“That Shining Light”     12” x 12”       Pastel     $500 (Framed)    © Sharon Lewis

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            Ever since I heard the sad news that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died, I have been thinking about what an amazing woman she was and what a wonderful example of a strong, courageous, and principled person. I so miss her shining light!

             

 

Refuge

“Refuge”      9” x 12”       Pastel       SOLD    © Sharon Lewis

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            I was so fortunate to get away for a few days last week to one of my favorite places to visit: the wetlands and beach near Charleston, S.C. I never used to be fond of swampy-looking areas like this; I associated them only with mosquitoes, alligators and snakes. I’ve since learned the tremendous value of wetlands like these as a refuge for many species of fish, birds, and other wildlife. In addition, given the recent visit by Hurricane Sally and her gift of tons of rain, these wetlands are beneficial in that they slow down the release of floodwaters.

            Hope wherever you are that you’re seeing some sunshine.

Happy Weekend!

Sweet Pea

“Sweet Pea”      7” x 5”       Oil       $60     © Sharon Lewis

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            I’ve been thinking of the people out in Oregon and California currently dealing with wildfires. It’s got to be heartbreaking to see acres and acres of this gorgeous landscape destroyed, especially if it also means you lose your home.

Before the fires started, I had been thinking of the west coast a lot lately because I thought I would be hiking and painting out there last month. However, given COVID rates, it seemed a good idea not to fly just yet. So, since I was still missing the west, I decided to paint from my many reference photos and focused on these striking hot pink flowers, called “Sweet Pea” or Everlasting Pea.”  You can find them as I did, scattered all over many bluffs along the Pacific coast and mixed in with delicious berries. If you’ll look closely, you’ll see a visitor on one of the flowers.

Happy Weekend!

The Beauty of Summer

 

“The Beauty of Summer”        5” x 7”       Oil       $60     © Sharon Lewis 

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            Sometimes when you’re traveling, you happen to be in the right place at the right time…like when I was lucky enough to see these beautiful clouds and gorgeous, blue sky over lush, green wetlands. Can’t wait to be in this area again.

            Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Acadian Interlude

“Acadian Interlude”      10” x 10”       Oil       $150     © Sharon Lewis

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             Just a little over a year ago I was standing on the rocks in Acadia National Park, enjoying the sun and breeze and watching the waves break over the rocks in hypnotic repetition. If you look closely, you’ll see others enjoying the cool breeze and perhaps smelling the salt air, and maybe even some mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the sea.

            Happy Weekend!