Happy New Year!

 

“Will’s Favorite Color”      8” x 10”          Pastel         $75     © Sharon Lewis

May this new year bring you the warmth of family and friends, continued good health, and much happiness!

            Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

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

Saluting the Sun

“ Saluting the Sun”        8” x 10”      Pastel       $75      © Sharon Lewis

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            On this, the first sunny day after what seems like countless gray, rainy days, I want to celebrate blue skies!  This is a late summer sky, with the sun setting in a blaze of color over a beautiful marsh.

            Happy Weekend!

Sailing Away Again

   “Sailing Away Again”       8” x 10”      Pastel       $75      © Sharon Lewis

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            I have a tendency to be drawn to certain images often depending on what’s going on in my life. When I’m feeling super busy, I’m often drawn to images of sailboats. Maybe this is a really obvious message that I’d like to sail away from the nonstop grading and frantic emails during final exams time?

No matter the reason,  I’m drawn to this peaceful scene, where someone is lucky enough to be out on the water on a gorgeous day with a beautiful blue sky and fluffy, colorful clouds. Ahhhhh.

            Happy Weekend!

 

One Big Leap

 “One Big Leap”           8” x 10”      Pastel       $75      © Sharon Lewis

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             Remember when you'd lie on your back looking up at the sky, and name all the things you saw in the clouds? I still see things, or people, or animals in clouds. After all, they serve as giant Rorschach tests in the sky. What do you see in these clouds stretched across the evening sky? I see figures leaping up, perhaps chasing the sun.

            Happy Weekend!

Taking in the View

“Taking in the View”     5” x 7”      Pastel       $50      © Sharon Lewis

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             At this busy time of the semester for students, staff, and faculty, I’ve been trying to stop occasionally to enjoy the view. It’s hard to remember to pause our busy lives and just appreciate the sunshine or the colors of the leaves, or as these individuals did, take in the view of the beautiful ocean.

            Hoping you can pause and take in the view and have a Happy Weekend!

Safe Landing

“Safe Landing”        11” x 14”      Pastel       $175      © Sharon Lewis

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Several years ago, I was able to get away to the mountains in the fall. You never know when exactly the trees will hit their peak of color or if you’ll have missed it all together. But that year, we caught nature’s Autumn exhibition in all it’s glory. It was beautiful! I was also lucky enough to catch these ducks landing in the lake to rest, eat, and enjoy the show like the rest of us.

Happy Weekend!

The Accent Tree

  “The Accent Tree”            5” x 7”      Pastel       $50      © Sharon Lewis

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             I’m going to an Arts Exhibition opening this week where both artists and art patrons will be mingling. Since I have two of my paintings included in this exhibition, I always like to think about what to tell people if they ask me about my art in general. This painting is an example of what I love capturing in my art: light and color in nature. This is a park where I love to walk and was lucky enough to catch the sun just as it set this tree glowing with all the warmth and color we associate with Autumn.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Last One In Is A Rotten Egg!

        “Last One In Is a Rotten Egg!”        4” x 6”      Pastel       $40      © Sharon Lewis

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             I still haven’t let go of summer yet….nor wishing the days were longer and sunnier, the water warmer, and it was time to go back to the beach.

            Happy Weekend!

Sundrenched

    “Sundrenched”           5” x 7”      Pastel        $50        © Sharon Lewis

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            In spite of the fact that I really love fall, I’ve been having a hard time letting go of summer. I know the days are getting shorter and the freezing temperatures in the morning are certainly getting my attention. The striking colors I see in the trees as I drive into work are also tempting me to start painting autumn scenes now. I will eventually move to painting fall (maybe) but in the meantime, I want to hold onto my memories of sundrenched marshes and blue skies filled with beautiful, multi-colored clouds.

            Happy Weekend!

All to Ourselves

“All to Ourselves”      5” x 7”      Pastel       $50      © Sharon Lewis

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             One of my favorite times of day is around the time the sun is going down. If I’m lucky enough to be at the beach, it’s also the time when many people have packed up their things and left the beach. It finally gets quiet enough so that the only things you hear are the sounds of waves breaking softly on the beach and you can stand patiently watching as the light and color slowly fade from the evening sky.

            Happy Weekend!

Summer's End

“Summer’s End”        5” x 7”      Pastel       $50      © Sharon Lewis

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            I’ve wanted to paint this for some time now but my reference photos were not very good and so it required enough time and/or inspiration for me to figure out how to convey what I felt when I looked at this scene. The scene is sometime in September when people often take their last trip to the beach because summer is coming to an end. It seemed like the beach was making an extra effort to make sure that this goodbye was a sweet one….the kind of day that sticks in your memory and makes you want to plan another trip for the spring. The water that day was a sparkling blue and the sky had put on my favorite outfit: cornflower blue with contrasting gorgeous, billowy white clouds. Feel that wonderful sense of relaxation as you gaze out over the water, digging your toes into the sand, and the sea breeze caresses your face. Ahhhhh.

            Happy Weekend!

Quiet Reflection

“Quiet Reflection”        8” x 10”          Pastel         $75         © Sharon Lewis

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            I was drawn to paint this scene not only because I loved the red roof peeking out above the trees but also because the scene to me is all about reflection.  You have the blue sky reflecting onto this pond with its beautiful water lilies and it seems the kind of place where you might go if you were seeking peace and quiet reflection.

            Happy Weekend and hope all in the path of hurricane Ian stay safe!

Alpine Meadow

“Alpine Meadow”          2.5” x 3.5”          Pastel           $25          © Sharon Lewis

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            Given the hot summer temperatures we had this week, I was drawn to a scene that while still looking summery also suggested that a cool breeze might be possible. This painting describes the kind of summer day I love, with the warmth and color of summer in this beautiful meadow contrasting with the cold, icy peak above.

            Happy Weekend!

The Sunny Side of the Cliff

“The Sunny Side of the Cliff”       8” x 10”     Pastel      $75       © Sharon Lewis

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I was drawn to the sight of this dramatic cliffside, with its many colors warmed by the sun, rising out of the water above a secluded beach. It looks like a beach-lover’s paradise: a warm, inviting, secluded beach with beautiful turquoise water. Looks can be deceiving however, because that apparently warm and inviting water is actually bone-chillingly cold, says a person who might have tried it and grew up swimming the sunny, warm waters of southern Florida.

Happy Weekend!

Following Care Along the Dusty Road

 “Following Care Along the Dusty Road”         9” x 12”        Pastel        $100      © Sharon Lewis

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              I borrowed this title from the poem, Journey by Edna St. Vincent Millay. She seems to be talking about noticing all the beauty around her but continuing to move forward attending to responsibilities (All my life, Following Care along the dusty road, Have I looked back at loveliness and sighed). I think about this a lot this time of year. Soon the leaves will be turning gorgeous bright colors but I and my students will need to focus on our academic responsibilities. However, I think that I will probably also be thinking like the poet when she says:

But far, oh, far as passionate eye can reach,

And long, ah, long as rapturous eye can cling,

The world is mine: blue hill, still silver lake,

Broad field, bright flower, and the long white road

A gateless garden, and an open path:
My feet to follow, and my heart to hold.

           

Happy Weekend!

So I Don't Forget

 “So I Don’t Forget”            11” x 14”          Pastel         $175         © Sharon Lewis

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My reference photos showed huge, dramatic clouds hovering over this very peaceful beach scene. I originally painted these large clouds because after all, I love painting skies and clouds but I finally realized that that they were taking away from what I kept coming back to as my focal point: this young woman striking a careful pose for her selfie at the beach….so she doesn’t forget?

            Happy Labor Day Weekend!

 

Sunburst

  “Sunburst”            6” x 6”          Pastel         $50         © Sharon Lewis

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              I’ve been going through my studio continuing to excavate paintings some of which I’m putting out of their misery and filing in the trash bin, some I’m working on if they seem to have a good composition, and a very few I decided that I liked as they are. Finding this one was a nice surprise since I love sunflowers; they’ve always seemed like such a great symbol of summer!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Cliffside

“Cliffside”             9” x 11”          Pastel         $100         © Sharon Lewis

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            I love to climb high and have since I was little. I also get a little dizzy looking down but can’t resist doing this when I’m climbing near the water. I find it scary but usually worth the risk since the view is often beautiful like in this scene. I love the many colors I could see in the water and the mix of big, almost violent waves with areas of calm water.

            Happy Weekend!

Hidden Depths

“Hidden Depths”        14” x 14”          Pastel         $200         © Sharon Lewis

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Most of the time when you blow things out of proportion, that’s a bad thing but sometimes I like to blow up a photo I’ve taken to see if there’s something beautiful hidden in the depths. I photographed my shells sitting on my windowsill, glowing in the morning light but the photos showed too many colors and shapes to make a good composition. Blowing up the photos and searching in the depths, showed this beautiful shell with other, smaller shells hiding inside.

Happy Weekend!

At the Beach

“At the Beach”          8” x 10”          Pastel         $75         © Sharon Lewis

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            I’m always fascinated by the many ways people respond to being at the beach. Some seem to enjoy a quiet, meditative walk, while others like company and enjoy a lively discussion with a companion. Others find it the perfect opportunity to give their dog some exercise chasing waves with them as this little girl seemed to enjoy. And still others find it (apparently) a time when they need to consult their social media feed while a wave gathers slowly to engulf them. (cue eye roll).

            Happy Weekend!

 

Before the Fog Rolled In

“Before The Fog Rolled In”          5” x 7”          Pastel           $50           © Sharon Lewis

 

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            We were so fortunate recently, to have mostly good weather on the west coast. But, as is typical of this coast, fog occasionally obscured much of our view. I got to paint this scene using photos I took before the fog rolled in and trying to squint through the haze to see this beautiful cliff in the distance.

            Happy Weekend!

A Touch of Scarlet

“A Touch of Scarlet”     2.5” x 3.5”      Pastel      $25      © Sharon Lewis
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            This pot of scarlet geraniums was just one of many wonderful surprises I saw on my first visit to Monterey, California. These beautiful flowers (one of my favorites) were sitting on a balcony overlooking the water where I could see otters, some with babies, cracking open their dinner as they leisurely floated below. There were also gulls, cormorants, and sea lions. What an amazing place!

            Happy Weekend!

Pirouette

“Pirouette”          8” x 10”          Pastel         $75         © Sharon Lewis

            Long ago, when I used to take ballet, I dreamt of someday becoming a famous ballerina. I loved spinning around performing pirouettes over and over again, imagining that I did so “en pointe” (meaning balancing on my toes). When I saw this cloud formation recently, I couldn’t help but think of clouds performing a graceful pirouette reaching into the farthest reaches of the sky.

            Happy Weekend!