View From Sister Rock

"View From Sister Rock"      8 x 10     Pastel      $160     © Sharon Lewis
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             This is a return to painting two subjects I love: the ocean and rocks. Whether you’re on the west or the east coast, the ocean always has a myriad of colors if you look closely. Interestingly, so do the large rock formations you see standing the test of time in oceans. The larger rocks also serve as landing and nesting places for sea birds and if large enough, as a haven for seals as well. There are always cool breezes here which to my mind, makes it a perfect place to hang out in the months of July and August.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Do They Ever Stop Eating?

“Do They Ever Stop Eating?”    6 x 8.5     Pastel    $144     © Sharon Lewis

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             I received a new pastel surface to try out (Canson MiTeintes - Velvet) at an arts conference this summer and I’ve been eager to paint on it. This surface is velvety soft (thus its name), holds lots of layers of pastel, and comes in different colors which I love. This painting was done on a warm tan color which is a great color to start with when you’re painting lots of greens. My only issue with the paper is it’s a little hard to blend colors; the benefit is trying to blend on this surface doesn’t destroy your fingers like blending on a sanded surface does.

        This painting is based on the green hills of Scotland where the sheep are everywhere and always seem to be eating.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Summer Snacks

 “Summer Snacks”       11 x 14     Pastel    $300     © Sharon Lewis

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             I wish I knew why I love painting pears so much. Sometimes I think it’s because, like clouds, I can see a multitude of beautiful colors in them. Maybe it’s because pears come in such different shapes and sizes – much like people. It could be because I enjoy painting rounded but slightly irregular shapes – again like people. Whatever the reason, I really enjoyed painting these three pears.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Summer Sky

 

“Summer Sky”  2.5 x 3.5    Pastel    $26    © Sharon Lewis

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             I’ve been away visiting family for a while but I had a little break to work on this summer sky. Skies with beautiful clouds remain one of my favorite subjects to paint.

            Happy Weekend!

Happy 4th of July!

 “4^th of July Weekend”    12” x 18”    Pastel    $324    © Sharon Lewis

             I hope wherever you are this weekend, that you get a chance to enjoy sunshine, good food, and time with family and friends.

            Happy 4^th of July Weekend!

Sunflowers

 

“Sunflowers”    12 x 612    Pastel    $300    © Sharon Lewis
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I’ve been busy working on several paintings at the same time. This is one I started in a workshop at my arts conference last week and came home and worked on a bit.

Happy Weekend!

Emerald Sea

      

“Emerald Sea”         12” x 16”        Pastel       $384         © Sharon Lewis

I’m leaving soon for a wonderful international gathering of pastel artists in Albuquerque, New Mexico, called the IAPS conference. It’s a gathering of talented artists, who teach, attend classes, and conduct workshops. There’s always an amazing exhibit of gorgeous art and it’s a great opportunity to talk with other people who are as passionate as I am about art. We joke and empathize with each other about the challenges of painting and drool together over the displays of art supplies. It appears to be the last such gathering for the foreseeable future which feels bittersweet but I’m going to enjoy every minute.

Happy Weekend!

 

Wildflowers

“Wildflowers”   6 x 6     Oil    $108    © Sharon Lewis

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            Whenever I hike in new places, I’m always on the lookout for the unexpected, whether that be a bear or something more pleasant like a breathtaking view, ripe berries for an impromptu snack, or beautiful wildflowers. I love finding these spots of color along the highway or sprinkled through a mountain meadow. I found these colorful flowers several years ago in a meadow, alongside a seaside cliff. It looked as if someone had created a garden in the middle of nowhere. I love these unexpected gifts from nature!

              Happy Weekend!

 

Meet-Cute

“Meet-Cute”    8 x 10     Oil    $160    © Sharon Lewis

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             When I was on the coast last summer, I noticed a group of teenagers surfing – mostly all males. As I was walking by trying to get as many photos of the waves as possible, I was struck by these two surfers facing each other. He seemed to be posing, and she had her arms folded, possibly because she wasn’t impressed by his pose or she was cold. She still had her wet suit on (this was really cold water) while he had pulled the top half of his off – maybe hoping to persuade her he was worth talking to? No matter what their story, I loved the juxtaposition of these two young people, the surfer behind them, against a sky of beautiful clouds.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Sunny Skies At Last

“Sunny Skies At Last”   7.5 x 10     Pastel    $160    © Sharon Lewis

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             I just got back from visiting family up north where it rained every day. I got back home just in time for it to rain every day here. In desperation I decided to paint sunny skies.

            I hope wherever you are, there are sunny skies above.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Where I Want To Be In August

“Where I Want To Be In August”  5 x 7     Pastel    $105    © Sharon Lewis

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I started this painting on location on the coast of Maine and then forgot it was in my studio until now. I wasn’t happy with it because I found it to be a bit boring. So, I worked on the sky to make the clouds more interesting and added some of the sailboats that were out that day.

Happy Week!

 

Good Friends

“Good Friends”    5 x 7     Oil    $105    © Sharon Lewis

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             There’s nothing like meeting with a good friend to laugh, gossip, and catch up on all that’s important. 

            Happy Weekend!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

“Blanket Flowers”   12 x 9    Pastel    $ 216    © Sharon Lewis   

I want to celebrate my daughter this year, who welcomed her second daughter just 4 weeks ago. She’s an amazing mother of two kids under two!

I also want to celebrate my two nieces Jaci and Ali and my daughter-in-law Emily, all my friends who are mothers, and all those kind souls who mother others with kindness and support. You make the world brighter for your presence.

Happy Mother’s Day Weekend!

 

Quiet Visitor

“Quiet Visitor”        5 x 7    Oil    $105   © Sharon Lewis

                    I’m trying to get more used to plein air painting because I enjoy being outside (except in the depth of a Georgia summer) and I learn valuable art skills – like how to simplify a scene and more accurate depictions of colors, light, and shadows. It’s still hard for me to paint in public when I’m on my own as people always want to see what I’m painting. I still remember a woman coming up to me after hours of painting on the beach. I had done several paintings of the ocean earlier and was trying to make some uninteresting dunes more interesting by changing the scene. She looked at where I was looking and looked at my painting obviously puzzled. To her credit she didn’t say anything but her facial expression conveyed, “What the hell???” and maybe even a little, “Poor thing! She thinks she can paint”. Fortunately for my ego, I liked that painting and it later sold to someone else who also liked my imaginary arrangement of dunes. 

                   This painting is my backyard with a bunny I saw conveniently hiding in the grasses.

                   Happy Weekend! 

Beautiful Abundance

               

“Beautiful Abundance”        11 x 14    Oil    $300   © Sharon Lewis

                  There’s an ongoing drought in the southern part of Georgia right now and like many places prone to drought, there are currently wildfires. Perhaps this is why I was drawn to paint this abundance of water in the form of this beautiful waterfall. We found this one summer on a hike through the countryside.

                   Happy Weekend!

A Walk on the Beach

“A Walk on the Beach”    8 x 10     Oil    $160    © Sharon Lewis

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                    I’m back from an exciting but exhausting two weeks helping my daughter and son-law as they waited to greet their second daughter. She arrived on April 11 and we are so happy to have this tiny, new member of the family!

                   Today’s painting was done on location when I was at the beach a few weeks ago.

                   Happy Weekend!

 

Signs of Spring

“Somebunny Loves You”    Pastel    8x8      $70 ©Sharon Lewis

      I'm reposting one of my favorite paintings today because I'm at my daughter's house eagerly awaiting the birth of her second child, my third granddaughter. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well.

      Happy Weekend!

 

Spring Tulips

    “Spring Tulips”      Oil     6x6       $108    © Sharon Lewis

It’s that beautiful time of year with the promise of new life everywhere. The birds are singing glorious new songs, the trees are blooming, the hours of light are increasing,  and my “baby” is expecting her baby any day now. I love spring!

Happy Easter, Happy Passover, and Happy Weekend!

A Night Out

“A Night Out”       10 x 10     Oil    $200   © Sharon Lewis

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            I started this painting years ago in a painting class taught by the talented artist, Karen Appleton.  I apparently made a very rough start, filed it away under other photos and paintings, and then got busy again with my day job. Unfortunately, my reference photo was terrible so I did my best to research what a gold purse would look like if spotlighted. Even given the challenges, this was a lot of fun to paint.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Fleeting

“Fleeting”     4 x 6     Oil    $70    © Sharon Lewis

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             This past week I was able to get away to the beach and had a wonderful time walking and running on the beach as well as trying to capture the beautiful sky and sea.  It was a beautiful respite from the news.

            Happy Weekend!