Fog's Coming!

“Fog’s Coming!”       Pastel       11” x 14”       $242     © Sharon Lewis

            I’m still on the West coast enjoying hiking along this beautiful shore, with cool ocean breezes. Now if only the fog would stay away.

            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!

 

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!

In the In-Between

“In the In-Between”     11” x 14”         Pastel        $300      © Sharon Lewis

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              I’ve mentioned before how much I love looking at and painting skies and as often as I paint them, you’d think I’d find them easy. Sometimes they are but more often I struggle to paint them in a way that fully conveys how gorgeous I find them. One of the times when they are especially gorgeous is that time in-between sunset and full night when the sky is often filled with this last, quick, intense display of beautiful light and color. Hope you enjoy!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Beach Promenade

“Beach Promenade”   11” x 14”           Pastel            $300      © Sharon Lewis

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            I’m looking at lead gray skies with cold rain in the forecast so I wouldn’t mind being on a beach like this right now. I can feel the warm sun on my face and see the billowing clouds ahead and a sparkling turquoise sea on my right. Ahhhh, this is the way to celebrate January!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Bright Beginning

  “Bright Beginning”       11” x 14”           Pastel            $300      © Sharon Lewis

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            This is my first painting of the new year and not surprisingly, I chose one of my favorite painting subjects: a sky full of beautiful color and light. I wanted to convey my overall optimistic feelings about the new year in spite of some of the sad and terrible things happening in the world. May this new year bring peace, sufficient food, and safe shelter to those who need it the most.  

            Happy Weekend and Happy New Year!

 

So I Don't Forget

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

            This past weekend I was attending my daughter’s wedding and thus, not producing my weekly painting. So, I offer this work, painted at this time last year, of a lovely beach with a young woman taking a selfie so she doesn’t forget? Or so she can make her friends envious?

Whatever the reason, I wouldn’t mind being on this beach again, enjoying the sun, the water, and that beautiful blue sky.

            Happy Labor Day Weekend!

 

Dreaming of Summer on a Winter's Day

“Dreaming of Summer on a Winter’s Day”   11” x 14”     Pastel    $175    © Sharon Lewis

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             It sometimes takes me almost as long to figure out what to paint as it does to actually paint a landscape. This weekend, when it was grey and dreary, I was drawn to paint this scene because of the light, the warmth, and all the people trying to enjoy the last rays of sunshine before sunset.  I loved the contrast between the bands of bluish-purple shadows and the golden, sun-lit parts of the beach. It was also fun to paint the people in their various poses and locations; some swimming in the water, some former sunbathers now in shadow, and the various people in conversation or silent admiration of the view.

            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!

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!

 

Sailing Away

“Sailing Away”        11” x 14”       Pastel        $175     © Sharon Lewis

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            I enjoy my job but I have to admit, every fall, when faced with the barrage of meeting invites and organizational details, I want to be far away. I picture sailing away on a beautiful summer day like this, with blue skies overhead and cool breezes….and no meetings, no schedules, and the only thing to think about is what time the sun sets.

            Happy Weekend!

 

As Evening Draws Close

 “As Evening Draws Close”        11” x 14”       Pastel        $175     © Sharon Lewis

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            Sometimes, as the evening draws close, and the light begins to fade, the sun may gift you with one last, spectacular show of light. It’s usually brief but if you’re attentive, you may be presented with one last dazzling display of light and color that sets the land aglow.

            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!

Serenity

“Serenity”            Pastel             11” x 14”         $150       © Sharon Lewis
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            I am feeling anything but serene at the moment as I balance work concerns with preparations to join my son and his fiancé for their wedding this weekend. Of course, if this was several years ago, I might have distracted myself with the news or weather but this morning both are filled with conflict or news of the impending hurricane. As I study this painting however, I remember seeing a beautiful September sun, setting over a tranquil lake as we traveled back to our everyday concerns. Nature always reminds me: slow down and take a breath.

          Have a happy and serene weekend!

           

When Rocks Gossip

“When Rocks Gossip”         Pastel          11” x 14”          $150       © Sharon Lewis
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Like many artists, I sometimes struggle to come up with a title for my painting. I’ve tried turning to poetry, to puns or plays on words, or even using the location name as part of or the whole title. In this case, I couldn’t get away from imagining these rocks as individuals gathering together to hear some particularly interesting bit of gossip. What do you see?

            Happy Weekend!

Fog's Coming!

“Fog’s Coming!”       Pastel       11” x 14”       $150     © Sharon Lewis
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            I loved painting this scene from our recent trip to the west coast. The sea here was roiling and full of foam. I expected to find the fog the least interesting thing to paint but as I studied my photos, I realized that the fog actually had many beautiful colors in it especially where it thinned out and the blue sky could be seen through it. It was a lovely, cool day, and so perfect  for walking on the beach.

            Happy Weekend!

The Lake Beyond

“The Lake Beyond”        11” x 14”        $150        © Sharon Lewis  
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           We were hiking last summer through a beautiful valley that had such wonderful patterns of light and shadow falling on velvety green hills….and for once it wasn’t raining. You don’t get such wonderful greens everywhere in the middle of summer without lots of rain.  Stopping to admire the view, I caught a glimpse far beyond of a lovely lake. There was no time to explore it but maybe next time?

            Happy Weekend!

Imagining

“Imagining”                Pastel                  11” x 14”              $150           © Sharon Lewis
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Imagine that instead of hearing the sounds of angry people clashing with one another, you hear instead the call of gulls, the sound of waves ebbing and flowing, the wind singing through the trees. Imagine instead of seeing in the news descriptions of conflicts between people and nations you see instead, how the sun illuminates the rocks and the ocean revealing all the beautiful colors contained within.

           Happy Almost Weekend!

   

By the Stream

“By the Stream”      Pastel        11” x 14”        $150     ©Sharon Lewis
N.F.S.

            I’ve borrowed the title for this painting from the poem, “By the Stream” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar, one of the first African-American poets to gain national recognition. The first few lines are: “By the stream I dream in calm delight, and watch as in a glass, How the clouds like crowds of snowy-hued and white-robed maidens pass, And the water into ripples breaks and sparkles as it spreads…” (Click here for the rest of the poem.). This seems to be such a wonderful way of describing this beautiful scene I saw one summer though maybe the clouds are more “golden-hued” and “lavender” robed maidens.

            Hoping a little beauty comes your way.  Happy Weekend!

The Glory of Summer

"Shady Refuge"             11" x 14"             Pastel           $150          © Sharon Lewis
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I'm on Bailey Island, Maine, one of my favorite places to be at this time of year. While the Atlanta area has gotten warm and humid, this small island in the Casco Bay is still experiencing spring-time temperatures with cool mornings and evenings.

We are in a house that we rent each June that sits on a rocky cliff overlooking a cove as well as the beautiful Casco Bay. We fall asleep listening to the waves gently breaking and are awakened by birds singing and the excited peeps of the twenty tiny ducklings below.

I hope wherever you are, that you are enjoying a glorious summer!