All That Glitters is not Gold

“All That Glitters is not Gold”     9 x 12     Pastel    $ 216    © Sharon Lewis

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            I love the glitter and bright colors of Christmas! As I gaze out my studio window upon bare and brown trees, I’m rejoicing in the colors of this holiday, especially the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow (gold). So, of course I had to do a painting of ornaments arranged in the primary color triad.

            Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope you’re finding some warm, bright colors in this season of cold.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Autumn Bounty

“Autumn Bounty”       9” x 12”          Pastel         $216      © Sharon Lewis

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          I spent a wonderful October weekend in the North Georgia mountains several years ago. After hiking we found a great open-air market selling a variety of local produce including pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. The owners were happy to sell us their produce but were a little puzzled by me photographing it. This painting is based on that beautiful fall day and the bounty of autumn. 

            Happy Halloween and Happy Weekend!

 

Blanket Flowers

“Blanket Flowers”    9 x 12    Pastel    $ 100     © Sharon Lewis   

            I’m re-posting one of my favorite flower paintings as I’m currently traveling. I love the vivid colors in the Blanket flower (or Gaillardia grandiflora) and the fact that they attract butterflies and bees. Apparently, they’re also great in that deer leave them alone, something I have a hard time believing after watching the deer in my area eat everything in my yard.  

            Happy Weekend!

 

Alexander Lake

“Alexander Lake”   9” x 12”       Pastel        $216        © Sharon Lewis

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             This is a painting of Alexander Lake in Panola Mountain State Park, a place I love to hike in the fall, winter, and spring. I’ve seen some of the most spectacular sunsets when walking there in the winter. It’s almost as if Mother Nature compensates us for the short hours of light with a gorgeous light show at the end of the day. 

            Happy Weekend!

 

Happy 4th!

“4^th of July”   9” x 12”       Pastel        $216        © Sharon Lewis

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             Happy 4^th of July and Happy Weekend!

 

Spring Tulips

“Spring Tulips”   9x12        Pastel          $216        © Sharon Lewis

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I’ve been thinking about spring lately and that brings to mind tulips – one of my favorite flowers. There are so many colors and even within one tulip, so many variations in colors. I’m traveling this week so I’m sharing some tulips I painted several years ago.

Happy Weekend!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Over the Hills and Through the Woods”        9” x 12”        Pastel         $216      © Sharon Lewis

             It’s Thanksgiving this week and as my students and I scatter over hills and maybe through some woods, I am feeling grateful for all my kind, loving, and thoughtful friends and family. My life is so much richer and happier for your presence! 

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

May you feel the warmth of all those who love you this Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Weekend!

 

Celebration!

“Celebration”     9” x 12”        Pastel       $324       © Sharon Lewis

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             It’s the beginning of Memorial Day Weekend, a traditional time to celebrate the beginning of summer but we are getting ready to celebrate another important event: the birth of my daughter’s and son-in-law’s first child! We can’t wait to greet my “baby” girl’s baby girl!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Tranquil Once Again

“Tranquil Once Again”          9” x 12”           Pastel            SOLD       © Sharon Lewis
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            With the end of the semester bringing lots of work to complete and deadlines to meet for my students, colleagues, and me, I find myself drawn to painting peaceful, tranquil scenes. This beautiful lake and the colorful fall trees reflecting on it are a stark contrast to the way I’ve felt the last several weeks. But, like the beautiful colors of autumn, the crazy deadlines will pass, the work will get done, and all will become tranquil once again.

            Happy Weekend!

The Warmth of Autumn

“The Warmth of Autumn”    9” x 12”    Pastel     $100    © Sharon Lewis

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As the days get noticeably shorter, I find myself appreciating all the more, the warmth of the fall colors still visible out my window. I incorporated many of the colors that I see in my backyard in this painting. Although I know this won’t last much longer, it is enough for now to be able to still enjoy the rich, vibrant colors of fall on this grey November day.

Happy Weekend!

 

Shared Joy

“Shared Joy”     9” x 12”     Pastel     $100   © Sharon Lewis

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              It’s always fun to watch the sunset when you’re at the beach but I think it’s even more enjoyable when you share that joy with others. It was late afternoon, and individuals of all ages, just stopped to admire the beautiful sky in front of them. The sun was setting behind them and reflecting gorgeous colors into the clouds over the sea. There’s nothing like sharing the joy of beauty in nature with others. It’s a wonderful connection!

            Happy Weekend! 

Hidden Cove

“Hidden Cove”           9” x 12”        $100        © Sharon Lewis

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            While I was visiting a cool place this summer in Newfoundland that I’d hiked several times, I was searching for new vista when I stumbled across this beautiful cove. I couldn’t get over the striking color of the water and how the rock formations reminded me of a sleeping dragon or some strange, giant bird. What do you see when you look at this?

            Happy Weekend!

 

Waiting for Y'all to Return

“Waiting for Y’all to Return”        9” x 12”      Pastel        $100      © Sharon Lewis

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             I’ve been so excited about the thought of returning to the beach in a few days. I grew up near the water and have always loved falling asleep listening to the rhythmic sounds of the waves. I can’t wait to collect more seashells I don’t need and add hundreds more photos of the ocean to my current way-too-large collection. It never gets old!

            Happy Weekend!

 

Over the Hills and Through the Woods

“Over the Hills and Through the Woods”        9” x 12”        Pastel         $100      © Sharon Lewis

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            It’s Thanksgiving this coming week and as my students and I scatter over hills and maybe through some woods, I am feeling so grateful for all my kind, loving, and thoughtful friends and family. My life is so much richer and happier for your presence!

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

May you feel the warmth of all those who love you this Thanksgiving.

Happy Weekend!

     

In the Deep Fall

“In the Deep Fall”        9” x 12”          Pastel         $100      © Sharon Lewis

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               I love the poem by Mary Oliver, “In the Deep Fall” from which I borrowed the title of this painting. She writes:

 Don’t you imagine the leaves think how
comfortable it will be to touch
the earth instead of the
nothingness of air and the endless
freshets of wind? And don’t you think
the trees themselves, especially those with mossy,
warm caves, begin to think

of the birds that will come — six, a dozen — to sleep
inside their bodies? And don’t you hear
the goldenrod whispering goodbye,
the everlasting being crowned with the first
tuffets of snow? The pond
vanishes, and the white field over which
the fox runs so quickly brings out
its blue shadows. And the wind pumps its
bellows. And at evening especially,
the piled firewood shifts a little,
longing to be on its way.

            Happy Fall and Happy Weekend!

 

Autumn Bounty

“Autumn Bounty”       9” x 12”          Pastel         $100      © Sharon Lewis

            I spent a wonderful October weekend in the North Georgia mountains several years ago. The trees were wearing their fall outfits, decked in an array of vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. After hiking we found a great open-air market selling a variety of local produce including pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. The owners were happy to sell us their produce but were a little puzzled by me photographing it. This painting is based on that beautiful fall day and the bounty of autumn.

            Happy Halloween and Happy Weekend!

Still Reflections

“Still Reflections”       9” x 12”          Pastel         $100      © Sharon Lewis

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            We’re finally seeing some sun after days and days of rain. It’s amazing how beautiful even small glimpses of blue sky can be after a week of only leaden grey vistas.

            The area I’ve painted is a beautiful area discovered after hiking one day near Glencoe, Scotland. I love the storm clouds finally moving off, the sun coming out, and the reflections in this very, still body of water.

            Reflections are interesting in that the images reflected in the water are similar but are not a perfect copy of what stands above. Depending on where you stand, that image can appear very different, much like the image we see of others depends on our stance. Open and accepting? We may be like that clear body of water and see an authentic reflection. Critical and judgmental? We may see a distorted image. Our own desires, expectations, and fears can influence our images of others so that we see only what we long for, expect, or wish to avoid. Hopefully, we all can stand so that others can reflect their authentic selves.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Resting in the Grace of the World

“Resting in the Grace of the World”      9” x 12”        Pastel       $100        © Sharon Lewis

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            How an artist chooses what to paint can be a reflection of what she/he loves or in reaction to something going on in their life, or simply something that caught their eye. In my case, I had planned to paint one kind of painting and was looking through reference photos when my eye was caught by some very different photos I took one evening. I’ve always been drawn to dramatic contrasts of light and shadow and I can never resist an opportunity to paint skies and ocean. What’s one of the many cool aspects of the painting process for me is how immersed you get not only in the painting process but in the scene as well. You start remembering the quiet sounds of the now gentle waves, the smell of the salt in the air, and all of those beautiful colors as the sun disappears over the horizon.

Happy Weekend!

Beautiful Oasis

“Beautiful Oasis”              9” x 12”          Pastel         $100           © Sharon Lewis

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             I’d love to be here in this beautiful oasis, where I’d be watching the light slowly fade from a gorgeous sky, listening to the birds calling good night, and reveling in the thought that I could do all of this again tomorrow.

            Happy Weekend!

 

The Food’s OK But The Location Is Fabulous!

 

“The Food’s OK But The Location Is Fabulous!”   9” x 12”       Pastel     $100    © Sharon Lewis

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             These tiny birds, called Sanderlings, are one of my favorite sights at the beach. Even their name sounds cute to me. They scurry back and forth, just avoiding being swept away by the waves as they constantly search the beach for their food, marine invertebrates. The Cornell Ornithology Lab describes them as in a “perpetual wave chase” which I think describes them well.

            Happy Weekend!