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!

 

Beach Brunch

“Beach Brunch”       8” x 11”        Pastel       $260        © Sharon Lewis
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            My recent trip to the beach reminded me of one of my favorite birds, called a sanderling. They’re in constant motion, running back and forth trying to capture the sand crabs and other invertebrates that they like to eat without getting washed out to sea by a wave.  They’re much cuter than the gulls, a lot less noisy, and they won’t steal your picnic lunch. What’s not to like?

            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!

Beach Study #2

"Beach Study #2"    Pastel      2.5” x 3.5”    $20  © Sharon Lewis
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I’m on my way to see my “baby” daughter graduate from Northwestern University Law School and I’m so proud of her! I’m also so excited because I will see both of my children on Mother’s Day for the first time in years!

I’m wishing all the mothers that I know, a restful, relaxing weekend and a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Beach Study

Beach Study #3          Oil              5” x 7”            $50  © Sharon Lewis

            I was lucky enough to visit the beach last weekend and took advantage of the opportunity to paint the ocean and sky from life. It was a windy day when I tried to paint an impression of sweeping clouds and choppy waves. Waves of course are hard to paint exactly from life but I find if I keep studying them, I can notice enough to convey at least an impression of them.

            Happy Weekend!

Spring Break

“Spring Break”             Pastel             2.5” x 3.5”            $20           © Sharon Lewis
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            This wasn’t us this past weekend but it certainly felt like this. We took a break and drove over to the coast for a few days of rest and relaxation. We were so lucky to have sunny and mild weather. We took long walks, sampled different wines, and watched the sun set over the sea. I almost was too lazy to paint but had to capture this scene from our balcony.

Ahhh, the shift from focusing on a screen to focusing on the natural world never fails to renew my spirit. Hope spring has arrived for you or is not too far away. Happy Weekend!

Windy Day at the Beach

“Windy Day at the Beach”      Pastel         5” x 7”        $50       © Sharon Lewis
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            I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately and wish I had just a little more time to paint some of what I’ve seen. Whenever I travel, I come back inspired to experiment with new subjects, colors, and styles. After attending a conference in a busy urban setting (New York) the week before, I traveled with my family to the beach last week for a very short family vacation. I thought I would have more time to paint but since the weather was gorgeous, we all took advantage of this to spend most of each day walking the beach or surfing the waves. Given how busy we all are, and how far a part we are geographically, I feel so very fortunate that I was able to spend some time with my son and daughter. I was also lucky that I was able to sneak in some time to do this small plein air study of the beach and beautiful sky.

 

A Sky Serene and Fair

“A Sky Serene and Fair”        Pastel         9” x 12”       $100      © Sharon Lewis
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           The end of the academic year is a time when it’s easy to lose oneself  in the long work hours and stress. This spring it’s been particularly challenging as we had a tree hit the house, punching holes in my ceiling and causing it to rain inside for awhile.  Then a repair person, while pulling out wet insulation, disturbed a nest of hundreds of carpenter ants hidden within that wall.  I just had to laugh; I kept telling friends that for a while it was like being in the middle of a badly written horror film.

            At times like this, I often find it’s a struggle for me to remember what truly matters to me so I have developed a practice of repeating a simple phrase, "Be patient, be compassionate".  It reminds me to focus not on my own difficulties but on what others are experiencing. I find that this keeps me more attuned to what truly matters in the long run rather than what I want to whine about (a truly boring, fruitless practice).

            Today’s painting is a larger version of one I did while staying near this coastal area. I really found myself missing that painting when it sold a few weeks ago and so decided to do another larger, and slightly different version.

            Happy Weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Salt Marsh at Sunset

“Salt Marsh at Sunset”       Pastel       5” x 7”      $50        © Sharon Lewis
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            While staying on the Isle of Palms, near Charleston, S.C. this past weekend I had the urge to paint the salt marshes that we drive by each time. We often get to the marshes just in time to see the sun setting the marshes aglow with light. This time of year they are still mostly brown but I painted them more the way they appear in the spring and summer. That’s one of the cool things about being an artist; I can change the season to one I prefer.

            I was amazed to find out how varied the species are that live in these salt marshes. There are fish, diamond back terrapins, marsh snails, both blue and fiddler crabs,  mussels, shrimp, as well as oysters. Then there are the birds such as the red-winged blackbird, herons, and egrets. It’s amazing to think how many different creatures are hidden in these waters!

Autumn Gold

“Autumn Gold”       Pastel    9” x 12”      $100        © Sharon Lewis
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           It’s still autumn though it’s just days away from the official start of winter, as well as our longest night and shortest day.  I’ve always thought that the Winter Solstice is one of those tests of whether you’re a glass half-full or a glass half-empty  kind of person. In other words, whether you think about the fact that after the Winter Solstice, the days get longer or whether you focus on the fact that it’s our longest night. I’m always focused on the light so I look forward to the solstice, knowing that in spite of the cold, each day will gradually bring more light.

            I hope wherever you are, that you’re enjoying the warmth of friends and family. And to all of my Jewish friends, Happy Chanukah!

Looking for a Caldron of Clouds

Plein Air Clouds    Pastel     2.5" x 3.5"     $20      © Sharon Lewis

Plein Air Clouds #2     Pastel     2.5" x 3.5"     $20        © Sharon Lewis

Plein Air Clouds #3    Pastel    2.5" x 3.5"     $20     © Sharon Lewis

         I think I have never grown out of my early fascination with clouds. I remember as a child lying on my back in the grass (grass stains and dirty clothes never an issue back then) and staring at clouds seeing all sorts of animals and other cool things up in the sky. Especially during hurricane season, there were fast moving, powerful-looking storm clouds that would bubble up, like some huge caldron of clouds soon to boil over or explode….great entertainment for a child.

       Now I still walk around staring up at the sky, always on the look out for interesting clouds. The paintings above are quick studies I did at the beach over Labor Day.

       Hope your weekend is filled with glorious clouds and skies.