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“Summer Reds” 5” x 7” Pastel $105 © Sharon Lewis
One of the places I stayed out west recently, had a beautiful garden which included one of my favorite flowers: red geraniums. They are so vibrant against the many greens of summer that my eye immediately goes to them. They were a joy to paint!
Happy Weekend!
“Wildflowers” 6 x 6 Oil $108 © Sharon Lewis
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!
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“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!
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| “Pink Mums” 14 x 11 Pastel $260 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I find that if I want to continue to grow as an artist, it’s a good idea to take a class or workshop from time to time. It’s not that easy to try another artist’s method when I’m used to my own, but I’ve discovered that I often end up adopting at least one idea or technique from the array presented, I often gain a different perspective or learn an alternative approach to painting, and I always meet some wonderful kindred souls in these classes. I started this painting in a class taught by Margaret Dyer, an amazing figure painter. Happy Weekend! |
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| “Finding the Light” 14 x 11 Pastel $300 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Buy |
I ran across an older social media post where I referenced Amanda Gorman’s poem, The Hill We Climb, and thinking of those in Minneapolis, I want to share these words:
We will rise from the golden hills of the West.
We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution.
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states.
We will rise from the sun-baked South…
We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.
And every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country, our people diverse and beautiful, will emerge battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it.
If only we’re brave enough to be it.
I have great admiration for all the people out in the bitter, Minnesotan cold, helping their immigrant neighbors.
Happy Weekend!
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“The Colors of the Season” 9” x 9” Pastel $160 © Sharon Lewis
On these cold winter days, I hope you’re warmed by the company of those you love. Wishing you a Happy New Year and in the words of an Irish blessing: May love and laughter light your days and warm your hearth and home.
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| “Winter Sunshine” 7 x 5 Oil $105 © Sharon Lewis Click here to buy |
Sunflowers are fun to paint any time of year but they’re especially so when winter brings us grey skies and cold temperatures. I did a deep dive into all things interesting about sunflowers and I’ll share just a few. I discovered that in addition to being beautiful, the sunflower provides us with sunflower seeds, sunflower oil, and is a symbol of the sun god in some cultures. Wild sunflowers produce many flowers on each plant but small seeds and the domesticated varieties produce a single large flower and larger seeds. Sunflowers are considered heliotropic in that they follow the path of the sun through the day. Finally, they can remove toxic elements from the soil, like lead and uranium, which is pretty amazing. So sunflowers are both beautiful and beneficial.
Happy Weekend!
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Delphiniums with Tiger Lily 8 x 8 Oil $ 195 © Sharon Lewis
I enjoy painting flowers from time to time and try to make sure that I always have some in the house. The flowers I painted here are primarily delphiniums which as it turns out are associated with positivity, big-heartedness, cheerfulness, and love. So, today I’m sending some of these good feelings out into the world with the hope that it encourages all of us to be the best versions of ourselves as we interact with others.
Happy Weekend!
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“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!
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“Pretty in Pink” 12” x 10” Pastel $240 © Sharon Lewis
Some anniversaries hit harder than others. This Thursday was the anniversary of losing my sister Meg AND it was the last day teaching my wonderful Oxford College of Emory University students. What connects these two events in my head is the difficulty of separating from people you love. I feel lucky that I had my wonderful, quirky, creative, amazing sister Meg in my life for as long as I did and I am also feeling so grateful to end this last semester of teaching with such smart, kind, thoughtful, and compassionate students. So, although it is painful feeling the loss of my beloved sister and saying goodbye to students I’ve come to love, I hope I always find the courage to choose love and be grateful for its presence in my life.
Happy Weekend!
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| "Will's Favorite Color" 8” x 10” Pastel $160 © 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!
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“The Colors of the Season” 9” x 9” Pastel $100 © Sharon Lewis
Click Here to Purchase
On these bitter cold, now winter days, when the vibrant colors of fall have faded, I’m warmed by the sight of red flowers and green leaves. I was fortunate to be able to paint a small study of these beautiful flowers when staying on the west coast several years ago. They didn’t look exactly like this (nature rarely arranges her flowers in perfect compositions) but with my photos and small study I was able to create this painting.
I hope you’re warmed by the company of those you love this weekend. To all who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas Weekend!
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“Blanket Flowers” 12” x 9” Pastel $100 © Sharon Lewis |
I want to celebrate all my family and friends who are mothers as well as all those kind souls who mother others with kindness and support. You make the world brighter for your presence.
Happy Mother’s Day Weekend!
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“Mad About Tulips” Oil 10” x 8” $100 © Sharon Lewis |
I love this time of year when signs of new life are all around us. There are the beautifully flowering trees like the dogwoods as well as the very old apple tree in my front yard, still delighting me with its pink, fragrant blossoms. Then there are the flowers blooming in neighbor’s yards while mine have long ago been eaten by all the deer. And I can’t forget the birds, singing their cheerful spring songs as I spend hours grading good but very long papers.
To all my friends who celebrate Passover, Happy Passover! To family and friends who celebrate Easter, Happy Easter!
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“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!
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“Sunburst” 6” x 6” Pastel $50 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
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!
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“A Touch of Scarlet” 2.5” x 3.5” Pastel
$25 ©
Sharon Lewis Click here to purchase |
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!
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“Will’s Favorite Color” 8” x 10” Pastel $75 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
My little grandson Will’s favorite color is red, which he will enthusiastically tell you any chance he gets. In the midst of gloomy, grey, winter days, I think red is becoming my favorite color as well. It’s one of the many reasons I hate taking down the Christmas decorations (often red) since they offer these cheerful color notes throughout my house. And it’s also the reason, much to the chagrin of my daughter, why I love keeping the poinsettias alive long past the holiday season.
Hope you’re enjoying a little of your favorite color and a Happy Weekend!
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“Remember Summer?” 12” x 12” Pastel $175 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
It’s been grey and rainy this week, already reminding me that our glorious fall weather is coming to an end. So lately, I find myself drawn to images of summer or spring, when color returns to our landscape. The reference photos for this painting come from a summer hike in the Swiss mountains, where I spotted these beautiful wild flowers amongst the rocks.
Happy Weekend!
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| “Pretty in Pink” 12” x 10” Pastel $175 © Sharon Lewis |
I love these hydrangeas. Not only are these colorful flowers beautiful, they grow in my garden and were originally given to me decades ago by my mother-in-law, when I gave birth to my daughter. What’s also amazing is that they’ve survived drought, torrential rains, my inept care, and the deer who love to nibble on some of the leaves in the spring. I’m grateful for their beauty and also because they remind me of the kindness of a woman who was an important part of my life long ago.
Happy Weekend!
