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“Dunes Walk” 8 x 10 Oil $160 © Sharon Lewis
I’ve always been attracted to the play of light and shadow on the landscape. However, when we stopped at this National Recreation area, I thought I wouldn’t be able to find anything worth photographing, given how intense the sunlight was. Then I saw these dark shadows falling across a path, contrasting with the bright sand giving me my inspiration for this painting.
Happy Weekend!
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“Rocks at the Beach” 8 x 10 Oil $200 © Sharon Lewis
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There’s a beauty and drama to the rocks rising out of the blue-green waters of the Pacific, that I never get tired of painting. What I’ve noticed is that they’re often found in what looks like family groupings with some adult size rocks and a couple of smaller, baby rocks. Soon however, I will be challenging myself to paint the rocky shores of the east coast along Nova Scotia’s and Maine’s coasts, where the rocks are often in very different formations – more like long fingers reaching into the sea.
I’m anticipating a respite from the heat and humidity of the Atlanta area in August and hoping that the tropical storm they’ve named after my daughter stays far away.
Happy Weekend!
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“On the Rocks” 5 x 7 Oil $105 © Sharon Lewis
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I’ve been into painting the ocean and the rocky shores of the west coast lately. I love how the warm reds of the cliffs contrast with the beautiful blue-greens of the water. There’s also something fascinating to me about scenes like this. This is obviously not a shore for sunbathing or riding gentle waves onto a sandy beach. I think I’m drawn to these more dramatic beach scenes since they are so different from the sandy, southern Florida beaches I grew up. We had our own drama however, when someone would at some point yell “shark!” We’d all rush out of the water, look for the fin, wait for it to leave, and then get right back into the water again. Were we foolish or brave? I think we were just kids used to swimming on a southern Florida beach.
Happy Weekend!
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“Breezy” 5” x 7” Pastel $105 © Sharon Lewis
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On another beautiful day in April, 39 years ago, I gave birth to my first child, Sean. He has grown to be a very kind, smart, caring, compassionate person, a wonderful father to his two kids and a thoughtful, loving son. I am so lucky!
Happy Weekend!
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“Tranquility” 4” x 6” Pastel $70 © Sharon Lewis
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There’s something about waterfalls that both fascinates me and calms me as well. I find staring at the falling water somehow slows my breathing and I feel a sense of tranquility.
For many of us, this week has been anything but tranquil. We now have a new president, with changes that have angered and/or scared my students, colleagues, friends, and family. I offer this, as hope that in the midst of change both in our weather and in our political climate, it might offer you some tranquility.
Happy Weekend!
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“Bandon Sunset” 8” x 10” Pastel $160 © Sharon Lewis
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I’ve been drawn to paint this coastal scene many times as I have numerous photos of it at various times of day. This is one of my favorite areas on the west coast to visit and paint. It has these interesting haystack rock formations in large and small sizes, the beautiful cold, blue water, and I love the way the beach changes colors as the light plays across it. I’ve painted it in early morning when the sun warms the colors of the beach and then later, in early evening, when the setting sun turns the sands into many shades of pink. If you haven’t visited the southern Oregon coast, it’s well worth it!
Happy Weekend!
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“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!
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“To the Beach” 10” x 14” Pastel $420 © Sharon Lewis
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There are a lot of factors that influence what I paint but sometimes it’s as simple as I’m repeatedly drawn to a particular image. I’ve been focused on creating larger paintings lately and also on painting skies – particularly blue skies since we haven’t seen much of those during a week of rainy days. This was a scene that caught my eye when I was out west. I was by the shore, and saw all the gorgeous greenery covering this sandy cliff and the rather steep path winding down to a small beach below. With the blue skies above and that beautiful turquoise sea below I had to paint this scene. When I look at this, I can still hear the call of gulls and the smell of salt in the cool breeze.
Happy Weekend!
“Communing with Nature”. 6” x 6” Pastel $40 © Sharon Lewis
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While I really enjoy being around people, I’m always excited when I discover a beautiful beach with no one else around. Somehow, it seems easier to fully enjoy the beauty of the natural environment without lots of people all around me. On the west coast, this seems to be possible if you’re just willing to walk a little further than everyone else. I would have loved to have stayed longer in this serene and beautiful location!
Happy Weekend!
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“Last One In Is a Rotten Egg!” 4” x 6” Pastel $40 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I still haven’t let go of summer yet….nor wishing the days were longer and sunnier, the water warmer, and it was time to go back to the beach.
Happy Weekend!
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“The Sunny Side of the Cliff” 8” x 10” Pastel $75 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I was drawn to the sight of this dramatic cliffside, with its many colors warmed by the sun, rising out of the water above a secluded beach. It looks like a beach-lover’s paradise: a warm, inviting, secluded beach with beautiful turquoise water. Looks can be deceiving however, because that apparently warm and inviting water is actually bone-chillingly cold, says a person who might have tried it and grew up swimming the sunny, warm waters of southern Florida.
Happy Weekend!
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“Cliffside” 9” x 11” Pastel $100 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I love to climb high and have since I was little. I also get a little dizzy looking down but can’t resist doing this when I’m climbing near the water. I find it scary but usually worth the risk since the view is often beautiful like in this scene. I love the many colors I could see in the water and the mix of big, almost violent waves with areas of calm water.
Happy Weekend!
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“At the Beach” 8” x 10” Pastel $75 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I’m always fascinated by the many ways people respond to being at the beach. Some seem to enjoy a quiet, meditative walk, while others like company and enjoy a lively discussion with a companion. Others find it the perfect opportunity to give their dog some exercise chasing waves with them as this little girl seemed to enjoy. And still others find it (apparently) a time when they need to consult their social media feed while a wave gathers slowly to engulf them. (cue eye roll).
Happy Weekend!
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| “Before The Fog Rolled In” 5” x 7” Pastel $50 © Sharon Lewis |
We were so fortunate recently, to have mostly good weather on the west coast. But, as is typical of this coast, fog occasionally obscured much of our view. I got to paint this scene using photos I took before the fog rolled in and trying to squint through the haze to see this beautiful cliff in the distance.
Happy Weekend!
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“Resting in the Grace of the World” 9” x 12” Pastel $100 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
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!
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“Sunrise Silhouette” 8” x 10” Pastel $75 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
It was a few minutes before sunrise on a quiet, cold morning in July…yes, July. It’s hard to believe for those of us on the east coast where we’re roasting, that it really was cold on a morning in July. To me it was perfect and exactly the way all July mornings should start: clear, cold, beautiful and with the only sound that of the waves crashing on the rocks.
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“As Evening Draws Close” 11” x 14” Pastel $175 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
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!
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| “Pacific Swirl” 12” x 12” Pastel $175 © Sharon Lewis |
Sometimes the beauty of a place just takes my breath away. We had parked by the side of the road and hiked over a hill not sure what to expect on the other side when we saw this beautiful view. The water swirled with an almost jade green amidst a darker turquoise. Sometimes it seems Mother nature is the best artist of us all.
Happy Weekend!
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“Turf and Surf” 12” x 16” Pastel $200
© Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
What a view I got from this point on the hiking path! I would have happily stayed in this coastal park for days! There was sun, cool breezes, trees with these gnarled trunks that you see on these rugged coasts, a few berries for snacks along the way, and of course these gorgeous views of the surf down below!
Happy Weekend!
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“Can’t Wait to See What’s Around the Corner!” 14” x 10” Pastel $150 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I’ve always loved paths that wind through woods along the water. This one was particularly beautiful with the scent of wildflowers mixed with salt air, lush foliage with occasional berry bushes for snacks, and glimpses of an azure blue sea as you came around the corner. What a gorgeous place to hike and enjoy being outdoors on a perfect summer day!
Happy Weekend!
