Communing with Nature

 “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! 

Before the Fog Rolled In

“Before The Fog Rolled In”          5” x 7”          Pastel           $50           © Sharon Lewis

 

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            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!

Sweet Pea

“Sweet Pea”      7” x 5”       Oil       $60     © Sharon Lewis

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            I’ve been thinking of the people out in Oregon and California currently dealing with wildfires. It’s got to be heartbreaking to see acres and acres of this gorgeous landscape destroyed, especially if it also means you lose your home.

Before the fires started, I had been thinking of the west coast a lot lately because I thought I would be hiking and painting out there last month. However, given COVID rates, it seemed a good idea not to fly just yet. So, since I was still missing the west, I decided to paint from my many reference photos and focused on these striking hot pink flowers, called “Sweet Pea” or Everlasting Pea.”  You can find them as I did, scattered all over many bluffs along the Pacific coast and mixed in with delicious berries. If you’ll look closely, you’ll see a visitor on one of the flowers.

Happy Weekend!

California Courtyard

“California Courtyard”    9” x 9”    Pastel       $100     © Sharon Lewis
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Several years ago, I was out in San Francisco for a conference and after meetings we headed out of the city to go hiking. On our way out, we passed by this courtyard with a huge, blooming bougainvillea, one of my favorite plants in the world. I’ve always loved the brilliant, hot pink color, a love I shared with my sister, Meg, and the plant reminds me of growing up in south Florida, where it’s common to see this beautiful plant blooming everywhere.

Happy Weekend!

I Can Fly!

“I Can Fly!”      12” x 12”       Pastel          $175        © Sharon Lewis

            I am always drawn to paint beautiful days at the beach, and now, especially so in the middle of what feels like incessant grey skies and rain this winter. 

It was one of those gorgeous days, with a mild breeze and a blue sky decorated with wisps of thin clouds with fog starting to roll in a bit over the more distant hillside. I was taking photos of the beach and trying to catch some of the waves coming in. It was only later that I realized that I’d caught this young boy facing the surf with outstretched arms in absolute joy and delight.
            Happy Weekend!

Standing in the Light

“Standing in the Light”      7” x 5”    Pastel     $50      © Sharon Lewis

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             Another cold, grey, winter day but fortunately for me, I can paint a sunny summer one.  I’ve always loved trees like this that stand on a hillside, catching the light, and serving as a source of beauty for all who pass by.

            Hope you see some beauty in your life this weekend.

            Happy Weekend!       

Flowers for Julia

“Flowers for Julia” Pastel        2.5” x 3.5”        SOLD       © Sharon Lewis

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I was struggling a bit on what to post this week. I had a painting I did on Saturday but it just wasn’t conveying the mood and setting as I hoped. So, I looked around my studio and saw this small painting I did while on the coast. If I was at all successful in conveying the beauty and grace of these wildflowers, it is probably because of my exposure to the wonderful wildflower paintings of my immensely talented artist friend, Karen Margulis.

 I think this painting spoke to me today because it reminded me of the photos of beautiful flowers my youngest sister Julia used to post each week of the flowers she grew in her garden. A love of growing beautiful flowers is something my two sisters and I always shared.

Enjoy your flowers, hug the people you love,  and Happy Weekend!

Take Me to the Beach

“Take Me to the Beach”        Pastel        5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis

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            Another grey day in Georgia has me wishing I was somewhere, anywhere, where the sun is shining so I painted a sunny day at the beach....where people are relaxed and happy and there are no papers or exams to grade. I can hear the waves and the sea gulls calling me.

            I hope wherever you are, you enjoy a Happy Weekend!

Cove at Ecola

“Cove at Ecola”         Pastel             12” x 18”         $250          © Sharon Lewis
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            Ecola State Park is a beautiful area with picnic tables high on a bluff overlooking this cove. It’s also a great place to hike through tall, cool woods, or spend a couple of hours on a gorgeous beach. We were so lucky that we got beautiful, sunny, cool weather for our picnic and hike here.

            Happy Weekend!

The View From Orcas

“The View From Orcas”      Pastel       5” x 7”       $50       © Sharon Lewis
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I remember this view so vividly. We were staying on Orcas Island, part of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington. I painted this from a hillside overlooking the water with a wonderful view of a harbor and distant islands. During the day, there were sailboats, motor boats, kayakers, and sea planes going back and forth in this busy harbor. However, I decided to paint it without all the busyness, and instead, as it might have appeared long, long ago; as calm and peaceful with only nature in sight.

Happy Weekend!

The Last One

“The Last One”      Pastel        5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis
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            The truth is that plein air painting intimidates me a bit. I love the outdoors but painting on location brings a lot of challenges: bugs, strong winds, blinding sun in your eyes, and curious strangers who apparently feel that you’re there to provide them with entertainment. However, I also have to admit, once I get started painting, I don’t want to stop and often don’t until the light is gone or we need to be somewhere else. This painting was the last painting in a beautiful location and is partially made up. I wanted to paint these bushes in the fading light but I didn’t like the composition in front of me so I “rearranged” the bushes into a design that worked a little better.

Happy 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 Colors of Sand

“The Colors of Sand”    Pastel       7” x 5”       $50     © Sharon Lewis
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I love painting sand! It’s always a challenge and a joy to discover and paint all of the colors I see in sand. It can appear one color in the light, others in the shadows. And as beach lovers already know, it’s a slightly (or even dramatically) different color wherever you go. 

Happy Weekend!

Turquoise Beauty

“Turquoise Beauty”      Pastel       5” x 7”       $50     © Sharon Lewis

            I’m in northern California now, not far from the Oregon border enjoying cooler temps than back in Georgia.  When the fog lifts and the sun shines, this is typical of what you see on this gorgeous, rocky coast.

            Happy Weekend!

Cove at Yaquina

“Cove at Yaquina”     Pastel        9” x 12”        $100     ©Sharon Lewis
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            It was a beautiful day with the sun shining on the lighthouse and rocks. The Yaquina Head Lighthouse area, on the Oregon coast is a particularly interesting place to visit because not only can you enjoy spectacular scenery but you can also enjoy interesting wildlife in the form of seals and a variety of seabirds. I love painting coastal areas like this because there are so many different colors and textures in the rocks, grasses, and ocean.

            Hoping you enjoy beautiful days this weekend!

California Dunes

"California Dunes"           Pastel          7" x 5"          $50        © Sharon Lewis
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            I’ve been practicing painting California and Oregon scenes (from old reference photos of mine) in preparation for our upcoming trip to the west coast. I love the play of light and shadow on the grasses and the sand of this California dune. We had a great hike here and picked (and ate) loganberries (look like raspberries) and salal berries (look like blueberries). Can’t wait to go back!