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“Sunset Study” 6” x 8” Oil $ 144 © Sharon Lewis
This is a study I painted on location while on the west coast a few weeks ago.
After a mostly cloudy day, just a little before sunset, the sun came out briefly and colored the sky and ocean shades of gold. It was a wonderful ending to a summer day on the coast.
Happy Weekend!
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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!
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I’ve been looking at my photos of the West coast in anticipation of my upcoming visit there and decided to paint this scene of the Oregon coast. I’ve checked the weather and while it will be in the upper 80’s and 90’s here in the Atlanta area, it will be in the low 60’s on the coast – perfect August weather as far as I’m concerned. I can’t wait!
Happy Weekend!
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It’s funny to me that I don’t really like some amusement park rides because they’re too scary but I love standing as close as I can get to huge, scary waves, especially if there are also large rocks. I’ll readily admit it’s not always safe to stand so close but I find violent surf as it crashes against the rocks, endlessly fascinating and thus I also love painting these scenes.
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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“Fruits of Summer” 5” x 7 ” Oil $122 © Sharon Lewis
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As my free time increases somewhat, I’ve been eager to get back to painting in oils. I’m not as familiar with this medium as I am with pastels, so painting with this medium is a voyage of discovery – often one involving trial and lots of errors. However, I love being able to mix hundreds of different colors from a handful of tubes of paint and the challenge of creating the strokes and marks I want with brushes instead of sticks of solid pigment (pastels). It’s so much fun to have to time to try something different!
Happy Weekend!
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“The Start of Summer!” 8” x 10 ” Oil $200 © Sharon Lewis
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Friday is the summer solstice and the official start of summer. Summer to me means, the gift of time, fireflies, bird song, the chance to read many, many novels, and the opportunity to escape to the ocean.
Happy Weekend and Happy Summer!
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“Quiet Beauty” 2.5” x 3.5” Pastel $26 © Sharon Lewis
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One of the things that I’m looking forward to as I transition into retirement from my day job, is more opportunities to paint outside. This small painting is of a view I had on Orcas Island, one of the beautiful San Juan Islands in the state of Washington. One of the benefits of painting plein air that I’ve learned, is that it encourages me to focus on the quiet beauty in a landscape – not the flashier or more striking, but the beauty others might dismiss as too ordinary or uninteresting. The challenge for me is to slow down, become more aware and truly see what beauty lies in front of me.
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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“Just in Time” 5” x 7” Pastel $105 © Sharon Lewis
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It’s been gray and rainy here in the Atlanta area and it’s due to be that way for several days. As much as I welcome the much-needed rain, I hate the gray days. So, I’m focusing on a different place and time. Earlier this summer, we arrived on the coast of Washington State just in time to see this spectacular sunset. I plan on holding this memory close this weekend.
Happy Weekend!
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“Lucky” 5” x 7” Pastel $ 105 © Sharon Lewis
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It’s rare that I’m lucky enough to combine my love of the outdoors and my love of painting but on my recent trip to the west coast I was so excited to be able to enjoy both. I had a sunny day, with cool breezes and a beautiful view of the ocean in front of me. I couldn’t have been happier!
Happy Weekend!
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“One Fine Day” 5” x 7” Pastel $105 © Sharon Lewis
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I’ve seen this view multiple times hiking along the west coast and I never get tired of the gold and warm green grasses against a sunny beach with azure water and beautiful mountains in the distance. It’s also nice and cool even in July. Given that it was in the high eighties on the second day of May, I’m thinking I need to plan to visit again very soon.
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!
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“The View from the Top” 12” x 12” Pastel $175 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
I was drawn to this beautiful hillside after hiking in this area. Sitting in this large stone chair, one can relax with a spectacular view of the sea. The southern coast of Oregon has dramatic cliffs such as this one as well as interesting rock formations where seals congregate. I never tire of Oregon’s gorgeous scenery and ocean views!
Happy Weekend!
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“Alpine Meadow” 2.5” x 3.5” Pastel $25 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
Given the hot summer temperatures we had this week, I was drawn to a scene that while still looking summery also suggested that a cool breeze might be possible. This painting describes the kind of summer day I love, with the warmth and color of summer in this beautiful meadow contrasting with the cold, icy peak above.
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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“Last Light Reflections” 5” x 7” Pastel $50 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
This is one of my favorite places to catch the last of the day’s light. It’s a place on the west coast where the ocean has a kind of fierce beauty. These are rocky shores where the surf is often rough and yet the setting sun illuminates the water with the colors of the rainbow. It’s beautiful!
Happy Weekend!
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“Monterey Twilight” 2.5” x 3.5” Pastel $25 © Sharon Lewis Click Here to Purchase |
One of my favorite areas on the west coast is the Monterey
area. Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to have this view as twilight
settled over the hills. What a beautiful sight!
Happy Weekend!
