A Night Out

“A Night Out”       10 x 10     Oil    $200   © Sharon Lewis

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            I started this painting years ago in a painting class taught by the talented artist, Karen Appleton.  I apparently made a very rough start, filed it away under other photos and paintings, and then got busy again with my day job. Unfortunately, my reference photo was terrible so I did my best to research what a gold purse would look like if spotlighted. Even given the challenges, this was a lot of fun to paint.

            Happy Weekend!

 

Delightful Diversity

“Delightful Diversity”    8 x 10     Oil    $200    © Sharon Lewis
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            When I decided to paint this scene, I didn’t really stop to consider the difficulty of painting so many different shades of green. However, once I began painting, I just got into painting all the beautiful textures and forms of the trees and plants in this park. Although each plant is green it differs subtly from some of the plants around them. This reminds me of how delightfully different we all are and yet, in the end, we are all humans, worthy of kindness, respect, and compassion. I admire the people of Minneapolis who are going out of their way to help their neighbors. They are demonstrating through their sacrifices, what it means to love your neighbor as yourself.

            Have a safe and Happy Weekend!

The Colors of Autumn Remembered

“The Colors of Autumn Remembered”      8 x 10     Oil    $ 200    © Sharon Lewis

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             It’s grey and brown outside now and I long for the colors that were just here the other day – the reds, yellows, and greens decorating my backyard and neighborhood. So, I paint pears the colors of autumn, to remember the joy of bright colors in spite of the cold grey of winter. 

            Happy Weekend!

 

Rocks at the Beach

 “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! 

 

The Start of Summer!

“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!

 

Hidden Depths

“Hidden Depths”        14” x 14”          Pastel         $200         © Sharon Lewis

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Most of the time when you blow things out of proportion, that’s a bad thing but sometimes I like to blow up a photo I’ve taken to see if there’s something beautiful hidden in the depths. I photographed my shells sitting on my windowsill, glowing in the morning light but the photos showed too many colors and shapes to make a good composition. Blowing up the photos and searching in the depths, showed this beautiful shell with other, smaller shells hiding inside.

Happy Weekend!

Windswept

“Windswept”           12” x 16”        Pastel           $200       © Sharon Lewis

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            I’ve needed a respite from the non-stop scary-bad news about COVID and maybe you do too. So, look out a window or better yet, take a walk outside if possible. Notice the trees, listen for the sound of birds, even if you live in a city. Or just sit still for a moment or two, close your eyes and remember a favorite vacation scene….a relaxing, beautiful scene and take a deep breath. The scene I’ve painted is one that I find relaxing and fascinating. The beautiful mountains stand out and I never get tired of them but I also love the interesting patterns on the water created by shadows and wind. Ahhhhhh.

            Happy Weekend!

 

A Perfect Summer Day

“A Perfect Summer Day”              Pastel               12" x 16"              $200           ©Sharon Lewis
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            It really was a perfect summer day. The sun was shining, there were cool breezes, and we had this magnificent view. Who could ask for anything more?

             Happy Almost Weekend!

Storm Clouds Gathering

“Storm Clouds Gathering”           Pastel           12” x 16”          $200            © Sharon Lewis
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            Little did I know when I selected this painting to post this week, that it would be storming today in Georgia. This painting is of a place I love visiting each year called Bailey Island, ME. I can stand in the back yard there and paint quick studies of cloud formations that gather and then dissipate. Can’t wait to visit and paint there again!

            Hoping you enjoy beautiful weather and a Happy Weekend!

Everyone's Welcome Here

“Everyone’s Welcome Here”         Pastel           12” x 16”           $200          ©Sharon Lewis
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            The day we hiked up and down this rocky beach I was struck by the diverse collection of animals on or near these rocks. I haven’t painted all of them here but there were 4 or 5 different species of birds along with harbor seals and even a few members of homo sapiens, all getting along quite peaceably. It reminds me of how lucky I am to work at a college that celebrates diversity and works toward creating an inclusive community…. sort of like this one here.

            Happy Almost Weekend!

The Promise of Blue Skies

“The Promise of Blue Skies”         Pastel                12” x 16”           $200              © Sharon Lewis
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            I find rocky shores and rock formations in the water endlessly fascinating. As a child growing up near an ocean with smooth sand and interesting shells but no rocks, I wanted a little more drama! My brothers and sisters and I had to content ourselves with playing on a giant banyan tree that had fallen into the water. That banyan tree was a fort, a pirate ship, a castle…..anything exciting and dangerous.
            I saw these rocks while on the coast this summer, and took lots of photos knowing even then that I would be painting them. As I got closer to them, I was amazed to see all of the different colors that from a distance looked only dark grey and brown.
            Hoping you see blue skies and have a happy weekend!

Keeping Vigil

“Keeping Vigil”                Pastel            12" x 16"            $200           © Sharon Lewis
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            This is the third of my recent lighthouse paintings. As you can tell, I really enjoyed this beautiful area as well as the historic lighthouse. Each time I looked up as we hiked around this area I saw a different but equally interesting view. In this painting I wanted to highlight the beautiful but possibly treacherous cove (if you were a ship lost in the fog), as well as the light hitting the soft, green grasses on the hill.
            Happy Almost Weekend!

Stalwart Sentinel

“Stalwart Sentinel”      Pastel        12” x 16”       $200        © Sharon Lewis
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            For some reason I’ve always been fascinated by lighthouses. It could be because they combine my love of being close to the ocean as well as my love of history – for they always have interesting histories associated with lighthouses. I think that they’re also special because in earlier years, they were staffed by individuals watching the sea, ready to respond whenever needed. Nowadays, most are fully automated and don’t have resident lighthouse keepers.

 On the west coast of Oregon, we ran across a cool lighthouse in a beautiful area called Yaquina Head. I found out that the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is Oregon’s tallest lighthouse and it’s been an active light since August 1873.

Happy Almost Weekend!

The Passing of EDL

"Going Home"          Pastel            12" x 16"         $200        © Sharon Lewis
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This week my father passed away and I find myself seeking comfort again in one of my favorite poems (slightly modified)  by Henry Van Dyke: 

           “….Then, someone at my side says, 'There, he is gone' 

           Gone where?
           Gone from my sight. That is all.

          And, just at the moment when someone says, 'There, he is gone,'
          there are other eyes watching him coming, and other voices
          ready to take up the glad shout, 'Here he comes!'
          And that is dying...”

Beautiful Earth

“Beautiful Earth”        Pastel         12” x 16”          $200          © Sharon Lewis
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            I love how these homes are nestled into the trees lining the slopes of these mountains. A reminder of our beautiful planet on Earth Day.

            Happy Weekend!