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! 

Last One In Is A Rotten Egg!

        “Last One In Is a Rotten Egg!”        4” x 6”      Pastel       $40      © Sharon Lewis

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             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!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Family Gathering”         6” x 6”        Pastel         © Sharon Lewis

Sending every good wish to my friends and family for a Thanksgiving full of peace, joy, and love. I am so thankful for your presence in my life!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Family Gathering”         6” x 6”        Pastel         © Sharon Lewis

I hope that wherever you are this Thanksgiving, that you are gathered with love to celebrate this holiday of gratitude.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Family Gathering”         6” x 6”        Pastel         $40         © Sharon Lewis

            This past, challenging year I have been reminded of how immensely important my family and friends are to my life.  So, this Thanksgiving, I am even more grateful than usual for my wonderful kids and all of my friends; your love and support make me the luckiest person I know!

            I am also grateful for the poetry of Maya Angelou, whose work never fails to remind me of how truly brilliant and wise she was. Here is an excerpt from her poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth”:

When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.

            Happy Thanksgiving!
 

A Study in Grace

“A Study in Grace”           Pastel            6.5” x 6.5”          $40           © Sharon Lewis
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            I love trees like this! They stand on a hillside, buffeted by the winds...bending with the storms they’ve endured but never completely overcome by them. They stand with such strength and grace...like many of the people I most admire.

            Happy Weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Family Gathering”         6” x 6”        Pastel         $40         © Sharon Lewis

I hope that wherever you are this Thanksgiving, that you are gathered with love to celebrate this holiday of gratitude. I am so very grateful for my wonderful kids, partner, friends and family.

May you feel the warmth of all those who love you this Thanksgiving.

Happy Weekend!

When Apples Party

“When Apples Party”         Pastel             6” x 6”              $40          © Sharon Lewis
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            I wanted to try a slightly different composition for this apple painting. When I finished, I couldn’t help thinking of those parties where too many people gather in one small room….maybe because that’s where the life of the party is holding court….or maybe it’s where you and everyone else has migrated to in order to escape the guy in the other room telling the terrible jokes…..or maybe it’s just a really good party and everyone showed up. Whatever the explanation, I think these apples are having a great time!

            Happy Almost Weekend!

The Pleasing Peony

“The Pleasing Peony”          Oil              6” x 6”           $75        © Sharon Lewis
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Some fun facts about peonies: The name apparently comes from Paeon, a student of the Greek god of medicine and healing, Asclepius. Zeus saved Paeon from Asclepius (who had become jealous) by turning the student into the peony flower. Long ago, the Chinese used certain varieties of the peony to flavor food and in the Middle Ages, Europeans grew them for medicine and drank an infusion of the petals. The peony petals also have been used in teas in China and the root has been used in traditional medicine by Korea, China, and Japan. Finally,  the peony is the state flower of Indiana.

I just think peonies look beautiful and smell heavenly.

Do These Feathers Make Me Look Fat?

“Do These Feathers Make Me Look Fat?”   6” x 6”   Pastel    $40    © Sharon Lewis
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            Today’s painting is of a goldfinch that has fluffed up its feathers so that it looks three times its normal size. At first I thought it was a fledgling since they often have this kind of cute, roly-poly look, but I think it’s simply an adult trying to retain some body heat on a very cold day. I based the painting on photos I took during our last snow and ice storm when the birds were almost continually flying from a nearby bush to my window-mounted feeder.

            To me the goldfinch, with its sunny, yellow feathers is an especially beautiful bird to see on a gray, wintry day. In addition they have such a cheerful song or call (click here to listen to one)

            I’ve noticed that even though goldfinches are supposedly territorial only during nest construction, they are one of the few species that don’t share nicely at the feeder. In spite of the fact that they are typically one of the more slender birds, they squawk and peck away almost all of the other birds. This one though is just plain adorable!

Enjoy and have a happy weekend!

Is Mother Nature a Little Confused?

“Near Halibut Point”   6” x 6”   Pastel   $40   © Sharon Lewis
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           It’s been warm and humid here and it’s December! I know I shouldn’t complain given the ice, snow, and frigid temperatures in the mid section of the country, but it feels like summer here! And not in a good way either. It reminds me of one summer we were up in Massachusetts, trying to see places we hadn’t seen before. One of the places we visited was a quarry near Halibut Point (isn’t that a great name for a place?). It was warm, humid and foggy (like here today) and then the sun came out and made these rocks just glow. Most of the tourists went right past this view on their way to apparently more interesting sights. I just stood here studying this beautiful scene thinking it would make a great painting. Happy Weekend!

Who Knew Turkeys Posed for the Paparazzi?

“Family Gathering”    6” x 6”   Pastel   $40   © Sharon Lewis
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            Recently, while on Bailey Island in Maine, wild turkeys would periodically strut out of the woods and parade back and forth through the backyard of the house we were renting. One morning, these turkeys actually posed exactly like this long enough for me to get photos.          

            Our turkey (not either of the ones in the painting) is finally in the oven stuffed with dressing. The gravy is simmering on the stove and most of the food is prepared or on the way. Soon family and friends will sit together to share a feast. I hope wherever you are, you enjoy a happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Harvest

“Thanksgiving Harvest”    6” x 6”   Pastel    $40    © Sharon Lewis 
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           My kids are home, my refrigerator is bursting with food, with more on the way, and the sun is out. Although I’m not looking forward to all of the food prep ahead of me (since I’m not at all domestic), I know it will be fun since I will have plenty of helpers. There’s something wonderful about a meal prepared with the people you love. There will be lots of opinions about the best way to cook something, just as many compromises, lots of laughter and lots of love…a true Thanksgiving harvest.