A Sky Serene and Fair

“A Sky Serene and Fair”        Pastel         9” x 12”       $100      © Sharon Lewis
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           The end of the academic year is a time when it’s easy to lose oneself  in the long work hours and stress. This spring it’s been particularly challenging as we had a tree hit the house, punching holes in my ceiling and causing it to rain inside for awhile.  Then a repair person, while pulling out wet insulation, disturbed a nest of hundreds of carpenter ants hidden within that wall.  I just had to laugh; I kept telling friends that for a while it was like being in the middle of a badly written horror film.

            At times like this, I often find it’s a struggle for me to remember what truly matters to me so I have developed a practice of repeating a simple phrase, "Be patient, be compassionate".  It reminds me to focus not on my own difficulties but on what others are experiencing. I find that this keeps me more attuned to what truly matters in the long run rather than what I want to whine about (a truly boring, fruitless practice).

            Today’s painting is a larger version of one I did while staying near this coastal area. I really found myself missing that painting when it sold a few weeks ago and so decided to do another larger, and slightly different version.

            Happy Weekend and Happy Mother's Day!

Sunny Refuge

"Sunny Refuge”         Pastel      9” x 12”       $100      © Sharon Lewis
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                   Ahhh, it was a beautiful, sunny afternoon when we visited the Parker River Refuge on the northeast coast of Massachusetts. The refuge has sandy beaches and dunes, cranberry bogs, woods, and acres and acres of salt marsh. That day there were ducks sunning themselves near the edge of the marsh banks. With their brown and beige feathers they blended in so well with their surroundings that I almost didn’t notice them at first. You may be able to see some of them since I’ve tucked a few in amongst the reeds in the painting.

           

            I hope your weekend sees you getting outside and enjoying a beautiful, sunny afternoon. Happy Weekend!

Salt Marsh at Sunset

“Salt Marsh at Sunset”       Pastel       5” x 7”      $50        © Sharon Lewis
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            While staying on the Isle of Palms, near Charleston, S.C. this past weekend I had the urge to paint the salt marshes that we drive by each time. We often get to the marshes just in time to see the sun setting the marshes aglow with light. This time of year they are still mostly brown but I painted them more the way they appear in the spring and summer. That’s one of the cool things about being an artist; I can change the season to one I prefer.

            I was amazed to find out how varied the species are that live in these salt marshes. There are fish, diamond back terrapins, marsh snails, both blue and fiddler crabs,  mussels, shrimp, as well as oysters. Then there are the birds such as the red-winged blackbird, herons, and egrets. It’s amazing to think how many different creatures are hidden in these waters!