Near Trinidad, California

"Near Trinidad, California"          Pastel            5" x 7"           $50        © Sharon Lewis
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            We were just in Trinidad a few days ago and so I thought I would post a painting of this beautiful area. It’s a great place to hike among giant redwoods, to spot seals sunning themselves on rocks, herds of elk by the side of the road, and because there’s not as much light pollution, thousands of stars at night. We will soon be back in hot and humid Atlanta and these cool temps and beautiful sights will be only memories….or maybe paintings.

Dreaming of Peace

"Dreaming of Peace"        Pastel        7" x 5"        $50      © Sharon Lewis
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            I’m vacationing on the coast of Oregon at the moment and so I’m posting one of my paintings of this beautiful coast. I painted this before I left and was thinking of all the sad news I had been hearing from around the world. My heart goes out to all of those who have lost friends or family in recent events for we are all members of the same human family.

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!

           

Heaven of a Summer Day

“Heaven of a Summer Day”         Pastel              9” x 12”          $100          © Sharon Lewis
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“Enclosing the late heaven of a summer day, a canopy
Of incandescent blue above the dappled sunlight golden on the grass.” 

This is an excerpt from a poem by John Koethe (1945) which seems to capture in words my feelings when I painting this scene. It’s based on my photos of New Brunswick on a beautiful summer day, in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada.

Happy Almost Weekend!

 

Summer Garden Path

"Summer Garden Path"    Pastel      5" x 7"      $50     © Sharon Lewis
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            One of my favorite things to do when we visit Bailey Island, Maine each summer besides painting on location as I did here, is to visit all of the flowers blooming around the house. There are several different varieties of colorful peonies (some of which you can see on the left), a lilac bush, and several bushes of what I believe are antique or old roses. These are especially fragrant. From some preliminary research online I found out that the ones I painted on the right may be Rosa gallica officinalis, possibly the oldest rose in existence. It’s also apparently called the Apothecary’s Rose because healers used it to make medicinal remedies. I may have to do another painting later featuring this rose’s beauty more prominently.

            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...”

Sailing Time

"Sailing Time"                Pastel               5” x 7”             $50                   © Sharon Lewis
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            We’re on our way to the coast of Maine and I can’t wait! There will be cooler temperatures and more than enough wind for a sailboat or two, or even three. I will be painting from our backyard which looks out over the sea where views of lobster boats alternate with that of sailboats skimming the waves in the sunlight. Ahhhhhhh.

            Happy almost weekend!