2013 - 2011: Phil Lewis Art

The Electric Fox

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:53:41 GMT

]]>This is another piece inspired by my time at the cabin this past winter. I did a lot of back country snowboarding in the area, and there was a huge red fox that I would see almost daily. Every time we crossed paths, I felt that crazy energy that makes your hair stand on end… an electricity. He would usually appear in the peripheral, at the edge of the forest… and only for a second. We would acknowledge each other, and he would disappear before my dogs even noticed.

Moments like those make me stop and think about my place in this world, and how lucky I am to experience it… about how these creatures exist in the wild far from our daily comings and goings, our errands, our chores… and even though it often feels like we are worlds apart, sometimes we share the same space, and we don't seem so different at all.

Now whenever I see a fox, I'm reminded of that one in the mountains braving the high-country winter. I reflect on our inter-connectivity… how physically they may be different foxes, but spiritually they could be one.

We are all sharing this life, this energy, this electricity… and I'm grateful for those times when I get stopped in my tracks long enough to savor it.

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Guardian of the Gore Range

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:14:25 GMT

]]>This piece was inspired by many long nights at the cabin in Heeney this winter. Heeney is a magical little town that sits in the shadow of the Gore Range... one of the burliest mountain ranges in Colorado. There are no easy access routes, and many of the peaks are still unnamed. They are mysterious and powerful. Once you turn off the main road going from Silverthorne to Kremmling and head west towards Heeney, it feels like driving into another dimension. No phones, no internet, and hardly any other people around. It's beautiful in the daytime, but straight up scary at night. There are no lights except for the moon and stars. I freaked myself out a few times thinking about what could be lurking in the shadows... Who knows what types of rarely-seen beasts call this place home :)

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Owsley Was Here

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:15:21 GMT

]]>I recently held a contest on my Facebook page to help me name my bear. There were over 130 entries. I was blown away by all of the creative responses, it was awesome! The name that struck a chord for me was "Owsley". For those of you who may not know, this is a reference to Owsley Stanley, who was a sound man for the Grateful Dead and responsible for recording and preserving many of their live shows. In fact, I listened to many hours of Owsley's recordings as I was drawing this very piece. His nickname also happened to be "Bear". Unfortunately, Bear passed away last year in a car accident, but he will forever be remembered through the recordings he left behind. I felt the reference was pretty darn appropriate, and I'm stoked about how it all came together.

His name aside, I also really like bears in general:) Bears are everywhere, and have been adopted into so many characters that had a big influence on me growing up... Smokey the Bear, Yogi Bear, teddy bears, gummy bears, care bears, teddy grahams, the list goes on and on... Plus seeing bears in nature is always an amazing experience... similar to the mountain lion, it's something I'm constantly hoping for, just as long as it's from a safe distance:)

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The Ginger Garden

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:01:06 GMT

]]>About a month ago (early November 2012) my wife Lauren and I travleled to Nosara, Costa Rica for our honeymoon.... mind > blown!

We were fortunate to be there at end of the rainy season, and everything was super lush. The plants were thriving and the flowers were in full-bloom everywhere. We rented a little house in the jungle and were surrounded by creatures of all kinds. There was a narrow path that lead to the beach which we walked at least 3 times a day. Along the path were these towering 8-foot tall ginger plants with giant blossoming flowers... and tons of hummingbirds. They seemed to be in seventh-heaven (much like we were), buzzing around like files... it was an incredible sight to say the least... unbelievably bright and colorful... vivid-awesomeness ~ Pura Vida!!!

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The Forest King

Sat, 19 May 2012 21:56:22 GMT

]]>There's something magical about encountering a buck in the forest. Here in Boulder the female doe are a dime-a-dozen, they bed down in our yards, they cause traffic jams, they eat the greens from our gardens... it seems like there are everywhere. But out in the forest, coming across a buck with a full rack is quite a different experience... There's a brief moment of surprise and fear, and time seems to stand still as we stare each other down. As soon as we both realize that there's no threat, a calmness settles in, and I'm able to fully appreciate the moment. I find them enchanting, like something out of a fairy tale.

I'm also intrigued by the fact that as humans, we are the only species that decorates and accessorizes. We do this for everything... from the clothes we wear, to our jewelry, to the walls of our houses, and even our tattoos, we tend to visually enhance everything we can about our existence... For me, as an artist, this is my life... it's my calling. I wonder what it would be like if other species did the same? Would the Forest King wear a crown of jewels?

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Wolf Song

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 23:33:49 GMT

]]>There are many theories about why wolves howl at the moon... to coordinate the pack, warn of danger, define territory, etc... Of all the possibilities, I like to think that sometimes... maybe it's just for fun:)

I'm also convinced our two retrievers are distant descendants of wolves. Sure, they have floppy ears and feather beds, and wouldn't last two minutes in Siberia or Antarctica, but sometimes they sure act like a wolf pack. There's the alpha male, and the little pup learning the ropes... they eat together, sleep together, play together, and bark together. Occasionally they'll even howl together:)

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The Black Swan

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:41:52 GMT

]]>I have always been fascinated by ducks, geese, and swans... When I was a kid my mom used to take my brothers and I down to the pond with a loaf of stale bread to feed the ducks... It was our favorite thing ever :) The swans and geese were always a little scarier than the ducks... Bigger, more intimidating. I was commissioned to create a label for Twisted Pine Brewery, for their upcoming release of the "Black Swan Saison"... so I naturally jumped right on it.

I have also published a blog on the creation of this piece, which you can view right here: http://phillewisart.zenfolio.com/blackswan

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The Mountain Lion

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:39:12 GMT

]]>The Mountain Lion is one of those animals that I would love to see in nature (from a safe distance of course... kind of like a great-white shark in the ocean:) They are super elusive, yet ever-present. I've come across dozens of torn-apart deer carcasses that sent shivers down my spine, yet somehow, in all of my years hiking in Tahoe and Colorado, I've yet to see one in person. And the more I think about it, the more I'm OK with that... it's fun to at least imagine what one might look like bounding across the fields... super fast, super powerful... king of the mountain.

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Telluride

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:31:15 GMT

]]>Where to begin with a place like Telluride? I'm speechless... wether you live there year-round, or maybe only for one week in June:) or you're pulling into town for the first time... no matter how often before, one glance up the canyon from Main St. and you might be speechless too. It never fails. There is a palpable energy in those mountains that brings you higher. Life is good in Telluride :)

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Skunk Harbor

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:36:06 GMT

]]>Living in Tahoe was amazing to say the least. One of my favorite things in the summer was exploring the coves and beaches along the eastern shore. There is one in particular called Skunk Harbor where I've spent many sunny days and starry nights. Some of the pine trees there are straight-up gigantic. They have been standing there for hundred's of years... before the road was paved, or the first boat came ashore. There's life and history beneath that bark.

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Forest Lakes

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:31:48 GMT

]]>Camping by an alpine lake beneath a mountain or two is one of my favorite ventures in this world... something I think everyone should get to experience at least once in their lives. It's an integral part of living on this planet. I'm sure most of you guys reading this know exactly what I'm talking about:) The sense of centering and calmness. It reminds me of how we all fit into the bigger picture together, and everything just feels better.

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The Chameleon

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:32:15 GMT

]]>I've always thought chameleons were really cool. They look like alien lizards, or mini-dinasours with auto-camoflauge. And not just human-style, brown green and black camo, but vibrant-neon-camo. Goes well with my vibrant-neon-color-palette:)

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Floral Portal

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:33:29 GMT

]]>Last year I became an official member of the Boulder Arts & Crafts Gallery. I've had the opportunity to meet some great artists working in many different mediums. One I didn't really know much about... art gardening... or, crazy art gardening... good crazy. Some of these crazy gardeners invited me to take "The Eccentric Artists' Gardens Tour".

I have to admit, at first I was a bit skeptical... like, I wonder how long before someone offers me the kool-aid? Turned out to be an inspiring adventure through some vibrant gardens with many wonderful surprises. I highly recommend checking it out.

This piece is my tribute to the many colorful and creative gardens on that tour. There really is a tour :) and you can learn more here: Eccentric Artists' Gardens

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Tree of Life

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:32:36 GMT

]]>The arrival of spring is something I certainly look forward to. While I do love hibernating in the studio and the serenity of snow, it's hard to argue with the energy that comes when the ice starts to melt. All around trees are budding, the grass is turning green, and flowers are popping up everywhere. New energy abounds and the days of shorts and flip-flops are near:)

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The Winter Carnival - Part I

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:43:29 GMT

]]>The idea for this piece came from a spot along the Dakota Ridge trail here in Boulder. I've been hiking this trail nearly every day for almost 9 years now (wow time flies) and it never ceases to inspire more artwork. I started working on this piece right around the winter solstice and the full-lunar-eclipse, and there was definitely a strange vibe in the air ~

There is a view towards the bottom of the trail that is actually pretty average for the many amazing points along the way... but there is always something about it that intrigues me. Basically it's a field of tall grass that heads up to the ridge from the neighborhood below. When the wind comes whipping through, it blows the grass and looks like ocean waves. It's right where the hogbacks meet the plains and there's a certain energy about it that's hard to explain... at least in words... perhaps better through the pens :)

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The Winter Carnival - Part II

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:43:51 GMT

The Winter Carnival - Part III

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:44:12 GMT

The Winter Carnival

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:31:26 GMT