Peripheral Vision - Inner Sights by Lynda Lehmann

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:53:00 +0000

Regal American MoJo Pillow by PillowsbyLynda
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Blue Fusion Throw Pillow by PillowsbyLynda
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Entity 2 American MoJo Pillow by PillowsbyLynda
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No Illusions American MoJo Pillow by PillowsbyLynda
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Tableaux American MoJo Pillow by PillowsbyLynda
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Browse Zazzle for a different throw pillow.

I'm very excited to share with you the pillows from my new store at Zazzle! More to come.... When you visit, you will see the links to my other Zazzle stores. Thanks for your visit!
NOTE: You can click on each photo to see a larger version. All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ or http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. You can find a list of my other sites and links in my blog's sidebar. Or google my name for more links. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Layers and Monuments: The Inspiration of Sedona

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:45:00 +0000

Layers and Monuments - Image c 2012 Lynda Lehmann

The aura of mystery that hangs among the beautiful red-rock cliffs of scenic Sedona, is palpable. "Exhilaration" can't begin to express the strength of emotion that is evoked by the unique and majestic landscape unfolding in all directions.
I have little time to write a post right now, but I'll put up some more photos and observations about Sedona and other places in Arizona as soon as I can!

NOTE: You can click on each photo to see a larger version. All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ or http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. You can find a list of my other sites and links in my blog's sidebar. Or google my name for more links. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

The Spark

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Lake at Dawn - Image c Lynda Lehmann

THE SPARK
Creativity is the tiny voice that sings "I am" in the gloom of the darkest night. It is the song of the soul, revealing itself, reveling in tiny moments of truth.
Creativity is the pulse that quivers with hope in the rubble of man's discontent, and the flame of commitment in the rearing of a child.
Creativity lays a gentle sheen on the tired world on a moonless night, filling hollows and thickets and stark rooms with murmurs of quiet inspiration.
Creativity quells the thirst for empty pleasures and rides the waves of painful days.
It fills old wounds and heals them.
It lights and smooths the steepest path.
It is the balm of my soul, my intention, my purpose and passion.
Creativity is the Light of my life.
- Poem c Lynda Lehmann 2011

Solitude - Image c Lynda Lehmann

NOTE: You can click on each photo to see a larger version. All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ or http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. You can find a list of my other sites and links in my blog's sidebar. Or google my name for more links. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Sand Beach Serenity at Scenic Acadia

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:32:00 +0000

Curve Flow - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Serenity at Sand Beach - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Red Jackets - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

The Tide Among Boulders - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Tranquil Horizons - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Here are a few photos of one of our favorite places in Acadia. Sand Beach is easily accessible from the Park Loop Road and is one of the most serene and scenic of the spots we visited. Looking at the tranquil surface of the azure water, one could hardly believe that the flow in this cove was attached to the ocean! I'm sure it kicks up at times, but on a calm day the tranquility of the place is spellbinding. I've been there only in September but I'm sure that in the summer months it's a great place to swim, kayak, or just take the kids for a day on the beach.

Add to the sensuous curve of the beach the soft white sand, the influx of turquoise sea, and the majesty of the surrounding cliffs crowned by mixed boreal and hardwood forest, you've got the ingredients for magic. I can envision spending many days there, watching the infinite movement of the water and its slightly more chaotic, hissing and foaming entry into the clusters of huge boulders at the edge of the beach, while the enchantment grows.

I apologize for the short post, but better short than not at all. I hope you enjoyed the photos and that you get to visit Acadia one day, if you haven't already.

NOTE: You can click on each photo to see a larger version. All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ or http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. You can find a list of my other sites and links in my blog's sidebar. Or google my name for more links. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Acadia Interlude

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Below the Summit - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

I've always wanted to visit Acadia. Since my seventh grade English teacher Miss Rogers spoke of Longfellow, Evangeline, and the descendants ofthe French called the "Acadians," I've wanted to see the marvelous sights of an unspoiled wilderness on the Northeast Coast of the USA.

Emerald and Blue Gem - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

I recently had the opportunity to spend eight days there, and I can tell you: it was worth the trip. Every day was resplendent with new trails to explore, rock studded mountain paths to climb, and scenic vistas that took my breath away.
Even with a week of exploring the mountains, the lush undisturbed forest and the rocky coastline, we barely scratched the surface of the map. Mount Desert Island, which is also home to a few quaint and interesting towns (Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and the more well known Bar Harbor), comprises the Ice Age transformed landscape and web of ecosystems that is Acadia National Park.
If you are interested in visiting Acadia, the internet has many sites that offer information. Here are some scenes from the lovely and gorgeous parts of the park that we were lucky enough to experience. I'll be featuring other scenic views and landmarks of Acadia in subsequent blog posts, so watch for those if you're interested in hiking and nature.
Here my husband is perched on an overlook on Beech Mountain, overlooking Echo Lake. We hobbled up the steep boulder strewn path without breaking an ankle or taking a tumble, but this shelf halfway up the mountainside was challenge enough. The cliffs above were just a tad formidable for us to attempt, making the summit out of the question. But who knows how brave--or foolish--we may be on a future trek!
We've since purchased "trekking" sticks, those aluminum poles that look like ski poles that you occasionally see walkers toting. It's amazing how well they aid and abet your balance, especially when treading over steep, angled and jagged boulders and rough terrain.

Perched Over Echo Lake - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Never have I seen such jewels of green and azure! Well okay, I have seen some similar beauty before, on our hikes, but these scenes were definitely was among the most gorgeous vistas of peace and grandeur we've enjoyed.

Awesome View - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

If you look closely at the next photo, you'll see tourists clustered at the far edge of Cadillac Mountain, looking down over clouds and islands and rich green stretches of fertile and undisturbed wilderness interspersed with vast reams of granite. Cadillac Mountain is so far north and east, that it's the first spot on the North American continent to be graced with the first rays of sunrise, each day.

Distant Crowd on Cadillac Mountain - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

I could easily spend a month up there on Cadillac, absorbing the fresh, sweet air and gazing at the ocean to the east or the islands and larger land mass to the west. Cruise ships off of the town of Bar Harbor are sometimes visible from the summit, and they look small and surreal from that height. As do the clouds that shroud the horizon--so far beneath our line of vision and strange to look down upon.

The Islands Below - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Lush and Barren - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Cadillac's rich pink granite is rounded and buffed by Ice Age glaciers that moved over it, thousands of year ago. The pink boulders are deeply fissured yet rounded at the edges; they seem to fit together in a sort of free-form jigsaw puzzle. Very dramatic and sculptural and beautiful in their own right. The variety of colored lichen and arctic shrubery adds to the beauty and richness of the scene, and multiple ledges and paths beckon in all directions.
Have you ever been to Acadia? Do you have have any particular stories of adventures there, that you'd like to share?
I'm looking forward to showing you more photos of our trip, next time I publish!

Natural Color - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Sweep of the Land - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ or http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. You can find a list of my other sites and links in my blog's sidebar. Or google my name for more links. I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Us Versus Them: An Intellectual and Moral Logjam

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:50:00 +0000

Photograph by Lynda Lehmann

I'm on a steady diet of unwanted emails from some friends and family with an agenda. The same people who "don't want to talk about it" feel entitled to bombard me with what I perceive to be biased misinformation. In our legal system, we are sworn to uphold "the truth and nothing but the truth." But we have no such rules nor even a vague promise, to try to recognize and communicate truth in our everyday dealings.

The truth is that there is no "truth," if we are talking in black and white. The truth is always relative. It's complex. And it can't be communicated in sound bites. Yet it's easily distorted.

Politicians are masters of manipulating the truth by withholding, rather than revealing, information. Every statement knowingly made out of context or without qualifiers is intended to subvert what clear and intelligible truth does exist. It's hard enough to extrapolate shades of truth in a complex world, without direct distortions or intentional omission.

It's clear by the current climate of opposition in Congress and running in deepening veins throughout our society, that many people feel great anguish and anger. A lot of them play the Blame Game with relish. For them, blaming is an outlet for their rage and despair. But blaming never gave birth to solutions.

My personal answer to the blame laid on our current President's shoulders is to counter that I feel George Bush empowered the greedy corporate giants and set the precedent to legitimize greed. I have never registered with either party, as I don't believe in the arbitrary taking of sides, but rather in addressing particular issues as they arise. But believe me, what I can discern of the right-wing mentality is frightening and so inward-looking as to disavow any common humanity. Yes, we are born with equal status as human beings who are part of a larger human family. And hopefully we are equal under the law. But the sad fact is that we are NOT created equal: some are born poor, into war or other forms of desolation; some are born with deformities or diseases; some do not have the best genetic inheritance. Do we embrace our differences and common humanity or do we dump those we perceive as disadvantaged in jails and slums? Do we work for a better society and world, or do we pull in our stakes so we can spend more time counting our personal spoils? Do we embrace or do we label and reject? Do we hate or do we love? Those who profess to be "religious" and moral people, ought to take a good hard look at their rhetoric and their actions.

How does a person define himself as "right-to-life" while voting to cut benefits to the sick and needy? Or consider cutting Social Security benefits, into which most workers have dutifully paid? How does one preach morality while teaching his kids to do "anything to get ahead?" How do you send kids to die in wars that can't institute strong and stable democracies in tribal societies?

Several people whom I know have expressed a favorable opinion of the Tea Party. They espouse fiscal conservatism while they, personally, have accrued incredible amounts of credit card debt. In my opinion, endorsing extreme fiscal policy is not only overcompensation for their own personal misjudgment and weakness, it's outright hypocrisy. Just as railing against Social Security as a corrupt "entitlement" is absurd for those who willingly collect their own checks every month!

When Bill Clinton was in office, we were not in the red. Our economy was strong. When he proposed NAFTA, I was in favor of it because I believed that a global economy would favor the cause of peaceful coexistence among nations. Now, looking at the job loss crisis in America, I'm not so sure. But all the blame in the world will change nothing. Only new IDEAS can change things.

I believe President Obama is a good and authentic person of vision and high motivation--and that those who want to see him fall are simply acting out of their own insecurity; they don't want justice and they don't want progress. They simply want to protect their status quo/interests.

There! I've said it. I have expressed my feelings. I am so tired of the propaganda being hurled by the right-wing sound machine. When "factoids" are thrown into the air without any qualifiers or context, we move further and further from the truth as it gets buried deeper in the fray. Society is complex, and modern life can be complicated. But we make it more so by our tendency to be reactive and self-serving. Please do not try to make "liberal" a dirty word by undercutting the facts and throwing epithets. All that is simply subterfuge.

Society is in some degree of turmoil but still, we function and everyday heroes abound. People who equate Obama with Hitler, or welfare (for those who truly need it) with Socialism, do themselves a disservice. Is this the kind of world we want to be complicit in leaving to our children and grandchildren?

One potent thing each of us can do is to listen to our friends and neighbors when they talk. Invite discussion. Think critically and exchange points of view. Do discourse, not "search and destroy."

Democracy is not built on one act of voting every four years. Seek the "truth," tell the truth (as you see it) and accept other folk's stories as being THEIR truths. If you think this requires too much effort, ask yourself this, "What do I want to think of myself the day I discover I'm lying on my deathbed?" What do you want your children to think?

To myself, to my friends, family, and blogging fellows I say: Campaign for justice: practice acts of Conscience. Practice communicating and practice listening. And stir some empathy into your mind-soup. You'll be a bigger, better person for it. And so will I.

Photograph by Lynda Lehmann

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission from me, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my sites at http://www.absolutearts.com/lyndalehmann/ or http://LyndaLehmann.imagekind.com/ if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. Or you can Google my name to see my other sites and links. I hope you enjoyed your visit to Peripheral Vision!

Enchantment Before Twilight

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Bathed in Evening Light - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

NOTE: I have picked these two photos from my archives to post with this poem, as I could not shoot while paddling. But they don't do justice to the beautiful play of light, water and sky I witnessed on this occasion. Nor do my words suffice, but I write them in homage.

Enchantment

Thunderheads form and morph: vast cumulonimbus canyons turn from white to gray to orange or silver-rimmed. They stand silent, at a distance. Evening sunlight's warm caress, wraps a golden light over the emerald island: a jewel-like scene that seems to shimmer with benevolence and promise. Verdant glowing hues band outward from the island's shore, reflected with sky tones and bands of gold and black in the flowing stream.

Pale violet clouds in cauliflower forms bifurcate and move higher, until they reach the towering nimbus state.
So far beneath them, paddling the lake in my tiny blue kayak, I feel my smallness.
Each dip of my paddle brings up droplets that make whirlpools as they fall back onto the water's surface. A line of whirlpools ripples smaller as each moves forward from the first set of spreading circles. I can hear each drop fall and watch it meld. Ensconced in the drama of whirlpools and lace-like water doilies, my boat is couched in a pattern of of subtle movement: energy waves strong enough to be visible, yet insignificant to the larger universe. Yet, with my persistent stroke, I have made them. I watch the forms disperse as they merge back into the infinite and undulating sea. I do not have the power of nimbus clouds, but I make my own music, just the same.
I feel complete, ensconced in the luxury of light show and water symphony, while the sky plays its pastel counterpoint.
It's hard for me to believe there's room for conflict, greed, and suffering in this world, while I am surrounded by all that seems holy.
-- Poem c Lynda Lehmann 2011

Enchantment - Image c 2010 Lynda Lehmann

Cavern Watch: Turning Inward Toward Metaphor

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Cavern Watch - Image c Lynda Lehmann

The owl with his huge eyes and prominent brow is seen as watchful. Is his vigilance a metaphor for the subconscious mind, perhaps? He is often seen as a symbol of wisdom or an incarnation of awareness. But could he be seen also as a symbol or harbinger of things to come? Or even of the ultimate? We all face death at the end of our individual and collective life cycles, so it makes sense that we would project our thoughts about our mortality onto some external symbol, in order to deal with our apprehensions.
Seeing the owl as metaphor is widespread among cultures. What is it in our human psyche that pushes us to recognize or attribute comparisons by way of metaphor? Is it inherent in our need to clarify or find meaning in the human experience, to understand our world?
For me, a cavern also makes a good metaphor. I see it as an apt symbol for the inner workings of the individual psyche and for the human body, which "contains" the elements i.e. organs and awareness that we need to be alive, and to live what we call a "life."
Plato, a student of Socrates, used the cave metaphor differently, in a parable in which Socrates explains the nature of true knowledge being beyond that which can be ascertained by watching shadows move against a wall in a cave setting, which you can read about here if you are interested.
On a recent trip to Luray Caverns in Virginia, I had the pleasure of photographing many of the cave's remarkable formations. As you can see, they can resemble anything from practical everyday objects to objects of magic or incarnations from what some cultures believe is the "Spirit World."

Hall of the Ancient Spirits - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Lake of the Underworld - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Primordial Cascade - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Greek classical philosophers and children's fables and fairy tales aside, what's your idea of a good metaphor? Do you find that a particular symbol is prominent in your conscious mind and has special meaning for you?
NOTE: CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO VIEW THEM LARGER!
All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Life as Paradox

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Into Shadow - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

Light Play - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

Day's Aftermath - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

Every ending is also a beginning, and every beginning eventually culminates in some state of change and fullness before moving to its finish and conclusion. Hence the cycles and paradoxes of Life. A sunset is beautiful and inspiring, yet reminds us of Life's transience. So it becomes bittersweet, taking on a yin-yang of both positive and negative connotations. Maybe the best metaphors are like that, ambiguous but meaningful on multiple levels. To me, a beautiful sunset suggests the cycles of infinite Life moving through time and space, seeking more of itself. And we ourselves, are reflected in both the glowing waters of sunset, and in the ebb and flow of Life.
Peace and joy to you. - Lynda

Awesome Sky - Lynda Lehmann 2011

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

No Illusions, Pulse of the Motherboard, In the Balance and Rising Green: New Digital Abstracts

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:10:00 +0000

I don't have much time to post this week, so I thought I would at least put up a few new digital works. I love working with design and spatial relationships. I think you could probably guess which title applies to which image, even if I didn't have them in consecutive order in the title of this post!
Is there one among the four that resonates with you more than the others? If so, what do you think its appeal is for you?
Hope everyone is happy and healthy and taking some time for your favorite creative activity!

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Golden Cluster

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:42:00 +0000

Golden Cluster - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

I wasn't going to post to my blog today, but I was so impressed with these roses that I saw on my walk that I wanted to share them with you!

I hope everyone has had a good day. It's going to be sweltering here on Long Island for the next few days, with high humidity, so it may be my last walk until a cold front moves in!

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Cloud Fire: A Cogent Commentary on My Digital Art by a Fifth Grade Student

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:00:00 +0000

Cloud Fire - Image c 2010 Lynda Lehmann

Recently a fifth grade student from Florida contacted me through one of my websites, with questions about one of my digital art pieces. She had seen "Cloud Fire" on my Imagekind site and liked it so much that she wanted to use my image for her school report. Lauren might have chosen any artist from the past or present, but after an internet search, she chose my work (seen above) to write about.
I feel that Lauren's report is well organized, quite readable, and true to the rules of good grammar and syntax. To me, her report exemplifies diligence and academic excellence. And I'm honored that she chose my art for her academic project!
Here is the content of Lauren's report, verbatim. I hope you enjoy reading it. Please join me in acknowledging Lauren's writing efforts. Lauren, thank you again for featuring my art in your paper. Perhaps one day we will read your words again, should you choose to pursue journalism, art criticism, or perhaps teaching, as your career path.
(Note: I have changed Lauren's text font and formatting and moved her name to the bottom, to fit in with the formatting of this blog.)
*****

My Favorite Work of Art: Cloud Fire

Cloud Fire, a digital art piece by Lynda Lehmann, is energetic, inspiring, and full of bright color. It is an example of abstract art, which means that the viewer may see completely different things at different times. The name, Cloud Fire, is an especially good choice of titles for this piece because clouds are constantly transforming their shapes as well. The ‘fire’ is characterized by the blaze of neon colors.

As Cloud Fire explodes with its swirls of Crayola bubbles, the colors seem to drive the circles on a wild ride of chaos. There is not a single pigment that isn’t represented on the exciting journey. In response to the excitement produced by the blast of color, the piece causes the viewer’s heart to beat just a little bit faster. In the midst of all the emotion, a feeling of freedom is somehow conveyed as well.

Lehmann, a current resident of Long Island, NY, utilized a computer, filters and software known as Photoshop as the mediums to produce Cloud Fire, which was completed in 2010. She chose intense tints with a lot of contrast as well as many dynamic twists and turns for the lines. Although digital artists don’t always get to see their work actually printed, Lehmann’s recommendation for Cloud Fire’s ideal size is 16” x 20”. The type of paper chosen for the print is also important for the visual experience.

In addition to practical uses, computers have become digital darkrooms in recent years. The first experiments in digital art happened in the late 1950’s occurring in Germany and the United States. As computers became more advanced, so did the opportunities for digital art. Today, digital art is a widely accepted type of art expression in galleries, boutiques and exhibits as well as on the Internet.

Cloud Fire is mysterious and aggressive at the same time. These very different characteristics cause the viewer to experience a wide scope of constantly changing emotions. It is truly abstract art at its finest.

Lauren L. #14

4/26/2011

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

A Pale Beauty, Mindfulness, and Being

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:05:00 +0000

Pale Beauty - Image c Lynda Lehmann

I love looking at this gorgeous, pale and delicate rose. It's dainty and gossamer presence reminds us of the preciousness and transience of life. It also reminds us that it is during tumultuous times such as we're living in now, times of great upheaval and change, that we need to turn inward to the peaceful core we each carry deep inside; it's only by permitting ourselves to situate at our most centered point on our psychic "fulcrum," if you will, that we will manage to weather the storms of destructive emotions and events.
While I believe that organized religions often divide us, I believe that we each can find God at the deepest part of us; indeed, I believe God lives in the deepest part of us. So rejoice in your Spirit, your Being-ness, your infinite Creativity. Be whole and mindful, and create in the image of what YOU want the world to be. And BE yourself.

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

A Secret, Magic Place

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 15 May 2011 01:54:00 +0000

A Secret, Magic Place - Image c Lynda Lehmann

An unlikely combination of living elements caught my eye while deep in the woods of the White Mountains. The light was golden, entering the forest from a low level, in early autumn light. The day was bright and still, the sky a soft, cloudless blue.
To find a tree hollow with a single mushroom standing in the middle of it, surrounded by lichen and a necklace of pine needles, and all that rough bark texture and pastiche of leaves faded to gold, was mesmerizing.
It was enchanting, a day to remember.

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Across the Street: Counterpoint in Window-Pane

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 06 May 2011 01:49:00 +0000

Across the Street - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

The view in the door glass of a vintage building reflects the arched doorways and windows of buildings across the street. I enjoy this shot because I'm fascinated with what I like to call "alternative spaces": spaces that are in some way transitional and can't be defined in the way a dedicated "room" can be, and spaces that are otherwise ambiguous or interesting. Portals, hall, balconies and alleyways all offer unusual perspectives and have always held a fascination for me. "False spaces" created by reflection or illusion, evoke a similar reaction.
Do you have a favorite space in your home or a familiar building that intrigues you and doesn't quite fit the definition of a standard "room?"

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

In Praise of Abstraction

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:41:00 +0000

Metrimorphic III - c Lynda Lehmann

If we are going to discuss the validation of art by virtue of "skill" or "meaning," we have to give abstraction a fair shake. To my way of thinking, abstract art is more interesting (if not more beautiful) than realism, because it presents a visual experience that has no precedent in reality. It presents something totally new and is its own reality. Realism refers to a single point in time and space even when it is arresting, compelling and speaks to universals.
But abstraction can be richly layered and full of ambiguity and mystery that yields fresh nuances of visual experience with each viewing. To me, abstract art comprises a rich, multi-dimensional experience because it doesn't cater to the constraints of time and place. The new visual experience it presents is of value in and of itself, and does not require a literal meaning in the usual sense. As a matter of fact, it may call on the viewer to be a more active participant in the viewing, because it reaches beyond our usual scope of perception and lends itself to the subjective reality of each viewer. Art does not need to refer to political or religious ideologies, or even the continuum of human emotions and experience, to garner its meaning. It simply is, and therein lies its meaning. And to me, abstraction is very compelling in its visual (and emotional) richness.
As for the "skills" part of the equation, Kandinsky (among others) manifested a high level of both imagination and skill that many realists don't possess. I wanted to post some of his images to illustrate the point of this post but because of copyright issues, had to use one of my own, instead. Compelling abstraction is difficult to achieve, often involving both concept and great discipline that match or exceed many realist paintings.

NOTE: I first wrote this as a response to a discussion on Robert Genn's Painter's Keys site. You can read his original letter and the responses, including mine, here. While you'e there, you might want to sign up for Robert's thought-provoking newsletter.
All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Silver Linings Trim the Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Silver Linings Trim the Sea - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Some views of nature invoke powerful feelings and there's not a word or set of words that will do them justice. We know when we are witnessing scenes that speak to mysterious powers beyond our comprehension.
I took a series of photos the other day on a beach on the south shore of Long Island, facing into the sun. Photographically speaking, this is a no-no, especially without a good polarizing filter. Since I had only my Nikon 7000 with me, I had to settle for its built in neutral density filter. I simply could not pass up taking shots of the clouds and beach lit up in bangles of silver.
Even the seagulls couldn't get over the drama in the western sky.
When clouds obscure your horizon, I wish you bright silver linings!

Witness to Clouds and Sea - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Firestorm: New Abstract Expressionist Painting to Benefit Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Firestorm - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

I painted this piece last week, and I think it expresses my emotional response to recent events in Japan. In view of the ongoing devastation, grief and loss of the Japanese people, who have lost their homes, their towns and infrastructure and their loved ones, and who are facing the dire consequences of nuclear contamination, I will donate all profits from this painting to the American Red Cross Japan Fund. By that I mean all proceeds minus the fee (if any) due to whichever artist's site I may sell it on. Shipping is always the customer's responsibility.

"Firestorm" is 22 x 28 inches, painted in acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas. It can be framed or hung without a frame.

My price is $900.00. By donating the proceeds of this painting to the people of Japan, I can afford to give a more sizable donation than I would otherwise make. Maybe it will buy some clothing, food or drinking water for a family who has lost everything.

Let's pray for their comfort and healing, and for the nuclear nightmare they're faced with, to be adequately dealt with and over. As for the rest of humanity, I hope we'll learn to make better choices in our energy policy, and become more aware of the consequences of letting corporate interests and lobbyists push dangerous technologies.

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Peony Pink and the Ides of Plutonium

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 16:18:00 +0000

Peony Pink - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Spring solstice has arrived! This tender season is usually regarded as a time to rejoice at life's beauty and renewal. Life is precious. It is also delicate and perishable, and not at all guaranteed. It's a gift and a miracle, with or without a religious perspective to cast it in. I present to you a photo of a delicate Peony as a reminder of life's fragility, as the towns on the Northeast coast of Japan and well inland, struggle for their very survival.
I will continue to wish, hope and pray for the Japanese people to find comfort, solace and the support of the world community in their healing from this week's multiple tragedies. I also wish, hope and pray for all of us to achieve freedom from the nuclear monster. The lethal potential of isotopes with a half life of 25,000 years or more, makes nuclear energy a Pandora's box of potential for the destruction of Life. I think the world is finally recognizing that a technology that can't be controlled or adequately addressed with solutions and fail-safes, should not be used. Plutonium and cesium can exact a high price for the privilege of turning on a hair-dryer or the central heating system.
If you're not familiar with the specifics of nuclear energy and how it's produced, and what radiation can do to all living things, you might want to read the books of Dr. Helen Caldicott, the Australian physician who researched and campaigned against the nuclear demon. She saw the contradiction of ministering to a few sick children while the nuclear monster grew in the background and cast a shadow over all of life on Earth. If you think I'm being dramatic, read "Nuclear Madness" or "Missile Envy," among others. And read other sources if you like, as I did, to corroborate the information she presents.
Let's pray for the government of Japan to mobilize their Air Force and call on other countries for help in burying the distressed and very dangerous radiation-spewing nuclear reactors with sand and concrete, before they pour more poison into our atmosphere, to rain down on the seas that are at the base of our food chain and settle on our precious land, water, and all living beings.
Physicist Michio Kaku suggested this solution, which was successfully used to limit further contamination after the Chernobyl disaster. Given the miserable condition of the plants, it's the only solution. Incidentally, Dr. Kaku suggested that where alternatives are available, using nuclear energy is like selling one's soul "to the devil," as Christopher Marlowe's doomed fictional character Doctor Faustus did.
Personally I'm for going in other directions, as the feasibility of safe-use for nuclear, is doubtful, at best. It's never been more obvious that nuclear power is just too dangerous to fill our energy needs, and we need to make drastic changes to improve the technology and come up with real fail-safes. Or we need to go in other directions.

If more funding went into R & D, even a fragment of what has gone into designing and building weapons systems, we could find alternatives. And since we in the USA use 25% of the world's energy, we need to learn to cut our use. If everyone conserved, including corporations, we could make a big dent in our usage. For example, we recently drove down a major Long Island road that is lined with the gorgeous buildings of corporate headquarters. I'm talking HUGE modern buildings with too many offices to count. In most of these buildings, the lights were left on for the overnight hours. If the cleaning staff needed to clean, they didn't need every floor and cubby illuminated bright as day, at ten at night. It's just a small example--but it's my guess that the power those buildings consumed over one night, could power a small city for basic needs during the same period of time.

Japan has long had Mag-Lev trains; we do not. Our mass transit systems are in disarray and our roads are a mess in many places. There are SO many things we can do to make travel easier and more fuel efficient. But we are spoiled and no one really wants to feel any pain at all, to facilitate change that will help us survive in the long run. As for nuclear, it's my opinion that no amount of physical/mechanical safeguards will make the technology failsafe, until we learn how to neutralize spent fuel, etc.

There will always be the occasional natural disaster of unprecedented proportions. As advanced and organized as Japan society is, they did not give credence to the idea that the flooding of the shoreline plants could threaten their population, and maybe the larger human family. If plutonium becomes airborne because of an explosion, those particles will land and emit radiation willy-nilly for 25,000 years.

So how does that advance the cause of human life, world peace, and the pursuit of happiness? Experts with a wider perspective on nuclear technologies are few and far between and of course, they are not willing to create a panic now by laying out worst-case scenarios. I don't know what we're going to do, but I know that nuclear weapons and nuclear power have the potential to put an end to life on earth. No one even talks about its mutagenic qualities, and ill-advised news-persons sometimes suggest that we can "wash it off" or take potassium iodide. They don't take into account or articulate the differences between alpha, beta and gamma particles, and how they move into the body and the permanent damage they can do. To me, getting rid of nuclear materials--except for medical applications--seems like a survival imperative for our species.

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

New Abstract Painting: Byzantine Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Byzantine Blues - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

"Byzantine Blues" is one of my recent series of small paintings, just 11 x 14 inches. It's one of those paintings whose name seemed to arise out of the ether as I finished it. While my title does not really fit the definition of Byzantine, I still like it for this work. Since it's my painting, I guess I can call it whatever I wish! One of the added joys of making art is the freedom to associate ones image with words and name it thus. That is, to see an image in your own unique way.

The viewer too, is called upon to see whatever he or she wishes, and that is the freedom that is inherent in the ambiguity and mystery of abstract art. Although the bottom line is that titles are not at all necessary to the visual experience, especially of abstraction, and may even detract from the viewer's freedom to see it in his or her own way.
Dictionary.com defines "Byzantine" as follows:
4. Fine Arts . pertaining to or designating the style of the fine or decorative arts developed and elaborated in the Byzantine Empire and its provinces: characterized chiefly by an ecclesiastically prescribed iconography, highly formal structure, severe confinement of pictorial space to a shallow depth, and the use of rich, often sumptuous color.
You can see that this painting does not resemble the "ecclesiastically prescribed iconography," of Byzantine Art at all, although the confinement of pictorial space to a shallow depth and the use of rich color, may apply. You can read more about the Byzantine Empire at Wiki.
Why have I just written several paragraphs to outline why my title doesn't really fit my image? The answer is that creative process is messy. It doesn't conform to the parameters of logic or conscious thought. It's not rational. And that's what makes the journey interesting.
Although I appreciate the beautifully rendered realism of masters such as Da Vinci or John Singer Sargent, my preferred style of painting is abstract. What is your favorite style, when it comes to making or appreciating art?

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

New Abstract Painting: Pragmatic Red

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Pragmatic Red - c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

The other day I set out to do a subtle painting. As you can see, I failed miserably.

When I paint, what happens most often is that the paint takes over and tells me what to do. Not literally, of course. The paint doesn't have a voice. But it speaks to me through it's character as it emerges out of the tube. Color, consistency, and (unfortunately) smell, all stir my senses into an excitement as real as if I were watching a horse race or awakening as a child does on Christmas morning, heart aflutter and with a gleam of happy expectation in her eyes. I begin to paint and the volitional part of the process gives way to the subconscious, intuitive part.

So here you have my most recent result, in this 18 x 24 inch acrylic painting that I'll call "Pragmatic Red." The title is a bit of an oxymoron, as there's really nothing practical about creating such a bright and intense painting. It's done for the joy and fulfillment of the artist and for whomever is willing as a viewer, to embrace his or her kind of work.

An intricate under-painting shows through the surface, a sort of "iconography" showing through the top layer. An artist friend said the image reminds him of a "mother board." I'll go with that for today. That's the nice part about abstract art: you can see something different in it each time you look. Different from realism, in which the specifics of time, place and context are spelled out for the viewer, the abstract engages the viewer's imagination and calls forth a more active participation. What might this painting represent, if anything? Or is it a visual experience that can't be classified?

Actually, it's simply "The Visual Experience" that I'm after in my pursuit of painting. As long as it's fresh and new, it can bring stimulation, surprise, and visual joy to my world.

Dictionary.com defines Constructivism as follows:

–noun ( sometimes initial capital letter )

1.Fine Arts . a nonrepresentational style of art developed by agroup of Russian artists principally in the early 20th century,characterized chiefly by a severely formal organization of mass, volume, and space, and by the employment of modern industrial materials. Compare suprematism.

While I often paint in a style that might fall under the category of Expressionism, I would say that this piece could be seen as a sort of embellished Constructivism. But the label doesn't matter. It's the Visual Experience that counts!

Most of us enjoyed looking through kaleidoscopes of different sorts when we were kids. To me, painting is the same kind of exploration of the visual phenomenon. I do it in the spirit of adventure--and the willful abandonment of the more mundane aspects of my daily world.

What attracts your eye in the spirit of exploration and childlike joy?

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

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Ice Abstract: Nature's Subtle Palette and Dynamic Design

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Ice Abstract - c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Nature never fails to fascinate. In every season, in every kind of weather, at every time of day, intricate patterns and textures captivate the eye. My prize for walking the beach on a bitter cold day last week, besides almost-frozen toes, was this view of cracked ice along the side of the road. I think it makes a beautiful abstract.
I'm forever marveling at how accidental arrangements can be so arresting and gorgeous. The Earth's natural processes produce patterns, textures and designs that outdo the best capabilities of the human hand and eye.
What have you seen in your locale this week, that made you feel blessed with the serendipitous beauty of nature's grand design?

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission. All rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

Ponderosity: From My New Series of Small Abstract Expressionist Paintings

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:26:00 +0000

Ponderosity - Lynda Lehmann c 2011

An artist friend recently told me that she likes my black and white paintings and I had to ponder on the appeal of black and white.

I've always loved design and I think painting in black and white gives a very graphic allure and perhaps a stronger design/compositional sense than using color. Using color most often makes the color the "truth" of the painting, at least for those of us whose wild color-love becomes unleashed when we dip our brushes (or other tools) into lush pigments.
This small painting on gallery-wrapped canvas measures 11 by 14 inches, and except for a few linear brush strokes applied at the end, was done with a palette knife.
According to Dictionary.com "ponderosity" is a related form of "ponderous," an adjective which means:

of great weight; heavy; massive.

awkward or unwieldy: He carried a ponderous burden on hisback.

dull and labored: a ponderous dissertation.

Here's wishing you an artful day. May nothing too ponderous come your way!
Note: I'm aware that I have a code glitch or two on my page, and I'll eventually figure out how to fix it!
All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

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In Silence Lies Beauty: Gesture and Lace in a Snowy Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:24:00 +0000

Gesture and Lace - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

Hermann Melville said, "God’s one and only voice is silence." Somehow I agree. It's only in moments of silence that we can even begin to grasp the magnitude of the beauty all around us and the profound miracle of every day.

A snow-shrouded forest is a great place to experience the joy and fullness of silence. Why is silence full? Because silence allows us the space to let go of conscious thoughts, goals, and all the usual preoccupations that we carry around with us from day to day. Silence gives us a moment of pause in which we may become aware of our own Being. In silence, we own ourselves; we own the moment. Silence lets us "be," if Being is what we want.
Silence asks nothing of us but to befriend her. Silence will not ask us to defend ourselves. Silence is forgiving. She is a balm to our souls.
Silence is not Golden, but she is buoyant, transparent and transforming. Listen to Silence if you want to find your Heart.
I was astounded with the beauty of the forest on this bone-chilling day when I walked with my husband at a nearby state park. The landscape was frozen and rigid in the vice-grip of winter. Yet the trees maintained their winding and undulating forms, held on to their grace under the assault of bitter cold and high winds. Because the temperature has been so low this week, little melting has taken place, even on the blacktop that usually warms in the midday sun.

Snow Berries - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

There was so much to see in this transformed land of delicate lace-work and graceful forms: the rolling hills, the frosted berries and dancing trees. The contrast of bright white snow clinging to twigs, trunks and branches against a background of afternoon shadows, really brought out the beauty of the arbor. When we left I was again replete again with nature's beauty, though my toes were nearly frozen.
I love silence. But I know some folks find silence tedious or even frightening. Do you look forward to moments of silence or do you find yourself avoiding it?

Together in Beauty - Image c 2011 Lynda Lehmann

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!

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A Dog's Life and The Ides of December

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:40:00 +0000

It's a Dog's Life

Please Don't Make Me Go Out in The Snow Again!

I'll Be Good, I Promise!

I'm giving December the boot! What a month. It started with my husband getting the flu, which lasted for well over a week. His ended, then I promptly came down with the same stuffed head with aches, fever and chills. Then the tumult of the holidays set in, and our daughter and son-in-law arrived 3 days before Christmas with their 95 pound over-sized pooch.

On Christmas Eve we went to a family gathering which because of logistics, we had catered for the first time this year. Right after the party and with a blizzard fast approaching, we drove daughter and hubby to the airport for their long-awaited trip to Galapagos. The long-anticipated trip was to be their joyous, albeit-late honeymoon, coming a few months after their July wedding.

No sooner did my husband and I arrive home after the round-trip to JFK in Christmas Day traffic, but the first of several phone calls came in. The flight was leaving at midnight, without them! To make a long story short, the airline had overbooked their flight. So they spent the night in the airport, and flew out around 4:00 in the morning.

They arrived on their tour a day late, after four or five unscheduled plane changes, no sleep at all, carrying heavy LONG backpacks that I couldn't have managed for even five minutes.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we had all gotten food poisoning! At least 12 people who had assembled from different households, took ill a few hours after the family Christmas party. And to confirm my worst expectations, daughter and her hubby puked their way across South America, all the way to the Galapagos. It was Gatorade and Pepto-Bismol, all the way. On top of all that stress and exhaustion.

I was sick for the second time in a month, the blizzard was thick around us, we had to push their hyperactive Rhodesian Ridgeback hound out the door by her butt because she did not want to go out into the snow, and we worried all week about the kids being sick and strung out on their travels.

Gran'dogger is adorable but totally ornery. She commanded all our attention for the week they were gone; it was all we could do to keep up with her antics. When she had properly anointed every inch of our hitherto pristine yard with abundant pee and poop and given us the run-around several times, refusing to come in when called while we watched helplessly from the deck with empty leash in hand, we knew we were outwitted by the willful canine.

She wouldn't come in from the yard even when bribed with teaspoonsful of her favorite peanut butter, but managed to lick just enough off the spoon to taunt us before she whirled out of reach. We stood and watched in awe as she tore across the yard 30-40 times without tiring, flying like a Greyhound and leaving new track marks around a few choice trees and shrubs, tossing the outdoor mat with a vengeance, and even trying to pull a mature Yew out of the ground by its roots!

So goodbye, December! Glad to see you go.... And goodbye, Gran'dogger, and please don't come back to stay with us again for at least a year!

All images and text on this blog are copyrighted material, and may be used only with written permission, except where syndication rights have been granted. All other rights reserved. Please visit my primary site at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/gallery if you would like to see my acrylic paintings and more of my photography and digital art. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my blog!