Peripheral Vision - Inner Sights by Lynda Lehmann

The Sacred Energy of Wild Places

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

There is an energy at the core of Life, a sacred energy felt most apparently and keenly in those places we may refer to as "wild." For some of us, that place may truly be in a remote wilderness area. More likely it will be a place that is just a bit out of the way. But it seems to me that the place, whether near or far from the beaten track, will be a place that is as yet unexploited and unspoiled by the touch of man.

My husband and I discovered such a place about two weeks ago. One of our mini-excursions into the Maine countryside brought us unexpectedly to a wooded marshland. It was just a tad off of a main road that was not quite a highway, but a two-lane road well-traveled by local traffic.

We made a right turn on a street whose name I can't remember. What I do remember is that it was indeed, a "proper" town street-sign in white and green with a name bestowed on this road. But it was not in any sense your typical suburban or even country road.

I was stricken with my first view of the marsh. Forest encroached on all sides, rising above the area on gentle hills. The trees still retained some of their autumn splendor but were at least partly given over to the stark winter nakedness that makes their skeletons so much more gestural and poignant than their leafy summer counterparts.

I got out of the car and scanned the near distance. Woods, woods, and more woods, with a wetland in the middle that coalesced into a quiet stream that wound its way through the thicket.

At the side of the road, cattails abounded, rich in their brown fur and contrasting the more sparse occurrence of milkweed pod. Some of the pods were open to the skyward flurry of their gossamer white fuzz, while others remained closed and pregnant with the seed loads of future plants.

A huge beaver lodge graced the middle of the watery pool on the right side of the road, commanding the eye's attention, as would a mansion on the vast grounds of a manicured estate.

But this was no manicured estate. Although fairly close to the town of Norway in southwest Maine, it had all the trappings of a true wilderness. Bird calls of all ilks met my ears, like beacons of a distant time in the annals of Creation. The milkweed seeds, picked up by an intermittent breeze, sailed into the blue dome that reflected on the water below. Everywhere there was life. Thorns, red winter berries, the milkweed, swaths of emerald moss and the texture of the slightly churned water. Sweet pungent air, sparkling with sunlight. The auburn of spent foliage rimming the swamp.

I could almost hear our dear Mother Earth inviting me in her mysterious tongues to partake. She wanted me to embrace her, smell her, feel her caress, hear her song. She wanted to delight me. She wanted to pay homage to herself for her dignity, sustained in the face of ages of exploitation and consumption, by her own stubborn Being.

Years ago, I wrote a young adult novel (one of four, actually) about a teenage girl who has to leave the lowland plain between Brazil and Peru, to climb deep into the Andes. She had to undertake this journey because her tribe was dying out, and their only chance was for her to try to retrieve the ancient medical secrets of the Incas, from whom she had descended. The Boutiquin, the ancient medicine chest of the forest floor was dying out and only she, Liana, with the tenacity of the vine for which she was named, could make her way into the highland to fetch the ancient wisdom.

Along the way, repeatedly, she bent her head to the Earth and heard the Hum of Being.

In my writing, the "Hum of Being" was a contrivance to enhance the plot, an embellishment in my manuscript to bring home the feminist and earth stewardship themes of my book.

But last week, in that patch of wild made of forest and river and swamp, filled with sunshine and seeds and berries and birdsong, I heard the Hum of Being for myself. Have you ever heard it? What is your experience with finding yourself surrounded by the magic of a sacred place? For me, it is the among the very best and most inspiring of life experiences.

All photos and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

A Pittance of Time

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:05:00 +0000

This video speaks for itself. I know you will be touched.

Inklings of the Sublime

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:59:00 +0000

Magical World - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

Shimmer - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

Waterscape IV - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

Web of Light - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

I had such a wonderful nature experience this past summer, that I feel it has not only enriched me, but actually transformed me. I'm not a calm person. But the more I opened myself to the patterns and textures all around me, the calmer I felt. It was as if the serenity of the ENDURING THINGS just oozed into my pores, all the way to my soul. I felt warmed and comforted. The more I looked, the more I saw. And the calmer I felt.

I filled up on the great "Cup of Beauty" that is our world, and have made using my senses into a sort of mantra. On college campuses, back in the sixties, the motto was "Tune out and turn on." I never felt that was the way to go, and I'm more sure of it than ever. My mantra is "Pause to receive, rejoice, and BE." I believe that the ubiquitous beauties of the world can lead us to transcendence, if we open our hearts. All we have to do is pause and focus. Very simple.

The sunlight or clouds playing on the lake surface and the infinite forms, colors, and patterns of lichen, are just a couple of examples of the natural beauty that astounded me. I feel spiritually rich.

I'd love to hear about some of the details of nature that fascinate you!

All images and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Present Robert F Kennedy Jr Shocking Vaccine Cover Up Part1

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:38:00 +0000

My take on this is that the truth is coming from this man's lips. All you have to do is look around at all the children who have been diagnosed with neuro and behavior problems, to know something is terribly wrong.

I believe that some vaccines have saved countless lives, as in the case of smallpox and polio. But we are now churning out vaccines for every condition, and in many cases, the damage they cause is worse than enduring a short-term disease. Common sense dictates that this may not be true for the aged or those who have other medical problems.

What do you think? Are you getting a flu shot?

Each of us has to decide what's best for ourselves and our families.

Consciousness

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Consciousness - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

I'm in the process of preparing a longer post, but thought I'd share one of my new digital paintings with you in the meantime. I will be able to post more in the coming weeks, I hope, and I can't wait to visit with you!

Just wondering: does this image evoke any particular thought, mood, or concept for you? I DO see what the title implies, but then, that's just me and you will have your own reaction.

Personally, I LOVE the freedom of digital art, and the "clean" process that doesn't involve paints and finishes, because I don't always have time for traditional brush and pigment painting. Both digital and real-time painting have their benefits, and one of the perks of digital is that you don't have to involve your whole studio or house in the process (the "aroma" of fresh paint DOES make it all the way to my kitchen, at times....)

Art and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

The Omo People: A Haunting Spectacle of Harmony with Our Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:52:00 +0000

We've all seen a number of You Tube videos. Some are mediocre and some are outstanding. In my mind, this one is unforgettable. I'm sure it will leave an indelible imprint on my consciousness.

It is at once a sermon and a promise, an homage and a litany. If you give yourself to it for a few minutes, I think you might agree with me.

The adornment and countenance of these people are haunting and beautiful. Their apparent relatedness to our Earth seems appropos to those whose lives unfold near The Great Rift. This video makes one ponder on the nature of beauty, wisdom, play, and inter-relatedness.

On the YouTube site, one of the comments was that these faces look sad. I agree, however, with another commenter who said these faces are full of awe and reverence. They are OF THE EARTH, and they KNOW it! They FEEL it in every fiber of their being, and express it constantly in their physical accoutrement.

Again, this video brings up the correlation between play, art-making, and BEING. These people have a deep connection to something that we, in what WE consider to be more "civilized" societies, can only grope for......

What do you think?

Country Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:07:00 +0000

Grazing - Image c Lynda Lehmann 2009

Country Dreams - Image c Lynda Lehmann 2009

I was enchanted by these idyllic scenes of a pasture in autumn, with grazing cows and horses. It was such a peaceful and dreamlike scene, with the muted colors of a somewhat hazy fall day. Here are a couple of my favorite shots, among many taken during a couple of short outings in the past month.

The animals look so contented that it's easy to forget they are being raised for commerce. I know the demands of the food chain are an indisputable reality, but I feel an empathy with animals who overall, perhaps, have less control over their fates than we humans do. Or do you think that's a subject for debate?

Regardless, the natural beauty of rural areas does not disguise the fact that life is a struggle. That's why I think it's important to have empathy for every living being. We can't deny the realities of the food chain, but we can strive for harmony and intelligent living. We can also count our blessings....

Speaking of contented animals, here is a chipmunk who made multiple appearances on a tree stump in our yard. He seemed to be as happy to watch me as I was to watch him. Every time I snapped a shot and the flash fired, he disappeared under a weed-covered rock, only to appear again for another pose, a few seconds later!

Chippie Takes a Pose - Image c Lynda Lehmann 2009

You can click on the photos to see a larger version, or visit my sites, listed in the right sidebar, to see more images.

The Real Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:47:00 +0000

The Real Magic - c Lynda Lehmann 2009

Autumn is a magical time of year. In the state of Maine as in many other places, nature is going through its Rites of Passage by changing its behaviors, forms and patterns in advance of the coming winter. The paradox is that as it passes into dormancy, rest, or even hibernation, concentrating its resources in order to burst with new life in the spring, it seems to be at its most beautiful. In the time of transition the phenomenal sights are fleeting, but linger long enough to inspire us with anticipation of more life experience and joy, in the future.

Please click on the image to see a larger version. All text and image c Lynda Lehmann 2009. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

What's in a Name?...The Local Color of Maine

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:35:00 +0000

The River Runs

Rustic Mystique

The General Store

At the Edge of the Wood

Late Bloomers

Old Workhorse

Kale With Pine Needle

Farm in Autumn

General Store

We drove the back roads yesterday, for an hour, at least. It was a beautiful, vibrant fall morning, which has given itself up today to a dark cloud cover and heavy rain.

Still faced with much work on our house and knowing the weather is changing, we needed the outing. With the aid of our new GPS, whom we have named "Jessie" for the Jessie's Mill Road she led us to, we felt free to wander without the burden of trying to read maps whose print is just too darned small for our old eyes to read!

We stumbled first on the tiny town of Bolster's Mills. I enjoyed the peace and quiet and the feeling of nostalgia it evokes. Were it not for our perception of the passing of time and the preciousness of fleeting Life, we could not experience nostalgia. But that's another story...

More than anything, I LOVED the general store, all set up with those rockers inviting one to sit awhile. Their presence only reinforced my perception of the fleetingness of our lives and our trappings on this Earth.

In the state of Maine, the appellations they come up with are as colorful as the autumn foliage or the sights along the road. From Puckerbrush to Cat-Moussem Road, to Menotomy Road and Hank's Hog Hill, one can only speculate as to what the inspiration was, for the names of these local byways. The local color here is fascinating.

I've got lots of new photos and I can't wait to do it again. There are whole worlds out there, nestled in every hollow and at every turn of the (paved or unpaved) road...

NOTE TO MY READERS: I usually make every effort to respond to comments and to make the rounds on a regular basis. This past summer, however, I had little item for blogging or my other passions, and have literally done NO painting! I just want you to know that I think of you and hope to be responding to comments more frequently, now that our huge project is a lot further along than it was in May when we again donned our hardhats for work on our house.

All video and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Reflecting on the Power of Reflection

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:56:00 +0000

We cannot hold time or the seasons, although often enough we would like to put a slice of time in our pockets. Isn't is grand that we are gifted with the power of memory? Without memory we could neither savor the beauty and joy of our experiences, nor learn from them.

Carrying my camera allows me to "capture the rapture," so to speak, by shooting the inspiring sights I see around me every day. So today I will reflect on the beauty of the past summer season, even as time tries to erase its impact on me.

In this photo you see the very fleeting beauty of reflections on the side of a wood boat on a mid-summer's day. The reams of light jiggle and dance like the wind or a fickle tide, reminding the viewer of just how delicate and evasive moments of beauty can sometimes be.

One ephemeral sight I have yet to capture is the sunlight bouncing off the water and shimmering on the trunks and undersides of the pine branches at the lake's edge. I hope to do so in the near future.

Life is precious! Every moment carries the potential for inspiration and yes, even bliss.

Photo and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Reflections on Summer's Passing

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:37:00 +0000

A Still and Solitary Time

Water Tapestry

Beneath the Surface

Sunset With Wake

Peace

autumn lays a cold hand on the lake
as its shores slip into evening shadows.
twilight's reminiscences bring joy and sorrow to bear.

under a painted sky i envision the freezing of the lake and the winter gale.

loneliness is in the air, in that settling autumn hush,
as seeking shelter becomes the point of it all.

another season of my life has passed
but in the sureness of beauty, I am comforted.

in the peace over the chilling land, i am replete.

- Lynda Lehmann c 2009

All photos and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

All in the Same Place

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:50:00 +0000

Touch of Autumn - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Reach - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Idyllic - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Here are three views of trees leaning over a lake in southern Maine, taken a week before the onset of autumn. They protrude from the fertile bank within mere feet of each other, practically at the same point. Each tree is different, in species, form, and the texture and color of its bark and foliage. Yet each is the same: leaning for sun and sustenance over the shallows in the fading afternoon light.

Lush with life, resplendent in diversity, our planet sings the songs of its seasons.

What are some of your favorite sights, in autumn?

Moon Lakes and Night Voices

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Moon Lake - c Lynda Lehmann

i cannot sleep.

a pale shroud has overtaken the darkened world
and shadows quiver in rhythm of moonlight.

released by luster of illumination,
voices rise from deep recesses of mind and forest

where dreams and creatures meet
to share mystery.

their discourse rises on sleek silver strands, to the night wind.

life force has the wisdom to know its own sustenance,
the Life Force whose glow burns brighter in its knowing.

voices merge--chirps and squawks, calls and whispers--
melding past and future, history and infinity
to tell of their knowing.

and i know that their knowing is so much greater than mine.

i cannot sleep.

i drink as well, from the vast cup of silence,
the silky intervals of chastened night
that channels the voices...

those murmurs of God and Infinity that
all at once
calm and discomfort my soul.

i cannot sleep.

i must not sleep.

--Lynda Lehmann c 2009

All art and text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Low-Lives or Elegant Beauties?....The Organic Splendor of Lichen, Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Branching with the grace of trees; sparkling with the light of stars; spreading with the hope of life; imbued with the energy of Creation; pastel-colored like fairies and rainbows. What am I talking about? LICHEN, of course!

Welcome to my "Garden of Earthy Delights!" Here are some recent macro shots of majestic trees whose bark presents a cornucopia of smaller lifeforms. They represent a microcosm of organic form that rivals the beauty of any flower garden. Form, color, infinite configurations: the peaceful symbiosis of bark, moss, insects, and lichen defy the hungry eye to ignore them. At first glance you might feel these shots are redundant, but if you look closely, you'll see a great variety of abstract compositions!

I LOVE photographing lichen. I think that some of my Abstract Expressionist paintings reflect my fascination with the kind of bursting forth of life force reflected in the orderly disorder of lichen!

If these images awaken your sense of wonder and you'd like to view more of them, please visit my "Living Surface" Gallery at Imagekind.

NOTE: Please click on any image to see the enlarged version.

Peace, Hope, Unity

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:08:00 +0000

This song was written and recorded by Allan Varela, Director of Long Island's Smithtown Township Arts Council! I want to share it with my blogging friends. Let's all spread some hope!

Preening Seagull Dance: A Nature Video

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:54:00 +0000

I didn't have time this week to write a long post, so I thought I'd upload this short video I shot on the beach this past winter. Or maybe it was early spring; I guess that depends on your viewpoint and how literally you take the calendar!

The snow was still melting on the beach, it was a mild day, and this seagull was up for a good cleansing bath. I thought his behavior was so animated and interesting, and I'm glad he let me get close enough to capture it. Nature is so full of wonders!

Please bear with me in that I'm posting and commenting less than usual, as we are still in the throes of house construction and remodeling. I didn't forget about you, and hold my blogging friends dear.

I hope to be more "present" soon. I hope you're having lovely late-summer days, filled with warmth, discovery, and wonders of your own making.

Bullfrog Symphony: A Meditation Video

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:26:00 +0000

I want to share the mystery and beauty of the fresh-water marsh with you. If I wait until this video is fine-tuned, I may never post it! So I thought I'd do it now.

You will hear the frogs and peepers singing in concert, the gentle wind blowing past, and the sound of my snapping of still shots. I'm sitting in a rocking boat, so the stability of the camera is not what it should be.

But if you turn your sound all the way up and give it a listen, I think you'll find it relaxing!

The Wail of the Mourning Dove

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:20:00 +0000

I'm ready to enjoy my morning coffee. Somewhere nearby, a Mourning Dove cries. A plaintive call, to protest the onset of another cloudy morning?

I lean back to rest my head against the wall. The cry continues. I am held rapt by the sound. It is neither here nor there, but beyond time and place. The sound is plaintive and nostalgic. Is it because similar calls are heard around the world, that they defy our sense of place and particularity?

I am not alone. The songbird is present, but everywhere. The call is timeless. Across continents, people hear the same songs. Evocations of the infinite...

This cry does not belong to our time alone. It belongs to All Time, to the Beginning of Time, to Creation.

I drift on its notes, and let my thoughts float beyond the tight walls of the space where I sit. Outside, the trees loom and portend the larger forests that extend in all directions. But my mind has now encircled and embraced the world, carried on the plaintive song of the Mourning Dove.

Mourning Dove image source: Wikipedia

All text copyright Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

If you would like to view my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

In the Stars: Serendipity and Bob Johnson's Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Thinking back, I remember writing a post or two on the idea of coincidence, or synchronicity. Whether you attribute the coincidences in your life to God, to accident, "just the odds," fate, luck, ESP, or some kind of Cosmic Jester, it's interesting to contemplate how these events effect our lives.

In one of my posts I described what I thought was an interesting coincidence in my life, relating to a family trip to Bussana Vecchia, Italy. And now I have another for you.

One evening a little over a week ago, my husband and I stole an hour from the ongoing saga of our house construction, to spend out on the lake, watching the changes of twilight. I shot a lot of too-dark water-garden type images, enjoying the process in my usual fashion.

Then the moon caught my eye, and there I sat in a moving boat, clicking away at the rising sphere. I knew I wouldn't get good results, but I had to try it anyway. I remembered Bob Johnson's wonderful Black Holes and Astrostuff blog, and all the great sky, moon and star photos HE has taken. I had mentioned him before, but there in the boat, I sang Bob's praises to my husband, for his enthusiasm and expertise in teaching us about the heavens.

My thoughts turned to autumn and the anticipation of living in our new space, the house we have been rebuilding for ten years. Why did it take so long? Because we used our own labor, mostly my husband's, and did as much work as we could fit in over each summer. Soon I will have high decks to sit on, I thought. I told hubby that it would be fantastic to sit up there and look at the night sky with a telescope, as the Maine nights (when they are clear) are like black velvet, studded with diamonds. He agreed.

In the comments on my blog a day or two later, came a message from no other than Bob Johnson. "Hey Lynda, you won something, come see..."

I went to Bob's blog for a wonderful surprise! I had won, along with two other of Bob's randomly chosen blogging friends, a TELESCOPE! How unbelievably timely! A "Galileoscope" by name, with what Bob says are very good optics for the money.

Now I can stargaze from my deck, and learn more about astronomy. Bob even recommended a few books on the subject. I can't thank Bob enough for his generosity and for trying to awaken in his blogging friends, the same mindfulness of the heavens that he feels! KUDOS to you, Bob, for your inspiring and informative blog, and for sharing! As Bob knows, I've named my Galileoscope "The Bobascope" in honor of him. Thanks for enriching my life, Bob!

If you aren't already familiar with Black Holes and Astrostuff, stretch your horizons with a visit. You will also find his posts on his recent trip to China there, along with commentary on the sky show he saw from across the world. Don't forget to wish him a Happy Birthday, as I'm pretty sure it's this week. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOB!

Above is one of my BAD moon shots from our aluminum 17-foot boat, which was rocking on the lake, of course. I know I will do better, with a little help from my blogging friends. (Who says we don't build community? )

If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Where My Heart Loves to Wander

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:08:00 +0000

Little Secrets of the Forest

The Forest Primeval

Lichen Puzzle

Rugged Terrain

Expectant, I break with the path to enter the forest gate. I know I have a pact with the forest, under whose canopy, worlds open. Engrossed by sweet, green-tinted shade spangled with glimmers of sunlight, my senses tingle. Wide-eyed I stand, compelled by the richness of possibility: here in the world of shadows and translucence, anything is possible.

I move on. The woods close around me and beckon me further. The sound of my tread is its own music as my feet pad over gnarled roots, soft beds of moss, and the tough flanks of boulders.

I feel the stretch of my calves and hear also, the rhythm of my breathing; only the murmur of the trees is more compelling. I bathe in green splendor, glad for a moment of reverie.

Here in the forest I own myself, I am fully and freely me. The covenant is with the Life Force. And I drink at its fount.

Life looms larger. More real than real, this arbor now--heaving in sync with the wind that enters its vaulted, verdant halls.

Dark hollows quiver with guarded truths, the quiet symbiosis of their parts to the whole. Wholly holy, in tune with itself, integrated and diverse, at rest in activity, steadfast but quick in growth and new life, the forest sings to me in a crescendo of beauty.

And I applaud with my soul.

Lichen Painting

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Garden Harmony

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 23:23:00 +0000

Gossamer Peach

Garden Harmony

Sometimes the scenes in our gardens are of such harmony and grace as to be truly an inspiration, even among the weeds or wildflowers that may take root there.

Not only do our gardens emerge and bloom in predictable patterns, year after year, but they delight us with unanticipated surprises, as well. I think we should be thankful for both the predictable beauties, as well as the continual serendipity of unexpected combinations to delight the eye and calm the soul.

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Peripheral Vision Listed Among "100 Best Scholarly Art Blogs!"

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:30:00 +0000

On Top of the World - Image c 2009 Lynda Lehmann

Peripheral Vision has been named on a list of the "100 Best Scholarly Art Blogs." I'm so honored that my blog is listed in the Art-Photo category, along with the "NY Times," "NASA," "Life" and "Time" Magazine blogs, as one of the best scholarly art-blog sites!

Please scroll down the list and look for my blog under "Best Art Photography Blogs." I don't know the person who made the list, but I want to thank him or her for putting me in such good company! It's an interesting list that you might want to check out for your own resources. It seems the author has collected a lot of fine sites for our enjoyment!

http://www.universityreviewsonline.com/2005/10/100-best-scholarly-art-blogs.htm l

_________

On another note entirely, I regret that circumstances are causing me to take time off from my blogging for the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, I will respond to your comments and try to get around to visit you. It's just untenable for me to be posting now. I know that you have such overly busy times, as well, and that you understand. I look forward to getting back here to post again and interact with you!

Wishing you peace, joy, and inspiration. And of course, some sunshine!

The Devil's in The Details, And So is Sublimity

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:59:00 +0000

Light Play, Sweep of Clouds

Little Secrets of the Forest

Water

The Details

Bark Abstract

Primeval Patterns

Barkscape

Lichen Painting

Textures in nature abound. To me it's a miracle just how many variations on a theme exist on every tree, every boulder, every expanse of water or sky. Infinity is manifest on so many levels. The details are there everyday to please our eyes and lead us to the recognition of forces so much greater than ourselves. Like variations on a theme or algorithmic permutations, the symphonic display of colors and surface markings is the calligraphy of the cosmos. Above you see sky, clouds, water, rock, and several views of bark and lichen. Each entity carries endless potential for changing form, surface character, or other properties. Our cup is always full with dynamic and ever-changing forms of beauty--if we will see them.

I can't begin to imagine how much more beauty and diversity of form exists in the vast world that is beyond my little sphere, but that makes the excitement and promise of mysteries to come, even greater.

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Consciousness

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:14:00 +0000

Entity

Balancing Act

Quixotic Rainbows

Consciousness

I've long had a fascination with consciousness. The idea of consciousness includes concepts like ideation, mindset, attitude, memory, mindfulness, conceptualization, creativity. One can go on and on adding aspects and dimensions to any description of consciousness, and that is precisely why it fascinates me. The human experience is so unlimited and multi-dimensional, as to appear infinite. The older I get, the more I become intrigued both by my own creative drive and by the creative proclivities of people around me. Our consciousness, both individually and collectively as an evolving species, is something to celebrate!

Working with my husband on the house these past weeks, has me painting moldings and doors in my sleep! Thank goodness I can squeeze in an hour or so in the evenings, to produce some digital art. The creative act expands my mind and releases me from the ties to everyday activities, which can get pretty repetitive.

I hope you find these images to be contemplative or meditative, or at least engaging. My favorite is "Quixotic Rainbows." I enjoy the colors and the idea of patches of rainbows, moving through time. And I like the spatial relationships in this one. Which do you like the best, if any?

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.

Serene Lake Scenes, Seen from the Shallows

noreply@blogger.com (Lynda Lehmann) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:17:00 +0000

Glory

Heading Out

Pointing West

Preening Loon and Mate

Reflections of Heaven

Where A Tree Grows

Heads Up

Tendrils

Emerging Lilies

A Whisper and A Prayer

Emerald Grasses

Cove

Yesterday we worked until 4:30. It was time to call it a day, a bit earlier than usual. We needed a break so we took our small aluminum boat out. It's well-suited to shallow waters, and easier to handle than a canoe, when encumbered with a camera and bag.

We headed into the fresh-water marsh at the near end of the lake, and here are a few photos of the delightful sights we saw. I didn't get a good shot of the new beaver lodge--last year's is abandoned--but I'll post it when I get one.

As you can see, the most elegant and luminous golden grasses sparkled in the sparkling water, while emerging, fresh (as yet uneaten by beetles) lily pads with unfurling scalloped edges floated in the sun. In the photo above, what you see sprinkled in the water around the lilies, is pollen. Pollen was everywhere, in staggering amounts, washed into long necklace-like strands that coated plant life, boulders, and fallen snags. It seemed a fitting counterpoint to the ice lines etched on the flanks of rocks protruding from the water.

The globes of yellow lily flowers poked their heads above the water's surface like little echoes of the golden sun.

A large turtle basked on a sunken log, and he stayed still as we cut the engine to float nearer to him. When finally I made the mistake of moving my leg over an oar--we always take oars in case the engine fails--he disappeared.

We saw a Baltimore Oriole singing on a bush, seemingly a song of joy. Unfortunately my shots of the Oriole are blurry, so I left them out.

At the far end of the marsh we cut the engine again and sat transfixed and awed by the symphony of bull frog and peeper calls that echoed out of the shallows, filling the world and transforming it with sound, as the gentle breeze rocked the boat and caressed our cheeks.

Shadows of clouds in the water made an alluring parallel universe of ripples and reflections.

I just wanted to convey some of the splendor and pouring forth of new life that we were able to partake of. It's not easy to get quality shots from a moving (and rocking) 17-foot boat, but I try.

Being in Maine makes me feel at peace. It's like being on another planet, a planet once lost and forgotten but forever imbued in our consciousness... All my dreams return to me and come alive when I'm here. I LOVE the deep, resilient silence of the starlit night, and the infinite shimmer and flux of the lake by daylight. And the cries of the loon....

I only wish I could share it all with you in real-time.

I wish you peace and joy on Father's Day!

All images and text c Lynda Lehmann. If you would like to view more of my art or make a purchase, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or my gallery at Imagekind, where you can choose from several sizes and paper types or buy my prints plain or matted and framed.