A World of Their Own

A woman and three children ensconced by the spread of a magnificent tree, totally absorbed in the private world they are sharing. What would our world be like without the drama and beauty of such magnificent trees?

Trees give us not only beauty and add dimension to our world, they give us shade, provide animal habitat, wood for all our human "creature comfort" needs, and hold the soil in place. They grow everywhere in amazing diversity, until we raze and burn the forests.

We can all help the Earth and help to insure human survival by planting an extra tree or two in our yards, or by sending in Action Alerts that address issues such as clear-cutting for industry and rainforest preservation. Join the World Wildlife Fund or the Nature Conservancy or the Rainforest Action Network, to put in YOUR two cents! (See links to other environmental organizations in the sidebar of this blog.)

The way I look at it, the "Tree of Life" is at the heart of life.

Text and image c Lynda Lehmann. You can purchase this print at www.lyndalehmann.com.

A Pristine Land

When I see such a clear and clean view, no litter or pollution apparent to the naked eye and the air sweet and pungent with the scent of pine, I wonder how the land looked 200 years ago, before the Industrial Revolution. I can not begin to imagine the sparkling natural beauty of the landscape. Imagine how much happier we would be if we were PART of this environment, cherishing, protecting, and enjoying it, instead of using it up for profit or simply moving THROUGH it at jet speed. Image c Lynda Lehmann. Lakes region of Maine.

Visit http://www.lyndalehmann.com/ if you would like to see more of my work, or purchase this print! You can buy it framed at http://lyndalehmann.imagekind.com/

Lascaux Bark

Nature is full of surprises and design is everywhere one looks, and at all levels of the cosmos. For me, finding pattern, design, or a pictorial quality in unexpected places makes my life rich with the adventure of "looking."

The bark of this tree reminds me of the cave paintings in Lascaux, France and other places. It has a primordial feel to it--I can see a boar or a bull charging. What do YOU see? Image c Lynda Lehmann.

"Lascaux Bark" is available at www.lyndalehmann.com or you can contact me through this blog for more information.

Ablaze

This rose seems to glow as if it holds the sunlight within. Isn't it amazing how light literally and figuratively brings things to life, gives life?

Image c Lynda Lehmann. Matted archival print available in several sizes. Thank you for looking at my work. Please visit http://www.lyndalehmann.com/ if you would like to see more of it!

Or purchase this image framed at http://lyndalehmann.imagekind.com/

Solitude

I just wanted to share this beauty of a Maine sunset with you. The backlit clouds and their reflection on the lake surface were just glorious!

I love being in a place where the fabric of the land is not torn and tattered, where the Earth's skin is still (relatively) healthy and brimming with life. No litter, no crowds, no noise: just the gentle wind on your face, reflections silver on the smooth water, and a panorama of the heavens unfolding on the twilit sky. You can have a sense of yourself in relation to the universe, and tune in to your thoughts in a meditative way that's not often possible, with all the distractions of modern life.

How will we preserve what's left of our natural heritage, for future generations? Please look into joining one of the environmental groups I have listed on the sidebar of this page, or one of the many others concerned with Earth stewardship, to make your voice heard!

Image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann.

Peacock Elegy

Of course, when you look at an abstract painting you can take whatever you want from it. The interpretation is yours to make. I think about our ailing planet a lot, and that's how this title probably surfaced in my mind. If you want to help preserve biodiversity like I do, and you know that the presence of squirrels and Blue Jays or Robins in your yard does not mean we are not losing precious species every day, why not check out the action alerts of some of the reliable environmental groups. I have some posted in the sidebar on this page. Let's all be part of the solution!

This flowing abstract expressionist painting is done in acrylic in shades of blue, mauve, purple, and orange, 36 x 48 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas, with an Oriental look. It reminds me of a tapestry. Image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann. "Peacock Elegy" is available at www.LyndaLehmann.com

My Apology to Everyone...And the Latest Twist

This morning I was embarrassed to report my discovery that I seemed to have nominated myself for the "Blogger's Choice Award"for Best Photography Blog. I had gone to the site to see who had nominated me, and indeed, I must have clicked a button or link to nominate myself. So my excitement turned to dismay, I was embarrassed by my mistake, and I apologized to those who had taken the time to vote for me.

Now I've read (after all this) that self-votes are invited and okay, so I'll leave the badge on my page. Maybe all of us with multiple sites need to slow down and read the fine print more carefully! Thanks for your understanding and if you vote for my blog, thanks for your time in doing that!

"Iridescent Blue" is available at www.lyndalehmann.com. Image c Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved.

WAITING

A long line of slatted wooden porch chairs in an abstract pattern, seems to be waiting for sitters, or perhaps something else!

A large part of our lives is spent waiting for one thing or another. How much time we spend waiting is probably due to our expectations of life: do we believe in predestination or waiting for the hand of a higher power to intervene in our behalf, or do we take responsibility for our fates in spite of our varying beliefs in Deity?

Many of the world's cultures have, I believe, a myth of a sort of Cosmic Jester embedded somewhere in their mythology. According to books I have read, whose titles escape me at the moment, this notion is so prevalent, almost universal, that we have to question why this is so. It seems the Jester is seen as a sort of intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds, i.e. between man and God. The Jester is the force responsible for synchronicity, or what I would call "meaningful coincidence." When one's life takes ironic turns and "special" or remarkable events seem to coincide with personal milestones or rites of passage, this becomes a tantalizing notion. Most of us have at least a few recollections of events in our lives that seemed to present us with some unique personal meaning, especially "fitting" for us as individuals living in the greater cosmic soup.

Which moves me into thoughts of energy, the eloquence and organized chaos of the universe, etc.

No matter where each of us stands on these issues, it's fun to speculate. No one knows the answers, and I suspect that truth is as fluid as the ocean. If only we could see the whole picture....

Which activities and passions we choose to pursue during our short lifetimes, determines who we are and shall further become, while we wait for answers.

Text and image c Lynda Lehmann. "Waiting" won a Special Recognition Award at a Period Gallery juried exhibition. A matted archival digital print of "Waiting" is available at www.lyndalehmann.com, on the last page of the site.

Oceano

Colorful, bright abstract with lots of organic form in motion, with a nautical feel. Arylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 40 x 40 inches. Does not require framing. Image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann. Available on www.LyndaLehmann.com .

Amazon

Biodiversity is important for the continuation of life on Earth. Every species that becomes extinct effects every other species in the food chain, either directly or indirectly. If you are not already a member of a reputable environmental organization, I recommend the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Union of Concerned Scientists, or the Sierra Club. If you would like to learn more about earth stewardship issues, please visit one of these organizations on the web. Or join one of the many others that deal with environmental issues, from how to store or dispose of nuclear waste, to biodiversity, food safety, fuel efficiency, depletion of of Earth's resources, Global Warming, etc. I'll post some of these sites on the side bar of this blog, just as soon as I can get to it. You and I have only one precious life to live, and collectively, we have one planet to protect. Indeed, it is our home--and our children's home. Our only home.

"Amazon" is an abstract expressionist painting that to me, suggests a jungle teeming with foliage and all manner of organic form; sunlight filtering through the lush canopy; and perhaps the gift of fresh rainwater swirling into the river. Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 36 x 48 inches. This painting is available at www.LyndaLehmann.com . Image and text c Lynda Lehmann.