Smooth as Glass

Serenity is canoeing at twilight on a quiet lake. I wanted to share this image with you.

Image c Lynda Lehmann.

Flame of Life

Life is not guaranteed. Scientists agree that the conditions necessary for life to occur and be nurtured and sustained on this planet are not only unlikely, but exist within such a narrow range as to be almost inconceivable. It's highly unlikely that they have occurred by chance. For so many intricate systems to balance in the way they do, is highly improbable and seems to the pondering human mind, to be virtually impossible.

If these conditions occurred by the hand of a Greater Power, they remain an equally improbable and delicate combination. For instance, if the ratio of just one element in our universe, carbon, for instance, were off only by a few degrees from where it is, life as we know it could not occur.

Whether by chance or by the hand of a benevolent Creator, or by combination of both, we cannot afford to skew or destroy the balance that makes our green, lush and gorgeous planet a haven of life for millions of species. Including us...

Personally, I hope to be part of the solution more than part of the problem. Each of us has many options for being a better earth steward. Imagine what our planet would be like if we continue to destroy land, air, water, and species. Picture a cold, stale, rocky mass, devoid of color and life. No breathable oxygen, no drinkable water, no food, no flowers, no children...

Let's speak out against the abuse of our planet. Let's get together to move our governments toward global solutions for global warming and irreversible pollution, before it's too late! Let's protect the flame of life.

"Flame of Life" is available at www.LyndaLehmann.com , or you can buy it framed at Imagekind. Text and image c Lynda Lehmann.

The Artist: “Tortured Soul” or Joyous Participant? Examining the Stereotype

I've heard it said that artists are unstable, unreliable, flaky, unreasonable, quirky..... The list of negative personality and character traits often attributed to creative people seems endless. But I know many people who are bitter, negative, moody or withdrawn, and they are not artists! Likewise, I know many artists who have balance and perspective as very evident traits in their personalities, who at the same time are capable of great creative vision, passion, and works of commitment and imagination.

For me, art and design have been a source of joy in my life since the time, long ago, when I first played with "Colorforms" as a small child. Viewing the art of other artists, both the great and the less well-known, and doing my own art, has seemed to elevate me above the ups and downs of the everyday world, and to lift me beyond whatever sadness or despair I might feel.

I would make the point that there are people in every field of endeavor who are evolved, stable, self-aware, and competent, and also in every field, those who are self-indulgent, biased, regressive, or just plain "insane." For this reason I dislike the stereotype of the artist as a"tortured soul," and don't accept it. Though I will concede that some artists may produce their greatest works at times when their equilibrium is upset by human suffering, either their own or other's, I believe that many artists are very conscious of peace and social justice issues, and are often outward-looking and active in the pursuit of solutions.

In fact, most artists I've known love to share and communicate as well as enjoy all the immutable and ubiquitous beauties of the world. To the artists of the world I say: Ignore the stereotypes and create in joy!

To read more of my thoughts on the creative process, please visit: www.LyndaLehmann.com, or read my articles on Creativity Portal. All text c 2006 Lynda Lehmann. The image above is "Souls of a Restless Sort," done in ink on vellum. I always loved biomorphs, so this is one of my favorite drawings. Prints are available at my site listed above.

Dawn Over the Rockies

To me, there is nothing more awesome and inspiring than watching the light of day break over the horizon and cast its glow onto the face of majectic mountains, while the back sides of the peaks still hold the shadows of night. Our planet offers wondrous beauty at every level of our ability to perceive it.

This shot was taken with my SONY point-and-shoot digicam, through the smudged glass of an airplane window. For what it may lack in image quality, I think it stilll imparts that feeling of wonder that makes us say, "Wow!" Image c Lynda Lehmann.

This image is available for purchase at www.lyndalehmann.com. I willl be posting more aerial shots of our beautiful planet, soon.

Deadbolt

An intriguing bolt on a weathered door. The worn and rustic surfaces tell stories of another era, and hint at more personal tales unfolding in that time. Some features of architecture, whether of modern or more ancient origin, evoke their own symbology. Freudian and sexual interpretations aside, I think that locks evoke both an emotional response as well as questions about time and situation. Similarly, doors and windows hold much fascination for me and a lot of other people.

European architecture, with its combination of structural and decorative elements, has a wider range, in my opinion, of elements that can be looked at in metaphorical ways. I have a post half written, that describes my feelings about what I like to call "transitional spaces": the arch, balcony, and alleyway. I'll post it soon, along with photos from Bussana Vecchia (an international artist's colony) and other scenic, medieval towns in the Ligurian region of Northern Italy.

I wonder what Joseph Campbell would tell us about the symblogy of locks and doors, among other things... I'm sure they are the stuff of myths.

Image c Lynda Lehmann. Available at www.lyndalehmann.com.

Facets

Photomanipulation of original close-up of crystal, in Photoshop. What I like about abstraction is the ambiguity of it, so that I can interpret what my eye sees on many levels. Image c Lynda Lehmann. Available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/

What do YOU see in it?

Seeking Serenity

The serenity of twilight, a time when the light of day fades into that magic in-between period when dreams start to form and summon the darkness and somnolence of night...

I feel serene tonight and don't have much to say--doesn't happen often--but I wanted to post this shot anyway.

Hope it makes you feel peaceful, as it does me... Image c Lynda Lehmann. Unmatted print, 8 x 11 inches. I can crop it to an 8 x 10 print and mat it for you, but it will lose some of its panoramic quality. Available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/

Like Butterflies

I love the way the light in this shot brings out the dimensions of these tiny, delicate flowers and the way they float like a petal-constellation (or butterflies) in space. Nature gifts us with wonderful surprises each day, even in our own backyards! Image c Lynda Lehmann.

If you would like to see more of my work, please visit www.LyndaLehmann.com

Fish Fiesta 2

This is the second version of a digital painting I did a few months back, but it works well, I think, in these colors--better than the first version. I did it in Painter, but have not even watched the tutorial for this program yet. I think I'm having "Beginner's Luck" because I do like some of the results I've gotten thus far. And I've had a lot of fun with it. Hopefully, by this time next year I will have found or made the time to learn something about the software.

Hope you see the humor and whimsy in it! Image c Lynda Lehmann. You can purchase this print at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/