Digital Enigmas

My digital paintings consist of photomanipulation, computer-generated and mixed media works, mostly colorful abstracts with a touch of the mysterious.

Digital art offers us possibilities for finding new ways of seeing, not conceived of before the computer era. New realms of vision and perception, from the everyday to more unusual phenomena, are opened up for us. Digital painting will never replace real-time, brush-and-pigment painting, but it brings us myriad new dimensions of vision, not readily attainable by traditional means alone.

But most often, as in traditional forms of painting, the meaning of an image is the meaning the viewer gives it. Ambiguity is satisfying because it calls on the viewer to engage his/her intellect and perception, and provides a unique and singular visual experience. For me, art is not about copying reality, but about providing the exhilaration of this new visual experience. I hope you enjoy looking at my work.

You might be interested to know that these images originated in my washing machine. Yes, I took pictures of our laundry-in-process, and transformed them into these images. Hopefully you will find some fascination in them, as I did in engaging my own "art of seeing."

The above images are "Seeking the Spirit" and "Celerian." Both images copyright 2008 Lynda Lehmann. All rights reserved. If you would like to see more of my art, including painting, digital art, and photography, please visit www.lyndalehmann.com

Grace and Beauty, In Honor of Kim and Mary Ann

I am moved and inspired first, by Kim's words about the "Significant Blogger Award" she presented to me and the following bloggers yesterday.

Anand Archie Art News Blog Ascender Blog Elf Boyd Catsy Colin Cooper Corrine Debbie Deborah Diane DouDy Drowsey Monkey Durano Ev Fruity Hanna Janette Jeremy John Jos Kimmy Kris Leigh Life cruiser Lisa Lyn Lynda Lindsay Manuel Mary Ann Meg Megan Mel Michelle Netster PALMA Pet Monologues Pearl Renny & Diane Santa She Walks In Beauty Shoshana Should Be Famous Snoskred Speedy Sue Sugar Queen Sully Suzanne The Artist’s Magazine Vin Walter williebaronet

Kim said:

Last year I designed the Southern Cross Award and awarded it to my blogging friends at PoeARTica....I have designed another Award to recognise Bloggers who make a significant contribution to my blogging world here at laketrees....These special friends have a sense of community and are wholeheartedly committed to spreading their message and friendship generously...these Bloggers excel in many different areas and all of them make a significant difference to my world....I do not expect you to pass this award on as this award is from me to you as my expression of gratitude...

And I'm moved a second time in reading Saboma's post about how she feels about the award and our blogging community. Quoting Mary Ann:

I'd like to take a moment to thank Kim and the other recipients of this thoughtful award for their participation as community role models. Every single one of us are shakers and movers. We, independently and collectively, demonstrate exemplary conduct and outstanding moral characteristics for others including bloggers to model. We are significant. We are community. Congratulations goes out to the many Significant Bloggers both recognized by this award and to those who have yet to be acknowledged for being a part of a winning team of kind hearted and ethical folks who walk their talk.

So I'm posting this beautiful orchid in honor of Kim and Mary Ann, two very dynamic and vibrant people who have touched MY blogging life! And I've posted Kim's award in my sidebar, but humbly ask her permission to change the color so that it will go better with my "decor"....lol.

And although I am not passing anything on per se, I would like to acknowledge some of my other flowers: Anna at My Only Photo, Boba at Black Holes and Astrostuff, Secret Simon at The Secret of Life, Max at Max, Barbara at Spirited Strider, Ellen at Positive Communication, Niels at My Camera World, Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage, Swubird at Swubird's Nest, KML at Photography by KML, and Merging Point at Merging Point. (See my sidebar for their links!)

I don't know how to put all the above names and sites in code so you might want to read Kim's and Mary Ann's last posts. I know most of you know Saboma at Maryannaville, and Kim at Laketrees. One day when I'm ready to become a pro blogger like Kim and Mary Ann, I'll learn all this HTML stuff!

I have a family commitment for a week, so even if I wanted to TRY to embed your links, forgive me, I don't have time! Anyway, I dedicate this orchid to you too, because you are all my flowers!

Photo "Grace and Beauty" c 2008 Lynda Lehmann.

The Opening of My Show "Peripheral Vision"

On Saturday afternoon my solo painting show opened at the Alfred Van Loen Gallery at South Huntington Library on Long Island. The weather was overcast and chilly, but not especially wintry. We had a great turnout, and the show was beautifully curated by Deborah Katz. Of course my paintings look a whole lot better on the large and well-lit walls of a beautiful gallery than they do crowded onto my walls at home. My thanks to all my visitors and to my blogger friends who sent their best wishes!


One of my favorite moments was actually on Friday, when Deborah and I were hanging the show for Saturday's Opening. Two adorable kids came through the gallery with their mother, and I heard them utter "Oooh, Mommy!" in excited voices, as they pointed at one or another of my paintings with huge smiles on their faces. It seems they loved my colors! Now there's my most enthusiastic audience, I thought! Maybe I haven't lost the child in me, after all!


I had to wonder how such a tiny tot as this little boy could respond to a totally abstract work like "The Garden in Spring," seen here, with such apparent delight.

Whatever the reason, I enjoyed his reaction and it made me feel good that for this child at least, my work was fun to look at. In this photo, the two tots are checking out my painting "Oceano."

And here is Deborah Katz, hanging "Cerebration." I can't tell you how many times she was up and down that ladder, and I was exhausted, just watching her. (I did help her hold up and align the paintings, but stood back to get this shot.)

This is the Alfred Van Loen Gallery, a beautiful space with curved walls and attractive lighting. The wall to the right, not visible in this image, holds many of my paintings. The larger paintings are hung with more space around them, because of their bold and bright colors and active forms.

Here are a few of my guests. I knew many of them, and since there were quite a few faces I couldn't identify, I'd say that 85-100 people appeared at my Opening between 2:00 and 4:00. I had wanted to take more photos, but when the room became crowded, I found myself running around like a chicken without a head, greeting people and talking to friends. And naturally, every time I pointed my camera, someone walked in front of it. (Those are the times when I become aware that I'm a short person, lol...)

Many people approached me to tell me which work or works they liked the best, and that was gratifying. And at least five or six of them asked questions like "Did you take a class on how to name your paintings?" Although they were kidding about taking a course in title-making, there seemed to be a consensus that my titles were apt and well-chosen. Many folks told me they were amazed at how well they fit. To me this meant that the mood, emotion, season or natural phenomenon that the painting evoked for me, was also perceivable to them. It's interesting that abstraction can convey certain impressions or ideas this way, since it lacks literal or objective meaning and has a high level of ambiguity that leaves the mind free to find its own interpretation.

It didn't snow on the day of my reception and the food, catered by a local supermarket, was very good. By the time 4:00 rolled around, I was desperate for some of those bakery cookies, but they were all gone! I didn't get even one of them!

A good friend of mine whom I know since the seventh grade came from New Jersey with her husband, to have dinner with us. For me it was a happy day and although it was fun, I'm glad the Opening is over! (I didn't make my change-over to a "fly on the wall" in time...)

Thank you for sharing a bit of my show with me. I hope you've had a good week!

To view more of my art, please visit www.lyndalehmann.com

Almost Perfect

"Almost Perfect" - Photo by Lynda Lehmann, c 2008

A pink Camellia basks in the subdued and filtered mid-winter light of a greenhouse. This one is blooming earlier than many of its still-dormant counterparts. Within the contours of its delicate petals is a delineation of order, peace, and unassuming beauty. The slight blemishes at one or two of its petal tips, do not mar its overall magnificence. Perhaps in seeing this we can remind ourselves that to find the beauty within us all, is not to imply that we must fulfill an ideal of perfection. Maybe we, like the flower, are beautiful and complete--each of us--in spite of our imperfections.


Tonight before you go to sleep, why not concentrate on all the good and kind and decent things you have done today or in the past week. I hope you will find your personal beauty in that meditation, and be graced with sleep as serene as this quiet flower!


Image and text c 2008 Lynda Lehmann. If you are interested in purchasing this image, please visit my sites at Imagekind orLynda Lehmann Painting and Photography

Warmth in February

Spending an afternoon in a greenhouse can take us away--as far away as the tropics. It's a great way to escape the winter blues! Although today wasn't bad, here in the Northest USA, for a winter afternoon. Bright sunshine and around fifty degrees, and very uplifting after many gray and gloomy, damp and raw days.

I thought I'd publish these orchid photos which I took today at our local arboretum, to give you a taste of warm, exotic places. Hope you've had a great weekend!

Monkey Business

Monkey Business - c 2008 Lynda Lehmann

I've done several new paintings in the past week, hoping to have more work for my upcoming show. I had great fun with this one, and that's probably somewhat obvious to you in looking at it. It's 24 x 36 inches, painted in acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas. It's very colorful and full of gesture and motion, but my eye is usually comfortable with chaotic compositions. This one is somewhat surreal and musical, with an organic feeling to it. I'm not quite sure whether the bottom right corner is finished. It's seems a bit empty to me, as if it's calling for a little more articulation of the detail there.

Another problem for me is that at times I prefer this as a vertical composition, and other times I prefer it on the horizontal. This is a mystery to me, as I usually have a strong preference one way or the other. How do you like it best?

I'll try to post a few more of my new works before my show, and later on, photos of the Opening. Thanks for your input and support! I wish you a creative and fulfilling weekend!