Gorgeous Dancing Peonies Floral Fantasy

Peony Fantasy - Image c Lynda Lehmann

I just got my blog back in order today, after a tenuous try of the dynamic views, which seemed to bury a lot of features and lists I wanted to show.  I didn't have time to write a post today, but I'll share with you my latest digital floral, made from one of my photos and processed in Photoshop.  I hope you're having a great, late-summer day!
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!

Gorgeous Flowers on Your Postage Stamps!

 

Sweet Carnation Postage by LyndaLehmannFlorals
Browse Beautiful Stamps

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!

Golden Cluster

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!

A Ballet of Blossoms

Peachy Petals - Lynda Lehmann c 2009

Watch the petals of irises sway, billow and gently gesture in the breeze. It's like watching a ballet: the dance of sweet spring air over translucent sheaths of brilliant color, orchestrated interplay of air, color, and light....

Irises may be my favorite flower, for their intricate, sculptural forms, whose graceful spatial relationships flourish in 3-D. I think they're much more interesting than tulips, for example, whose colors are just as beautiful but whose petals form a more symmetric and predictable, cup-like structure. As with the process when I paint, I enjoy variety and a few surprises!

The closer I move with my eye or my view through the camera, the more I see of the fantastic architecture of the flower kingdom.

What's your favorite flower?

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

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.

Today's Photo: Red Glory

Red Glory - Image c Lynda Lehmann

The tulip shows her glory in the curve and sweep of her petals, and exuberant crimson. She reaches towards the light in awesome grace, releasing life force into the wind on her tiny pollen spores. She teaches us to regard grace and beauty with both passion and respect.

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.

Basking in the Light of Spring

First Crocuses on the Sunny Side of the Building
Image c Lynda Lehmann

Ever notice how sunlight seems to bring everything alive? In darkness, we see nothing. It's almost as if reality vanishes and our imaginations replace the world of every day. During night-time, we become more subjective. Our anxieties may come out to play havoc with our moods. Dreams flourish, along with the memories, wishes, perceptions, and fears that are embedded in them.

Thank goodness for the light, that makes all things real. The light of day is so reassuring. Perhaps it's because it's ingrained in us that we need the sun to live on this planet. Not only for warmth and energy, but for the viability of the food chain.

I believe we can also create our own light. It's not as potent as the light of the sun, nor as far-reaching. But our creativity can light the world, for ourselves and others.

When is the last time you made a point of encouraging someone's creativity? Do you have a partner, friend, student, or neighbor whom you have spurred on to the personal power that's part of inner-directedness and self-actualization? What is life, but the endless and ongoing challenge to master ourselves and shine our light into the darkness?

Many of us will be celebrating one holiday or another in the coming week. Some of us may just be celebrating the advent of spring. Whatever our culture, position, belief or creed, wherever we are:

May each of us live this week with
peace in our heart,
peace in our mind,
peace in our spirit.

The responsibiltiy to transform the world
begins with us.

Wishing you joy and light!

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.

An Image to Contemplate: "The Invitation"

The Invitation - Image c Lynda Lehmann

On a walk along Main St. in a town on suburban Long Island this week, my gaze was captured by this wrought-iron chair sitting sedately in front of an ivy-covered wall. I had such a profound sense of anticipation, looking at this, as if someone very important were about to approach and take a seat. If you were to use this image as a writing prompt, what would you come up with? What would "the invitation" be? And to whom?

It's truly amazing how an inanimate object can sometimes convey an attitude, or an unseen energy, or a quality of expectation. Do you feel this too, when you look at this photo?

I also loved the all-over texture of the ivy as a backdrop for the chair, and can see a metaphor for the personal versus the impersonal, or the subjective versus the objective. Maybe I can see the passage of time implied in the overgrowth of vines, while the chair seems to retain more of its original form, and be more stable. And then again, maybe not....

What do you see here?

Image 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.

Serendipity: The Unexpected Beauty of Peach-Colored Irises and Pink Peonies

Precious Peony - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Peachy Petals - Image c Lynda Lehmann

I had the pleasure of finding these blooms on a recent walk. Some days I find only spent or wilted flowers, but this past Monday, my luck was good. I felt blessed to encounter these lush specimens at the peak of their glory! I shot with a small aperture for depth of field, because of the depth of the blossoms. Hope you enjoy them!

I'd like to dedicate them to Janice Thompson at Drinking the Moon. Janice is bedridden with a bad bout of arthritis. I'm sure she'd love to have our visits to her blog to see her lovely poetry and nature images, and that would cheer her a little when she's able to get up. I hope you feel better soon, Janice!

I'll be busy building a cabin into a house this summer, with my husband, so you'll probably see less of me here on the blogosphere. But I'll try to post and comment, although maybe less often. I couldn't resist posting these beauties today. Now why doesn't MY garden look like this?

Poised in Perfection - Image c Lynda Lehmann

Images 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 .

Tulip Rapture

Tulip Rapture - Image c 2008 Lynda Lehmann

A bright and luminous display of beautiful yellow-orange tulips, truly representative of the glory of spring. Image c Lynda Lehmann.

I'm trying to get other house and garden tasks done by staying off the computer. As you can see, it doesn't work! Each time I go for a walk at this gorgeous season, I'm totally awed by the beauty I see. Of course I try to bring it home with me. Vowing to avoid photographing more flowers won't help. It's useless to try. I'm an addict!

I'm late in making the rounds this week, but I will be around to visit your blogs!


Image 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 Imagekind Gallery, where you can buy prints plain or framed.

Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere....

I try to walk every day that weather and time permit. With each walk I enjoy the air, the sunlight, and views of hills and trees. Our neighborhood looks out at a harbor and Long Island Sound, as so many North Shore neighborhoods do, and the glint of water is never far away. I always come home feeling great, having imbibed in a bit of air and exercise, and lots of beauty.

What makes my walks really special is when I remember to take my camera along. Right now I have a SONY digital-SLR and it's a bit heavy. But it's worth the work of toting it in the hope of grabbing some good nature or garden shots as I go. Sometimes I take my monopod, but that gets in the way at least as often as it's helpful. I'm sure that one of these days I'll trip on it outright, and go flying down one of the steep hills here, camera still in hand. Be that as it may, every find of a beautiful object or scene is a gift, and if I manage to get a decent photo of it, the gift keeps giving. I feel very rich to have my passion fulfilled and the camera putting so much joy in my life, on a regular basis.

All the above shots except for the purple and white orchids were taken just in the past three days, as I labored up and down the hills of my small town, searching for window pots and hedgerows close enough to the street to photograph. I hope you enjoy them, as I'm enjoying sharing them with you!

All the above images are or will be available at Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or you can buy them framed at Imagekind, should you be interested in purchasing them.

Spring Flame

I'm uploading this image to wish you all a happy and bright spring! We passed the most beautiful flowers hanging in window pots outside a local Long Island restaurant today, and I shot them in spite of a stiff and maddening wind. I manipulated this one in Photoshop, repeating a single blossom to make the composition.

It was my first day out since last Tuesday. Seems I had a little bout of flu, and now I have to catch up on all your posts! I hope you've had a better week than I did, although all things considered, I have nothing to complain about. Happy spring!!

Image c Lynda Lehmann. If you are interested in purchasing this image or any of my art, please visit Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography. Or you can buy it framed at Imagekind.

Ethereal

"Ethereal" Image c Lynda Lehmann

Petals clasp sweet sunlit air.

Roots reach deep to suckle Grace.

Graceful tulip drinks her love, grateful for

dear Earth's embrace.

Poem c 2008 Lynda Lehmann

Serendipity was finding this majestic tulip in my garden, upon returning home from a walk. I ran to get my camera and caught it just a minute before shade enveloped it, swallowing all the gorgeous highlights. Only a day later, this beautiful bloom was past its glory. But what a glorious flower it was! The photo is from last year, but since we're not having much in the way of blooming here yet, except for crocuses and hyacinths, I'm posting it to celebrate spring. It's the perfect time to find renewal in both nature and in ourselves. I hope you enjoy my photo and poem and I wish you a happy, healthy, and creative spring!

Text and photo c Lynda Lehmann. "Ethereal" is available for purchase at Lynda Lehmann Painting and Photography or you can buy it framed at Imagekind.

Heart of Mystery

An ornamental kale that to me, embodies the heart of mystery. Or said another way, the essence of Creation. Quiet, unassuming, and indescribably beautiful.

Image and text c 2007 Lynda Lehmann. Unmatted print, 8 x 12 inches on professional archival photo paper or canvas, available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/.

Opening to the Light

This is an orchid, but it reminds me of an iris in the way its petals unfold. At least I know what THIS flower is! (or so the sign at the arboretum said...)

Image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann, available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/ and soon at Imagekind!

Thanks for visiting! I wish you a peaceful evening, and dreams of great beauty.

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/

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.

Lovely Lady Lily

"Lovely Lady Lily," basking in the sun. A magnificent flower, poised in light and loveliness. I hope you enjoy her! Image c Lynda Lehmann.

This is just the second time I've been able to get a blog post to upload, in the past two weeks. So much for a slow dial-up connection that is making it nearly impossible to post to my sites! For me, a good opportunity to practice patience....

You can purchase this image at www.lyndalehmann.com or at http://lyndalehmann.imagekind.com. Thanks for visiting. I hope you are taking time to enjoy the lush beauty of the summer season!

Grace

A lush and graceful pink and white lily, poised in space and full of grace. Image c Lynda Lehmann. I photographed this with my tiny point-and-shoot digital camera, and despite a strong wind and lacking the controls of an SLR, got a fair shot.

Prints of this image are available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/. Or you can buy it on a variety of surfaces including canvas, giclee, framed or unframed, at http://lyndalehmann.imagekind.com/.

Clematis

Nature always has a surprise to offer, whether it's a grand sunset, an encounter with a soulful furry critter (pet or otherwise), the power and majesty of a waterfall, or a simple "everyday" bloom. I came upon this graceful and elegant purple Clematis along a neighbor's fence while on a walk, and for a moment, I felt was deep in a shaded woodland. Earth blesses us with many gifts. Whether one chooses to look at this as the inherent bounty of the universe, proof of biodiversity, evidence of a higher being or grace, or simple serendipity, doesn't matter. The bottom line is that we are rich in beauty and inspiration, if we just take the time to look. Image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann.