Presentiment: A Fractal Composition

Presentiment - c 2009 Lynda Lehmann

This is an active and gestural fractal flame, begun in Apophysis and processed in Photoshop. I know nothing about Apophysis, and I don't know how much I'll actually learn in the coming months. But I do love experimenting with it.

Fractals are enigmatic. As organic, flowing, and spontaneous as they may look, they are based on mathematical formulae. It's the same kind of mathematical underpinning that gives our universe order and elegance. So indeed, looking deep into the heart of fractals is like a glimpse into the heart of the cosmos. I'm all for feeling mystical....

If anyone has suggestions for free fractal programs or shareware, I'm all ears. Apophysis is free, so you can download it if you want to try it out. I'm not sure what the newest version might be. I downloaded this one is about three years ago, and have experimented with it a handful of times.

I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend. We're making our own sunshine here, because it's dreary and gray outside. Not to mention "raw." But spring is only a month away!

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.

My Newest Abstract Acrylic Painting, "Metrimorphic III"

My newest painting, done this week, has both geometric and biomorphic features. Hence my coined term "Metrimorphic." I enjoy the bright colors floating on the surface of this composition, as well as the more subdued hues beneath them, just barely visible, emerging out of the black underpainting. "Metrimorphic" is 30 x 36 inches, painted in acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas.

I'm curious as to whether you as the viewer, get a sense of changing spatial relationships and multiple perspectives from this piece. I do, but I've always had an overactive imagination!

Thanks for visiting. I wish every one of you the happiest of holidays, and peace for us all, all over the world, in the coming year!

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.

Mind Portal

That's what digital art is for me, a portal. The technology allows us to create effects that would be either too difficult or actually impossible, to do with brush and pigment in real-time. To think that way back in the 60s I was against the idea of artificial intelligence, because it seemed to take us further afield in our struggle to remain truly human! Many factors in our evolution and cultural choices may conspire to undermine both manners and morality, but the use of a particular technology, of itself, probably doesn't have that power. Whether we further evolve as a species, or devolve, or both polarities of the human experience cancel each other out so that we remain helplessly stuck in one spot, will depend on a multitude of factors of global import. But that's too far a digression for this post!

Now I not only accept the computer as a useful tool, but I embrace it for it's unlimited potential to bring us knowlegde, and aid and augment our research and creativity, among other things. Of course I recognize that it can also be used for ill, but that applies to almost any tool, technique, or technology that's ever been invented. (Evil is in the hands of the perpetrator!)

As for us artists, photographers, writers, and other creative people, I see us as adding new forms of beauty to the world. To me, that is unarguably a good thing!

As I begin to explore a bit more digital painting, I'm finding joy in it just as I do with realistic photography or expressionistic painting. This is one of my new images, and I think I like it.

To me, "Mind Portal" is a colorful, kaleidoscopic digital painting with an inner glow. I find I can lose myself in it, just as I can with many images of other techniques and genres. I know that many people would rather look at something identifiable and realistic, for a pleasing visual experience. For me, there's room for everything along the spectrum of real to surreal and unreal i.e. completely non-objective and fabricated. How about you? Do you find this kind of image engaging, or easy to dismiss?

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.

Evidence of the Infinite

Evidence of the Infinite - Image c Lynda Lehmann.

Although my husband works from 7:30 in the morning until between 4:30 and 6:00 every evening, we try to make time for at least a half-hour sunset boat ride. After a full day of construction work, dirt, and stress, it's good for the soul!

Here's a glorious expanse of sky at sunset that makes one ponder the mysteries at the heart of the universe. At least in has that effect on me..... Shot from a rocking aluminum row boat in the middle of a Maine lake. I never tire of photographing sunsets or golden-rimmed clouds: it's a form of madness. I hope it inspires you as it did me.

I have a whole series of images from just this one magnificent sunset that changed from moment to moment like a vast kaleidoscope. I hope to post these soon, so you can see the amazing variety of spectacle that unfolded within a short period of time, maybe 15 minutes or so. I'm finding the time to post a lot this week, at least so far, but please don't feel any pressure to comment on all of them!

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 gallery at Imagekind, where you can buy my prints plain, or matted and framed .

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.

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!

Autumn Dazzle

I count among my blessings the freedom to enjoy nature's beauty a little bit each day. That's why I try to remember to carry my camera when I walk.

Today was blustery and cold, but the sky was an intense blue and the sunshine pouring over everything lit the trees on fire. I often miss seeing the peak color, but I managed to see some of it today. I will savor the glow long after this gorgeous, blazing afternoon has faded into dusk.

A picture speaks a thousand words. I hope you enjoy these photos, as I enjoyed taking them. I also hope that everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving felt blessed with warmth, good food, love, and spiritual riches.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these images, you will find them for sale as matted archival prints on my site at www.lyndalehmann.com , and eventually on Imagekind and Art.com as prints that you can purchase plain or matted and framed.

Florabunda

I sometimes forget that this is an art blog, not just a photo blog. So here is my newest painting. "Florabunda" is acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 24 x 36 inches, and it's--you guessed it--a floral!

I love working with color and swirling organic form. I've uploaded a detail shot to give you a better idea of what it looks like. Such large paintings tend to close in and lose detail, when reduced to the size of a web image!

"Florabunda" is available at www.lyndalehmann.com. Please feel free to ask about prints, if you are interested.

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/

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/

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

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!

Primal Spirit

Done by manipulation of an original photograph in Photoshop, using a variety of filters. This image reminds me of both primal earth process and primal emotion. We tend to forget sometimes that we are organic beings, closely tied to our planet by our biology. If our Earth suffers, is under assault by myriad destructive forces, than so are we. I think things may be reaching critical mass, and we try to hide from the truth by our material pursuits, our passions, and our ideologies. Wouldn't it be better for all of us to participate in democracy, find our political will and make our voices heard, than passively watch the world slide into environmental crisis?

I recommend the following organizations for reliable information on environmental issues:

Union of Concerned Scientists http://www.ucsusa.org/
Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/
Stop Global Warming http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/

I have been familiar with the Union of Concerned Scientists and the NRDC for more than 20 years, and I find both groups to be very reliable sources of information. Even the federal government consults with the NRDC for information.

"Primal Spirit" is available at http://www.lyndalehmann.com/ as an archival print on canvas, 11 x 14 inches. Please feel free to ask about other sizes.

Text and image c Lynda Lehmann.

The Garden in Spring

Acrylic painting on gallery-wrapped canvas, 24 x 30 inches, evokes the gentleness of a warm spring day and the lushness of tender new growth. The underpainting on this canvas provided a rich surface topography to paint on, and the glow of some of the underlying colors shows through. Sweet and lyrical. Image c Lynda Lehmann.

To see more of my painting and photography, please visit www.lyndalehmann.com

Fire and Water

Like many people, I am fascinated by small and fleeting phenomena. Snow crystals on the window pane, the textures of water as it flows over pebbles in a crystal-clear stream, patterns of foam at seaside or patterns in licks of hearthflame--fleeting moments of nature, the elements in their changing forms, whose shape, texture, and shimmer evoke elemental and eternal things beyond our ability to comprehend. Science may illuminate the mechanism, but not the mystery, of nature's cycles. This painting is acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 24 x 36 inches. Please visit www.lyndalehmann.com if you would like to see more of my work! Image and text c 2007 Lynda Lehmann.

The Forest Floor in Autumn

For me, this painting evokes the sweet, damp air of the woods in autumn, when the forest floor is vibrant with the litter of fallen leaves layered over moss and lichen--a panoply of rich colors, odors, and textures.

In advance of its inevitable slide into winter, Earth yields her bounty, which you can smell in the air and feel underfoot. And the sweet musk in the twilit air of the autumn afternoon speaks at once, of both decay and regeneration.

Some of the most interesting life forms lurk in the quiet, hidden places guarded by tree roots and boulders. There the emerald moss spreads, unnoticed, and fungi branch in their own design and designated life song.

Acrylic on gallery-wrapped canvas, 30 x 40 inches. Text and image c 2007 Lynda Lehmann.

Available at www.lyndalehmann.com