CATTLE RANCH ON FLORIDA TURNPIKE By Cecelia Lyden

oil on stretched canvas

16x20

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

lyden1819@comcast.net

I remember my mother saying that she did not like Florida--it was too hot, too flat-she would say-and not that interesting. I guess I grew up with that image of the state of Florida--hot, flat and boring. It took my getting old, getting sick of winter, and retirement to finally experience the state of Florida for more than a week or two.

For the past 2 winters, my husband and I have spent January and February on the ocean in Fort Pierce, Florida. I have discovered that Florida is warm, not hot, flat, and not boring. In traveling across the State, I have seen beautiful scenery, interesting tree formations, gorgeous colors of sunrises, sunsets and the ocean.

I have joined a group of Florida plein air painters and have been to many interesting locations to paint. Next year we hope to go to one of the many cattle ranches in the area. I'm looking forward to that.

This painting was not done plein air, but from one of several photos I took on the way to the University of Florida in Gainesville. Our granddaughter was playing in a lacrosse game that afternoon, 3 hours away from Fort Pierce, where we were staying. So we did not stop. I just kept clicking away, at 70 miles per hour, at all the potential paintings I saw in front of me. Happily, most of them came out unblurred. I will paint one or two more.

DINING IN By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic on stretched canvas

11x14

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

lyden1819@comcast.net

The weather was sunny and warm, but the wind was so strong that everyone at this Vero Beach restaurant in Florida opted to eat lunch indoors. My eyes were drawn from the darkened interior to the light outdoors. I loved the strong contrasts between the near sihouetted inside against the bright outside and the orange umbrellas against the blue water and sky . Luckily, I had my camera and took a few photos.

DARK AND WINDY MORNING By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic

6x8

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

lyden1819@comcast.net

I've been slowly gathering things , getting ready for our trip back to PA. I had used all my canvases and I, frankly, was getting tired of painting on small supports. So, I packed away all my painting supplies. Silly me. After a few days of observing the many different skies above the ocean without a brush or even paper and pencil, I finally abandoned my notion of preparing ahead of time to travel home. I unpacked all the painting supplies, chose a canvas to paint over and set everything up on the terrace, where they will stay till we actually leave.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic

8x10

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

lyden1819@comcast.net

The first time I saw Fort Pierce, I was struck with how beautiful its palm trees were and how clean the streets looked. My immediate second impression was how empty those streets were. As we drove towards our vacation destination on North Hutchinsin Island, I could see blocks of empty storefronts and I realized that we were in yet, another forlorned town. My husband and I had owned a second home in Milford, Delaware, just off RT 1 and about a half an hour from the Delaware beaches. We liked it because it was close to the shore, but not as busy as Rehoboth or Lewes. But Milford, too, has experienced a loss of business, empty stores and empty streets.

But this is Florida, warm and sunny. Fort Pierce is a sweet little town on the Treasure Coast. Where have all the people gone? To the north is Vero Beach teeming with tourists and stores, opened for business. To the south is Port St. Lucie, with large malls and customers. And then there is Fort Pierce with its beautiful renovated downtown area and, except for Saturday,when the farmers' market is here, its near empty streets and empty stores. Its a mystery and the town officials are trying to solve it. There have been setbacks, hurricanes, that have destroyed some of their palm trees, which they have replanted. There has been loss of businesses and large unemployment numbers. Foreclosures have hit the realty business all up and down the Treasure Coast, but the town officials keep coming up with suggestions to bring Fort Pierce back to life.

In the meantime, keeping up appearances, by replanting those lost palm trees and maintaining clean streets may eventually help to keep Fort Pierce alive.