ALASKAN REFLECTIONS By Cecelia Lyden

oil/stretched canvas

16x20

www.cecelialyden.com

I used three different blues, Ultramarine, Prussian,and Manganese, Alizarin Crimson, some dark green, some Cad Yellow Light, some black and lots of white to create the somber look of this land and waterscape on the dark, overcast day we took this cruise in Alaska. Amazing views, but somewhat brooding and many times, oppressive.

TWO VERSIONS OF FOGGY MORN By C. Lyden

oil/canvas

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

The first version of this segment of woods at Samuel Lewis State Park is closer in mood and atmosphere to the actual time and setting. When I paint en plein aire, I usually try to create the actual "plein aire", the lighting, the weather conditions, etc. We were completly "fogged in" that morning. There were no shadows or lights, just gray skies and trees receding in the mist. I liked the first version a bit, but I wanted to show more sky and to "punch up" the foreground a little. So I brushed over some of the branches, creating more negative space around, and therefore, more focus on the foreground trees. As the morning wore on, the fog diminished a bit and the sky lightened up. I reflected this slight change by adding some more white to my sky color.

WILLOW WEEP FOR ME By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/canvas
16x20

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

"Willow Weep For Me" is the old "torch"song that always comes to mind when I see a willow tree. It was sung by many artists, like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. The lyrics use the physical characteristics of the weeping willow to convey the" weepy" sentiment of a lost love....."Bend your branches down along the ground and cover me."
But mostly I love the wispy, gracefulness of this tree, especially when a breeze blows across and through its branches.

PURPLE SUNRISE By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/canvas

16x20

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

This is one of only two glorious sunrises that have occurred this January in Florida. It's been warm, but also windy and wet. Mornings have been continually overcast--a bit disappointing. I am an early riser, so I have my camera ready to catch the colorful cloud formations. It's still dark as the sun rises and the wind is constantly changing the sky. The colors in the sky are garish, but so unbelievably breathtaking that I find them too irresitable to ignore--hence, another Florida sunrise painting from me.

A CEMETERY, RECLAIMED By Cecelia Lyden

oil/canvas

11x14

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

Inspired by a story in our Harrisburg Patriot newspaper about a local Vietnam veterans group becoming caretakers of the Historical Lincoln Colored Cemetery, I sought out the cemetery. It containes the remains of about 80 Afro-Americans, some veterans of the Civil War. I got permission from the owners of the property for a group of plein air painters and I to paint there . It's in a very small and carefully tended area, surrounded by serene, beautiful farmland. Its peaceful setting and clusters of trees reminded me of some of the Gettysburg battlefield settings, but its simple tombstones and small size made it much more humble.

AMAZINGLY ORANGE TREES

oil/linen

11x14

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

The most mundane settings , like this bank parking lot, become gloriously beautiful in the fall. Trees that I would ordinarily pass by without a second look in the summer just " stopped me in my tracks" this fall season. It took forever to arrive, but when the fall did come around, the colors seemed to be very intense and too extraordinary to ignore.

MECHAANICSBURG WATER WORKS www.cecelialyden.com

oil/linen

16x20

I found this idyllic spot while driving around one morning looking for an "idyllic" spot to paint. It was about 18 minutes from my home-a home I have lived in since 1969-and I had never seen it before-been out much, Cecelia? I came back the next 3 afternoons- three rare, warmish , rainfree afternoons and painted it.