MECHANICSBURG WATER WORKS By Cecelia Lyden

oil/linen

16x20

www.cecelialyden.com

 

This is the second time I painted and sold this scene.This time I was commissioned by a man whose wife's great-uncle and grandfather built the house many years ago. They were from Columbia, PA, originally. Their family name was Glatfelter or Gladfelter. It is to be a Christmas present for her. I am so pleased to be part of this thoughtful gift.

RIVER VISTA By Cecelia Lyden

 

 

oil/stretched canvas

2'x3'

www.cecelialyden.com

 

This was a commissioned painting. The client wanted a view of the Susquehanna River that was different than the one from her condo window[ seen in the upper left]. I took several photos from both sides and up and down the river. I emailed her all of the digital images [ hooray for technology]. She chose this vista in a populated area. She wanted a lot of the river, bridges, her condo, but did not want too many other buildings in the painting--nor any trees in the foreground. I convinced her that some foreground trees keep the river from "running off the canvas."

 

I kept her posted as I continued to paint, but she has not come to see the painting yet. This is the nerve-racking time for me--worrying and hoping the client will like the painting.

MECHANICSBURG, ALLEYS, AWNINGS, AND AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE

 

I "discovered" Mechanicsburg forty-three years ago when my family moved to Camp Hill,PA from Tarrytown/Ossinng, NY. Though both locales are as old--Mechanicsburg early 1800's,Tarrytown, middle 1600's-or older than our nation and are in northeastern states, their historic architecture have different looks and styles. I fell in love with the color of the brick buildings, with their heavy wooden doors and window trims, their arched passageway, narrow alleys between houses, leading to charmng back yards. All of these features reminded me, and still does, of the architecture that appears in Dutch genre paintings. Main Street in Mechanicsburg was lined with mature trees which provided restful shade and created rich shadows. About 25 years ago, the  State cut all those trees down to widen the road. People, including myself, were saddened, but happily the skinny "twigs" they planted as replacements have have grown and Main Street looks charming and inviting again. 

 

 

 

THREE SOLD By Cecelia Lyden

It was a long time between sales. Then suddenly a sale, followed by 2 others and a commission to paint a large River vista. The best thing about a sale for me, is not the money earned, but having someone like your work, to want it enough to spend their money for it.  



PURPLE CLEMATIS By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/stretched canvas

16x20

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

This gray fence wtih clematis cascading over the top is on one of the many picturesque alleys in Camp Hill, PA. It was painted en plein air on 2 beautiful mornings this June.

YOUNG PLEIN AIRE ARTISTS By Cecelia Lyden

oil/stretched canvas

 11x14

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

These are two young painters participating in the Quick Draw in Willow Park during the Camp Hill Plein Air Event. As a retired elementary art instructor, I love seeing young people engaging in any artistic endeavor. I chuckled at the positions, on the ground and the wall, they took to view and paint their subject--not sure if the apple was the subject or a snack or both, but I snapped their picture, and painted them from my photo. 

NEIGHBORS' POPPIES AND AZALEAS By Cecelia Lyden

oil/stretched canvas

11x14

http://www.cecelialyden.com/

Both of these paintings were done en plein air in my neighbors' yard. Feeling no pressure to finish in one sitting, I returned two and three times to complete each painting. The proximity to each location in their yard made this easy. There are many other nice spots here and I am welcomed to return whenever I want.