BEGONIAS BY THE POND By Cecelia Lyden

oil/canvas

11x14
www.cecelialyden.com

The Conestoga House Gardens in Lancaster is a heavenly place for plein air artists to paint. Gorgeous flower beds, huge floral planters, and beautiful architecture offer much inspiration for your next painting. Six of us travelled there to paint on a very hot, humid day. The wonderful shade and breezes kept us cool enough to keep working.

COOK RESTING PLACE By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/ stretched canvas

24x30

wwwcecelialyden.com

This painting was commissioned by a descendant of the Cook family, many of whom have been buried in this cemetery in Wellsville, PA. Her ancesters, interred here date back to the 17th century. This headstone is commemerates the latest relative who died.

MY ENTRIES IN THE DPP EXHIBIT AT THE PA STATE CAPITOL

 BREEZY MORN ON THE BAY

oil/linen

 16x20

www.cecelialyden.com

 DAYS END ON THE BAY

oil/linen

16x20

www.cecelialyden.com

END OF THE DAY

acrylic/stretched canvas

16x20

www.cecelialyden.com

These three paintings were done on site and from photos at two of my most inspiring locations-my daughter, Cheri and Tim's, home on the water, where the South River enters the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, MD. and the seventh floor balcony, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Fort Pierce, FLA.

The cloud formations and the setting sun's reflections on  the Bay are always breathtaking. And, in FLA, the shadow of a condo on the beach, caused by a setting sun, contrasted with the still sun- drenched beach, was eye catching, as were the two beach chairs and towels, seemingly abandoned and facing the setting sun. I'm looking forward to painting at both these locations this summer and next winter.

HOSTAS AND ROSES By Cecelia Lyden

oil/linen

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

The weather was "iffy", but the rain held off for the entire afternoon this past Sunday. It was a very delightful three and a half hours of painting in the Governor and Susan Corbett's lovely garden in Harrisburg. A few from our group, plus other artists, musicians and entertainers were there. Lots of friendly people, including the Govenor, his wife, Susan, and some old friends stopped by and chatted. I learned from Mrs. Corbett that I was painting her favorite viewof the garden with the River and distant hills behind. Govenor Corbett shared with me that he loved his residence, but the traffic noise on Front Street can sometimes be a problem. Around 4 o'clock, someone came around to warn us of approaching rain showers. It was time to go.

SHAPES AND SHADOWS By Cecelia Lyden

oil/linen

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

For decades I have raced by this structure, always noting its composition of multiple shapes, but in too much of a hurry to observe any interesting cast shadows. I finally took the time to check it out more carefully and took some photos. I stopped in an adjoining building to ask its function. Imagine the confused looks on the faces of the two female clerks, working in this rather drab office space when this elderly lady walked in the door; and their incredulous expressions when I explained that I was an artist and wanted to paint this [hulk of a] building. One of the women understood when I said I loved all its comprised shapes and their cast shadows. Unfortunately, they would not permit me  to paint on site-too much truck traffic. So I painted from one of my photos. The building is a distribution storage facility for livestock grain-ADM Alliance Nutrition in Camp Hill.

BUNGALOW ON 17TH and HOUSE ON YALE By Cecelia Lyden

oil/stretched canvas

11x14

oil/stretched canvas

11x14

I chose to paint 2 0f the many charming houses in Camp Hill for the 2014 Camp Hill Plein Air Event. 

SAVANNAS PALMS By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/canvasboard

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

I was alone on my last visit to the Savannas Recreation Park. I painted in solace, with only a bull frog croaking somewhere near me. A chose a composition that comprised of several of the many varieties of palms in this wildlife preserve. I love painting palm trees, but we will be heading North in a couple of days. Hopefully, we will return next winter, when I can resume painting Florida's beautiful landscape. 

CAROLYN'S FRONT YARD By Cecelia

acrylic/canvas

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

Carolyn is in our Florida plein air group. She invited us to paint the blooming azaleas in her front and back yard . Ten of us showed up. I chose the white azalea in the front yard, because of the strong morning sunlight and deep shadows, but also because of the sun hitting the long row of tall pines in the background and the large twisting tree in the foreground.

OSPREY NEST By Cecelia

acrylic/canvas

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

My husband and I took guests on an airboat tour around the Blue Cypress Conservation Area, in Vero Beach, Florida. It was the second time we took this tour, each with different guests. Most riders are interested in whatever wildlife deems to present itself that day. I am mostly interested in the water, grasses, and the surrounding landscape. There are several amazing osprey nests sitting precariously, and yet safely, in barren trees-so beautiful, contrasted with sunny Florida skies and lush grasses, blowing in soft breezes.

LILY PADS AND PALM REFLECTIONS DESIGN BY Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/board

8x10

www.cecelialyden.com

This arrangement of lily pads, floating atop a very still pond, created a beautiful design with the dark reflections of surrounding palm trees. The stillness of the pond water made these reflections and the sky background appear very flat. I loved the graphic design effect this created and tried to keep all the shapes somewhat flat.

SPANGLER MIILL CONSTRUCTION By Cecelia Lyden

oil/canvasboard

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

I first came upon this monstrosity of a building while driving on Spangler Mill Road, seeking paint sites. I was winding down a curvy, narrow road, when, wham, up popped this huge structure on my left, sitting right on the road. I pulled into an empty lot across the street to carefully study it- not very pretty, but amazing sculptural shapes and volumes. This was not the picturesque landscape I was seeking, but I still wanted to paint it.

I came back to the site with two other artists, early, on a sunny morning. We all agreed it was an interesting subject, but, as artists do, we took different approaches. One artist painted a long view of the building, with emphasis on the trees and bushes around it. The other artist seemed interested in the shadows on the shapes, using pinks and purples. I was interested in how the small and medium shapes  appeared to grow out of the larger shapes, as well as the morning light and shadows, emphasizing the building's sculptural qualities. I also wished to convey my initial reaction of surprise at the sight of this massive structure, which was, so inartistically, plopped right on the edge of the road.

A SHARP CURVE IN THE ROAD

oil/stretched canvas

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

 

I made two trips to the Village of Lisburn to capture this street scene. I really liked the structures sitting on the road, as well as the curving road. Unfortunately, the height of the canvas is too tall for my composition. I tried to "lower" the height by darkening the top of the sky and adding more clouds. I didn't like it. I finally decided to add telephone lines for some interest. There were many lines crossing the road and I thought they were legitimately part of the scene. I was timid about applying the paint . I may darken them a bit. 

GREENS GALORE

 ORANGE CANOE ALONG THE CONODOGUINET

GOOSE GATHERING IN NEW CUMBERLAND PARK

 

 

SHIPOKE DRAMA

These four pantings are the results of eight plein air paintouts so far this summer.The other four were not completed.

EARLY SPRING WATER LILIES

oil/canvas

18x24

www.cecelialyde.com

 

This work was painted from a photograph I took at White City Park, Florida this past January.

FAREWELL TO FLORIDA By Cecelia Lyden

FORT PIERCE INLET
acrylic/masonite

 

For the past four years my husband and I have been fortunate enough to spend winters in Fort Pierce, Florida. I have been equally lucky to have met some local plein air painters. Lori McNamara, a Fort Pierce resident has introduced me and others to many beautiful Florida locales. I have enjoyed painting at these places in the mild, sunny weather. However, the seven paintings I did this winter may be the last of my on-site Florida works. We will not be returning to Fort Pierce next year. Our son, Kenneth, who resided in Lake Worth, near here, died suddenly and unexpectedly December 9, 2012. He was only 42 years old The autopsy revealed that he died of arterial disease. We had already arranged to spend the winter in Florida and we needed to pick up his car and other things. So, we made the trip; but our time spent there was very difficult. We missed not having dinners Ken, going to Mass with him on Sundays, and my husband missed the time they shared playing golf. All around us were reminders. Though the weather had been so spectacular, we found that these reminders were too painful. So, for now, we will say good-bye to Florida, grateful for the chance to experience its wonderful weather and friendly residents.

..

 

Ken in nursery school

 

 

Ken, with family after Camp Hill's State Football Championship

 





Ken ,enjoying a party with fFlorida friends 

 

 



PALM ON THE CANAL

acrylic/canvas board

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

PROWLING THE CANAL/DARK REFLECTIONS

 

 

acrylic/canvas board

11x14

 

THE LONER By Ceclia Lyden

acrylic/canvas board

116x20

www.cecelialyden.com

WHITE HOUSE ON IMOKOLEE ROAD By Cecelia Lyden

acrylic/canvas board

11x14

www.cecelialyden.com

 

Art Mundo is an art association in Fort Pierce, FLA, that, among other activities, arranges for 3 exceptional plein air opportunities in the area for a small fee.One is at the very large Adams Ranch, which boasts of thousands of acres of cattle fields, tropical plants and wildlife. I attended that last year; and this year I went to this charming Florida home outside of Fort Pierce. Again many, many tropical-like plants, shrubs and flowers. The building, with its many sections and roof lines appealed to me the most. The abundant trees, sunlight and the shadows created were also enticing.