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.