cedar’s blog

Cedar December 20th, 2007

If you haven’t noticed, I am strongly affected by the the turn of the seasons in a personal way and sometimes refer to these changes in dramatic terms–in fall and winter I feel like I am small, curling into myself like a tiny hibernating creature, nearly dead. It can be a safe, cozy feeling but it can also be depressing. In spring I feel like I am coming back to life, emerging like a sprout from a buried seed, reaching toward the sun. I’m sure you know what I am talking about, though you might not describe it in the same way.

Tomorrow is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This means that after tomorrow, every day until next summer solstice, there will be just a little more sunlight each day. We just walked up a steep hill of darkness, are standing at the pinnacle, and can pause and celebrate the fact that it’s all downhill, into the light, from here.

I’m about to go home and see my family in North Carolina, which contributes to my spirit of elation today.

Here are my 2 latest creations, which were made in keeping with that spirit. These are unique because they are both made up of multiple panels–separate gallery-wrapped canvases that fit together to form one image. I really love working this way and I think it may become a new trend in my work.

The first painting shows a hawk soaring at an incredible elevation, looking down on a beautiful expanse of misty blue.

Above Blue Mountains
Acrylic on Canvas
36″ x 24″ (3 12″ x 24″ panels)

In a room:

The second painting shows a large white dove against a backdrop of purple mountains at daybreak. She is mysteriously out of place in this landscape, which is purposeful because I want her to be an obvious messenger or omen. White doves are a universal symbol of hope and peace.

Messenger at Dawn
Acrylic on Canvas
20″ x 50″ (5 20″ x 10″ panels)

Detail:

Detail:

In a room:

If you care to learn more about the symbolism of doves, which crosses many cultures and is tied up in fascinating mythology and folklore, click here.

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Cedar December 14th, 2007

I just finished another portrait. I’m so happy with this one!

Erika
20 x 20″ Acrylic on Canvas

Want to watch Erika as she emerges from the canvas?

Here’s the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otH4kSqZmvc

Or just watch it here:

I’m working on something potentially cool. I’ll keep you posted.

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Cedar December 11th, 2007

Last year at this time when I failed to produce a 2007 wall calendar, I promised the people on my mailing list that I would come through with a 2008 calendar. I am pleased to announce that the Art By Cedar 2008 Calendar is now available for purchase.

The calendar features a selection of some of my favorite nature-inspired paintings that you will be able to enjoy throughout the new year.

* Each page measures 11″ x 8.5″
* Measures 11″ x 17″ when hung on wall
* Full bleed dynamic color
* 100 lb cover weight high gloss paper, wire-o bound
* January 2008 - December 2008, 2009 preview, US holidays marked

You can see all the interior pages and buy your calendar for $17.99 here: http://www.cafepress.com/artbycedar.199515390

And while you’re at it, check out my newly-launched Cafepress store: http://www.cafepress.com/artbycedar

I’ve got shirts, baby clothes, mugs, coasters, tote bags, magnets and bumper stickers too! If you want a particular painting on a T-shirt, mug, magnet, etc. just let me know–I can probably get it for you.

This past weekend was wonderful. One of my oldest and dearest friends, Ryan, took me contra dancing. (He’d been trying to get me to go for a year or more.) It was twirly good fun and I enjoyed it so much that I’m trying to get some friends together to go again this weekend.

If you’ve never heard of contra dancing, it’s sort of like square dancing but not quite. I highly recommend it, even for people who aren’t typically into dancing. It doesn’t require you to have much grace or innate dancing ability (luckily for me)–they tell you exactly what to do, and there are plenty of nice people to help whenever you do get confused. So Friday night I spent 3 hours stomping and weaving and getting spun around. Weee!

Then Saturday night was the birthday party for one of my other close friends, Shenaz. We had a delicious feast followed by gourmet desserts–one of the party guests, a professional chef, cooked a lot of the meal. Then we lit a campfire in Shenaz’s backyard and fed it pieces of the dead weeping willow from the neighbor’s yard. We roasted marshmallows into the wee hours and had a champagne toast complete with a Lithuanian song and blessing.

Afterwards, we went home and I stayed up till 5:30 am watching a movie, The Host, which I really liked. (It is a Korean horror flick–the corny kind, not the scary kind.) I spent the rest of the weekend getting some reading done and being unbelievably lazy. As far as weekends go, it was primo.

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Cedar December 5th, 2007

Three new portraits today! They are all acrylics, on 9 x 12″ gallery-wrapped canvases.

The first one is called “Hot Date 1954.” Here’s the reference photo I was given–as you can see, I had the challenge of taking a black-and-white reference photo and putting it into color on the canvas.

And the painting:

Detail:

The next one is called “Kurt and His Dad.” This photo was taken on Kurt’s wedding day.

The reference photo:

The painting:

Detail:

The last one is called “Millie” and my reference photo is another black-and-white. I’m not sure how long ago the photo was taken, but I know this striking young woman is a grandmother now.

I made a video of this one, so you can watch me paint it from start to finish!

And here’s the YouTube link, if you’d like to email it to your friends:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcXJsLHMe1o

It turns out that today’s snow is the just-enough-to-be-slushy-and-hazardous sort. Oh well. There’s plenty more winter ahead.

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Cedar December 4th, 2007

We’re supposed to get our first snow of the year tomorrow! I dislike cold weather and short, dark days. I generally feel much happier in the warmer months, but snow is one of the things that redeems winter for me. I hope it snows a lot, enough to make everything seem new and pristine, enough to make snowballs. The worst is when it snows just enough to make everything slushy and dirty and hazardous. So I’m hoping…We’ll see.

Also, a close friend from out of town is coming to visit me and he’ll be staying all weekend!

Also, tomorrow is my mom’s birthday! (Happy Birthday Mama!)

Also, I’m working on several portraits right now and you’ll see them soon. If you want to commission a portrait and have it before Christmas, you need to talk to me soon so I’ll have enough time. If you’re just curious, I can send you a size list and price list.

Speaking of Christmas, that’s another thing I’m looking forward to. I’ve never really been into the holiday itself, but the chance to go home to NC and spend time with my family and friends makes it one of my favorite times of the year.

So I’m feeling peaceful and happy today, knowing that good things are on their way to me.

Happy Hanukah to my Jewish friends & family!

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