Cedar Lee January 28th, 2012
Eclipse III
30 x 30″, Oil/Canvas
I love the deep purple/magenta/green color scheme in this one. The cloud formations in the sky were inspired by a sunset I experienced recently.
I have 2 more paintings not-yet-photographed, and another (big) one in progress. Right now I’m also working on a couple of tree paintings as a quick detour from the Cosmic Dance series. So, more soon!
Cedar Lee January 19th, 2012
Here are the two paintings I made last weekend.
Eclipse IV, Acrylic/Canvas, 8 x 10″
Eclipse V, Acrylic/Canvas, 8 x 10″
They’re on display at Distinction Gallery until Feb. 4th, and you can bid on them here: Auction. At the moment, one of the paintings only has one bid and the other only two bids, so your chances of getting one of these for very cheap is really good right now! Proceeds will go to ArtHatch’s teen art program.
Here’s a sneak peek at a work in progress. It’s so big I am working on the floor instead of using my easel. It’s two canvases, each 24 x 36″, for a total size of 2 feet x 6 feet.
I’m only filling in large blocks of color right now, my first step in the painting process. It will look very different by the time it’s done!
Cedar Lee January 16th, 2012
The Art-A-Thon at ArtHatch over the weekend was a lot of fun! I got to meet a lot of my fellow artists in the other studios there (most of whom stayed and made art for the whole 24 hours, so were quite tired.) Even though I only worked for a few hours, I managed to make two small paintings, which I titled “Eclipse IV” and “Eclipse V.” They are both currently up for auction, so I invite you to consider bidding! This is your chance to get one of my paintings for a steal while benefiting a program that brings art education and experience to teen artists. I haven’t photographed the two paintings myself yet, and I’ll get images up within the next week, but you can see them (and bid on them) here until Feb. 4th: Art-A-Thon Auction Page 4 My two paintings are the 2nd and 3rd from the last. To see all the paintings available in this auction (there is some incredible work for sale here and you may just find some amazing deals!) go here: Art-A-Thon Auction.
Here’s another painting for you!
Pivotal Moment, 30 x 30″, Oil/Canvas
As you can see, I’m riding a wave of tree and eclipse-inspired creativity.
This painting shows another Tree of Life, but I think of this one as a younger tree, relatively speaking. I see this tree as having a personality, in a tree-like way of course. It is a living witness to the fleeting but very special moment of the total eclipse, and in this moment, the tree being “plugged in” to the rest of the universe is particularly evident.
The whole scene vibrates with the excitement of the moment, which I tried to show through the color palette, which is both vibrant and earthy.
I’m digging these colors and I’m already planning more paintings with the same palette.
Cedar Lee January 13th, 2012
I just leased a studio space in the ArtHatch building in Escondido, CA!
Here is the building:
The place is incredible. There is a spacious art gallery downstairs, and 14 artists’ studios upstairs. Every wall is covered in beautiful, thought-provoking, mouth-watering, skillfully done artwork. Like, just, unbelievable. I feel honored to be a part of the creative energy in this space. I was so tickled to see the work of several artists I recognized from my social circles online, hanging in the gallery!
I won’t be set up there until next week. I’ve painted the walls of my studio a nice butter cream color and I’m going to be hanging some of my work there tonight.
FYI if you live in the San Diego area, there is an event happening from 8 pm tonight (Friday) until 10 pm tomorrow (Saturday) called Art-A-Thon. 25 local artists will be working for 24 hours straight. All artwork created will be auctioned with all bids starting at $25 per piece, so some people are going to get insane deals on original art! The proceeds will go towards ArtHatch’s teen program, which provides studio space, art supplies, and mentorship to teen artists. Pretty cool. I have already signed up to mentor a teen. 
So please stop by if you can! I won’t be doing the 24-hour thing, but I will be around for part of tonight and tomorrow afternoon and evening. Details at ArtHatch.org.
Now for my first new painting of 2012. It’s about time!
Mysterious Night, 30 x 40″, Oil on Canvas:
This painting shows the Tree of Life under a moonlit, starry sky. An almost-full moon gleams between the tree’s branches, which are limned in moonlight.
The huge gnarly tree trunk divides into many roots.
And the stars are giant, softly glowing, otherworldly orbs in a deep blue-gray sky.
Here’s what this painting might look like in a beautifully minimalist, black and white high-ceilinged bedroom.
Cedar Lee July 14th, 2011
I’m now less than a week away from my estimated due date, waiting for the birth of my second child, and I’ve just finished this huge 3-panel panorama painting!
It’s 20″ x 60″ (each panel is 20″ x 20″) Oil on Canvas.
I wanted to paint the magical feeling I have in my life right now, on the cusp of a pivotal moment. I chose a palette of lovely cool blues, greens and violets, to represent fresh night air, green living things, and the glittering diamond effect of a star-strewn sky.
It’s called Sapphire Eclipse.
Here are close-ups of the 3 separate panels.
Some details that I especially love. The eclipse itself:
This little cluster of trees, dreamily backlit:
And the 4 birds in flight. To me, they symbolize my family, soon to be 4 of us–Our 4 spirits flying together through life. (Corny, I know, but hey it’s my painting.)
Here’s what this painting looks like in a room:
I probably won’t update again until sometime after Baby’s arrival, then I’ll be on maternity leave for a few months and will return to my work in a gradual way. So if you don’t hear from me, I’m still here, just preoccupied! And as always you may email me with any questions or comments, and I will reply as I’m able.
Wish me luck as I embark on the next phase of the adventure that is motherhood!
Cedar Lee May 10th, 2011
After my last eclipse painting, I decided I had to explore eclipses further–such a dramatic, awe-inspiring subject!
Here is Eclipse II, Oil on Canvas, the smallest painting in the Cosmic Dance series so far at 20″ x 20″. (Most of that series is very large scale!)
I had the color scheme in my mind before I had planned the design for this one–dark, inky blue-greens in the sky with ochre tones in the billowy clouds and browns in the foreground.
The corona of the sun bursting out from behind the moon is so bright and striking, and really stands out in the sky!
I love the “loose” feeling of the brush strokes in this one (a result of working quicker because it’s a smaller scale.) When I was painting the forms of the clouds they emerged freely and naturally on the canvas.
The paint is quite thick in some places, showing the brush strokes, as you can see here:
Here’s what this painting might look like when displayed!
Already dreaming of more eclipses…
Cedar Lee April 18th, 2011
Here’s one more in the Cosmic Dance series. I’ve been wanting to paint a solar eclipse for a long time!
Eclipse
30 x 30″, Oil on Canvas
I chose an earthy, opulent color scheme for this one–golds, browns, and grayish violets.
I wanted to capture the moment right before total solar eclipse, when that blinding corona of light bursts out from behind the black silhouetted disc of the moon, and the last bit of gleaming light peeks around the edge to create the “diamond ring effect.”
In reality, during a total eclipse the sky would have the appearance of nighttime, but I didn’t want to make the painting too dark and I wanted it to remain colorful–so I imagine the light golden parts of the sky near the horizon represent the glow of the sun reflecting off the atmosphere, coming from the part of the Earth not yet shadowed by the eclipse. These paintings are not meant to be astronomically correct, only to transmit the wonder of the moment!
The many bright stars sparkle throughout the sky, scattered through the depths of space.
Colorful clouds swirl in constant movement, and I kept it purposely ambiguous as to whether they are clouds of moisture in the Earth’s atmosphere or distant clouds of galactic dust and debris.
I have not yet witnessed a total solar eclipse in person, so this illustration is only from my imagination and from what I have seen in photos of the event. Epic, mind-blowing!
Cedar Lee April 3rd, 2011
My newest painting is whimsical, romantic, and beautiful.
Stardust
30 x 30″, Oil on Canvas
Hazy reflective clouds of stardust are scattered across the heavens, hence the title.
A softly glowing moon.
The atmosphere moves in waves and ripples. Brilliant stars shine out of the depths of space.
Maybe my favorite part: the birds near the horizon spread their wings beside a silhouetted spring tree. The dance of life!
Here’s a shot, taken from the bottom of the painting, that shows the painting continuing onto the 1.5″ deep gallery-wrapped edges of the canvas.
Here’s what this painting looks like in a room!
Cedar Lee March 26th, 2011
Here’s my newest work in the Cosmic Dance Series. I really love it!
Stellar Inferno
36 x 42″, Oil on Canvas
Yes, the colors really are this intense in real life! This is a little bit of a departure from my usual style in this series, with the large masses of glowing light and the sheer brightness of it! But I think it still fits in with the rest of the series.
The blazing bright glow of the many large and brilliant stars overwhelms the sky.
After I painted the detail in this top left corner, I was inspired by how much this part looked like the flames of a fire. This led me to the painting’s title.
Clouds of light and streams of color combine to form atmospheric drama.
Hovering near the horizon of deep green hills is a calm and humble full moon. She watches the spectacular show spread out above her.
This painting, like all of my recent work, is on a gallery-wrapped canvas with the painting continuing around the edges.
Here’s what it looks like in a room.
Cedar Lee February 21st, 2011
Thanks to all who have ordered sunflower magnets so far. I’m happy to report that I’m all caught up on shipments so if you’ve ordered magnets, you’ll get them soon! These magnets are way better quality than any I’ve had made before, and they’re really beautiful. My son loves sticking them on our fridge! I’m glad I decided to have them made.
Now, my new gigantic painting! This one is very uplifting and inspiring.
Ascension
40″ x 50″, Oil on Canvas
This painting shows a glowing light rising from the horizon, behind the silhouettes of trees.
The trees point upwards into the sky like a row of living arrows.
The glowing light rises up into billowing clouds in the shape of wings spread in flight.
Deep crimson and orange colors fill the sky behind the clouds. As you look higher into the heavens, the sky becomes dark and inky.
The highlight of the sky is a distant galaxy glowing bright.
Spinning away from this galaxy are clusters of young stars strewn across space like jewels.
The flock of birds flying up into the center of the painting is symbolic of the whole feeling I wanted to capture: the joyous, boundless feeling of ascension. Rising from Earth (or whatever strange planet this may be) into the heavens.
Here are a couple examples of how this painting might look when displayed in a home setting:
