Cedar Lee June 5th, 2011

Here is Lotus Pond VII, a departure from my other multi-panel Lotus paintings in that it is arranged vertically. It would be perfect on any wall that is narrow and vertical, like in a stairwell or foyer.

I wanted to capture how long and reaching the stems of lotus flowers are in real life–taller than most people! I love the symbolism of the lotus flower representing the human spirit’s ability to transcend ugliness, as they grow straight upwards from the swampy muck of the pond towards the bright, clean, hopeful sky.

I decided to make the colors very rich and dark in this one, and I’m pleased with the result.

This painting has been added to my Nesting Sale: ArtbyCedar.com/NestingSale and will be on sale for 50% off until June 18th.

Less than 2 weeks left now in my sale, and I am not at all ready for the Open Studio that I’m hosting on the 18th, which marks the end of my sale and the beginning of my maternity leave! (Well, after all the sold work ships out anyway.) In the 13 days I have left, I must print out tags for all the art in my show, prepare my magnets (which will be discounted for attendees) and posters (free for attendees!) and buy wine and cheese and all that good stuff you must have at a proper Art Soiree.

• New Works: Flowers
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Cedar Lee May 26th, 2011

I just received this hilarious anecdote from the manager at one of my galleries and thought I’d share:

Cedar,

Just thought you should know:

I have your Birdsong Above painting in the front window~ A fledgling starling spent 20 minutes this morning trying so hard to get to those trees!  I WISH I had had my camera to video it!  The little guy  tried to fly through the glass at every angle – always aiming for your painting!  (He was doing it gently – fluttering above the ledge on the outside of the window.)  He tried from the front and the side windows!  I finally took mercy on him and took the painting out of the window until he flew away. ~ you bird tease you !

• Art Gallery Representation , Garden
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Cedar Lee May 20th, 2011

Just finished this painting: Forest Sunbeams!

20 x 16″, Oil on Canvas

Here is a close-up to show the detail of the sunlight breaking around the edges of the tree trunk and streaming through the clean forest air. Aaahhh–can you feel the sunshine on your face?

As you can see, I’m working round the clock, to get as much painting in as I can 1) before my Nesting Sale is over (check it out if you haven’t yet–it goes till June 18th) and 2) before my new baby is born!

More soon–have a great weekend!

• New Works: Trees
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Cedar Lee May 18th, 2011

Out of the 45 paintings I’ve discounted for my Nesting Sale, 25 are already sold! As I have been at many moments in the past several years, I am now blown away with gratitude for my collectors who support me, and for being able to practice my art professionally.

I’m now working as fast as I can to add more paintings to my sale page before the sale ends on June 18th, to give people more options within their price range and the opportunity to get some original artwork for a great deal. This new painting, as of now still on the drying rack in my studio, has just been added to the sale page.

Lotus Pond VI

Oil on Canvas, 12 x 36″.

Here are a couple of close-up details:

Because it is long and thin, it would be perfect above a mantel, sofa, bed’s headboard, or similar wide horizontal space.

Next I’m working on a new tree painting–gotta go get some time in at the easel now before Blazington rises from his nap!

• New Works: Flowers
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Cedar Lee May 14th, 2011

I am having an art sale that I’ve just opened to the public–45+ paintings for 25% to 90% off, now until June 18th.

At the time of this blog post, 20 of them have already been claimed. So go check it out!

Click here!

• Art Career Happenings , Publicity & News
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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…

• New Works: Cosmic Dance
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Cedar Lee May 4th, 2011

I am working non-stop preparing for the big Open Studio I’ll be hosting next month. It’s going to be a fun event–wine, cheese, art exhibit and sale–the works!

So this is just a quick update to show you my 3 new Lotus paintings! I have now done 20 in this series on 20″ x 20″ canvases.

All are oils on 20″ x 20″, gallery-wrapped 1.5″ deep canvases.

Lotus XVIII

Lotus XIX

Lotus XX

Here’s what they look like in a room:

• New Works: Flowers
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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!

• New Works: Cosmic Dance
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Cedar Lee April 14th, 2011

My garden always inspires me and this year is no exception. It’s interesting how something as simple as getting my hands dirty can make me feel more connected to the whole universe. Being one with all of life is definitely a recurring theme in my art.

Things are blooming!

Including my young Cleveland Pear tree, “Cleveland.” I planted this baby tree only a couple years ago and it has grown so tall!

My vegetable plot has been weeded, turned, composted, and mulched, with fresh straw put down for the pathways. I built two small teepees, one for sugar snap peas to climb and the other for pole beans. In the center of the plot you can see a few strawberry plants–I’ve thinned those a lot. I’ve also planted potatoes but they’re still underground.

New oregano and rosemary plants.

Baby sugar snap peas!

I’m also going to plant garlic, some kind of melon, borage, and sunflowers. I’m waiting for farmers’ market season to get starts for my tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil, peppers, and marigolds. I love this time of year!

• Garden
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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!

• New Works: Cosmic Dance
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