Here is “Dazzling Sky,” 24″ x 36″.
![Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky.jpg)
The starting point for this painting was a photo I took of the sun bursting through the trees, obliterating part of the image. I decided to incorporate the dramatic lens flare into the painting.
![Artist Cedar Lee in the studio: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-Cedar-Studio-Scale.jpg)
As I built up the surface with many layers of paint and cold wax medium, there is a lot of thick texture. As with all art, this one is so much better to experience in person.
![Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-2.jpg)
The painting wrapping around the deep edges of the canvas gives the art a clean, modern look. The colors cover the whole spectrum, from the vibrant teal in the sky to the deep purple, magenta, orange-yellow and blue-green found in the trees.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail1.jpg)
Upon close inspection, you can see the giant sunburst, which dominates the center of the image, contains rainbow colors.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail6.jpg)
The trees are full of delightful painterly details–the many small marks of the brush creating areas of curved movement like a breeze through the foliage, and unexpected pops of bright colors throughout.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail5.jpg)
The glowing yellow-white emanating from the sky fills the whole painting, appearing in of many of the negative shapes between the branches.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail2.jpg)
The perspective of the tall trees makes you feel you are standing right there beneath them.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail4.jpg)
The tiny shapes of a few wild birds soaring up in the distant sky add to the sense of scale.
![Close-up detail: Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-detail3.jpg)
These staggeringly tall trees painted in many colors, reaching up into the paradise of a glorious open sky, fill the viewer with awe at nature’s grandeur.
![Dazzling Sky. 24" x 36", Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee](https://www.artbycedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Dazzling-Sky-3.jpg)
This beautiful imagery can bring a feeling of peace to a frenetic mind dwelling on a harsh world.