Denizen

This 16″ x 16″ acrylic painting is called “Denizen.”

den·i·zen/ˈdenəzən/ noun

  1. an inhabitant or occupant of a particular place.

One of my favorite things about Portland, Oregon is how many trees can fit into such an urban place. Every street is lined with trees. It makes it feel different from other cities, to be walking down a paved street, but still surrounded by so much nature.

I call this painting “Denizen” because this tree has stood and grown in this spot over many cycles of seasons. It lives here. It rightfully belongs here as part of the web of plants and animals that make up the living things of the city.

Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

The Tree Emergency Response Team is a group of artists that paints trees on properties purchased by developers with the intention of capturing a tree’s beauty in a way that translates to art so that developers and city officials may see the same beauty in trees that artists do.

Trees threatened by development in N. Portland lot, March 2020

I was asked to participate in their recent plein air painting event to capture the beautiful trees on a lot in North Portland, which are slated to be cut down unless the Portland Bureau of Transportation allows them to stay.

Artist Cedar Lee working

The day of the painting event was chilly and very gray. I wanted my painting to include my signature warm sunshine, so I used the working time that day to capture the shapes of the tree onto my canvas, then added in my own color and lighting choices later in the studio.

Cedar Lee work in progress

To be consistent with the guidelines of the exhibit this painting will hang in, I built a black frame, which is very striking against the blue sky and sunlight filling the canvas.

Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

During the painting session, there was a cat climbing across the roof of the house and curiously checking out the artists working. I decided to include the silhouette of the charming little beast in my painting!

Detail: Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

Shapes of trees in the background glow softly.

Detail: Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

A bright sun peeks through the bare branches and the tall evergreens on the right. Dots of light wink like jewels in the negative spaces between the foliage. White rays of sunlight dazzle.

Detail: Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

The branches reach like countless tiny hands, higher and higher up into the open space of the sky.

Detail: Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

This painting will hang in the April art exhibit at Elisabeth Jones Art Center in Portland, OR from April 2nd-May 24, 2020.

Artist with painting: Denizen. 16″ x 16″ (18″ x 18″ framed), Acrylic on Canvas, © 2020 Cedar Lee

There should be an art opening for this show on April 2nd. A portion of the art sales will go towards tree conservation efforts. Stay tuned for details.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top