Eclipse Art: A Dream of Joy and Sorrow

A woman stands alone in a bleak rocky landscape, gazing at the total solar eclipse that fills the expansive golden sky.

She feels simultaneously desolate and wonder-stuck by the awesome scene before her.

I’ve always loved the poem “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, especially the line towards the end:

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

This is such a true description of the bittersweet nature of our experience. Within a very short window of time, and sometimes even all at once, we can feel the heavy weight of grief and pain and also the buoyancy of gratitude and wonderment. This is what I was thinking of as I created this image: “A Dream of Joy and Sorrow.”

The joyful feeling comes from the rare treat of witnessing this solar eclipse–the light of the sun bursts from behind the dark disk of the moon, flooding the sky with red and gold light. At the periphery, where the sky is darker, countless twinkling stars are visible.

The shadows of the moon’s rocky surface are an earthy charcoal, the highlights a muted gold.

The sorrowful feeling is represented by the stark, barren landscape surrounding the woman, and by the inky black liquid dripping down the hills in the foreground like endless seeping tears. The earth is crying.

You’ll notice that there is a teardrop trailing down below each of her feet, as if the sorrow is flowing down through her body, out her feet which are planted on the top of that little hill, and into the ground along with the other tears. Meanwhile, her body is still and her face is lifted in amazement towards the spectacle in the sky.

This painting is 30″ x 40″.

The painting continues around the edges.

Cedar Lee

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Kenneth Kirkpatrick says:

December 1, 2016 at 9:46 pm

Yes Cedar ,

You really are a wonder & quite a busy bee .

Can'y really get into purchasing your work . However I would be interested in purchasing some card of your work if you decide to venture into that area , which seems doubtful ? as some much is going on in your universe it would seem by the paintings output to have , Phenomenal !

Keep on smiling & have a great Christmas Hey!

Fellow Artist in NZ / ( 2/1216 )

Kenneth / Big Bear or Kirky - for short !
- Cedar Lee says:
  
  December 12, 2016 at 1:28 pm
  
  Thank you Kenneth! I do have prints of some of my paintings available--everything from note cards to large scale art prints and even things like shower curtains. Check out my selection on Fine Art America: http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/cedar-lee.html?tab=artworkgalleries
Laila says:

January 12, 2017 at 8:00 am

Hello Cedar,
You are an amazing artist. By looking and seeing your beautiful artwork, it made me to go back and start painting again.
Please add me to your email list and keep me updated with your new artworks. You are such a great inspiration for me.
I am an artist too and want to share something with you.
I know you are very busy, but I was wondering if I could reach you by phone or email to ask you for your advice the art work that I am planing to start.
It will be beneficial for me to start it right with the help of professional like you.
Please email me if you can.

Best Regards

Laila Shneezai
- Cedar Lee says:
  
  January 16, 2017 at 1:02 pm
  
  Hi Laila,
  
  Thanks for your kind words! You can join my email & mailing list, as well as connect with me on social media, here: https://www.artbycedar.com/subscribe/
Adil Mukhtar says:

November 19, 2025 at 10:51 pm

Hi Cedar
Your art depicts a dark aspect but there is always a way of light on being interpreted and this is the most interesting for thing me to observe it. You are a philosopher with a brush.
- Cedar Lee says:
  
  November 20, 2025 at 9:51 am
  
  Hi Adil, thank you! Yes, I am often quite philosophical, and I definitely put that into my paintings. I'm so glad you can see it.