Art & Design Magazine

Celebrating Beautiful Mt. Tabor in Portland, OR | PNW Original Art | Vertical Tree Paintings for Home Or Office

By Artbycedar

These two paintings, “Mt. Tabor Morning” and “Stand Together” are on 36″ x 12″ canvases.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee(Left:) Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee. (Right:) Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Both depict the Douglas fir forest in Mt. Tabor Park in Portland, Oregon. This park is a beautiful natural area full of these tall and majestic trees. I spend time there frequently.

Mt. Tabor Morning captures the beauty of a sunrise in the forest.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

The painting is dominated by shades of yellow, orange, red, and violet, creating a feeling of joy welling up.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

The sun is rising in the gap between two tall trees, casting rays of light that spread out and fill the forest.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

The faint hints of trees in the background are washed out by the brilliant light of the sunrise.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

In the foreground, dark silhouettes of branches hang down, providing a dramatic contrast to the bright colors of the sunrise.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Artist with art: Mt. Tabor Morning. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Stand Together depicts twin trees growing from the same spot in the ground.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Although the painting is filled with bright light, the photo that inspired it was actually taken at night, the source of light coming from a street lamp shining through the fog.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

In the painting, however, the time of day is not clear. What stands out most is the bold form of the two tall trees, growing together side-by-side.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee

Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

The painting is full of movement and loose, abstract forms, the artist’s hand evident through the bold brush strokes.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Up close, you’ll notice the thick textures in the paint.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Beads of bright white light burst through the thin gap between the towering twin trees, creating a dramatic effect.

Close-up detail: Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Detail: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Whenever I see trees growing so close together like this, I can’t help but anthropomorphize them, carried away by the lovely symbolism of the image.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

The trees represent unity and resilience, standing together and supporting each other through thick and thin.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Artist with art: Stand Together. 36″ x 18″, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2023 Cedar Lee

Each painting can stand on its own, of course. But when displayed together, these two paintings complement each other beautifully. One blends into the other as if they were intended as one image.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Artist with art: (Left:) Mt. Tabor Morning. (Right:) Stand Together. © 2023 Cedar Lee

This art evokes a feeling of tranquility, encouraging viewers to appreciate the natural world and to find inspiration and hope in its beauty.

Paintings for home and office by Portland Oregon Artist Cedar Lee
Paintings by Cedar Lee. (Left:) Mt. Tabor Morning. (Right:) Stand Together. © 2023 Cedar Lee

Contact Cedar if you’re interested in purchasing the original paintings, or prints of this artwork.


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