My newest creation: Dance of the Redwoods!
This painting gives me the feeling of being lost in the woods–not lost like you can’t find your way, but lost like you’ve surrendered to the moment–you look up, you see the tall trees, the fluttering leaves, the golden sunlight and colors dancing all around you. You stand in the middle of this clean, vibrant, living place. Everything is still–but within the stillness, there is a dance, an underlying order and sense of movement–and it’s glorious.
Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
I’ve been combining techniques to achieve interesting effects: layering different paint mediums, thin oil glazes over thick wax, rough palette knife painting alongside details made with tiny brushes.
The result is very abstract when you look at things up close, but the big picture is representational of the natural world.
Here are some close-up detail shots of the interesting textures and effects:
Close-up detail of painting: Dance of the Redwoods. Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail of painting: Dance of the Redwoods. Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail of painting: Dance of the Redwoods. Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Close-up detail of painting: Dance of the Redwoods. Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Here’s what this painting might look like in a light, airy room:
Painting by Cedar Lee shown in a room: Dance of the Redwoods. 30″ x 40″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
The studio today, from the vantage point of the drying rack:
Paintings in art studio of Cedar Lee, December 2014
I’m working on a new 36″x36″ piece that I hope to finish over the next couple of weeks. As I move on to the next paintig, I’m using everything I’ve learned while doing the last one!