Art & Design Magazine

Dazzling Sky

By Artbycedar

Here is “Dazzling Sky,” 24″ x 36″.

Dazzling Sky. 24″ x 36″, Oil on Canvas, © 2018 Cedar Lee

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This beautiful imagery can bring a feeling of peace to a frenetic mind dwelling on a harsh world.


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