I am working on a lot of Lotus paintings all at once right now. I have works in progress in various stages all around the studio.
Two new 10″ x 10″ paintings are finally complete after several stages of building up color and texture. I’ve finished them with a coat of resin, which is a new process for me.
Here is the first, “Lotus Study 1” before I applied the resin:
Before Resin: Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
And after resin:
Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
The resin has the effect of deepening all the colors and smoothing everything out all the brush marks, knife marks, and little bumps in the paint’s surface.
Detail: Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
The surface is highly reflective from some angles.
Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
These paintings gleam like jewels!
Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
The simplicity of the flower against the deep red abstract background is bold and satisfying.
Lotus Study 1. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
Here’s the second one, “Lotus Study 2.” Again, here you see how it looked before applying resin:
Before Resin: Lotus Study 2. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
And with the resin:
Lotus Study 2. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
The background was painted in a loose, free style, a variety of brush marks, lines and dots making up the colorful background.
Lotus Study 2. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
Lotus Study 2. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
You can see the way the light gleams on the glassy surface.
Lotus Study 2. 10″ x 10″, Oil on Wood, © 2017 Cedar Lee
Here are the paintings on the studio drying rack after the resin was poured.
Cedar Lee Lotus paintings on drying rack
The painting continuing around the deep edges of the wood panels gives a unique, sophisticated modern look. I love how this art doesn’t need a frame–the edges, especially such deep edges on a smaller-size panel, make it three-dimensional and unique.
