Here is “The Love Oak.”
The Love Oak. 20” x 20”, Acrylic on Canvas, © 2022 Cedar Lee
This painting is a commissioned work for a couple celebrating an anniversary.
They wanted me to illustrate a metaphor they used with their children to talk about an abundance of family love: that people need and want love the way that squirrels need and want acorns.
These parents told the children that in their family, “love acorns” are an endless renewable resource because they come from a “Love Oak Tree.”
This is a huge, strong oak tree whose roots grow deep and whose branches spread wide.
It is always making new acorns and never runs out.
To illustrate this idea, I painted two little squirrels, each holding an acorn, on one of the branches of the tree, to represent the two children.
Additionally, they wanted me to incorporate rainbow colors throughout the painting as I have done in some of my recent forest paintings where I explore rainbow colors and scattered light.
The painting is a celebration and symbol of the love between the couple as well as between the parents and children, and the whole family unit.
Besides the rainbow colors incorporated throughout the branches of the tree and in the sky, there are rainbows in the lens flare reaching towards us from the sun, which bursts through from behind the center of the tree.
You can see the roots growing downwards, like an underground cross-section of the tree.
The original of this special painting is sold, but contact me if you are interested in ordering a print.
