This painting is called “Three Giants,” and is a continuation of my exploration of imagery I picked up in Sequoia National Forest. I aim to show not just a realistic representation of these trees, but also to infuse them with a mood–that thrumming vibration of life and growth that makes you feel a little thrill at being a part of this world.
I created dramatic lighting with highlights and shadows. The spiraling trunks and the way the branches curve and cross over each other create visual movement. I’ve chosen to keep the center space clear of messy branches, to allow the eye to zoom all the way to the tops of the tree trunks up in the sky.
Three Giants. 30″ x 24″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Here is the reference photo that was the starting point for the painting. As you can see, I edited the trees a bit to make them more visually exciting, and I used a lot of artistic license to make the image stylistically my own, through executive choices about color, form, and mark-making.
Reference photo for Three Giants. 30″ x 24″, Oil on Wood, © 2014 Cedar Lee
Creating these paintings is so exciting to me as I find ways to make a hybridized image: realism combined with unfettered artistic expression.
