We were lucky to catch up with Cedar Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cedar, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My Nana and Papa were world travelers and art collectors. Their house was filled with original artwork and beautiful things from exotic places. They gave me books about art. As a tiny girl, my parents supplied me with plenty of paper, crayons, markers, paints, scissors, tape, etc., so creating art was something I did naturally from the first second that I was able. I have no recollection of any time when I first started making art; it has just always been something I did. But my Nana and Papa’s house is the backdrop for my first memories of being completely enthralled by the world of art. This is where I remember first making the conscious decision that I would be an artist. The first time I made my desire officially known was at age 9, when I wrote a paper outlining my plans to sell my art when I grew up.

Cedar, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’ve been an artist my whole life. I sold my first painting at age 12, to a teacher for $40. It was a painting of a woman with a baby on her back, harvesting tomatoes in a field, the tomatoes heaped into a basket.

As a young adult, I had an intense interest in the arts but was full of self-doubt at the thought of doing it professionally. Finally, I ended up studying in Goucher College’s art department. Goucher’s campus, in Baltimore, MD, was situated in the middle of hundreds of acres of woods. I graduated in 2005 with honors in the major, started a website, and began introducing myself as an artist to everyone I met. In 2006, I had my first solo show in a small Maryland art gallery, and made my first big sales, which was a thrilling moment for me!

Through all the ups and downs of life and family, the rest is history. I have stuck with my art career ever since.
Today, I specialize in large-scale original paintings of forests, flora and fauna. My paintings hang in private collections across the U.S. and internationally.

I’ve worked as an artist in many capacities, doing murals, large contracts to provide artwork for public housing, and book illustrations. I frequently create paintings commissioned by clients, and I provide original art as well as art prints for home and office settings. I work with art consultants, designers, architects, and individual clients.

I really enjoy working with clients to come up with creative design solutions and help them get the perfect artwork for their space. People send me photos of their room or building, and I often create mockups to help them envision different options for artwork in that space.

Within my continual experimentation in the studio, I pride myself on my technical proficiency and attention to detail. I’m continually improving my knowledge of art materials and best practices for creating art that is professionally finished, ready to hang, and made to stand the test of time.

Much of my work is large-scale, including works up to 10 feet across. There is nothing more exciting to me than creating large-scale, dramatic and inspiring art that makes people say “Wow!”

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’m motivated by a desire to make things just a little bit better. I constantly ask myself, what nature scene would I want to be surrounded by right now if I wanted to feel peaceful? What kind of image would give another person instant relief from painful feelings in a harsh world? What can I do with these colors to make an adult feel the same wonder as a toddler seeing the world with fresh eyes? What’s beautiful about life? What images do I want surrounding me in my own home? I’m always reaching for the good and the light, trying to grab onto a piece of it and amplify the emotions of it through my work.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing my art spark true joy is something that simply never gets old! At a recent open studio event, a woman decided to purchase a small painting. When I took the painting off the wall and handed it to her, she immediately hugged it to her chest, grinning ear-to-ear. She could not stop saying how excited she was. Sometimes I’ll have friends and collectors tag me on social media with a photo of one of my paintings in their home. “Look at how beautiful the painting is! We all love it! Thank you so much!” Those moments are priceless to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artbycedar.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbycedar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtByCedarFans/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artbycedar/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/cedarlee