Roland Lee is one of 15 artists selected for the 2024 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational

 The Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational is on again November 9 - 14, 2024 and I have once again been invited as one of the 15 participating artists. The popular event was cancelled during the Covid years but has now been revived by the Zion Forever Project in cooperation with the Worthington Art Gallery in Springdale, Utah. Don't miss it.

Roland Lee is one of 15 artists invited to the 2024 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational

Working in my new East Zion Studio

Finally at work in my permanent studio at East Zion

My cabin studio at East Zion

 I'm still missing a few things, but I got started today working in my new permanent studio at East Zion. I did some studio work, then went down and painted plein air in Zion National Park.

Roland Lee painting en plein air in east Zion National Park

Roland Lee painting en plein air in east Zion National Park

"Hope of Dawn" Selected for Watercolor West 56th Annual International Exnibition

It's always a joy to find out one of my paintings makes it in to one of the big shows. My painting, "Hope of Dawn," was juried into the 2024 International Juried Watercolor West exhibition. The 56th Annual International Exhibition will be displayed July 6 - August 3, 2024 at Coastline College in Southern California.

"Hope of Dawn" watercolor by Roland Lee. Watercolor West 56th Annual International Exhibition

Utah Watercolor Society Spring Open Exhibition

I am excited to learn that my painting "Through Canyons Like This" was juried into the Utah Watercolor Society Spring 2024 Open Exhibition. This show will be on display at the Visual Art Institute in Salt Lake City, UT starting May 10 through June 13, 2024. If you get a chance stop by and see the show.

"Through Canyons Like This" juried in to the UWS
Spring open exhibition

March Master Class Demo

 We had a great master class in March at "The Art Place' studio. All six students are upper-level artists, so it is a joy to work with them. The artists included: Max Birnbaum, Karen Bettilyon, Shari Cannon, Connie Madsen, Virginia Howard and Teresa Larson. I did a watercolor demonstration of Zion National Park using a reference photo I shot there.

Watercolor demo by Roland Lee at March master class.

Best of Show at St. George Art Museum DWS Show

 The Dixie Watercolor Society enjoyed attendance of 387 people at their Spring Show reception March 9. Organized by show chairman Cheryl Sachse, the show "Splash of Color" featured 60 artists who contributed  147 paintings. The show will hang at the St. George Art Museum through May. Be sure to stop by and see it. I was grateful to win "Best of Show" for my painting, "Shopping in the Casbah."

Roland Lee, Best of Show, St. George Art Museum
Splash of Color DWS Show

Historical Paintings Presentation at the Meadows

 I was invited to speak to a group of about 35 residents of The Meadows, a retirement community. I showed via PowerPoint how I conceived and painted a number of paintings representing the history of southern Utah and the pioneer town of St. George.

Nellie and Roland Lee with Ken and Janet Reber holding a Roiland Lee painting.

Plein Air Painting with my Daughter

 My daughter, Jana Lee Cherry, and I enjoyed our sunny southern Utah weather by going out to the sand dunes in Warner Valley to plein air paint. We had a great time together and were able to come away with some fun paintings. The only hitch came when we tried to leave and ended up getting stuck in some very deep dry sand. I sunk my "art assault vehicle" up to the axels and needed to get a little assistance from a passer-by who had a wintch and a tow rope. Live and learn!

Jana Lee Cherry with her plein air sketchbook painting

Roland Lee plein air painting in the sand dunes near St. George UT

Roland Lee art assault vehicle stuck in the sand. 1988 Toyota pickup with 1992 Six-Pac camper.

Awards at the Sears Invitational Art Show

 I presented paintings from my book "The Way to Angel's Landing" at the Robert and Peggy Sears Invitational Art Show at Utah Tech University. I was pleased to be awarded a second place award. The show will continue into March 2024 with hours from about 10am to 8pm.

Roland Lee painting received award at Sears Invitational Art Show.

Roland Lee with award winning painting at 2024 Sears Invitational

St. George Temple Dedication Giclee Print Available

"House of the Lord" painting by Roland Lee of the St. George LDS Temple

"The House of the Lord," original watercolor painting by Roland Lee. I worked on this painting of the St. George LDS Temple the week before its dedication, and the week following. We were grateful to have President Jeffrey R. Holland perform the dedication. There are 100 signed and numbered giclee prints available online at www.rolandlee.com  When they are gone, they are gone. 14 x 20 on Epson Velvet paper. $300 plus UT sales tax.