Roland eating olen bolen at the Tholen Molen

Okay we just had to shoot this picture of Roland's olen bolen (a dutch pastry) at the Tholen Molen (windmill). We came halfway around the world just to do it.

Jim, Barb and Nellie on Kerkstraad (Church Street) in Tholen where their ancestors lived.

When in Rome...Nellie and Tricia take to the bikes just like the Dutch do. The Dutch people ride bikes everywhere, in any dress, in any weather. It actually is a great idea.

We celebrated Nellie's birthday with four orange cupcakes decorated with the Dutch flag. Orange is the predominant color here thanks to the soccer team and the Queen.

We bid farewell to Jim and Barbie at the Roosendaal train station. We are illegaly parked in a bus stop, and Right after we shot the picture the police came and told me to move. I was lucky to not get busted. We then picked up Nellie's sisters Tricia and Barbara who will be our travelling companions for the next week.

I've got lots of sketchbook drawings from Zeeland and we've enjoyed our time here. We are leaving today however for our next week in upper Holland near Deventer. Each day is a new adventure and we don't know if we'll find the internet again, so bye for now.

Now Where Did I park that Bicycle?

I can't even remember where I parked my car at the grocery store. This would be the ultimate nightmare for me trying to remember where I parked my bike. This is the crazy scene at the Roosendaal train station where we went to meet up with my son Jim and his wife Barbie coming from Paris. We'll spend the next few days together as Nellie and Jim try to find out about their Dutch ancestry.

We found the street in Tholen where one of their Dutch ancestors lived in the 1700's. The family continued to live in the same area of Zeeland for many generations. Tomorrow it's off to Middleburg where they will continue their search at the Municipal Archives.I plan to do some gallery hopping and sketching in the wonderful old town.

You want Pictures of Windmills?

They call them Molen in the Netherlands, and they are pretty much everywhere. Most are out of use but treasured nonetheless. Today the huge modern propeller windmills seem to have taken over the actual work and changed the skyline as well. The photo above is of a windmill in St. Annaland in Zeeland.

this windmill is in the town of Tholen where we are staying. These things are a lot bigger than you think.

This pretty Windmill at Oud Vossemeer really stands out above the rooftops.

This is my favorite windmill over in St. Maartensdijk Zeeland. I'm going to go back and study it a little more so I can paint it.

Driving a Picasso to see the Dutch Masters

Yes, we are in fact driving a Citroen Picasso in Holland. It should have probably been a Van Gogh, but oh well. We are now in Tholen, Zeeland, Netherlands staying in "The Waterfront" a wonderful B&B right on the the bay in the town of Tholen. We strolled through the old town today stopping at a couple of great art galleries. At Atelier 28 we met modern "Dutch Masters" Francesco Antonietti and Andrea Cook. Neither are native Dutch, be we enjoyed talking art and purchased one of Francesco's beautiful original hand etchings of a windmill. Inspired by the place we went windmill hunting and I shot photos of four different kinds of windmills trying to study their structure. Of course you will be seeing some windmills in my paintings soon!

Above: Our very own Picasso! Below: Artist Andrea Cook of Atelier 28 poses with Nellie in the studio where we purchased an etching by Francesco Antonietti.


Left: I just had to include this photo of a "Tech Bike" parked outside of a tiny computer store in Tholen. Everyone rides bikes here but this was the most "high tech." (Click on photo to see all the features)

On the Road Again...England

Tough work but somebody has to do it! Sketching at Penshurst

Sorry I have not posted for a week. Nellie and I hit the road last Saturday and have not been able to access the internet since. But that is good, because it means I have been walking with my sketchbook in the English countryside of Kent. Wow, what a green and beautiful place. We have explored several castles and lots of wonderful little villages just oozing old English charm. Watch for web updates later and some pictures from my sketchbook. Ta Ta for now.

Above: Nellie in the little town of Edenbridge where we shopped each day. Left: The Hever Hotel near Hever Castle, our home for a week compliments of my son Jim and his wife Barbara.

Santa Clara Art Show a Success

In conjunction with the dedication of the new Santa Clara Town Hall, a special art show was held featuring the artists from the Mission Gallery and Authentique Gallery.Most of the artists were present and the event was well attended with many pieces sold. My good friends Ev and Jim Goodman purchased my painting "Zion's River" and the Jacobson's purchased "Sunlight in Pine Creek."

My dear friend Julie Rogers displayed her amazing pastels and also did a wonderful oil portrait study of Allison Tenney. Julie won best of show at last year's Women Artists of America show.

Annette Everett working on a small sculpture. She sculpted the main monument outside the Town Hall, while my friend Randy Paul sculpted the water feature. Annette also won the Women Artists of America Show this year. It's fun to be around these fantastic artists.

Randy Paul in front of the water feature he created incorporating Everett's sculpture.

New painting of Whitney Store in Kirtland Ohio

I have been working on this painting for a long time. I first conceived the idea during a trip to Kirtland with the Sons of Utah Pioneers group. One of my ancestors, James Henry Rollins and his two sisters were adopted by their uncle A. Sidney Gilbert who was a partner with Newel K. Whitney in this store. Henry learned the trade from his uncle and worked in the store as a young man. The store has been reconstructed by the LDS Church along with other historic buildings and the whole town is now a visitor's center.

Award of Merit at Utah Watercolor Society Spring Show

I was notified today that I had recieve the Jerry's Artarama Award of Merit and $100 prize from the Spring Exhibit of the Utah Watercolor Society. I received the award for "Stone Buttress" a painting of Kolob Canyons in Zion National Park. A second painting, "Banjo Man" was also juried into the exhibit. The show runs through June 16 at Palmer's Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Wisconsin Artist Visits the Studio

Today I had a visit from Joan Stackpole, an accomplished artist from Monroe, Wisconsin. Joan and her husband Brian came by the studio with friends J. Ramsey and Kathie Gibson from Cedar City. Joan loved my Painting of Zion national Park which just came off the board and was waiting for my framer, Guadalupe Rodriguez from Stylecraft Frames in Salt Lake City to pick it up. Before it got out of the studio Joan wanted a picture with me and the painting. I'm not sure she wanted me in it, but she sure liked the painting.

Roland Lee Landscape Painting of Zion National Park spotlighted in Paint the Parks Publicity Materials

I was happy to see my painting "Winter in Zion" used to illustrate the 2008 Paint the Parks Competition publicity materials (see ad below). I was fortunate to have two of my watercolor original paintings selected for the Paint the Parks traveling exhbition currently touring America through 2008. The show features paintings of America's national Parks and is presently on display at Grand Canyon National Park through May 15 and will open at the St. George Art Museum June 6. Of course my selected paintings are both of Zion National Park.

Click for Paint the Parks 2008 Traveling Exhibition Schedule

Click for complete Paint the Parks entry information for 2008-09

Roland Lee Painting of Lake Powell Raises $1200 for Doctor's Free Clinic

We attended the fundraising gala tonight for the St. George Doctor's Free Clinic. It was a dress-up dinner and auction held at the impressive Entrada Country Club in Southern Utah. I donated an original painting of Lake Powell, "Lake Powell Morning" which was purchased by Dr. and Mrs. Scott Parry. Through the sale I was able to donate $1200 towards the operation expenses for the Free Clinic.
Above: Nellie and Roland Lee at the auction.

Far left: Barbara and Jim Aikens of the Datura Gallery in Kayenta. The Gallery donated a one-of-a-kind necklace for the fundraiser auction. Above right: Joshua and Julie Aikens at the Entrada event. Joshua's company Proseedure donated the filming and production of an outstanding promotional video for the Doctor's Free Clinic.

Roland Lee Painting in the Springville Museum of Art 84th Spring Salon

I was fortunate to have one of my landscape watercolor paintings of southern Utah juried into the prestigious 84th annual Spring Salon of the Springville Museum of Art. With over 900 entries, I'm happy to have a painting selected this year. We were able to walk through the exhibit and I was impressed with both the quality of art and the presentation.

The Springville Museum of Art is a fabulous facility and the director Vern Swanson has been at the forefront of the art scene for many years.

Left: The main entrance to the Springville Museum of Art.

Left: "Left: Cliffs on Fire" an original watercolor painting by Roland Lee of the red cliffs of southern Utah juried into the 84th annual Spring Salon of the Springville Museum of Art.

Hanging the Blaine Lee Art Collection

Left: My brother Blaine Lee with several of his Jay Bryant Ward original oil paintings.

Over the weekend Nellie and I visited my brother Blaine Lee who is a founding vice-president for Franklin Covey. He just acquired a new home and requested our services to help place and hang his art collection. I was surprised and delighted to see four incredible original oil paintings by LDS painter Jay Bryant Ward in his living room. He has a spiritual affinity for these works which feature the Lord Jesus Christ pouring out His light on the world. We enjoyed a good visit and his paintings look magnificent in his new home.

Left: "Seed of Faith" original painting by Jay Ward.

Palmer's Gallery in Salt Lake City hosts the Spring Exhibition of the Utah Watercolor Society

While in Salt Lake City I delivered two of my original watercolor paintings to Palmer's Gallery on Broadway Street. The gallery will host the Spring Exhibition of the Utah Watercolor Society which kicks off with an opening reception next week. I was impressed with the design and character of the Palmer Gallery. It is going to be an excellent place to view some of the best Utah watercolor paintings as juried by noted artist Jean Grastorf. I was fortunate to have two watercolor paintings selected including "Stone Buttress" and "Banjo Man." Thanks to Exhibit chairperson Pat Heberling and the other volunteers for all their work putting this show together.

Spring Blossoms at the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival

Thanksgiving Point, in Lehi, Utah is well-known for its expansive and well-manicured gardens covering zillions of acres. Visitors of all ages enjoy discovering such delights as the "secret garden," a crashing waterfall, and endless flower displays all connected by winding stone paths and arched foot bridges. We took our grandkids and spent a couple of hours strolling through the gardens yesterday and were treated to the final glory of the annual Tulip Festival.

Tulips of every type, color, and size were evident everywhere we looked. Of course photographers and artists were taking advantage of the display and I threw in with some photos of my own. This summer there will be a big Plein Air Art Festival and painting competition in the gardens and I just might sign up. If nothing else the Tulips got our senses fired up for our trip to the Netherlands in a couple of weeks.

Utah Watercolor Society May Meeting at the Historic Wheeler Farm

Prior to the monthly meeting of the Utah Watercolor Society in Salt Lake City last night, I strolled through old Wheeler Farm where the meeting was held. My sketchbooks are full of drawings from this wonderful working farm and this time I shot a few reference photos too as the last rays of sun put a touch of gold on the place.

Left: A pencil drawing done on the grounds of the historic Wheeler Farm in Murray Utah. This sketch was done on location using a Watson-Guptil hardbound sketchbook and a 6B pencil. I use this same set-up for sketching on location all over the world.

Jean Grastorf presented an interesting demonstration at our monthly UWS meeting last night. Jean also presented a three day workshop for the group as well as judged the UWS Spring Juried Exhibition. Jean is very well-known in the watercolor world for her unique method of "pouring watercolor" which has won her membership in most of the watercolor groups and a myriad of awards. She meticulously masks out various parts of her paintings then pours mixtures of watercolor over the paper in various progressive steps. The results are very rich and colorful as you can see by her painting "Southern Breeze" above.

Plein Air Painting at the Kayenta Desert Bloom Art Festival

Roland Lee paints outdoors at the Kayenta Desert Bloom Art Festival while Linda and Dave Johannessen and Joan and John Mangels give advice.

I was invited to be one of the guest artists to paint outdoors at the new Desert Bloom Art Festival in Kayenta. I did some quick sketches of the desert arboretum flowers and cactuses, then did a quick watercolor study of pink cactus blossoms. A couple of artist friends hung around to watch and we had a mini-lesson in negative painting. My wife made the day when she showed up with some hot home-made tamales.

Robert Shepherd Painting added to my Personal Art Collection

Robert Shepherd Painting of Paradise Canyon in Southern Utah near St. George in personal art collection of Roland L. Lee

Robert Shepherd was one of my most revered mentors when I began painting. He passed away many years ago but I was fortunate to inherit his easel, taboret, and many of his personal art books. After selling my first gallery painting in 1980 I purchased one of Robert Shepherd's paintings with the proceeds -- and I still had to make time payments on it. But it hangs in my home proudly.

Today I was fortunate to acquire another full sheet original watercolor painting by Robert Shepherd from one of his major collectors and personal friends. I am thrilled with my new acquisition!

May Watercolor Painting Workshop

May watercolor worshop students included: (Back row)Susan Tyler, Linda Alexander, Joanne Asay, Gail Alger. (Front) John Mangels, Linda Johannessen, Elaine Winget.

I enjoyed teaching a watercolor painting workshop the last two days at A Passion for Painting Art Gallery in St. George Utah. This is my last watercolor landscape workshop of the season as I get ready to leave for ur European painting trip. I used both powerpoint demonstrations and painting demonstrations to teach concepts of learning to see light in the landscape. This was a great group of talented artists and they really grasped the concept of negative painting in watercolor.

A quick two minute watercolor painting showing how to use negative painting to create a sagebrush.