Amazing, but Freezing Week at Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

I about wore myself out last week at the Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational. 15 artists were chosen to participate in the event. The mornings were below freezing but the days were beautiful. I was able to do 8 plein air paintings including a live demonstration and a live paint out the final day.

Roland Lee painting demonstration at Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

Roland Lee painting en plein air at Zion National Park

Collector with plein air painting by Roland Lee

Roland Lee outdoor demonstration watercolor painting of Grafton Schoolhouse

Roland Lee with live demonstration painting all framed

Collectors Purchase Two Large Roland Lee Original Watercolor Paintings

 I am grateful to Doug and Marci Topham who purchased two of my big originals for their home. The paintings include a painting of the St. George LDS Temple as well as a landscape of Zion National Park. 

Doug and Marci Topham purchased two Roland Lee original watercolors which were framed splendidly by my framer Diane Cliff.

Artist Roland Lee will be at the Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational

Artist Roland Lee will be one of the plein air painters at the 2024 Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

Roland Lee will be one of 15 noted plein air artists painting in the 2024 Zion Plein Air Art Invitational. The event begins Nov. 4 and runs through Nov. 9 . Artists will paint in the park daily and their will be daily painting demonstrations at the Worthington Gallery in Springdale. Roland will be doing a demo on Thursday November 7 at 11:30pm. Art enthusiasts are welcome at no charge. 

Virginia Howard Painting near Zion National Park

 A Virginia Howard painting was purchased by Roland Lee at the Dixie Watercolor Society Fall Exhibit held at Gallery 35 in St. George Utah.

At the recent DWS Fall Exhibition, a painting by Virginia Howard was puchased by Roland Lee.

A Virginia Howard painting was purchased by Roland Lee

Another Painting Sold

Venna Barrett with artist Roland Lee and her new painting "River to the Angels."

 One of my great collectors, Venna Barrett, purchased my new big oil painting called "River to the Angels." She and her family are avid hikers and know most of the trails in Zion National Park. She loved the painting the moment she saw it, and had to make it a part of her home. 

Plein Air Rendezvous at Midway

 21 instructors and 50 attendees came together for 4 days of instruction, demonstrations and outdoor painting at the 2024 "Plein Air Utah Rendezvous" this week. What a wonderful experience enjoying perfect early-fall weather in some of the most beautiful landscapes in Utah. I enjoyed working with some great watercolor students and professionals during those four days. I appreciate Kathy Cooper, who came all the way out from North Carolina to paint with me today.

Roland Lee and Kathy Cooper

A young lady named Lindsey helping me on one of my paintings

Painting along the Provo River near Heber

Painting below Mt. Timpanogos

Roland Lee painting in the mountains

Gold River Gallery Features Roland Lee Paintings.

I am excited to be part of Travis Humphreys' new Gold River Gallery in Cedar City, UT. He is carryings Some great regional artists. If you are looking for excellent quality representational art this is the place to find it. 111 South Main, Open 1 to 8pm Wednesday through Saturday. 801-586-3399

Travis Humphreys (center) with daughter Sienna and artist Roland Lee

Roland Lee at the Gold River Gallery in Cedar City, UT

Gold River Gallery front door

Tophams Purchase two Original Paintings

 It was a pleasure to meet new collectors, Doug and Marci Topham. They studied my paintings online and purchased two of my original paintings for their home. I am always grateful to those who love my work.

"Zion Canyon Motif" watercolor by Roland Lee

"Dreams by the River" watercolor by Roland Lee

Painting wins patrons choice award

 It was fun to have my painting "Free Fallin'" win the Patrons Choice Award at the Gallery 35 show in St. George Utah. 

"Free Fallin'" wins Patron's Choice Award

New collectors purchase Roland Lee oil painting of Kayenta Wash

 I am grateful to the Fairbanks family for purchasing one of my oil paintings of a dry wash located in Kayenta Utah. It is always rewarding to see one of my pantings find a new home.

Steve and Thalene Fairbanks with their new Roland Lee painting

Delivering New Paintings to Thunderbird Foundation Gallery

 I delivered about six new paintings to the Thunderbird Foundation Gallery at the Maynard Dixon Property in Mt. Carmel, UT. Gallery director, Susan Bingham, has done an excellent job selecting artists and displaying their work in her spacious art gallery. I appreciate having her carry my work. It is a real honor having my work displayed on the same walls as artists Matt Smith, Glenn Dean, and John Lintott.

Roland Lee and Susan Bingham stand by Roland's display wall in the beautiful Thunderbird Foundation Gallery on the Maynard Dixon property. 

Plein Air Magazine - Plein Air Today

Outdoor Painter - Plein Air Today Magazine

My painting "Symbol of Freedom" is featured in Plein Air Magazine's newsletter Plein Air Today, "How 9 Plein Air Artists Honor the Fourth of July." 

Roland Lee Painting in Plein Air Magazine
Plein Air Today article

Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

Roland Lee at the Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

The Zion Plein Air Art Invitational will happen again this year in the fall. I am pleased to be one of 15 artists to participate in the November 4-9, 2024 art event. Sponsored by the Zion Forever Project and the Worthington Gallery in Springdale, the six-day event will feature daily painting demonstrations, wet paint sale, and auction. Plan to be there.

Roland Lee Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

Plein air painting in Zion National Park

My friend Steve Manwaring and I enjoyed a couple of days at my "Studio in East Zion" and were able to paint in Zion National Park both days. With the temperature over 100 degrees in St. George, it was nice to enjoy temperatures in the 80's, along with shade and a cool breeze in Zion.

Steve Manwaring plein air painting in Zion National Park

Roland Lee plein air painting in Zion National Park

Roland Lee "Studio at East Zion" with my "Art Assault Vehicle" a 1988 Toyota pickup with camper.

Painting Sells at Gallery 35

 

John and Summer Stratton with their new painting by Roland Lee

I was please to have John and Summer Stratton stop by the Gallery 35 las Saturday and purchase an original watercolor "Zion's Approach" for their home. Summer is also a watercolor painter. I am so grateful to every collector for their interest in my paintings.

Zion Plein Air Art Invitational November 4-9 2024

Roland Lee plein air painting in Zion National Park

The Zion Plein Air Art Invitational is back! In cooperation with the Zion Forever Project and the Worthington Gallery in Springdale UT the event  will feature 15 selected professional artists, daily artists demonstrations, paint out at the lodge and a silent auction. Plus, this year's wet paint sale will be exhibited and paintings available for sale at the Worthington Gallery in Springdale. Put it on your calendars now.

Painting Sold to Great Collectors

James Barrett and Roland Lee

Venna Barrett with Roland Lee painting just purchased

 Venna Barrett and her son James purchased my painting, "Walking Through Time." James works for SpaceX on the Starlink program and has hiked Angels Landing in Zion Park many times. He and his mother Venna are wonderful art collectors and avid hikers.

Painting Compatriot Stevo

 I was pleased that my old painting buddy, Steve Manwaring, stopped by and purchased a small painting I had done on location in Zion Park. He and I have scheduled a couple of on-location painting trips in the future.

Steve Manwaring and Roland Lee with plein air painting

New Kolob Canyons Painting Sold

 I was pleased to sell this painting at the Gallery 35 today to some collectors from Texas.

"Kolob Canyon Rising" sold to the Watsons at Gallery 35.

Working in my new East Zion Studio

 I am thrilled with my new studio arrangement in east Zion National Park. I have converted one of our cabins to a permanent studio and we three days up there each week. Here are a couple of paintings I completed in the new studio this month.

Roland Lee painting done in my east Zion Studio

Roland Lee painting done in my east Zion Studio

Plein air painting in Zion National Park

 I am enjoying spending three days a week at my cabin studio at east Zion National Park. My studio is working out just fine, plus I have been going into Zion each day to do some plein air painting. It is working out so well I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.

"Lone Pine" painted en plein air in Zion National Park.

Roland Lee painting done on location in Zion.

American Watercolor Society

 My painting "Resting Peacefully" was accepted into the Associates only online exhibit which runs from June 6 to August 20, 2024. The painting is on the AWS YouTube page.

"Resting Peacefully" watercolor by Roland Lee. American Watercolor Society Associates show.

Plein Air Salon Semi-finalist

Plein Air Salon Semi-finalist. I am one of 184 artists who received First Place in separate categories of the monthly "Plein Air Salon" competition in 2023. We are now semi-finalists for the annual awards which will be presented at PACE conference May 20-24, 2024. My chances are slim, but its an honor to make it this far out of the 1000's of entries. The competition is sponsored by Plein Air Magazine.

Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition

Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition

Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition

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