Roland Lee Travel Sketchbook

St. George Art Museum Show Opens

2012-01-27T09:08:00.005-07:00

Eleven of my watercolor paintings will be on display through May 25, 2012 at the St. George Art Museum as part of their "Collections from the Collection" show. The paintings are all from the museum's permanent collection and includes one of the first watercolors I ever sold in 1980. Most of the paintings were purchased by the City of St. George for the permanent collection over the past 31 years, while a few were donated by collectors. Over 150 paintings are on exhibit creating a wonderful retrospective show. Gallery hours are 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday. The address is 47 East 200 North, St. George, UT.

Drawing Workshop in Salt Lake City

2012-01-09T08:18:00.003-07:00

Margo Cook organized a wonderful drawing workshop in Salt Lake City that drew in 15 attendees in January. We enjoyed two days of drawing together and learning the art of seeing values. I will hold another drawing workshop in St. George, UT January 26-27, 2012 at a Passion for Painting studio.
Workshop participants included: Joanne Hamm, Mary Ann Nelson, Karen Cheng, Laurel Finlinson, Heidi Vriens, Joan Reynolds, Shari Cannon, Marjorie Anderson, Bessann Swanson, Dixie Stoddard, Joan Bodell, Colleen Thompson, Margo Cook, Mark Rose, and Margaret Pugsley.

Record Sales Raise Funds for the Zion National Park Foundation Youth Initiative

2011-11-09T14:46:00.016-07:00

Once again, I am grateful to the collectors from many states who selected my paintings to become part of their collections. The show was nearly a sell-out and helped raise a significant amount for the Zion National Park Foundation Youth Initiative. Here are a few more photos from the plein Air Invitational at Zion National Park. See more photos on my website.

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Uhlinger of Monterey CA with their plein air painting "Dry Creek - East Zion."

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kirk purchased "Golden Leaves and Cliffs"

The John and Melissa Clark family with their new plein air painting "Mount Abraham - Court of the Patriarchs"

Pastel artist Arlene Braithwaite (shown painting by the Virgin River) went home with my painting "Memories of Moran" (above)

Patricia Pospahala was with a bus tour that stopped briefly at the Human History Museum art exhibit, but it was long enough for her to purchase "Canyon Serenity" and have it shipped to her home in Chester, Virginia.

"Beneath the Watchman" is a studio painting bought by Bryan Adams from the Human History Museum exhibit during the event

Also thanks to John Wright, from Las Vegas for his purchase of "Below Angel's Landing." I was not present when he bought the painting, so I was not able to get his photograph, but I appreciate it just as much. I am also appreciative to Zions Bank for their purchase award of "Reds and Golds" painted along the Virgin River near Temple of Sinawava. I am honored that it will be added to their extensive corporate art collection.

Week-long Paint out in Zion a Success

2011-11-08T21:10:00.015-07:00

Working on my "quick draw" painting at Zion National Park

Success! After a week painting en plein air at Zion National Park I'd have to call the whole event a rousing success. The week began on Monday with 24 invited artists from all over the nation setting up in places where Thomas Moran actually painted during an early exploration trip through the Zion area. Each day consisted of outdoor painting, a workshop, a demonstration and a seminar in the evening for both artists and the hundreds of attendees. The week concluded with a "Quick-draw" where the artists all furiously painted a complete piece in 90 minutes while onlookers watched intently. This was followed by a live auction, and finally a gala "wet paint" sale Saturday of all the paintings completed during the week. I must say I was quite tired at the end of the week, but thrilled to spend that much time working outdoors in my favorite place on earth. 40% of all sales went to the Youth and Art Initiative for the Zion National Park Foundation so everyone benefited. As it turns out I was the top selling artist, followed by John Cogan, Joshua Been, and William Scott Jennings. I'd like to thank all the collectors who came out to support us as well as those businesses issuing purchase awards. I was pleased to receive a purchase award from Zion's Bank.

My quick-draw painting underway

My quick draw painting "Zion at Noon" was purchased by Nanette Rosevear of Daytona Beach Florida

Plein Air watercolor problems. When I started this painting early one morning the air was so cold my watercolor paints froze!

"Sentinel in the Morning" was purchased by Bob and Luisa Geiger of Azusa CA

"East Zion Arch" was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. David Webster

Getting Ready for Thomas Moran Plein Air Competition at Zion

2011-10-28T08:42:00.004-06:00

l just finished another studio painting of Zion National Park. "Layers of Time" features the streaked wall and beehives which are prominent as you start the road up Zion Canyon from the junction. My view is from further up Bridge Mountain. Now I start preparations for the week-long plein air competition and sale in Zion National Park, "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran."
The event kicks of Monday as 24 artists spread out over Zion and begin painting on location. Visitors will receive a map when they enter the park showing some of the locations where artists will be working. I will teach a two-hour workshop (filled) on Monday, then will paint at the Nature Center for a couple of hours. Hopefully I will be able to make a few posts here as the event progresses. Wish me luck!

Back from Mesa Verde National Park

2011-10-19T08:19:00.003-06:00

We just returned from two weeks at Mesa Verde National Park where I finished my "Artist-in-Residency." What a fantastic experience it was to live in a wonderful hogan on the very mesas inhabited by the Ancestral Puebloans. I was able to explore and hike amongst the ruins and cliff dwellings every day and marvelled at the great culture that existed on these plateaus. During the course of my stay I filled up a sketchbook with drawings of everything from ancient pottery and kivas, to ancient juniper trees and landscapes. I also completed 13 original watercolor paintings while there. I'm grateful to the folks at Cortez Cultural Center for helping me set up my public presentation. My thanks to Frank Cope and the Park Service people who were so cooperative and knowledgable during our stay. Check out my website to see all my paintings and sketchbook drawings.

First Day at Mesa Verde

2011-10-04T09:08:00.006-06:00

Our first day of a two-week residency at Mesa Verde was a whirlwind of adventure! First of all our guest hogan is completely charming, decorated in a 1930's pueblo style and offering all the comforts of home. A $200-a-night lodge could not be more welcoming and cozy. Driving in late Sunday night, after an 8-hour trip, we enjoyed a good night's sleep.

Up early, we were thrilled to be greeted by deer, coyote, and turkeys. After checking in to get our backcountry passes and clearance with my good griend Frank Cope, we headed out to get our first glimpse of a cliff dwelling. We picked up a ranger-guided tour at Cliff Palace which is an enormous complex of stone-work tucked underneath an even more enormous rock overhang. It's easy to see why the Ancestral Puebloans found the spot appealing based on protection and views. However it is staggering to imagine the work it must have taken to build this place stone by stone.

Our first look was from high above and we had a chance to take it all in and do a few sketches before dropping down a narrow winding trail into the dwelling. People with bad knees beware! We soon discovered that most of the cliff dwellings were built between 1200 and 1280 AD. Although the Ancestral Puebloans lived and held ceremonies in the structures, much of their time was spent up on the mesa tops where they farmed corn, beans and squash. As we exited the dwellings we had to climb another narrow stone trail and finish by scaling a tall, but sturdy ladder to the surface.

Anxious to see more, we took a guided tour of balcony house. Nellie opted out of this one when she heard we had to enter via a 32 foot ladder and crawl through a narrow 12 foot tunnel. She enjoyed reading in the beautiful weather above, while our small, but congenial group explored the cliff dwelling interior. Once again the view was staggering, as we tried to figure out how in the world they ever climbed up the stone face in the first place. Much archaelogical work has been done on the larger sites, but there are over 600 known cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park.

Later in the day we explored Spruce Tree House, and drove the Mesa Top Loop where we could see countless other cliff dwellings and storage rooms tucked precariously into the cliff face. I had my sketchbook out and worked feverishly to capture a few quick views of each location. Rain is predicted for the rest of the week, so we wanted to get in as much as we could today.

Where Two Streams Meet

2011-10-01T07:04:00.005-06:00

My good friend Lyman Hafen has just published a new book reflecting on the history of St. George. "Where Two Streams Meet," Tonaquint Press features my painting of the same name on the cover. Lyman's new book gleans from his many essays about growing up in the once "small town" of St. George, Utah. In his charming and reflective style, Lyman has become well-known for his writings that combine history with personal reflections. To order the book click here.

"Where Two Streams Meet" watercolor by Roland Lee

New Zion Painting Where the River turns

2011-09-26T22:29:00.006-06:00

This new painting is at the framer right now. It will be ready for the "Footsteps of Thomas Moran" studio exhibit at Zion National Park the first week of November. The painting, called "Where the River Turns," depicts the quiet solitude of the Virgin River near the Temple of Sinawava during the quiet, but colorful autumn season.

Roland Lee featured in Western Art Collector Magazine

2011-09-21T14:54:00.006-06:00

The October issue of Western Art Collector magazine spotlights the work of Roland Lee in conjunction with my fall show "Colors of Zion" and the plein air event "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran." Both shows run concurrently at Zion National Park starting October 31, 2011. Visitors to the the event will be able to see 24 artists painting on location in Zion, and watch them participate in a one-hour "quick draw" and auction. An exhibit of studio paintings will be presented at the Zion National Park Human History Museum from Sept 20 - Nov 27. Just outside the Park's east entrance the Roland Lee Art Gallery will also present a display and sale of new original paintings and prints of Zion National Park. Click here for a full schedule of events.

Zion National Park Show opens today

2011-09-20T22:23:00.004-06:00

"Beneath the Watchman" by Roland Lee
Today was the opening of the first event in the 2011 "In the Footsteps of thomas Moran" plein air competition and exhibit. Each participating artist submitted studio paintings which will be on display now through the end of the show. If you are in Zion National Park between now and then be sure to stop by the Human History Museum to view the exhibit. And plan to be there the first week of November for the plein air competition and sale.

Following in the Footsteps of Thomas Moran

2011-09-01T22:56:00.016-06:00

Just in time! I finished this new painting today just in time to get it up to Zion National Park for the kick-off of the art event of the year. Now in it's third year the "In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran" plein air art event draws hundreds of collectors who enjoy watching 24 artists work on location in the park. A special pre-show begins on September 20, 2011 featuring studio pieces by the artists on display in the Zion National Park Human History Museum. The Thomas Moran event also includes a "wet-paint sale", a Quick draw and auction, along with special workshops and demos by the participating artists. For a complete schedule click the link below:
Thomas Moran Plein Air Invitational

Salt Lake City Workshop

2011-08-24T19:06:00.005-06:00

It's always great to meet new artists at my workshops. And it's nice to see my old artist friends as well. That was the case at my latest workshop in Salt Lake City where 14 artists from several states enjoyed a couple of days together studying the wily ways of watercolor. The first day of the workshop we concentrated on the techniques of wet-into-wet, allowing pigments to mingle on the paper instead of the palette. The paintings were magnificent as each artist adapted the approach to their unique vision. The second day we wrestled with the technique of negative painting and preserving the whites. This workshop group was certainly up to the task and the work they produced was amazing.

Class participants include: Mark Rose, Marjorie Anderson, Chris Cameron, Joanne Hamm, Tammy Northrup, Sue Ross, Bill Porter, Heidi Vriens, Sharon Cannon, Margaret Pugsley, Dixie Stoddard, Bessan Swanson, Tina Howard.

Watercolor Workshop at Tuacahn

2011-07-22T20:30:00.005-06:00

I enjoyed three days with a lovely group of artists this past week at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Southern Utah. It was a diverse group of people ranging from experienced art teachers to a talented 12-year old from Maine. But we had fun as I tried to impress upon them the importance of learning to paint with the artist's brain. The facilities at Tuacahn were wonderful and organizer Penny Beckstrand was a great help to us. Students included: Jill Fugal, Pleasant Grove; Pamela Jones, Big Pine CA; Mark Rose, American Falls, Idaho; Abby Windover, Maine; Linda Huntzinger, Provo, UT; LuAnne Williams, Colorado City, AZ; Emily Thomas, Lehi, UT; Amber Cosby, St. George UT; Paul Lillywhite, St. George, UT; Karen Pool, UT.

Demonstrating a small desert watercolor scene for the students, using a three-minute sky.

The Tuacahn classroom worked out very well.

Artists hard at work. Their teacher really cracked the whip on them!

Mark Rose and I went up to Snow Canyon to do a little sketching. I did this small painting of the scene behind Mark.

Good Friends from England

2011-07-07T22:07:00.006-06:00

My good friends Derrick and Barbara Hartley stopped in for a delightful visit at the Mission Gallery. From Sedburgh England, they have hosted us at their lovely country home in the Yorkshire Dales area on several occasions. This time we hosted them at our cabin at Zion National Park. They were joined by their son and daughter in law Ruskin and Ashley Hartley, and Barbara and Jim Aikens. While in the gallery they chose a small landscape painting to take home with them to England.

(Back row) Trisha Eves, Barbara Aikens, Roland Lee, Nellie Lee. (Front row) Barbara Hartley, Derrick Hartley, Ashley Hartley and Emerson Hartley on her lap.

Collectors Purchase Award-winning Painting

2011-07-06T21:25:00.000-06:00

Former collectors Jim and Linda Szalay have been stewing over one of my paintings for some time. Finally, they decided they just had to have "Reflections of Solitude" for their collection after viewing it over and over on my website. One of my personal favorite paintings, "Reflections of Solitude" was selected for several national competitions including the National Watercolor Society, The Springville Art Museum Spring Salon, The Utah Watercolor Society and others. It received awards from two of those competitions.

San Jose Watercolor Workshop

2011-06-18T08:48:00.004-06:00

We just concluded a great workshop in San Jose. I was joined by 20 really good artists this past week for a watercolor workshop sponsored by the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society. I met lots of new friends as we worked on the finer techniques of watercolor. Thanks to Jeanne Rousseau and Jane Kwant for organizing the event and making sure things went smoothly. Also congratulations to Doug Yirka, Jeanne, and Keiko O'Leary on their purchases of new original Roland Lee paintings. We look forward to our next workshop in 2014.

New Paintings of Snow Canyon and Sand Hollow Reservoir

2011-06-08T21:48:00.006-06:00

Here are a couple of new paintings I completed recently. I thought I'd post them before heading off to California to teach a five-day watercolor workshop for the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society in San Jose.

Nellie and I took our tent to Snow Canyon recently and camped overnight. The stars were great, but the sunrise was even better. This painting is a result of that campout.

Sand Hollow Reservoir in southern Utah is one of my favorite bass fishing lakes (as you might have read in my last post.) But it also has spectacular scenery as well. This painting features the big skies that always present a perfect backdrop to the scene. Both these paintings are on display at the Mission Gallery in St. George.

Aquatic Research

2011-05-27T11:08:00.003-06:00

Okay, every artist needs a break from the easel. I tell my students you've got to fill the bucket before you can empty it back in the studio. last night my brother in law Robert invited me and my son Jon to participate in a little "aquatic research" at Sand Hollow Reservoir. As you can see by the photo our efforts were effective. Of course we practice "Catch and release" so in order to show two fish at once, we had to catch two at the same time which we did. We call it "Doubles" and it only happens when all the stars are lined up correctly, the moon is right, and you are very good fishermen. Tah dah!

Santa Clara Invitational Art Show

2011-05-17T12:47:00.010-06:00

The Santa Clara Art Invitational last weekend drew a nice crowd of art collectors for the fourth annual show. About 24 artists were present to display their art and join together for a Saturday paint-out and auction. My auction piece was purchased by collector Chuck Norton.

Inside the Town Hall art collectors could stroll through displays from the participating artists including both studio and plein air paintings. Also on display were a number of fine sculpture pieces.Participating artists included Julie Rogers, David Koch, Steve McGinty, Fred Howard, Robert Call, Roland Lee, Darwin Dower, L'Deane Trueblood, Annette Everett, Kaziah Hancock(The goat Lady), Elva Malin, Marty Ricks. Rett Ashby, Kelly Donovan, Charles Dayton, Kieth Bond, J. Kirk Richards, Simon Winegar, Jeffery Pugh, Steven Lee Adams, Ken Harris, Joni Flint, Paul Graf, Matt Rogers, Robert McFarland, Richard Horrocks, and McGarren Flack.

I got a kick out of this "ladder-easel" setup that Marty Ricks was using. He said it worked better than his $500 easel which kept breaking. He also thought the step shelves were a nice feature, allowing plenty of room for storing equipment and drinks.

During the day collectors could bid on their favorite artworks in a silent auction. At the end of the day there was a scramble to get the last bid down.

Camping and Sketching in Snow Canyon

2011-04-30T20:13:00.002-06:00

We awoke to this glorious view of the sunrise on Snow Canyon's cliffs

A couple of days ago Nellie and I decided to do some tent camping in Snow Canyon. The weather was perfect -- sunny with cool air. We took delightful evening hike on the "Hidden Pinion Trail" and enjoyed a grand night under the Utah stars. We awoke to a glorious sunrise and I was able to do a little drawing in my travel sketchbook. Ahhh the joys of living in paradise!

St. George Art Festival Re-cap

2011-04-30T19:56:00.008-06:00

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and visited my display at the St. George Art Festival last weekend. The weather was magnificent -- almost too hot, and the crowds were bigger than ever. We had lots of sales including originals, books, cards, and prints. I was honored by The City of St. George who purchased my painting "Springdale Morning" for the permanent collection of the St. George Art Museum. Having done a lot of outdoor art festivals in my time, I am quite sure this is the best festival of its kind. Kudos to Kent Perkins, his staff, and everyone involved for an amazing festival.

The City of St. George purchased "Springdale Morning" for the permanent collection

St. George Art Festival this weekend

2011-04-21T21:17:00.005-06:00

I'll have a double booth at the St. George outdoor Art Festival Friday and Saturday April 21-22 and I hope to see YOU! Over 120 artists will be on hand at the Town Square so there will be plenty to see. For the family there is entertainment, kids' art area, food booths and more. I'll be displaying a couple of new giclee prints along with about 15 new original paintings. The weather forecast is sunny. See you there.

Painting Water in Watercolor Workshop

2011-03-25T22:23:00.005-06:00

We just finished two wonderful days studying the ins and outs of painting water in watercolor. 15 excellent artists joined me for a two-day workshop sponsored by Warren and Carol Larson and the Hurricane Valley Arts Alliance. It's always a great experience to rub shoulders with fellow artists, but this group was especially talented and amiable. Participants included: John and Karel Armstrong from Prescott Arizona; Mark Gunn Rose from American Falls Idaho; Laura Huddleston from Snowflake Arizona; Barbara Malmberg from Riverside California; Johanna Monroe from Santa Rosa California; Pete Sauer from Salt Lake City Utah; Ann Williams from Springdale Utah; Michael Smith from Ivins Utah; Bill Sherwin from St. George Utah; John Mangels from St. George Utah; Shirlee Last from Hurricane Utah; John Griffith from Washington Utah;Daniel Fernie from St. George Utah; Eiko Anderson from Logan Utah. Click to see photos

New Roland Lee Gallery opens at Zion Mtn Ranch

2011-03-16T20:56:00.007-06:00

Yep, we're officially open. We finally launched the new Roland Lee Art Gallery at Zion Mountain Ranch. Located inside the ZMR Trading Post just a mile from the east entrance to Zion National Park on SR9 we've partnered with Kevin McLaws to exhibit my original landscape paintings and prints of Zion and the surrounding areas. Our signs aren't up yet and we've got a few finishing touches to add, but we'll be in full swing in time for the busy vacation season. We'll also display and sell the amazing western bronze sculptures of Jerry Anderson. I hope to spend time up their this summer. Look forward to an open house celebration soon.

Zion Mountain Ranch resort is unique in that it is dedicated to preserving the pristine natural surroundings of its thousands of acres of high mountain meadows and forests that border Zion Park. Part of the preservation effort is to make a permanent home for the ranch’s buffalo herd.

Zion Painting on cover of SkyWest inflight magazine

2011-03-08T23:03:00.003-07:00

I was pleased to have one of my Zion paintings grace the cover of the March/April 2011 issue of SkyWest, the inflight magazine of SkyWest and Delta Express airlines. They used my painting "A Patch of Blue" which depicts a peaceful scene along the north fork of the Virgin River in Zion National Park. They also quoted me in a travel article and I was featured in a sidebar.

College Art Tour of California Museums

2011-03-06T21:02:00.008-07:00

The blossoms were in bloom at the Huntington Gardens

Nellie and I were fortunate to be invited to accompany a Dixie State College bus tour to California this week. It always charges up the juices to see fantastic art pieces up close and share the experience with other art appreciators. We visited the Getty museum, LA Art Museum, Getty Villa in Malibu, The Norton Simon museum in Pasadena, The Huntington Library and Gardens, and had a little time for the beach. My overall favorite place is the new Getty Art Museum in Los Angeles. The edifice itself and gardens are stunning by themselves. I always spend the first hour outside just enjoying the sheer design magnificence of the architecture and water feature. From every angle it is a design wonder, juxtaposing hard edges with amorphic natural shapes, with emphasis on the element of texture. And of course the art inside is fabulous indeed.

The recently completed Chinese Garden at the Huntington

Seeing the original artwork up-close is really a treat. Nellie rests her feet while some pretty famous paintings keep an eye on her.

I loved the striking contrast of hard edges and soft graceful curves at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles

The Roman gardens at the Getty Villa in Malibu

My long-time friend and art professor at Dixie State College, Glen Blakely, has introduced thousands of students and community people to the world of art, through his guided trips to Europe, Los Angeles and San Francisco museums.

Roland Lee Painting Receives award at Sears Invitational

2011-02-19T20:34:00.002-07:00

The Dixie State College Sears Invitational Art Show kicked off yesterday with a gala banquet and a great watercolor painting demonstration by one of my favorite artists, Ian Ramsay. Ramsay won the purchase award last year, which qualified him to be this year's art seminar presenter as well as the juror of awards for the show. I was pleased to receive a third place ribbon for my painting of Lake Powell, "Mirrors of Stone." I was also grateful that my painting of Zion Canyon, "Zion Riverwalk" also sold at the show last night. My dear friend, Kristi Grussendorf received the blue ribbon in watercolor in her first time at the show. The show features hundreds of paintings by top artists in all media, and will be on exhibit in the Eccles Gallery on the campus through March 27.

Award at UWS Show in Ogden, UT

2011-02-07T21:05:00.005-07:00

I was glad to get two paintings accepted into the Utah Watercolor Society Two-Star/Signature Show and was pleased to also receive an Award of Merit. My watercolor painting "Reflections of Solitude", a painting of Lake Powell, received the award while my painting "Scotney Tower" was also part of the exhibit. We traveled to Ogden, Utah for the opening reception at the Eccles Art Center in Ogden, Utah and enjoyed seeing a great exhibit and renewing acquaintances with all my fellow artists from UWS. Special thanks to show organizer Bethann Swanson for all her hard work and to Maura Naughton for safely delivering my paintings. I'm grateful to belong to such a well-run organization.

Painting Winter Snow in Watercolor

2011-01-22T20:27:00.004-07:00

Once each winter I conduct a special workshop dealing with How to paint snow in watercolor. I love painting snow scenes but I am not particularly fond of the cold so I don't do a lot of outdoor painting in the winter. Instead I use my pocket camera and bravely dash out into the cold and shoot like crazy, then retire to the warmth of my studio to do my painting. All the reference material we used in this class was shot in the last few weeks up at the Clear Creek Ranch and at our cabin on the east border of Zion National Park. We had plenty of snow to work so I put together a PowerPoint showing how to paint the effect of heavy snowfall on evergreens and how reflected light and cast shadows can be used to describe mass and form in the winter landscape. It was a great class with some of my most accomplished students. The paintings shown here were done as demonstrations in class and are about 5" x 8" in size.

Wet Weather and Watercolor

2010-12-23T19:00:00.006-07:00

Left: "North Fork of the Virgin River" 8 x 12 by Roland Lee

We have had unprecedented moisture in the state of Utah the past few days, which is fortunate for the ski resorts but disastrous for the canyons and deserts. We experienced both as we were pounded by the white stuff while visiting our grandkids in northern Utah, then endured a looooong snowy drive back home only to find the southern deserts being flooded by burgeoning rivers. It's amazing to see nature's incredible power at work and see the landscape carved before our eyes. It is indeed a thing of beauty and terror at the same time. Today I posted a painting on my website of the north fork of the Virgin River the way it looked only a short time ago--quiet, gentle, and harmless. The irony is obvious.

Underneath that big pile of white stuff is my truck. Brrrrr!

Flying with the Wright Brothers at the National Finals Rodeo

2010-12-09T18:56:00.005-07:00

Roland Lee (center) with Saddle Bronc riders Jesse Wright (left) and Cody Wright at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas Nevada.

Each year we head south to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo. Of course we spend plenty of time checking out the artists and artisans at the "Cowboy Christmas" show before the rodeo.While there yesterday we stopped at G bar G to visit with a couple of our Utah contestants, brothers Cody Wright and Jesse Wright who are ranked (today) #1 and #3 in the world in Saddle Bronc.

Buckaroos and Artists -- Waddie Mitchell and the Arizona Strip

2010-11-12T05:00:00.004-07:00

The Arizona Strip Interpretive Association held their annual fund-raising banquet and auction last night. As in most years, I donated a piece of art for their silent auction. In addition to a great dinner, we saw a preview of the new documentary by Phil Tuckett on the CCC camps on the Arizona Strip. But the highlight was a performance by everyone's favorite cowboy poet, Waddie Mitchell. My wife Nellie and I were fortunate enough to sit with Debbie and Lyman Hafen, and Lisa and Waddie Mitchell during dinner. Afterwards Waddie treated us to some of his delightful cowboy humor spoken with the slow Buckaroo drawl and precise timing that only he can deliver. I'm often asked to donate art to auctions, but I'm seldom entertained as well as we were last night.

In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran Plein Air Show a huge success for everyone involved

2010-11-10T20:33:00.011-07:00

The weather was incomparable, the fall colors at their peak, and the artists were in their glory this past week in Zion National Park. It all ended too soon as far as I was concerned, but our glorious "painting vacation" in Zion went out with a bang as hundreds of collectors showed up for the Friday "High-noon Quick-Draw" competition and even more for the big preview Friday night. I was able to complete 8 paintings this week, which is some kind of a record for me, plus another in the one-hour quick draw. My Quick-Draw painting won the high bid at the auction and I sold four more paintings at the plein air sale, and also sold my piece in the Museum show. Most of the other artists did equally as well and the Zion National Park Foundation was able to generate a substantial sum for their projects.

A crowd gathered as the one-hour timer began in the "Quick Draw" event. 23 artists set up around the Human History Museum and collectors dashed from artist to artist watching paintings come alive before their eyes

I am using an Anderson easel and my favorite painting chair to get comfortable for the ordeal. Actually it went quite smoothly and I was relaxed enough to answer questions while I painted

The finished painting of "Mountain of the Sun" seen in the distance

I was impressed with the quality of the paintings produced in such a short time. Although still wet, all paintings were required to be framed and ready for the auction within 30 minutes of completion

I was fortunate to have a number of people bidding on my painting, but Debbie Mace from Sandy, Utah was the high bidder and went home with the painting

The Zion National Park Nature Center became a gorgeous art gallery for the next two days as specially-built panels were used to display the plein air paintings

A limited-ticket reception and sale took place Friday night with a standing room only crowd. Eager collectors snapped up dozens of pieces in the opening minutes of the show and more throughout the weekend. A number of ribbons were given for purchase awards.

"In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran" Plein Air Paint-Out in Zion Park - First 3 Days

2010-11-03T21:13:00.019-06:00

What a marvelous week we are having in Zion National Park. We joined about 22 other artists for the 2nd Invitational Plein air art event celebrating Tomas Moran's visit to Zion Canyon. Sales from the show and quick draw will benefit the Zion National Park Foundation. The gorgeous Majestic View Lodge provided our wonderful accommodations for the week.

Things kicked off Monday with a quick breakfast for the artists at the Mean Bean in Springdale (the fresh apricot scones are to die for). After an introduction and directions from show organizer Anne Weiler-Brown the artists headed out in different directions to find the ideal painting spots. Lucky for us the Canyon Cottonwoods and Red Maples all turned on cue this week providing a myriad of colorful vistas to choose from. For me it's like a kid in a candy store. To have a full week in Zion, with no restrictions, and paint kit in hand -- I'm one happy boy!

Monday I got started with a quick small study of the West Temple from Pine Creek, then moved on up to Heaps Canyon where the yellow Cottonwoods added a fresh glow to the red cliffs. I did a sketchbook value study to determine my composition then launched into the painting. I used my Anderson easel, and folding chair to make things very comfortable.

Tuesday we drove up to East Zion for a day painting in one of my favorite spots near Checkerboard Mesa. The fall colors were perfect and the weather was toasty. I did a few studies in both my sketchbook and in watercolor of some of the gnarly old Junipers.

At lunch I met Nellie at the Clear Creek Guest Ranch just outside the East entrance, where my son Jon is the manager. We had a nice visit with my grandkids who are in heaven living at that wonderful place.

This morning I got moving early before the sun came up and climbed the hill behind our hotel where I set up my easel awaiting the sunrise. Experience had told me that the first rays of sun would light up West Temple and the Three Marys in a spectacular display of reds. I started my sketch while it was just getting light and laid in the basic washes on the cliffs, sky and foreground. By the time the sun peaked over Johnson Mountain I was poised and ready to slap on the yellows and oranges. I only had about 20 minutes before the shadow crawled all the way down the face, so I worked as fast as I could. The air warmed considerably as the sun bathed the entire valley but I continued to work on the painting until I felt good about it.

Still full of enthusiasm I headed up Canyon where I sketched some sacred Datura flowers, and did a small study of the East face Zion from just outside the entrance to the Park. After lunch I found a pastoral, but vibrant spot at a little waterfall on Pine Creek and used my tiny portable paint set to do a nice study. The warm air, cool babbling creek, and bright yellow leaves all around just seemed too perfect. Indeed I felt very lucky.

This afternoon we got together with a few of the collectors who are providing purchase awards. Hal and Julie Anderson selected my painting "Angel's Walk" from the studio show in the Museum as their purchase. Hal also serves on the board of directors of Zion Natural History Association.

Receiving "Signature Status" highlights 90th Annual National Watercolor Society Exhibit

2010-11-01T05:00:00.001-06:00

Roland Lee and his painting of Lake Powell which was accepted into the 90the annual NWS show in Long Beach CA

The National Watercolor Society's new gallery was a beautiful venue for the 90th annual show. I was pleased to have my painting given a prominent location in the exhibit.

Roland Lee receives signature membership from John Salminen and NWS president Mike Bailey at the 90th annual NWS exhibit

Nellie and I traveled to Long Beach California over the weekend to attend the opening reception and banquet for the 90th annual National Watercolor Society. I was pleased to have my painting of Lake Powell accepted in the exhibition, but was especially honored by being inducted into the NWS as a signature member. Noted watercolorist John Salminen presented the award along with NWS president Mike Bailey at a special luncheon October 31 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro. Following the presentation we attended the show opening and ribbon-cutting of the new National Watercolor Society Gallery in San Pedro. The NWS is one of the oldest and most respected art societies and it is indeed an honor to be accepted as a signature member.

I enjoyed meeting some of the other artists I respect and admire including Frank Eber.

Painting foliage and water subject of October workshop

2010-10-31T22:36:00.003-06:00

For two days we poured over painting water (no pun intended)as well as dipped into the technique of negative painting, or "back painting" fall foliage in watercolor during my latest workshop. 20 wonderful artists enrolled for the workshop coming from Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. They all proved up to the task as we had a great time together. Thanks to Warren and Carol Larson from the Hurricane Valley Art Alliance (HVAA) for organizing and sponsoring the workshop

1st L-R Gail Alger, Mark Gunn Rose, Jan Hansen, Gayla Folkman, Roland Lee & Mike Smith
2nd Lola Krummenacher, Carol Larson, Shirlee Last, Sharon Cannon, Judy Stringham, Johanna Monroe & Karel Armstrong
3rd Jim Lanier, Shirley Faux, John Armstrong, Kathy Morlan, Maja Gray, Pete Sauer, Sherri Havelka & John Mangels

Artist in Residence at Mesa Verde National Park

2010-10-18T22:39:00.006-06:00

I was just notified of my acceptance as Artist in Residence at Mesa Verde National Monument during Fall of 2011. Frank Cope, the director of the program, invited me to participate and I am very excited to be able to spend a couple of weeks exploring the rich cultural and geologic history of that part of the country. My residency will be from October 3 to October 15, 2011.

Watercolor Workshop at Brighton

2010-09-05T21:54:00.003-06:00

Now this is what I call a workshop! I was invited by a fine group of Salt Lake area artists to present a special watercolor class at one of the members homes in the Brighton resort area. The lovely big log lodge owned by Bill and Heidi Vriens was not only our classroom but our lodging while we were there. Set on the mountainside near Brighton and Solitude ski resorts, the setting was breathtaking, surrounded by beautiful aspens, pines, and Spruces providing an unbelievable backdrop for our time together. Our workshop delved into the techniques of portraying water and a field trip to the nearby Silver Lake as the sun went down proved to be a perfect way to study the reflections. Workshop participants included Margo Cook, Virginia Pearce, Heidi Vriens, Laurel Finlinson, Antje Evans, Christena Gates, Joan Reynolds, Dixie Stoddard, Jan Zwick, and Debbie Hogan.

Clyde Aspevig guest artist at Maynard Dixon Country Plein Air Invitational

2010-08-30T22:55:00.005-06:00

Gallery owner Paul Bingham introduces noted landscape artist Clyde Aspevig at the Maynard Dixon Country Plein Air event at Mt. Carmel Utah

We enjoyed spending a little time with some great artists at the Maynard Dixon Plein Air Invitational last weekend. The event, sponsored by the Thunderbird foundation and Paul and Susan Bingham's Art Gallery, annually hosts some of the most recognized outdoor landscape painters in the west. This year noted landscapist Clyde Aspevig was guest artists and presented a painting demo and lecture that was enlightening and entertaining. He spoke of "land snorkeling" a term he coined to describe looking at nature up close and painting the intimate beauty of the landscape rather than just the big panorama. What a treat to join with other artists and art collectors to watch him work up a small landscape.

Anyone familiar with Maynard Dixon's paintings will recognize this famous thunderbird symbol silhouetted against a typical Dixon cloud-filled sky.

Artist Craig Fetzer (left) chats with fellow artists Spike Ress and Sue Cotter in front of the "wet painting" wall at the Maynard Dixon Country Plein Air art show

Remembering the Pioneers

2010-07-27T18:05:00.005-06:00

Saturday was a significant day for my wife and I as we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. We've had a lot of fun together over the years, and we're still finding new ways to "pull together." In honor of our own pioneer ancestors we pulled a handcart in the Days of 47 Pioneer parade in Salt Lake City. Thousands of Mormon pioneers successfully used this method to walk across America in the 1800's but unfortunately some also lost their lives in the process. We only had to walk a few miles on pavement tugging a semi-empty cart loaded with Aquafina bottles, but the oppressive heat convinced us that those stalwart pioneers had to be a rugged lot. It is well to be reminded once in a while of just how good we have it. I don't know if we'll be in front of a handcart on our 40th anniversary next year, but I do know we'll still be pulling together--and enjoying it.

Plein Air Painting in Snow Canyon

2010-06-26T22:37:00.010-06:00

The Visual Artists Association had their monthly meeting outdoors this week, as we gathered in Snow Canyon for a paint out. We picked a shady spot to dodge the late afternoon sun and spent a pleasant hour or so working on sketches and paintings.

I chose this little cliff for my painting and started with a quick 10 minute value study in my sketchbook. I then jumped right into my little painting using my Cotman watercolor travel kit to quickly capture the gesture and feeling of the late afternoon light on the red cliffs of Snow Canyon. I am using a 5 x 8 sheet of Arches watercolor paper mounted on "Incredible Art Board" from Dick Blick. The collapsible sable brush is from Daniel Smith.

About 15 fellow artists showed up for the paint out in Snow Canyon. Most of the artists were using watercolor although some used other mediums as well.

Our fearless leader Craig Fetzer shared some great art stories with us as we painted together.

First-time Art Show of Original Roland Lee Landscape Paintings at Zion National Park Museum June 2 - July 1

2010-06-02T17:06:00.012-06:00

Roland Lee, Leslie Courtright (curator of the Zion Museum) and Technical assistant Justin Hall stand by Roland's newest painting, "Canyon Snowfall" at the Zion National Park Museum

Roland Lee art prints, cards, and books have been sold at Zion National Park for many years, but for the first time my original paintings are now available at Zion. Today we hung an exhibit called "Zion Canyonscapes" featuring mostly new original landscape paintings of Zion's canyons and peaks. The show is jointly sponsored by Zion National Park and the Zion Natural History Association. All paintings are for sale and a portion of the sales will benefit the Zion National Park Foundation to help finance conservation and interpretive projects within Zion National Park.

"Zion Canyonscapes" will remain on exhibit in the art gallery area of the Human History Museum (the old visitors center)through July 1, 2010. The show is free but regular park entrance fees apply. You can drive directly to the museum and park there, or take the free shuttle from the main visitors center. Museum Hours are 10am to 7pm daily.

The show features 12 new paintings of Zion National Park including "Angels Above, Heaven Below" a huge painting from Angel's landing Trail (center.)

Nellie Lee looks over the exhibit which includes a step by step demonstration and display of Roland's plein air painting kit and sketchbook

Salt Lake City Artist Group Comes to St. George Painting Workshop

2010-05-26T09:01:00.006-06:00

Instead of traveling to Salt Lake City to present a watercolor workshop, I had a special group of artists come from Salt Lake to St. George this week. We enjoyed to two days together hashing through the principles of art and learning to see in nature. What as outstanding bunch of artists with really good questions! These wonderful artists get together once a week to paint and it shows in their work. Their eagerness to learn was only matched by their ability to pick up new concepts quickly. We spent most of the time in the studio at A Passion for Painting, but we slipped away for some close-up observation and sketching up in the Red Hills Desert Reserve. Artists included: Virginia Pearce, Heidi Vriens, Laurel Finlinson, Antje Evans, Christena Gates, Joan Reynolds, Dixie Stoddard, Jan Zwick, and Margo Cook.

New Visions Art Show Held at Santa Clara Town Hall

2010-05-15T19:35:00.005-06:00

We enjoyed two days at the Santa Clara Town Hall for the third annual New Visions Art Show. All the artists were present for a terrific indoor show and sale, plus an outdoor "quick draw" event on Saturday. Each artist had all day to paint and at the conclusion a silent auction was held for the completed and framed pieces. The bidding was fast and furious as the show wound down to the final seconds.

Larry and Rebecca Isakson won the bid for my painting of a desert scene, as well as several other paintings.

You've heard of a "Quick Draw" -- Come see a "Slow Draw" on Saturday

2010-05-12T21:32:00.008-06:00

"id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470598106722353186" />Roland Lee art exibit at the 2009 New Visions Art Exhibit held at the Santa Clara Town Hall

Plan to stop by the "New Visions" art show at the Santa Clara Town Hall this Friday and Saturday May 14 - 15. I will be joining a number of other artists represented by Jane Juber's Mission Gallery and Authentique Gallery with new paintings and my new suite of LDS Historical giclee prints. The show runs Friday from 1 - 7pm and Saturday 10am - 4pm.

A highlight of the show will be a Saturday "Quick Draw" where all the artist will paint on the spot during the day followed by a silent auction of the framed paintings at 3:30pm. Since we're being given 5 hours to do the paintings, I'm calling it a "Slow Draw." It might be a great chance to pick up a nice original at a great price, and get to see it painted before your eyes!

A portion of all sales will benefit the Sant Clara mural project. The event is at the Santa Clara Town Hall, 2603 Santa Clara Drive, Santa Clara. Call Kathleen V. Nielson at 229-8310 or Jane Juber at 313-5008 for more information.
Roland Lee painting completed during the 2009 New Visions art show

Plein Air Workshop in Zion and Grafton Ghost Town

2010-05-11T22:56:00.010-06:00

Mark Rose finds a shady spot with a great view

The Hurricane Valley Art Alliance invited me to teach a two-day watercolor painting workshop in Zion National Park and Grafton Ghost Town last week. Our group was small, which made us very mobile. We spent the first morning indoors where I used powerpoint to help us learn what to look for when we got outdoors. That afternoon was spent in the wonderful ghost town of Grafton which is near Rockville. The old school house has been in many movies including "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." While we were sketching tourists would look over our shoulders in amazement. The next day we travelled to Zion National Park where we enjoyed painting along the Virgin River near the Zion Lodge. It was a perfect day.

Brienne Brown sets up her easel overlooking the Grafton Ghost town with Mount Kinesava looming behing her.

Mark Rose, Barbara Withelder, and Carol Larson relax by the Virgin River.

More miles and more Desert Blossoms

2010-04-29T21:22:00.004-06:00

My evening hikes are getting longer and longer and the view is getting better and better. Here are a couple of photos from the T-Bone Mesa trail above St. George.

A workshop with master watercolorist Osral Allred

2010-04-29T21:07:00.003-06:00

There are jillions of artists who paint in watercolor, but there are only a handful who can really be called "watercolorists." Osral Allred, from Spring City Utah is one of them. The Southern Utah Watercolor Society brought him down for a two-day workshop this week and we enjoyed his wisdom, humor, and skill. Os is one of the first watercolorists who influenced me and I still think he is one of the best painters in the medium. His sense of design and use of white space are key elements in his work which often features old tractors and train cars. He was taught by another master, Gael Lindstrom, and in turn taught for many years in the art department of Snow College.

Desert Blossoms

2010-04-27T07:15:00.004-06:00

I've been walking in the desert each evening before sundown, soaking in the peace and serenity of the land. The frequent rains have made the desert blossom. Every inch of sand is covered with tiny yellow flowers and the cactus blooms are starting their show. What a joy to live in this beautiful land!

Hike in Snow Canyon

2010-04-21T20:57:00.014-06:00

The sun finally came out with a vengeance, so I decided to hit the trails. On Saturday I did a little exploring in Snow Canyon, and soon discovered half the planet had the same idea. The parking areas were full, but once out on the trails it wasn't too bad. I ambled up the Whiterock, Butterfly, and Hidden Pinion Trails stopping to photograph the wildflowers and do a little sketching. I came back with a sunburned neck, sand in my shoes, and a happy smile.

This long snake greeted my arrival to Snow Canyon. He didn't seem too concerned about me, and since he didn't have a rattle, I wasn't worried about him either.

A Yellow carpet of wildflowers covered the sand beneath the red cliffs.

Left: A quick study of "the Knuckles" on the West side of Snow Canyon. Below: Carrie, this sketch is for you. When you draw yuccas, pay attention to the light areas against the dark leaves. This is what gives them the characteristic look. Don't make them look like pin cushions.

Art Presentation at Desert Hills High School

2010-04-20T21:30:00.001-06:00

It seems like I'm making the rounds of the high schools lately. Today art teacher Mary Kerksiek invited me to stop by Desert Hills High School during lunch and talk about my artwork to a specially selected group of students. Chosen based on academic skills and leadership, these students participate in varied activities that broaden their education and expand their thinking. They are studying about "Rock Star Artists of the Red Rocks" in preparation to their hitting the rocks with sketchbook journals of their own next month. I showed a short powerpoint about my techniques of sketching in the field, and how I get my inspiration from the landscape. I passed around a couple of my sketchbooks and fielded questions about my career as an artist. I was very impressed by the program, the leaders, the students, and the school facilities at the new Desert Hills High School.

The Southern Utah Landscape Paintings of Jimmie Jones

2010-04-16T22:37:00.006-06:00

A new exhibit opened tonight at the St. George Art Museum, featuring the stunning paintings of Jimmie Jones, as well as paintings by Margaret LaFranc and a unique installation called "Upside Down." Deborah Reeder and her staff at the museum put together another outstanding exhibit. As a landscape painter, I am always drawn to good landscapes, but Jim Jones is in a league by himself. Painting from his hand-built studio, high on a rocky ridge near Zion National Park, Jones has spent a lifetime putting his own stamp on images of the southern Utah terrain. This show contains many new pieces created especially for Southern Utah University's new art museum, along with numerous paintings from private collections. Filling the upstairs exhibit space, these landscapes literally take your breath away. Bigger-than-life images of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park literally suck you in as sunlight and shadow dance magically across the canvases. Jimmie passed away in late 2009 leaving a legacy of over 400 paintings of Zion National Park and 150 of the Grand Canyon.

I had a chance to visit artist Jimmie Jones' home recently located high above the town of Rockville. The view from his multiple balconies is unbelievable. At his death, he willed the home to Southern Utah University in support of their new art museum.

Olympus High School Benefit Art Show

2010-04-14T21:36:00.009-06:00

It was a mixture of fine art and athletics this week as I was a guest at Olympus High School in Salt Lake City. We set up a one-man show of my originals and giclees in their fabulous "Art Space" gallery room and invited parents, boosters, and community members to stop by. A large percentage of the sales were donated back to the school and we were blessed that a number of collectors made purchases. The event was organized by my nephew Mike Smith, who is the head football coach at Olympus. While there I was invited by art teacher Jeremy Peterson to guest-teach a couple of the classes. It was fun seeing some outstanding artwork as students in the Olympus High AP Art class presented some of their portfolio pieces. I presented a powerpoint demonstration on the importance of sketching from life and the process I use in working my drawings into finished paintings back at the studio.

Mr. Peterson also invited me to do a painting demonstration for students and guests in the watercolor class, and we worked together on creating some wonderful wet-into-wet watercolor skies. It was a pleasure to meet many of the teachers, administration, and students at Olympus High School and to visit with a new generation of artists who will surely be making an impact on the Utah art scene in the near future.

April Plein Air Painting Workshop in Zion and Bloomington

2010-04-13T22:20:00.002-06:00

We concentrated on painting outdoors during the April watercolor painting workshop sponsored by "A Passion for Painting" Art Studio. After a morning of instruction in the classroom the group took our sketchbooks out to the site of historic Bloomington where a small community of pioneers built a little town in the 1800's. The old town is gone now except for a few adobe structures, the stone footings of the old schoolhouse, and the wonderfully restored Blake Home. We enjoyed the spring blossoms, green grass, and warm sunshine as we studied how to identify value, edges, and shapes in nature.

Friday we packed our travel kits and headed for a day in Zion National Park, where everyone got a good taste of plein air painting in watercolor. With painting sessions at the Court of the Patriarchs, and along the river at Temple of Sinawava, we came up with some fun drawings and paintings. We concluded the day with an outdoor "art show" as we lined our work up along a big fallen cottonwood tree and shared thoughts about the paintings and our experiences in the canyon.

See more photos from Roland Lee's Watercolor workshop in Zion National Park

Sunshine and Good Times Come Together at the St. George Art Festival

2010-04-05T22:32:00.010-06:00

We enjoyed great sunny weather and huge crowds at the St. George Art Festival over the weekend. All in all it was a success with good painting sales and pleasant visits with old friends, new collectors, and most of my grandkids. For our family it's a tradition to all congregate in downtown St. George on Easter weekend for the art show.

My double booth wasn't fancy but I got a lot of paintings on display. If you look closely you'll see a Purchase Award ribbon (my favorite award.)

My son Jon and his adoring children

Alyssa holds her new little sister Becca who decided to arrive in time for the festivities. You can see Becca's reaction to my artwork. Hmmmm.

Snow Cones were the big hit for kids (Tiger's blood was the favorite flavor.)

St. George's flowers in the Spring are a welcome relief for those arriving from the snowy north.

Sidewalk chalk murals were just some of the many activities for children at the St. George Art Festival.

How to Help Kids Enjoy Art

2010-03-30T21:09:00.007-06:00

Above: Max hard at work on a complex pencil drawing. Left: Does this look like fun or what? Hannah, Alyssa, and Megan create masterpieces.

While in the Richfield area for a watercolor workshop, my son Jon and his wife Jolynn invited me to conduct a mini-workshop for my grandkids and their home-school group. So I hauled up ten palettes, three fist-fulls of watercolor brushes, some tube paints, pencils, lots of heavy paper and ten neat watercolor boards with grandpa's "special" watercolor paper mounted and ready to go.

The excitement level was high as I lavishly laid out all that good stuff, and told them they could use whatever they wanted, as much as they wanted, and there were "no rules." Children don't need any direction discipline when it comes to art -- they are naturals. All they really need is fun materials, space to work, and the freedom to create.

Art does not mean the same thing to kids under 12 as it does to adults. Children's art is NOT about conveying realistic images of nature. It's a language for them to describe and explore their feelings and thoughts, and their understanding of the bigger world around them. They readily adopt "symbols" to tell all about their experiences. These symbols aren't meant to resemble real objects from nature. So it's pointless for adults to intervene and try to help them with shadows, perspective etc. The kids don't know what you're talking about and it's meaningless to them until about the Junior high school years.

So how did my "Kids Workshop" turn out? Well, after two hours they were still going strong, and didn't want to quit. Later that night, they wanted to do it all again. My recommendation to parents, is just provide lots of materials in an appropriate place, and turn them loose. All kids know what to do.

Just a quick note to parents: Watercolor is usually a very poor medium for young children because they have difficulty controlling it. A wonderful back-run enjoyed by an adult artist is often perceived as a "goof" or mistake by a child. Kids usually feel more comfortable with crayons and markers because they are learning to gain control of their environment. And copy paper is really cheap. Rave about what they make and let them tell you all about it. Then pin their work up on the fridge for everyone to see. They will love it, and by the time they are ready for art lessons, they will still love it!

Painting Workshop at Elsinore Art Center

2010-03-30T20:36:00.008-06:00

Last weekend I enjoyed spending a couple of days with some wonderful artists from the Richfield, UT area. My good friend Lillie Jones invited me to teach a landscape painting workshop to their artist group at the charming "Elsinore Art Center."

Although it snowed both days, our indoor classroom facilities were great--and the big north window gave me a wonderful view while I was teaching.

The Elsinore art center is located in a nice restored home owned by Sue Ann Brady, who offered the facility as a coop gallery and workshop facility to area artists. The artists each take turns staffing the gallery to keep costs down.

Although the students used a variety of mediums, the subject matter applied to all of them, as we discussed learning to see values, edges, and shapes in nature. In the demonstration painting of a barn (above) I showed how a pencil value study provides the roadmap for the watercolor painting.

Click to see more Elsinore workshop photos

Plein Air Painting in Zion

2010-03-21T23:55:00.011-06:00

I had Zion Natural History Association Board meetings in Zion on Saturday and took advantage of the great weather to do a little sketching and plein air painting after the meetings. It's like Christmas morning for me to be turned loose in the canyon with a couple of hours to burn. So, packing my sketchbook and portable paint kit I hopped from trail to trail, trying to soak it all in, and grabbing sketches as I went.

Ahhh, now this is the way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Parking my truck near the Zion Canyon turnoff, I set up my Anderson easel and folding chair on the west side of the river to grab this little sketch of Twin Brothers and Mountain of the Sun.

From the same location I did this little sketchbook study of a small pinnacle looking back toward Bridge Mountain.

Nice afternoon lighting on the Sentinel caught my attention, and I set up long enough to do a quick watercolor Sketch from the Pa'rus Trail bridge.

Following the river on foot I snapped some photos and sketched near the Court of Patriarchs.

Just for good measure, here's a sketchbook drawing I did earlier of Angels Landing from the trail. Now that's a hike you do not want to miss!

Roland Lee mini video How to paint Rock and Snow in Zion National Park

2010-03-09T21:31:00.008-07:00

In my last watercolor workshop I demonstrated how to plan and paint a watercolor painting of a snow scene in Zion National Park. One of my students shot a little video during the process. It's only 8 minutes long, but you might like to take a look. We've been shooting a few more clips lately of some of the demos, so a few more will be added as time goes on. Patty Bingham from the art department at Dixie State College will be shooting some footage of my Drawing Workshop this Friday, so maybe we can post a little of that as well.

Click here to see "Rock and Snow, Watercolor Demonstration by Roland Lee" on Youtube

Dennis Farris Speaks about his Zion Artist in Residence Experience

2010-03-03T22:16:00.007-07:00

Texas artist Dennis Farris spoke to an audience of students and community members at Southern Utah University last evening. Nellie and I were able to attend to hear him describe what its like to wake up each morning in Zion Canyon and spend the day painting its stunning cliffs. Dennis wraps up his experience this week as "Artist in Residence" at Zion National Park. He brought a number of paintings in progress and described his methods of painting. He is a master at values, and says if you can get the middle grays right, everything else falls into place. Farris hopes to have 25 paintings completed by August for a show in New Mexico. He has kept a blog of his experiences at www.farrisart.com

Guests got a close-up view of Dennis' paintings in progress after the talk. His paintings are wonderful.

Painting with the Grandkids

2010-03-02T23:04:00.007-07:00

Nellie and I flew to Houston for a week of visiting our grandkids Matty, Katie, and Ally. Of course we got in a little quality art time with Grandpa's special paints. The girls just enjoyed the sheer ecstacy of paint on paper, but Matty and I poured our creative energies into a Space and Rocket Fest.

Painting the solar system

My amazing "X-wing Space Cruiser"

Matty's paintings of NASA rockets showing the history of manned space flight

Artist in Residence Zion National Park

2010-02-18T22:42:00.009-07:00

I enjoyed spending a little time today with artist Dennis Farris, who is working in Zion National Park as the Artist in Residence. He is the first artist to get to stay in the restored Grotto Museum building which now provides housing for the Artist in Residence Program. The Zion National Park Foundation (of which I am a board member) raised funds for the restoration project, so I was pretty excited to meet Dennis and see how he liked his new "digs."I have to admit I'm pretty jealous. Not too many people get to wake up each morning to the sun rising over the massive cliffs of Zion Canyon.
The Grotto building makes a wonderful studio. I watch as Dennis works on a small oil painting inside the Grotto "studio." Check out Dennis Farris' blog for day-to-day updates on his Zion Canyon experience. He is truly an amazing painter.

After leaving Dennis at the studio I hiked part way up the Observation Point Overlook Trail to get some photos. The trail was still snow-packed and iced over so it wasn't too safe, but the view across to Angel's Landing was fantastic. I did a few pencil sketches in my travel sketchbook of some of the cliff formations.

Ian Ramsay Watercolor Demonstration

2010-02-17T23:18:00.003-07:00

Utah artist Ian Ramsay presented a watercolor painting demonstration tonight for a combined meeting of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society and the Hurricane Valley Art
Alliance. Ian's work is well-known and he just won the purchase award last week at the Sears Invitational Art Show. He will be teaching a two-day workshop Thursday and Friday in St. George.

St. George Gallery Art Walk

2010-02-14T22:39:00.007-07:00

It was fun to meet with collectors and fellow artists who came down for the St. George Art Gallery Walk. Jane Juber, Gallery Director, hosted a nice open house at both The Mission Gallery and the Authentique Gallery. Pleasant weather greeted our out-of-town guests who combined this event with the Sears Invitational Art Show and the Kayenta Art Festival, creating a great art-filled weekend.

Artists Michael Bingham, Roland Lee, and Craig Fetzer in front of Fetzer's Impressions Gallery.

One of my favorite figurative painters, Michael Malm stands in front of his incredible new oil painting of Jesus with the children. The painting just blew me away. I am privileged to own one of his religious paintings and am always stunned by his handling of light and shadow.

My good friend Julie Rogers poses with her amazingly vibrant pastel paintings of pioneer scenes.

Landscape painter Robert Call creates rich images of the Utah landscape, using a combination of loose and tight painterly brush strokes.

Award at the Sears Invitational Art Show

2010-02-12T22:39:00.006-07:00

I just returned from the opening gala of the 2010 Sears Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College where I was pleased to receive second place with my watercolor painting "Nature's Sculpture". The Sears show is one of the premiere art exhibits in Utah and funds raised support the College Missions as well as the Eccles Gallery on campus. Clark and Sandra Jo Benson purchased my award-winning painting for their art collection.

Nellie and Roland Lee at the 2010 Sears Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College

On the Beach in San Diego

2010-02-11T22:20:00.008-07:00

My last few posts consisted of my hikes in the rain and snow. This past week I spent in beautiful San Diego California, and enjoyed sunshine, surf, and sand! What a contrast. I attended the Association for Partners in Public Lands Conference representing Zion Natural History Association and the Zion National Park Foundation. Board members of National Park Partner organizations joined NPS staffers and others as we met to discuss ways to keep the public lands healthy, open, and vital for future generations.

Of course people who enjoy the land can't stay indoors all the time, so we took advantage of the location to visit Cabrillo National Monument and other coastal locations. While the eastern seaboard experienced blizzard conditions, I was frolicking in the surf! What a contrast. As always I hoped to catch a distant glimpse of a whale on its migration run, but after scanning the horizon in vain, I turned my attention to the tiny creatures at my feet.

A beautiful Sea Anemone looks for a meal in the Cabrillo Tide Pools

The tide pools are teeming with tiny creatures

A short video clip of the ocean at Cabrillo National Monument

Painting the Red Rocks - February Watercolor Workshops

2010-02-05T23:57:00.000-07:00

Workshop Students use their sketchbooks to study light and shadow on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

I held back to back two-day watercolor workshops February 2-5 at A Passion for Painting Art Studio. We enjoyed sketching and painting outdoors at Snow Canyon, and on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve north of St. George, along with working in the studio. See my website for more photos of the classes.

Painting on location near Snow Canyon

I completed several quick watercolor demonstration paintings for the students in the first workshop.

Desert Waterfalls

2010-01-23T21:52:00.011-07:00

It's been raining and snowing for the past few days and I've been anxious to get out into the desert to see the results. This morning I grabbed my sketchbook and camera and went hiking near Ivins in the red cliffs of Kayenta. I was treated to some amazing waterfalls cascading down the sheer cliffs and filling the usually dry washes. And just to add a little drama, the red rocks were dusted with white snow, also a rarity in these parts. It was cold when I left, but by mid-day the sun broke through the low clouds and provided me with a perfect day away. Ahhh, aint life grand?
Check out this little video of the falls. You only see this after a heavy rainstorm.

Winter is still with us

2010-01-14T22:01:00.002-07:00

I don't know if its just old age, but I've never been so cold as I have in the past month. I'm ready for summer already, and Winter has barely sunk its teeth into the season. This is a photo I shot in central Utah last weekend. Cold, yes. Beautiful, you bet!

Merry Christmas to all!

2009-12-24T13:06:00.004-07:00

Christmas card handpainted in watercolor by Roland Lee

Art Show in Highland UT

2009-12-13T21:33:00.008-07:00

Thanks to everyone who attended the Benefit art show in Highland Friday night. It was great to see everyone and meet some new collectors. With our sales we were able to make a nice contribution to the selected charities. It looks like this might become an annual event.

Norma and Phil Maestri browse through some of the new giclee prints introduced at the show.

It's Tonight! See the New Lake Powell Paintings in Highland, UT

2009-12-11T11:03:00.003-07:00

If you are in the Salt Lake City area stop by tonight and check out all my new Lake Powell Paintings. We're having a benefit show for the Little Heroes foundation and to help my family raise money for humanitarian service projects. A small donation will get you a box of my Christmas art cards, plus you'll get a chance to see the big originals too. I'll be donating 20% of all the painting sales plus 100% of the card sales to these worthy causes. The location is at the home of Jim and Barbara Lee in Highland UT. Click for full details and directions.

Getting Ready for My Show in Highland, UT to Benefit Little Heroes Foundation

2009-12-02T09:33:00.006-07:00

Above: "Lake Powell Memories" will be for sale at the Highland Show.

On Friday Deember 11, I will be having a special show and sale of my new Lake Powell Paintings at the home of Jim and Barbara Lee in Highland, Utah. The show is a benefit fund-raiser for the "Little Heroes" Childrens Foundation and to raise funds for making humanitarian aid kits for disaster relief.

In addition to my new Lake Powell paintings I will have other paintings, framed prints, and Christmas Art cards available at the show. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of art cards will be donated to the cause. I hope all my friends in the Salt Lake City area can stop by and help us raise funds for these worthy causes.

Click here for more details on the show and sale.

Best of Show Award at Southern Utah Watercolor Society Fall Exhibit

2009-11-20T22:31:00.006-07:00

We attended the opening of the Fall Watercolor Competition of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society tonight in Mesquite Nevada. A large group of artists from southern Utah traveled down to the opening which was held at the Mesquite Art Center, and hosted by some wonderful volunteers. I was fortunate to win Best of Show for my painting "Scotney Castle" which came with a nice cash prize. I was impressed by the body of work that was there and was proud of our artists for the quality of the presentation. Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck and several members of the City Council were in attendance and their support of the arts is evident in the nice arts facilities there.

Artist Jeff Ham Discusses His Colorful Paintings

2009-11-19T22:48:00.003-07:00

Artist Jeff Ham spoke about his work tonight at the St. George Art Museum to a group of eager listeners. Jeffs acrylic on canvas paintings feature large-scale compositions characterized by strong shapes and powerful design. His unique style provides a great avenue for his thoughtful ideas about man and nature. He is in many southwest galleries and his work was featured recently in Western Art Collector magazine.

A Visit with Watercolorist Tony Couch

2009-11-19T08:35:00.006-07:00

Tony Couch and I had a chance to visit for a few minutes after his watercolor demonstration in Hurricane Utah

The Hurricane Valley Art Alliance scheduled a week-long workshop with well-known watercolorist Tony Couch this week, and the Southern Utah Watercolor Society co-sponsored a demonstration last night. Tony is a prolific painter and completed a wonderful demonstration painting in a couple of hours. He has influenced literally thousands of aspiring artists over the years through his books and workshops. Congratulations to Warren and Carol Larson for their hard work in organizing the event.

Thanks to everyone who came to my art show tonight

2009-11-12T23:42:00.006-07:00

Standing by my new painting "Stillness on the Water" a watercolor painting of Lake Powell.

We had a great time tonight at the opening reception for my art show "Roland Lee's Canyon country - New Views." Jane Juber had the gallery festooned in Holiday lights and decorated with beautiful fall leaves. We had a wonderful turnout of well-wishers and buyers, and as always, it was fun to just chat about the thing I love most -- art!

The Mission Gallery all decked out in Christmas decorations

Paula Bell purchased my painting, "Snow Canyon Vista."

Ready for my Art Show Thursday Night at Mission Gallery

2009-11-11T14:22:00.003-07:00

All my paintings are now framed and delivered to the Mission Gallery for one-man show Thursday evening November 12. Those who attend will see a number of new paintings including some very large landscapes of Lake Powell, Zion National Park, and Cedar Mountain. Stop by and say hello if you get a chance. I'll be there from 6pm until 9pm to answer questions. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome.

Workshop Demo with Ian Ramsay

2009-11-11T14:05:00.005-07:00

Noted watercolorist Ian Ramsay gave a watercolor workshop for the Utah Watercolor Society last week in Salt Lake City. He did two watercolor painting demonstrations -- one of a rustic harbor scene, and the other of an Oregon town view. About 14 artists were present at the workshop and enjoyed his presentation.

"How to Paint Autumn Foliage" Topic of November Watercolor Workshop

2009-11-03T20:55:00.007-07:00

"Painting the Fall Foliage in Watercolor" was the general theme of my two-day watercolor workshop that concluded today in St. George. Sponsored by Becky Whitney at A passion for Painting Studio, the workshop combined both drawing and painting indoors and out as we studied negative painting and learning to see the light in nature. This was an exceptional group of painters with a lot of combined experience, so we accomplished a lot in two days.
See more photos from the November 2009 watercolor workshop

Becky Whitney, an accomplished oil painter and teacher caught by the camera actually painting in watercolor. Glory be!

Watch for This Postcard in the Mail - Roland Lee's Canyon Country Art Show Nov. 12

2009-11-02T19:44:00.006-07:00

Keep an eye out for this postcard which will be coming in the mail soon to many of my Utah art collectors. My new art show opens at the Mission Gallery in St. George, Utah on Thursday November 12, 2009. The reception begins at 6pm. I am pretty excited about my new Lake Powell paintings and new paintings of Zion National Park. If you are in town, please stop by. We'd love to see you. Also if you'd like to sign up for future mailings please shoot me an email with your contact information.

More information about the Roland Lee Art Show "Canyon Country - New Views."

Great Autumn Workshop for Cache Valley Watercolor Group

2009-11-01T20:10:00.006-07:00

What a glorious time to be in Cache Valley Utah. We traveled to Logan for a workshop last Friday and Saturday sponsored by the Cache Valley chapter of the Utah Watercolor Society. Sherrill Gordon organized the event and let us stay in their lovely home Friday night, and her husband Jim fixed a wonderful French Toast breakfast to get us started right.

Our theme was painting the Autumn landscape an emphasis on learning to see light and shadow in nature. This was a particularly proficient group of experienced artists and we covered a lot of ground in a short period of time. We were able to complete several paintings and get a number of others started. I'm looking forward to returning next year for a longer workshop.

See more photos at Cache Valley WC blog

Cache Valley Watercolor Workshop this Weekend

2009-10-30T09:00:00.001-06:00

We're headed to Logan Utah this weekend to teach a watercolor workshop for the Cache Valley Watercolor Group, a division of the Utah Watercolor Society. I had a chance to make a watercolor presentation to them last Spring, and they invited me back for a workshop. I'm looking forward to getting to know my artist/friends up north a little better. Contact Sherrill Gordon at 435-881-4718 for more information or see the workshop page of my website.

New Lake Powell Painting Ready for Art Show

2009-10-29T16:29:00.004-06:00

I'm finishing a couple more Lake Powell paintings for my one-man-show on November 12. This painting carries a lot of the feeling I have for the Lake. I love it when the waters are still in early morning or early evening, and the sun bathes the rocks in intense warm light. It makes the reflections spectacular.

Art Talk in Richfield Utah

2009-10-25T21:18:00.008-06:00

I enjoyed traveling to Richfield, UT last Friday night to make a powerpoint presentation about "Art Principals of Painting." My good friend and artist, Lillie Jones made the invitation and the event was sponsored by Artworks of Sevier and the Staples Art Gallery. It was great to meet new artist-friends and get better acquainted with the wonderful artists of the Sevier Valley. I hadn't realized there was such a large group of accomplished artists there.

I was treated royally. President Rachel Olsen, a fine watercolorist, made the introductions and presented me with a decorated box filled with special homemade treats from the area including bread, applesauce, apple butter and salsa, plus beef jerky, farm eggs, and fresh fruit. Now that is a gift I can really get into! Plus Rachel gave me a nice set of her art cards. What a beautiful thoughtful gesture.

On Saturday I visited the Staples Art Gallery in Elsinore, which is run as a cooperative effort by the artists. The gallery is in a former home, and artwork is carefully displayed in every room. Each month a different artist is featured in the largest display room on a rotating basis. Thanks to artist Barth Hansen for opening the gallery and showing me around.

Thanks to everyone who came to the talk, and especially to those who made such a great effort to organize and publicize the event. I look forward to returning to the Richfield area next year for a two-day watercolor painting workshop.

New Paintings Ready for Nov 12 One Man Show

2009-10-20T23:00:00.008-06:00

I finally completed the two paintings of Lake Powell I have been working on for several weeks. I will send them off for framing tomorrow. They will be exhibited in my one-man-show "New Views - Canyon Country Paintings by Roland Lee" coming up November 12 through December 31, 2009 at the Mission Gallery in St. George.

I photographed both paintings as I worked on them and posted demonstrations on my web site, if you'd like to check out my painting process.

"Reflections of Solitude"
21 x 29 watercolor

I worked on this painting during the St. George downtown gallery walk last week. It drew lots of attention. So here it is finished. Click to see demo

"Mirrors of Stone"
21 x 29 watercolor
If you check out the watercolor demonstration on my website you will see how I used techniques of negative painting in the foreground as well as wet-into-wet and drybrush techniques. Click to see demo

Art Collectors Share Love of Zion National Park

2009-10-19T20:23:00.006-06:00

I always enjoy visiting with kindred spirits. Today a nice couple, Noel and Susan Williams stopped by the Mission Gallery and I could see right away that we shared a common love of Zion National Park. They were in southern Utah for a special reunion of past park employees as part of the Zion Centennial Celebration. We swapped stories about Zion, it's trails, cliffs, peace, and beauty. In the end they left with a couple of my original paintings.

This painting, "Five Minutes of Fame," was selected to tour the nation with the "Paint the Parks Top 100" show. Noel and Susan Williams purchased this painting for their home.

Noel and Susan also purchased this small painting of the Eagle Crags, a prominent peak seen as you approach Zion National Park's West entrance.

Jim Jones Documentary and New Paintings Premiered at SUU

2009-10-16T22:17:00.006-06:00

I was fortunate to attend the opening of the new Jim Jones exhibit last weekend at Southern Utah University. The show included a number of new large landscape paintings of Zion National Park and The Grand Canyon. Wow, what a spectacular presentation from a fantastic artist. I loved the quote by a young girl who commented "I like your paintings because I can see so far." That pretty much sums up the vistas that Jimmie Jones portrays in his enourmous oil paintings. Prior to the show we attended the premiere showing of a new documentary film about Jones' life and work. Jones recently donated his estate home on the cliffs above Rockville, along with a suite of 14 new paintings to Southern Utah University. The university also unveiled plans for the new Southern Utah Museum of Art to be built on the campus.

Above: One of Jones' big landscapes of the Grand Canyon

Dick Brown Watercolor Workshop

2009-10-15T21:58:00.005-06:00

Our local painting group, the Southern Utah Watercolor Society, sponsored a landscape workshop with artist Richard Brown. He demonstrated his unique and thorough method of designing a painting from initial sketches to the application of successive watercolor glazes.

Dick begins with a tracing paper value study, followed by a more complete value study. He then does an 8 x 10 colored pencil study to develop his color relationships. These preliminary studies along with 12 x 18 photo enlargements of his reference photos provide the road map for his finished painting. In the photo above you can see studies along with his painting in progress of the Kayenta cliffs near Ivins, Utah.

The class watches intently as Dick Brown describes his techniques.

St. George Gallery Art Walk

2009-10-13T08:49:00.010-06:00

The downtown St. George art venues got together over the weekend and held a very successful Gallery walk. With hundreds of people turning out I'm sure it will become a regular event. Guests started at the St. George Art Museum and the "Visions of Zion" show where they received a punch card. After visiting all the galleries they turned in their cards to participate in a drawing for a free Roland Lee original painting. Gallery artists were demonstrating at each location and live music made it even more enjoyable.

I worked on my newest painting of Lake Powell at the Mission Gallery during the Art Walk. Literally hundreds of guests stopped by to ask questions while I was working. This painting will be on display at my art show in November.

Artists Roland Lee and Craig Fetzer at the October St. George Art Walk

Artist Dilleen Marsh works on a landscape painting at Impressions Fine Art Gallery during the St. George Art Walk

Click here to download a PDF map of the gallery walk locations

Eccles Gallery Spotlights Two Local Artists

2009-10-08T20:47:00.006-06:00

There are lots of opportunities to enjoy the visual arts in St. George. We are blessed with many artists and some wonderful venues to show their work. Currently on display at the Eccles Gallery at Dixie State College is a three-part exhibit featuring photography, watercolors and three dimensional art. I attended an art talk tonight at the gallery and was intrigued with the depth of thought and meaning behind the work on display.

In the west foyer Mexican-born artist/photographer Ernesto Perez presents a series of black and white photos in an exhibit called "Footprints of Humanity." Perez focuses his lens on little seen images that are all around us but probably go unnoticed. It's a fun exhibit.

In the east foyer is an exhibit called "Feminine Archetypes Around The World And Through The Ages," featuring mixed media, three-dimensional depictions of goddess figures by Pamala Bird. Pamala discussed her paper-casting process which takes over 100 hours to complete. Her artwork celebrate womanhood by drawing from historical images used by many cultures over countless years.

Art professor Glen Blakely gave short vignettes on some of the artists featured in the watercolor display from the Dixie State College permanent collection. The exhibit, curated by Kathy Cieslewicz, is a stunning display of work spanning many years.

October Painting Workshop

2009-10-02T18:59:00.012-06:00

My October workshop concentrated on Painting the Red Rocks of Utah's Canyon Country. A group of great artists joined me as we explored ways to paint the unique characteristics of the sandstone mesas. Myron Laub, Joan Bly, Catherine Jenson, Linda Yokom, Janet Taylor, and Vicki Clayton all created great looking paintings as we went outdoors for on-location study at St. George's red cliffs.

Linda Yokom works on her painting of the red sandstone cliffs near St. George

Joan Bly purchased my class demonstration painting at the conclusion of the workshop

Catherine Jenson during the studio portion of the workshop

Myron Laub hard at work on a painting

Janet Taylor

Vicki Clayton

Click to see more photos of the October 2009 Workshop "How to Paint the Red Rocks"

Sketching the Autumn Leaves at Duck Creek

2009-09-29T21:36:00.006-06:00

With word that the southern Utah mountains would be blanketed with snow tomorrow, I grabbed my camera and sketchbook and headed for Cedar Mountain this morning to take in the fall colors. I was rewarded with fantastic (but windy) weather, and a visual feast of yellows and golds as I explored Duck Creek, Cedar Breaks, and Bryce Canyon.

Late afternoon at Duck Creek. The light made the colors explode.

BYU Exhibit "Paintings From the Reign of Victoria"

2009-09-27T16:41:00.006-06:00

Yesterday I had a chance to see the new traveling exhibit of "Paintings from the Reign of Victoria" on display at Brigham Young University Museum of Art through October 24, 2009. This exhibition includes over 60 nineteenth century paintings acquired by Thomas Holloway for the women’s college he had founded in 1879. All I can say is, "Wow!" The paintings are generally very large and stunning. As a big fan of realism, and genre paintings from that era, I was deeply moved by the work. If you get a chance see this exhibit before it is gone.

The painting above called "A Highland Croft" was painted in 1873 by Peter Graham.

Visions of Zion Art Exhibit

2009-09-26T07:23:00.004-06:00

Last night I attended the opening of the new art exhibit "Visions of Zion" at the St. George Art Museum. This exhibit is a regional juried show in all media and is the concluding art event in the year-long Zion National Park Centennial celebration.
I was impressed by the wide variety of styles used to interpret the Zion National Park experience. While the paintings were wonderful, I especially enjoyed the fantastic photography and the three-dimensional pieces. If you get a chance, stop by and see the show. It will remain on display through January 2010.

Plein Air Painting at Brooks Pond

2009-09-15T19:32:00.010-06:00

The weather was great yesterday and today so I took my September Watercolor Class outdoors to do a little plein air painting. We went up to Brooks Pond which is a quiet little spot in town ringed with cottonwoods and reeds. A few ducks made the picture complete.
Left: Mary Jane Grow from Provo, Utah sets up her easel.

Gayle Alger does some sketching at Brooks Pond in St. George.

Lillie Jones, from Central Valley Utah works on a watercolor painting in the studio at A Passion for Painting Art Shop.

All my ducks lined up nicely for painting at Brooks Pond.

The $800 Cash Prize Goes to...

2009-09-12T19:33:00.004-06:00

ME! This afternoon they announced the winner of the $800.00 cash award from yesterday's "Quick Draw" Competition, and it turned out to be my painting "Flowers and Stone." I was thrilled to win the award, and the painting was purchased as well at the Thanksgiving Point Plein Air Festival.

We met lots of wonderful people during the festival and became better acquainted with some of Utah's best artists. I also had a number of artists sign up for my workshops this fall. Now we head home for a painting workshop Monday and Tuesday.

PLein Air Festival Brings New Collectors

2009-09-11T22:49:00.008-06:00

The two-day Sale portion of the Thanksgiving Point Plein Air Festival began today. I was fortunate to have Katherine Piper purchase my watercolor painting of "The Secret Garden" this morning. She walks daily in the gardens and stopped by yesterday when I was finishing the painting, so she had a chance to see me work on it in person.

A "Quick Draw" event took place in the afternoon. Each artist had 90 minutes to complete a plein air painting, frame it, and submit it for judging. Many people enjoyed watching as the artists worked. Among those who stayed to see me finish my painting was Chris Cameron left, and Di Ann Mott.

My grandkids Emma, Ellie, and Josh stopped by to encourage me with a kiss and a hug, before heading off to do painting and sculpture at the Children's art area.

The finished watercolor painting "Flowers and Stone" ready to enter in the competition.

Plein Air Painting at Thanksgiving Point

2009-09-10T22:14:00.008-06:00

You really get to know a place when you paint it. I've spent the last three days at Thanksgiving Point Gardens participating in a fun outdoor plein air painting competition. We've had free run of the whole place and I think I know the gardens very well now. I completed four paintings and a number of sketchbook drawings and feel pretty good about the body of work. We turned in our competition pieces tonight and will spend the next couple of days exhibiting and hopefully selling our work.

Many people stopped by while we were painting to watch us work. I did this little sketch of one of the waterfalls and followed it with a watercolor painting. Here I'm holding both together.

A close-up of the sketch and the plein air watercolor painting.

I enjoyed this shady spot in the Secret Garden and was intrigued by the way the light crept over the brick wall and danced across the courtyard. I started the painting one morning, and when I came back to finish it the next day, all the benches and pots had been removed. The foibles of plein air painting! I think I captured the feel of the scene anyway.
The finished plein air painting, "Secret Garden"

A quick little painting of one of the glorious hanging bouquet baskets lining a footbridge over the creek.

A flower lined creek meanders through the gardens. While I was working on this little painting I spotted a skinny water snake slithering along the surface and watched the frogs scatter.