Mark Gamett Buys Roland Lee Painting

 One of my dear friends, and an amazing painter dropped by my studio with his wife and purchase a few of my original paintings recently. He also decided to buy the painting "As I See It" which was my demonstration painting for the 2021 Utah Plein Air presentation. I am so thankful for such good friends as Mark.

Mark Gamett with Roland Lee Painting

March Master Class

l to r: Mark Rose, Vaughn Emett, Roland Lee, Leslie Peterson, Jonathan Lee

Roland Lee demonstrates techniques for his March Master Class

Leslie Peterson, Vaughn Emett, Mark Rose, and Jonathan Lee were the artists I hosted in my studio classroom for a Master Class in March. Each artist worked on their own ideas and paintings and did a great job.

February 2020 Master Class

Jon Lee with his two fabulous watercolors

Mark Rose with a stunning red rock painting

Meg with a realistic portrait of Roland Lee

I love getting together with Great artists friends as we help one another with our paintings. My February master class was one of our best yet as Meghana Mitragotri, Jon Lee, Mark Rose and Margo Cook got together for two days of study in my studio classroom. Nice paintings from everyone.

Meghana Mitragotri, Jon Lee, Mark Rose and Margo Cook

13 Painters Join Roland Lee for Watercolor Workshop at Moab Red Rocks Plein Air Festival

Great weather and outstanding scenery awaited me and 13 accomplished artists at the 2019 Red Rocks Plein Air Art Festival at Moab, Utah. Surrounded by several National Parks and Monuments, Moab is ideally suited for this annual event which draws hundreds of artists from all over the country. Part of that event included two painting workshops, one from Roland Lee and the other with noted landscapist Jill Carver to kick off the event. Headquartered at the MARC (Moab Recreation and Arts Center) we combined both indoor instruction two days of outdoor painting for a truly memorable experience. Thanks to Liz Holland and her staff for seeing to our every need.

120 artists at Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous

100 artists joined 22 faculty members at the Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous last week in Midway Utah. Four days of seminars, outdoor painting, talks, demos, food and fun rounded out the event. Heavy rain slowed us down Tuesday and Wednesday but glorious weather greeted us the remainder of the week. The event was co-sponsored and hosted by the Plein Air Painters of Utah group who acted as instructors and faculty, along with the Midway Art Association who acted as hosts, providing facilities and staffing. We can't wait until next year.

Jon Lee shows off his plein air painting to admirers at Plein Air Utah

A presentation in the Midway Town Hall at Plein Air Utah 2019

Roland Lee, Jim Lee, and Jon Lee at the Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous

Roland Lee, Jim Lee, and Jon Lee at the Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous

Roland Lee does a live watercolor demonstration

Lester Lee Workshop in St. George

We're enjoying a few days with artist Lester Lee in St. George at the Arrowhead Gallery classroom. In case you are wondering, yes we are distant cousins, although we didn't know that for a long time. He is accomplished in all mediums and has a wealth of knowledge as a teacher, so its been a blast. He's trying to help us loosen up with our watercolors, and I'm eager to try it. I lusted after one of his big watercolor paintings at the recent Sears Invitational but it got away from me. I mentioned that to him, and he said, "well I have the small study I did for it with me, would you like to have it?" Oh yeh, so I'm a happy boy now.

Here's the full sheet Lester Lee watercolor painting that sold at the Sears Invitational

This is Lester Lee's 8 x 10 watercolor study which I now own.

Utah Watercolor Society Workshop

I enjoyed painting with some really great artists last Friday and Saturday in Salt Lake City. The Utah Watercolor Society had me teach a painting workshop for 22 of their members. Although it was a large group we got along fine and I was able to teach some solid concepts to a very capable group. Their paintings were amazing. They also presented me with a nice birthday cake. Thanks everyone!

Roland Lee and Vaughn Emett discuss some painting techniques

jon Lee watches as Dorleen works on a painting

Jon Lee was my assistant at the workshop

An awesome video setup

I was still able to get around to give personal help to each of the students

The Sons of Pioneers building in Salt Lake City is the home for Utah Watercolor Society workshops

Learning from each other

Concentration!

Autumn Leaves and Winter Snow Workshop

Meg Mitragotri, from the Bay area, with her class paintings

Becky Whitney of A Passion for Painting Studio opened her classroom for a two-day Roland Lee watercolor workshop. We had eight wonderful artists attend the class. They included: Karen Bettilyon, Randy Peterson, Mark Gamet, Audrey Heaton, Meghana Mitragotri, Jackie Lahee, Cathy Kirby, and Karen. Our painting subjects included applying aerial perspective to snow scenes, along with wet into wet applications for multiple pigments in the sky and snow, and using negative painting on the trees. Their paintings were very good. We also worked on the same techniques as they applied to autumn foliage. I have posted my classroom demonstration paintings here.

Roland Lee workshop demonstration painting "Autumn at the Lake"
Collection Karen Bettilyon

Roland Lee workshop demonstration painting "Winter Snow"
Collection Randy Peterson

February 2019 Master Class

Feb 2019 Roland Lee master class in his studio classroom

My monthly master class included Karen Bettilyon, Mark Rose, Shari Cannon, and Connie Madsen. I've enjoyed teaching these artists for many years, and we've become good friends. The instruction portion of this class included the importance of identifying form and cast shadows, as well as a slide presentation on some of my favorite watercolor artists.

Roland Lee Feb 2019 Master Class l to r: Shari Cannon, Roland Lee, Karen Bettilyon, Mark Rose, Connie Madsen

Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous

Father and son team, Roland Lee and Jim Lee at Plein Air Rendezvous & Retreat

About 80 artists and 20 more instructors joined together in Midway Utah for the 2018 Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous. Four days of daily instruction, demos, seminars and outdoor painting culminated in a fantastic "Wet Paint Show and Sale" at the Midway town hall. Jointly sponsored by the Midway Art Association and the Plein Air Painters of Utah, the event is now in its second year. I was one of the instructors and made a presentation on plein air painting and gave a watercolor painting demonstration.  It was great to rub shoulders with Utah's best painters and aspiring artists. We have so much talent here in Utah. It was fun to have my artist son Jim Lee join us as well.

Original photograph, Sketchbook pencil study, and finished watercolor painting demonstrated at the 2018 Plein Air Utah Retreat in Midway UT

Roland Lee Finished watercolor demonstration painting at Midway Utah

Maynard Dixon Country 2018 a Huge Success

Artists Roland Lee and Glenn Renell at the 2018 Maynard Dixon Country event in Mt. Carmel UT

Some of the nation's best artists got together for a week of learning and comeraderie at the Maynard Dixon Country 2018 event. They were treated to artists demonstrations, presentations, seminars, along with great food, music, and outdoor painting. Held annually at the Maynard Dixon property in Mount Carmel UT the event is sponsored by the Thunderbird Foundation.