Showing posts with label Plein Air painting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plein Air painting. Show all posts

Thursday, June 03, 2021

"Call of the Canyon - Zion National Park" PBS Utah Documentary Features Roland Lee

 A wonderful film crew from PBS Utah spent the last two days filming me at my cabin at East Zion, and plein air painting in Zion National Park for a new documentary "Call of the Canyon - Zion National Park". The documentary will address how artists respond to the National Park. Watch for the documentary on tv at a future date.

Roland Lee paints in Zion National Park while being filmed for a new documentary by PBS Utah

Roland Lee painting en plein air in Zion National Park

Roland Lee being interviewed by PBS Utah for Zion Park documentary


Friday, July 31, 2020

Roland Lee Painting Featured in "Plein Air Collector" Newsletter

I was pleased to have my painting, "Long Term Parking" selected to illustrate the article "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" in the July 2020 issue of "Plein Air Collector" and "Outdoor Painter" online newsletters. The painting features an old Ford car parked forever next to an even older barn in northern Utah. We discovered the old relic while painting during the Plein Air Utah event in 2019.

"Long Term Parking" watercolor by Roland Lee

Thursday, June 04, 2020

Painting Appears in Plein Air Magazine online edition


An article in Plein Air Magazine called "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" took a look at a number of paintings by plein air painters in the June-July 2020 issue. I was surprised and delighted to find my painting "Long Term Parking" included in the online additional content as well as in the weekly online newsletter American Watercolor Weekly.

American Watercolor Weekly Features Roland Lee Painting

American Watercolor Weekly features Roland Lee watercolor painting

I was happy that editor Kelly Kane selected one of my paintings for inclusion in an article in the online American Watercolor Weekly June 2020. The article is titled "Inspired by Trains and Automobiles." My painting, "Long Term Parking" was inspired by a visit to an old farm during the 2019 Plein Air Utah event in Midway Utah.

Long Term Parking by Roland Lee was featured in American Watercolor Weekly June 2, 2020 issue

Saturday, May 09, 2020

Plein Air During the Coronavirus Shut-down

My kind of social distancing - Roland Lee plein air painting

Painting in the southern Utah desert

My trusty art assault vehicle (1988 Toyota Pickup with Six Pack Camper)
We weathered the Coronavirus shut down by moving my painting gear to my home and working there for awhile. I actually got quite a lot of painting done during that time, but got restless and ventured out in my art assault vehicle and did quite a bit of painting out in the desert. My idea of social distancing.

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

Collector Purchases Plein Air Painting of Bryce Canyon

Thanks to my wonderful art collector D. Hines who just ordered another original painting online. I shipped the painting, "Sunset Point Hoodoos" to him today. I completed the painting en plein air during a public demonstration I did at Bryce Canyon.
Roland Lee Painting at Bryce Canyon

Working on the painting at Bryce Canyon Sunset Point Overlook

"Sunset Point Hoodoos" watercolor by Roland Lee

Monday, February 03, 2020

Interview with Roland Lee at Zion National Park

Storyteller and musician Sam Payne interviews Roland Lee while he paints beneath the Sentinel in Zion National Park. Broadcast on "The Apple Seed" radio program sponsored by BYU Radio. Roland talks about his love for Zion and his experiences there. The interview was part of the stage production at Zion O. C, Tanner amphitheater during Zion's centennial year.
The Apple Seed Radio Show: Click to listen

Roland Lee - Shooting film for Zion Sanctuary, The Story of Zion Canyon


Monday, November 25, 2019

Many new collectors at Zion Centennial Show

I was pleased to sell 15 paintings at the 2019 Zion Centennial Plein Air Celebration. Only ten artists were invited to participate this centennial year, and we had a tremendously successful sale. Here are some of my wonderful collectors.
Roland Lee with Betsy McChesney

Roland Lee with Darci Carlson and her husband

Roland and Nellie Lee with Gary Tedesco and wife

Roland Lee with Jill Romboy and husband

Roland Lee with Kirk Tanner and his wife

Roland Lee with Robert and Mary Wilkinson

Roland Lee with Tracy Jones

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Zion Painting Featured in Western Art Collector Magazine

My painting "Hiking the Zion Narrows" is featured on page 157 in the November 2019 issue of Western Art Collector Magazine to illustrate the article "Zion Forever" about the Zion Centennial Art Show. 11 invited artists will paint en plein air during the five day event in Zion National Park concluding with an art show.
Watercolor painting of the Zion Narrows by Roland Lee

Sunday, October 06, 2019

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.

















Friday, September 20, 2019

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

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Outdoor Painter presents Roland Lee


Zion Fireglow painting by Roland Lee

Featured Artwork: Roland Lee presented by Zion National Park Centennial
Roland Lee is one of the ten Centennial Artists for Zion National Park’s 2019 Centennial Celebration of Art. His painting Zion Fireglow was created as his centennial painting for this year’s event. Visit zionpark.org for more information.
From his cabin on the east border of Zion National Park, Lee has intimately explored the peaks and canyons of Zion for the past 40 years. His original paintings can be found in over 1500 art collections.

Lee’s new hardcover book, Discovering Zion – A Pictorial Guide to the Landscape, Geology, and History of Zion National Park, is set to be released and will be available at Zion. It includes 160 pages of his Zion paintings.

“As an artist Zion National Park is not only my playground, but also my art studio,” reflected Roland. “The soaring peaks and the winding canyons captivate my spirit and continue to be a source of inspiration for my paintings today.”
Lee and the other Centennial Artists will paint in the park and present live painting demonstrations for the public each day, following in the footsteps of other artists such as Thomas Moran and Maynard Dixon. He respects their contributions to the sacred lands we enjoy today.

“As I reflect on Zion’s current celebration of 100 years, I am grateful for the early artists who helped make our nation aware of the need to protect certain special places. Through their insight, and the efforts of many since, these lands will continue to bless future generations,” Lee said.


Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Award of Merit Utah Watercolor Society

It was nice to exhibit my painting "Farm Chores" alongside the work of my two sons, Jon and Jim, in the Utah Watercolor Society Small Painting Show July 2019. They both sold their paintings which is always a treat. I received the "Award of Merit" for my painting.
Roland Lee "Award of Merit "Utah Watercolor Society Small Painting Show July 2019
"Farm Chores"

Jon Lee "Castle of Stone" UWS Small Painting Show July 2019 SOLD!

Jim Lee "Wild Tree - Capitol Reef" Plein Air SOLD at the Utah Watercolor Society Small Painting Show July 2019

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Western Art Collector Magazine Article on Zion Canyon Artists

David Brown article in Western Art Collector July 2019 about Zion Park and Grand Canyon
David Brown wrote a wonderful feature article for the July 2019 Western Art Collector magazine which spotlighted the centennial celebrations this year of both Zion National Park and Grand Canyon National Park. I was pleased that he quoted me a number of times in the article as he talked about the experiences of artists such as Gunnar Widforss, Maynard Dixon, and Thomas Moran. He mentioned many of today's active plein air artists as well. Thanks to publisher Josh Rose for producing a great magazine.