Coronavirus Doesn't Shut Down Painting!

I was able to sell more than 20 paintings online during the Covid-19 shut down.

I had to shut down my art gallery for most of March and April to comply with national and state precautions due to the Coronavirus. So I just moved my painting studio to my home and went to work. Turns out my painting production actually went up. So with all my new paintings I side-stepped the shutdown by having a couple of online sales for my media followers and previous collectors. They came through and we had a sell-out, which got me through the shut-down in better shape than most businesses. Thanks to everyone who support me.

Some of the paintings completed during the Covid-19 pandemic

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.

Famous Painting Re-do

Okay all of us have gone a little crazy during the Coronavirus shut down. So our family accepted the challenge to re-enact famous paintings. My wife Nellie and I decided to do Arrangement in Grey and Black (Whistlers Mother) by James A. McNeill Whistler and the Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso. I think we pretty much nailed it. lol! All the paintings are below.

Arrangement in Grey and black - portrait of Whistlers Mother by James A. McNeill Whistler

The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso

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.

Watercolor Workshop at Maynard Dixon Property for Girl's Academy

My son, Jonathan, and I enjoyed sharing our talents with a great group of young ladies from a Kanab Girl's Academy. The girls, with their leaders traveled to the Maynard Dixon Property in Mt. Carmel Utah, where we spent a couple of hours working on watercolor paintings, before enjoying a tour of the Maynard Dixon property and Edith Hamlin studio. I was excited to share with them the rich heritage of artists who lived and worked in East Zion area. Thanks to their leaders, along with Emilie who took us through the Bingham Gallery. We are also grateful to Paul and Susan Bingham who work so hard to make the Dixon Property available to our young people.

Visiting the Edith Hamlin Studio 

Roland Lee teaches a group of young ladies

A visit to the Bingham Art Gallery

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

Meghana Mitragotri Art Show in Pleasanton

My student Meg Mitragotri is having a solo art show at the Pleasanton Firehouse Art Center February 26 through March 31. I am very proud of her and all my students who had art shows this past year. She also released a book of her paintings too.Way to go Meg!

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

TWSA 44th Annual International Watercolor Exhibit Selects Roland Lee Painting

The Roland Lee watercolor painting, "Railroad Summit" was juried in the 44th Annual Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA) exhibition in Kenosha Wisconsin. I was excited to receive that announcement today. The exhibit runs May 2 through August 2, 2020 at the Kenosha Museum. That painting will also appear, along with four other Roland Lee paintings in the new book: The River Flows: Watercolors of the American West to be released in June 2020.

"Railroad Summit" watercolor painting by Roland Lee will be exhibited at he TWSA 44th annual exhibition in Kenosha Wisconsin.

Roland Lee Wins First Place at Dixie Sears Art Museum Invitational

Artist Roland Lee and collector Betsy McChesney stand in front of Roland's first place painting "Golden Day in Zion" at Dixie Sears Art Invitational

I was pleased to win the first place ribbon in watercolor at the Dixie Sears Invitational art show held at the Eccles Fine Arts Center Sears Art Museum. Art collector Betsey McChesney purchased the award-winning painting "Golden Day in Zion" at the event.