Spring Creek Hike near Kanarraville

Yesterday I was invited to join my sister-in-law Barbara Aikens and a few of her friends for a short hike up Spring Creek Trail above Kanarraville. The weather was perfect and the wildflowers were in bloom as we started the hike. After following the creek for a short while we began to wind our way into a narrow slot canyon with high carved sandstone walls. The reflected light cast a warm glow on the walls and the canyon floor.

Larry and Gwen discuss the weathered rock formations as they rest in the cool shade of the sandstone canyon

Since I left early, I had time to run by Quail Lake to check out the fishing, and stopped to do this little sketch of the arch near Red Cliffs that you can see clearly from the north end of the Lake.

While waiting for the group to arrive I sketched this drawing of the entrance road to the trailhead.

Painting the Old Rock Church in Cedar City

Yesterday I was interviewed for an article in St. George Magazine dealing with my paintings of southern Utah's history. I am fascinated by the pioneer history of this area that I call home, and have done numerous paintings which deal with that subject.
Right now I am working on a painting of the Old Rock Church in Cedar City. I've been over there a couple of times to do research work on it, and get some sketches.

Petroglyph Drawings at Parowan Gap

On my way back from Salt Lake City yesterday I took a wide swing out to Minersville, then down to the Parown Gap to see the petroglyphs. The varnish walls over a large area were chipped out into a myriad of designs by ancient inhabitants of the land, presumably from the Fremont or Southern Paiute cultures. At any rate they were done long before Ute Chief Walker told the Mormon Pioneers the place was called "God's Own House." No one knows for sure the meaning of the inscriptions. The Parowan Gap was used by early Mormon Pioneer explorers as a route from northern to southern Utah. In 1850 an exploration group discovered the Indian petroglyphs at Parowan Gap and clerk/historian Robert Campbell copied some in his journal.

Visiting the Art Museum with my Latino Friends

Kevin Jenkins interviewed me today for an article in the Spanish publication "El Sol." My two friends, Piedad and Victor, came to the St. George Art Museum to see my Canyon Country exhibit. Victor is an artist in woodworking, and Pili is an expert in the culinary arts from my favorite Mexican Restaurant "Irmita's." I am the volunteer director of the local "Daily Dose" English language program for Latinos and enjoy associating with many wonderful people at our Tuesday and Thursday evening classes. I consider every one the students and maestros my personal friends.

Frederick Dellenbaugh Painting of Zion in 1903

Above: Lyman Hafen, Executive director of Zion Natural History Association and Leslie Courtright, Curator of Collections at Zion National Park, stand beside the newly acquired painting by Frederick Dellenbaugh. On the wall behind is a painting of Zion by Roland Lee which is also a part of Zion's permanent collection.

The Zion National Park Foundation, of which I am a board member, was able to buy at auction a wonderful historically significant painting by Frederick Dellenbaugh this week. Through a generous donation from the Eccles Foundation we acquired the piece from an art and antique auction in Knoxville Tennessee. We in turn will donate the piece to the permanent collection of Zion National Park. We're especially excited because we are developing an art exhibit for the 100 year anniversary of Zion Park in 2009. The painting, completed about 1903, depicts Zion National Park from the canyon floor about where Springdale is today.



1903 painting by Frederick Dellenbaugh of Zion National Park

Two Paintings Juried into the Utah Watercolor Society Exhibit

Two of my paintings were selected for the Utah Watercolor Society Fall Juried Exhibit in Salt Lake City. The show runs through May 31, 2007.

Under the Rim at Bryce Canyon National Park

On the way over from Capitol Reef to Bryce Canyon National Park, we took the scenic route around Boulder Mountain, stopping for lunch in the pines, and for a quick dip in Calf Creek where I did a little more sketching. We arrived at Bryce in time to get some day's end photos at Sunset Point and do a little sketching at the overlook. We set up our tent in the Sunset Campground and connected with my brother in law, Professor Robert Eves from Southern Utah University, and their group of about 25 honor students from universities across America. They will be spending a week at Bryce, some having never even camped before.

On Saturday morning we introduced the group to Bryce with a stop on the rim, which nearly blew their collective minds. The view is staggering. But they really had wide eyes when we hiked them under the rim into "Wall Street". Although this is one of the most popular trails it was closed due to a massive rockfall sealing off the passage at the bottom. An example of erosion in action. But we scrambled over the rock fall where Dr. Eves and Gale Pollock, two of the most knowledgeable geologists on this area explained what created this amazing land. For me it was one of the best park experiences I've had.



SKETCHBOOK AT CAPITOL REEF

Lake Powell Sketching Trip

Okay, I admit it, this is more of a fishing trip than an art trip, but my sketch book will be with me at all times. We leave in the morning to hook up with my son Jon Lee and my brother in law Robert Eves at Lake Powell for a couple of days. Robert is bringing his bass boat which will put us in range of some great photo reference for paintings and some great fishing locations also. What could be better than that?

Sketching with my grandson Matthew Cherry

We flew down to Houston Texas yesterday to spend a few days with my daughter Jana, husband Phil, and grandkids Mattie and Katelyn. Today we took it easy and just enjoyed our time with the grandkids. We visited the Houston LDS Temple, a cool park, and old town Spring. I did a little sketching in my travel sketchbook and Mattie added a few drawings of his own. His drawings are pretty amazing for a three year old. He has his own school and art room in their house and the walls are plastered with his artistic creations. Jana knows what budding artists need--encouragement, art tools, and plenty of paper.

Lisa Huber Article in 15 Bytes eZine

Roland Lee in the studio. Photo courtesy of 15 Bytes eZine. Photo by Lisa Huber.

Thanks to Lisa Huber who did a good job profiling me for the Utah artists eZine "15 Bytes" which came online today. Shawn Rossiter has been publishing the eZine for some time and has given widespread and much-needed coverage to the burgeoning Utah arts scene. The front page article, "Roland Lee: A Love of Art and Teaching" in the May 2007 issue, includes about six photos showing me in my studio and my work at the current St. George Art Museum show, "Roland Lee's Canyon Country Paintings."

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