Keeping a Sketchbook on the Old Mormon Trail

Nellie and I are on a two-week tour with the Sons of Utah Pioneers historical group re-tracing the route of the pioneers on the Old Mormon Trail. The trip has special significance for me since many of my own ancestors made this journey. Their struggles are chronicled in their journals, and as I visit the places I am amazed at their perserverance and faith. I am sketching each day and will posts some of the drawings as I can. Here are a few photos of Nellie and I on the trail.

Nellie and a couple of ladies in our group tried their hand at pulling a handcart for a couple of miles into Martin's Cove in Wyoming. Already tired and the handcart is empty!

My fourth great grandma and grandpa were among those listed on this memorial to the Willie and Martin handcart company in Martin's Cove Wyoming.

Nellie and I stand at a monument to the Mormon handcart pioneers at the LDS visitors center at Winter Quarters Nebraska.

Loretta Clayson Purchases West Temple from Bridge Mountain Painting

One of my good friends and artists, Loretta Clayson contacted me on the road today via email and purchased my newest painting "West Temple from Bridge Mountain." She saw the painting at my recent painting workshop in Cedar City and decided it was the one for her. Loretta and I painted together a few years ago with a small group of avid artists. We'd get together and paint in my studio for a day, each working on their own projects. It was good to see her again in my workshop, and I'm happy she got the painting.

Newest Collector, Tina Davis

Tina Davis became my newest collector today by purchasing the painting "Cool Canyon", a painting of the Fremont River in Capitol Reef National Park. Tina is an excellent artist and purchased the painting during the Southern Utah Watercolor Society workshop where I used the painting in my demonstration.

Watercolor Workshop Second Day

The second day of our painting workshop in Cedar City went well today. I think all of us were exhausted by the end of the day, but we had a lot of fun. I did a quick demo of an old barn in a much looser style than I usually use. My aim was to show the impact of value contrast in watercolor painting.



The facilities at the Southern Utah University Art Department were wonderful. The lighting was good and we had lots of room to work. In the foreground of the photo above are Lynda McCulloch, the workshop organizer, and Natalie Wood, both excellent artists.

Watercor Painting Workshop for the Southern Utah Watercolor Society

I enjoyed spending the day today with a group of outstanding artists. It was the first of a two-day painting workshop I am teaching for the Southern Utah Watercolor Society at Southern Utah University in Cedar City. Participating artists include: Linda McCulloch, Natalie Wood, Jennifer Alger, Geraldine Botkins, Hazel Grant, Tina Daves, Debbie Robb, Marianne Caudill, Rebecca Staley, Dorothy Uherka, Loretta Clayson, and Jennifer Stucki.


My painting class outside doing a little sketching

Fishing at Newcastle

I was pretty tired when I got to the Eves tonight after teaching my workshop. But I had renewed strength when Robert was readying his bass tracker boat as I drove up. Hmmm, maybe I could muster enough strength for a quick fishing trip to Newcastle Reservoir. I'm glad I did. The fishing was great and we had a pleasant evening on the lake. I caught the biggest bass of the day.

Cool Canyon Painting

I finished this painting today. I am enjoying painting water and I really liked how the steep canyon walls and light from the distant trees reflected in this river scene along the Fremont near Capitol Reef National Park. I'm trying to finish up a few paintings and get ready to teach a two-day workshop this Friday and Saturday for the Southern Utah Watercolor Society in Cedar City. Utah.

I begin the painting with a light pencil drawing on Arches Watercolor Paper. I then start with light loose glazes using warm tones.

I shape the trees using negative painting to paint the darker cliffs behind the trees.

The Art of Communication - Article in Spanish Publication

Roland Lee (right) converses with artist Guadalupe Rodriguez from Stylecraft about a framing order. Photo and article by Kevin Jenkins.



Piedad Hayashi (left) and Victor Enriquez visit the St. George Art Museum where Roland Lee discusses his current show "Roland Lee's Canyon Country." Photo by Kevin Jenkins of the Spectrum

El Sol, St. George's Spanish language publication published an article about my interests in both art and as an English teacher. Since last summer I have served as voluteer director of the "Daily Dose" english language program. We meet two nights a week to help people gain conversational skills in the language. I have met and befriended hundreds of Latinos in that time, but they don't know me as an artist, just as their "maestro" (teacher).

Painting of The Old Rock Church at Cedar City

Built in the 1930's by local volunteers The Rock Church is perhaps one of the most familiar buildings in Cedar City. Although the architecture appears European, all the materials used to build it are local including a variety of colored rock found nearby. It is still used today as place of worship but is also open for visitors as a museum.

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.