Old Red Barn Painting -- Painting Demonstration How to Paint a Sky in Watercolor

I started this painting earlier in a watercolor class at Passion for Painting Art Gallery. I was demonstrating how to paint skies in watercolor in just five minutes using a wet-into-wet technique. Of course the reason it only takes five minutes is because by then the watercolor paper is dry, and I cannot get soft edges anymore.This sky was actually done by adding a second glaze after the first was dry to give the clouds more contrast and drama. The barn is the same one I used previously in another painting, "Open Barn."

Watercolor Painting Demonstration at Dixie State College -- 2 New Paintings

Painting above: "Desert Study"


Painting above: "Zion Light West Temple"

I finished up a couple of small studies today and took them with me to give a guest presentation at the art department of Dixie State College. I gave examples of how to plan a painting, and the importance of preparing value studies. We also talked about negative painting techniques and how to use aerial perspective to create depth. I then let them choose one of my value studies and did a painting demonstration for them. Although it was a beginning watercolor class, I was impressed with their level of skill and dedication. Their teacher Mindy Deschamps had been encouraging them to begin with a good value sketch, and I reinforced that message with my painting demonstration.

National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas

Roland Lee with #1 Saddle-bronc rider Cody Wright at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

My son Jon, his dad-in-law Dan Chidester, my grandson Travis, and I slipped away to the National Finals Rodeo last night in Las Vegas and had a great time. We stopped by the Cowboy Christmas Show at the Las Vegas convention center where we saw some great cowboy paintings and sculpture, and Travis picked out some new boots. I visited for a few minutes with NFR Saddle Bronc competitor Cody Wright from Utah (photo above) who took 3rd place in his event tonight. We'll go back down on Monday night to see another go-around.

Virgin River Painting Study in Zion Canyon

I was inspired by our trip to Zion National Park and did a little study today from the photos and sketches I made last week. The yellow leaves were still on the Cottonwoods then, but most are gone now with the cold snap that brought snow to Zion. I hope to work this up into a larger painting later. I loved the deep shadows and the warm glow of sunlight hitting the canyon wall.

(Click on the photos for full-size view) I am working on Arches 140 lb and the image size is 8 in. x 12 in. A quick pencil sketch on the paper is all I need to brush on the first wet-in-wet glazes.

After putting a second glaze on the cliffs I sketch out the tree trunks which will be easy to paint dark over light.

A Day in the Snow at Zion National Park

We had our annual Christmas party of the Zion Natural History Association tonight at Zion Lodge. So Nellie and I went up to Zion early today and drove on up to our cabin on the East Rim. While Zion was mostly dry, when we got up on top we found about six inches of snow which surprised us. The dirt road into our cabin was fresh snow-pack on top of mud from the two days of rain last weekend so it was a slippery mud-slinging ride. We repaired one of the doors on the main cabin and closed everything up for the winter, bringing benches and chairs indoors etc. The sun broke through and sparkled on the pristine blanket of white, and I relished my last visit of the season to my Zion sanctuary.

A picnic on our tailgate at East Zion gave no clue to the snow we'd find just a few miles further at our cabin.

Just a skiff of snow here and there and a light dusting on the tops of the cliffs. A few hundred feet higher would be very different

A visit from Artist Dan Cross and a mini Watercolor Painting Lesson

Dan Cross and I have communicated via email a few times this past year. He is an architect from Des Moines Iowa, who has begun working in watercolor recently. While in Las Vegas for a business conference he decided to take the two-hour drive to St. George and say "hello." In actuality he didn't really drive up just to see me -- he stopped by my studio on his way to Zion National Park. I happened to be in the middle of a painting of the West Temple in Zion when he arrived. It gave me a chance to give him a mini art lesson on watercolor painting technique.

Above: The finished painting of Zion National Park, "West Temple Autumn."
Left: Artist/architect Dan Cross from Des Moines Iowa visits my studio.

Lake Powell Morning Painting

This is a painting I have been working on all week. I did a little study for it last year, but on this larger painting I incorporated the flat still water reflections of early morning. The location is somewhere on the upper lake near Moki Canyon. Each morning when we are on the houseboat we start the day with a refreshing morning swim. This is the view you get when your head is bobbing just above the surface on one of those peaceful mornings.

Click to see a step by step painting demonstration of this painting

Click for more information on this painting of Lake Powell Morning

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

We're expecting our kids and grandkids to arrive this afternoon to spend a few days, eating turkey, visiting, and hopefully spending time up in Snow Canyon. The weather is so gorgeous I can't wait to get outdoors. But this morning I am in my studio finishing up a couple of paintings I started earlier in a watercolor painting workshop.

Even before picking up the brushes, though, I have to stop and reflect. As I gaze out my studio window at the incredible view of red rocks and blue sky I know I am blessed beyond measure. Our family has a lot to be thankful for. Everyone's health is good, the kids all have nice homes, and we have two new grandbabies on the way to join the 15 happy grandchildren we already enjoy. Each morning I kneel and thank God for what we have and the life we live here on this part of the earth. It doesn't take much travelling to realize the blessings we enjoy. So many people struggle each day just for enough to eat while we have more than we need. Thanksgiving time helps strengthen my resolve to follow more fully the teachings of Jesus Christ to "Do unto others..." (Luke 6:31) We have lots of opportunities daily to give freely of our time, talents, and substance and I hope I can do a better job of giving without so much judging.

Zion Angel's Landing Sketchbook Drawing

I had a chance to scan one of my sketchbook drawings from yesterday's hike in Zion Canyon. I spent most of my time along the Grotto Trail. This view is looking north from the Virgin River with the morning light hitting the top of the cliff face. The sketches are for a big new painting I am planning of Angel's Landing. I will hopefully start it in the next two weeks.

Hiking in Zion National park

The weather is so beautiful that I had to slip away this morning and go to my favorite spot -- Zion National Park. Because of the lower elevation the Cottonwoods are still rich with golden yellow leaves down in Zion Canyon. So I spent most of my tiime hiking along the North fork of the Virgin River sketching in my sketchbook and shooting a few photos. the weather was crisp early this morning but really warmed up once the sun rose over the canyon walls. I was surprised to see so many people in the Park today, but it was fun to see how each person discovers the canyon for themselves. There were the usual serious amateur pohtographers with their tripods and gear vests setting up in the usual locations trying to get the lighting just right. And of course there were the foreign tourists, all decked out in European hiking wear and shooting pictures of everything. Then there were the little families, kids scuffling their feet through the piles of leaves and dragging sticks along the river banks, while parents smiled at their wonder. Of course, the mule deer just go about their business, pretty much oblivious to the human traffic. I think the funnest thing is to listen to the chatter of the hikers just coming down from the rigorous and sometimes frightening hike up Angel's Landing. After that hike everyone feels like they've done something wonderful. I'm back in the studio now in the early afternoon, tired and energized by my time spent in another amazing part of God's creations.