More Travel Sketch Book Drawings

I had a few minutes to scan some of the drawings from my Travel Sketchbook. These were done last week on our cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. I carried a Watson-Guptill hardbound 5" x 8" sketchbook which is my favorite for travelling. I used a 4B pencil for most of the drawings which were all completed on location. I spent about 10 minutes on each one.



The Holly House on Catalina Island



Seaside Village in San Diego



Boats in the San Diego Harbor

Newest Roland Lee Painting Purchased

Today Mr. and Mrs. John Mangels became the owners of my newest painting "Fence Line Fury." Living near the mouth of Snow Canyon, they enjoy outstanding views of the red cliffs. John attended my recent watercolor workshop and watched as I demonstrated this painting in class. They also purchased "Big Red Mountain" which portrayed a view seen from their home.

Cruise to Mexico Sketchbook Drawings

Last night we returned from a week-long cruise to Ensenada Mexico, with stops at Catalina Island and San Diego, California. The weather was magnifient with temperatures in the low 70's and the sea air was good for my soul and my body. Of course I packed along my sketchbook and did lots of drawings which will inspire some future paintings. If I get time I'll post a few more sketch book drawings next week.

Top image: Sketchbook drawing of a roofline in Ensenada Mexico. Left image: Sketchbook drawing of buildings on the wharf at Catalina Island.

Watercolor Workshop Demonstration Paintings

The painting above was done during our watercolor class to demonstrate a highly effective watercolor technique for painting skies in five minutes or less. Using a wet-into-wet technique, I allowed the paint to mingle freely on the wet paper, leaving areas of light for contrast and drama. I had the students paint three different skies this way.



I began this painting as a watercolor art lesson during the painting workshop showing how to use the technique of negative painting or backpainting to depict desert shrubs and sage. Even though the foreground is in shadow, you can still clearly see the effects of the sky light coming from the left side of the painting. The highlight side of each shrub is identified by the value conrast with the shadow side of the shrub behind it. The example we used had a desert style home in it, but I changed it into a distant cliff to add more interest.

Click on the inset photo to see how I laid in broad loose washes first, then defined the edges with a pencil after the initial washes had dried. This is a technique I often use to help me find where the contrast of values will be. The pencil lines will be obliterated by the paint since they appear only where an edge will be.



This was an art class demonstration of How to paint skies in watercolor. The sky only took five minutes. But the rest of the painting took another day! This painting is entirely made up without any reference material.

Another Good Watercolor Workshop

Above: Bernice Payne, Paula Wadsworth, and Luzon Glines at work in the workshop. Below: John Mangels

Monday and Tuesday I conducted a watercolor workshop at Passion for Painting Gallery with a great group of artists. It's always fun to spend two full days with my peers and feel the energy that comes when a group of like-minded artists get together. But what I really enjoy is seeing the variety of styles and techniques that is generated in class. What an art show! Students included: Karen Bettilyon, Luzon glines, John Mangels, Bernice Payne, Paula Wadsworth, Lexie Boyce, and Barbara Withelder.

1981 Watercolor Painting

Today I was visited by Donna and Dale Burrill who recently inherited one of my older watercolor paintings from Donna's deceased mother. The painting, "Desert Rainbow", was purchased by her mother at the George Phippen Memorial Art Show held each memorial day weekend in Prescott Arizona. I painted it in April 1981, and she purchased it in May 1981. the painting is #107, and I am currently on painting #1041, so it was truly one of the earlier paintings. The painting looks great with no fading, and even the original mats are in good shape. The Burrills report that the painting fits perfectly with their Southwest decor and they are delighted with it.

San Antonio Texas Watercolor Workshop

I will be presenting a four-day watercolor landscape painting workshop for the San Antonio Watercolor Group February 20-23, 2008. The workshop will consist of painting demonstrations, powerpoint presentations, and plenty of student one-on-one time as we explore methods for making fantastic landscape paintings in watercolor. Click here for more watercolor workshop information

My New Grandson

Early this morning we celebrated the arrival of a new grandson. He is our 16th grandchild, so we are very experienced grandparents--professionals actually. We had no idea our grandkids would be so cute. My wife Nellie headed north this morning to help out with the other kids. I'll join them on Thursday and see the little guy first hand. But until then, here's a photo, compliments of Jason's cell phone camera.

Painting of Temple and Utah History Paintings in Pioneer Magazine

Pioneer Magazine featured my painting of the St. George LDS Temple on the cover of the current issue. In addition two more paintings were used in double page layouts on the interior articles. "Temple Morning" is also available as a limited edition print through my website.



Washington Cotton Factory is available as a limited edition print.



"Bus Stop on Temple Street" is available as a limited edition print.

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."