Painting light and shadow in watercolor - Cliffs on Fire Red Mesa Painting

In this new painting I tried to capture the effects of light and shadow on the desert. The red sandstone of the cliffs and mesas in southern Utah takes on various hues depending on the lighting. But the very best time is when the sun is nearly down, the lower part of the cliffs are in shadow and the mesa tops are on fire with orange sunlight.

Painting this effect in watercolor requires me to lay down underglazes of very warm hues, and come back over the top with cooler glazes for the shadows. The sky in this painting was laid out quickly using a wet-into-wet technique. I am happy with the soft edges in the sky as warm light transitions to cool. Notice the splattering effect in the lower part of the painting created by tapping a brush with clear water into the almost-dry wash. This gives a very natural texture to the under-glazes.

Step by Step Watercolor "Zion's River"

"Zion's River" 8x12 watercolor by Roland Lee

This painting was inspired by a fall 2008 hike I took along the Virgin River in Zion National Park. I love the way the sun on the cliffs reflects in the cool blue water.

I am working on Arches 140 lb. Cold-press watercolor paper stapled to "Incredible Art Board". As usual I begin with a light (4h) pencil drawing to define my edges. Using a 1-inch flat brush I start by laying in both the sky and the water at the same time using wet-into-wet technique. First I wet the paper on the sky area and apply a small amount of yellow ochre along the horizon, then do a graded wash with Ultramarine blue from the top down. While that area dries I immediately apply clear water to the water area and float the reflection colors into it.

I allow the pigment to mingle in the wet in wet wash by tipping my board vertically to allow the paint to run down. This helps give the appearance of vertical reflections of the cliffs and trees in the water. Now I let both washes dry completely.

On the distant warm cliffs I lay in the shadow shapes with Quinacridone coral and ultramarine blue allowing the pigments to mingle. Moving down to the foliage I apply simple shapes using both wet in wet and drybrush to create a sense of texture.

I use negative painting (backpainting) in several places to define lighter trunks and branches against the darker background. I also further define the shapes on the cliff with darker applications of paint, making the same adjustments in the water reflections.

My photo reference was taken with my pocket digital camera. In a high contrast lighting situation it is difficult for the camera to read the shadows and the highlights, so the shadows are way to dark with no detail. In my painting I overcome that by lightening the middle ground values.

The finished painting. I feel like I captured the warm glow of the canyon and the colorful reflections in the water. What do you think?

Studio Visit from the Cub Scouts

Tonight I had a studio visit from a group of Cub Scouts and their leaders. Part of their requirements is to learn about art careers. After talking about careers I had them come into my painting room and showed them the watercolor process. Afterwards each person received a free box of art cards to take home with them.

Desert Wildflowers in Bloom

Today the weather was so gorgeous I took a little walk in the desert at lunchtime and shot these photos of yellow wildflowers. The desert is full of them right now and all the red sand is covered in grass. Yesterday's rain should bring out lots more wildflowers in the coming weeks. I'm keeping my eye on the cactus blossoms as well. Pretty soon they'll give us a show too.

Art Show at The Cliffs

The Mission Gallery sponsored a special art show tonight at the Cliffs community near Ivins, Utah. Three artists displayed their work at the Cliffs clubhouse, which was a gorgeous place to show art. Two other artists displayed in the model home nearby. Although the attendance was light the evening was beautiful and the view spectacular. One of my new paintings sold to Ellen Gianni who just returned from Fairbanks Alaska and stopped by with Mr. and Mrs. Sheets, also collectors of mine.

(Top)Ellen Gianni and I pose in the Cliffs Clubhouse after she purchased my painting "Zion Canyon Shadows"(left).

Watercolor Paintings of Ivins Red Mountain and Kayenta Cliffs

Here are two more paintings in the red Desert series. I finally got them all posted. In the next few days I will upload a few of the step by step sequences on how I painted some of these watercolors. I just need to find a little time to crop and resize the photos.

Paintings of Zion National Park and Provo River in Midway Utah

I finished these two new paintings just in time for the Festival and was able to get them framed for the exhibit.



"Quiet River" (above) was inspired by some photos I shot along the Provo River in Midway Utah last summer. I was there for the Wasatch Plein Air Painting Competition, and caught this scene as the sun was going down, with the entire valley in shadow. I enjoyed painting it with a cool palette.

"Zion's River" was inspired by a river hike I took during the fall in Zion Canyon. Although the canyon is in a cool shadow, the warmth of the sun on the sandstone cliffs casts an equally warm reflection in the Virgin River. Click here to see a step by step watercolor painting demonstration of this painting.

New Collectors purchase Painting at Art Festival

Corry and Jennifer Stucki stopped by my display booth at the St. George Art Festival and found a painting they couldn't live without. Jennifer, also an excellent painter, was struck by the watercolor painting "Green Shutters," and didn't take long to talk her husband into it.

"Green Shutters" a watercolor painting by Roland Lee of a home in Switzerland.

New paintings on display at the St. George Art Festival

Over the past couple of weeks I was able to finish several new paintings which we displayed for the first time at this show. Above, "Red Desert Vista" was purchased the first morning by Mary and Allan Jeurs.

This little 5" x 8" painting features the red cliffs of Ivins where we live.

"Zion Canyon Shadows" a watercolor painting of Zion National Park.





Celebrating My Birthday with the grandkids

Even though I don't like to be reminded of my old age, I always like to see the light in my grandkid's faces when it's time to open presents. Emma and Ellie were eager to show me the proper technique for opening my gifts.

Awards at the 2008 St. George Art Festival

My son Jon helped me set up our display at the St. George Art Festival on Thursday night. I've been exhibiting in this show for over 20 years, and it is definitely one of the most artist-friendly shows anywhere. They provide hot breakfast for the artists and bring water and snacks to each booth several times a day. Over 100 artists come from all over the U.S. to participate and many artists are turned away each year. This year the weather was the best ever, with warm temperatures and no winds, so the crowds turned out in droves.

AWARD WINNING PAINTINGS

I received a 2nd place award in the landscape competition and also received a purchase award from the City of St. George.

Left: St. George city Purchase award winner of Zioin canyon. This painting will be placed in the permanent collection of the St. George Art Museum

Left: "Peaceful Canyon" won a second place award in watercolor at the St. George Art Festival