Award at the Sears Invitational Art Show

I just returned from the opening gala of the 2010 Sears Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College where I was pleased to receive second place with my watercolor painting "Nature's Sculpture". The Sears show is one of the premiere art exhibits in Utah and funds raised support the College Missions as well as the Eccles Gallery on campus. Clark and Sandra Jo Benson purchased my award-winning painting for their art collection.


Nellie and Roland Lee at the 2010 Sears Invitational Art Show at Dixie State College

On the Beach in San Diego

My last few posts consisted of my hikes in the rain and snow. This past week I spent in beautiful San Diego California, and enjoyed sunshine, surf, and sand! What a contrast. I attended the Association for Partners in Public Lands Conference representing Zion Natural History Association and the Zion National Park Foundation. Board members of National Park Partner organizations joined NPS staffers and others as we met to discuss ways to keep the public lands healthy, open, and vital for future generations.

Of course people who enjoy the land can't stay indoors all the time, so we took advantage of the location to visit Cabrillo National Monument and other coastal locations. While the eastern seaboard experienced blizzard conditions, I was frolicking in the surf! What a contrast. As always I hoped to catch a distant glimpse of a whale on its migration run, but after scanning the horizon in vain, I turned my attention to the tiny creatures at my feet.


A beautiful Sea Anemone looks for a meal in the Cabrillo Tide Pools

The tide pools are teeming with tiny creatures


A short video clip of the ocean at Cabrillo National Monument

Painting the Red Rocks - February Watercolor Workshops

Workshop Students use their sketchbooks to study light and shadow on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

I held back to back two-day watercolor workshops February 2-5 at A Passion for Painting Art Studio. We enjoyed sketching and painting outdoors at Snow Canyon, and on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve north of St. George, along with working in the studio. See my website for more photos of the classes.


Painting on location near Snow Canyon


I completed several quick watercolor demonstration paintings for the students in the first workshop.

Desert Waterfalls

It's been raining and snowing for the past few days and I've been anxious to get out into the desert to see the results. This morning I grabbed my sketchbook and camera and went hiking near Ivins in the red cliffs of Kayenta. I was treated to some amazing waterfalls cascading down the sheer cliffs and filling the usually dry washes. And just to add a little drama, the red rocks were dusted with white snow, also a rarity in these parts. It was cold when I left, but by mid-day the sun broke through the low clouds and provided me with a perfect day away. Ahhh, aint life grand?
Check out this little video of the falls. You only see this after a heavy rainstorm.

Winter is still with us

I don't know if its just old age, but I've never been so cold as I have in the past month. I'm ready for summer already, and Winter has barely sunk its teeth into the season. This is a photo I shot in central Utah last weekend. Cold, yes. Beautiful, you bet!

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas card handpainted in watercolor by Roland Lee

Art Show in Highland UT

Thanks to everyone who attended the Benefit art show in Highland Friday night. It was great to see everyone and meet some new collectors. With our sales we were able to make a nice contribution to the selected charities. It looks like this might become an annual event.

Norma and Phil Maestri browse through some of the new giclee prints introduced at the show.

It's Tonight! See the New Lake Powell Paintings in Highland, UT

If you are in the Salt Lake City area stop by tonight and check out all my new Lake Powell Paintings. We're having a benefit show for the Little Heroes foundation and to help my family raise money for humanitarian service projects. A small donation will get you a box of my Christmas art cards, plus you'll get a chance to see the big originals too. I'll be donating 20% of all the painting sales plus 100% of the card sales to these worthy causes. The location is at the home of Jim and Barbara Lee in Highland UT. Click for full details and directions.

Getting Ready for My Show in Highland, UT to Benefit Little Heroes Foundation

Above: "Lake Powell Memories" will be for sale at the Highland Show.

On Friday Deember 11, I will be having a special show and sale of my new Lake Powell Paintings at the home of Jim and Barbara Lee in Highland, Utah. The show is a benefit fund-raiser for the "Little Heroes" Childrens Foundation and to raise funds for making humanitarian aid kits for disaster relief.

In addition to my new Lake Powell paintings I will have other paintings, framed prints, and Christmas Art cards available at the show. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of art cards will be donated to the cause. I hope all my friends in the Salt Lake City area can stop by and help us raise funds for these worthy causes.

Click here for more details on the show and sale.

Best of Show Award at Southern Utah Watercolor Society Fall Exhibit

We attended the opening of the Fall Watercolor Competition of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society tonight in Mesquite Nevada. A large group of artists from southern Utah traveled down to the opening which was held at the Mesquite Art Center, and hosted by some wonderful volunteers. I was fortunate to win Best of Show for my painting "Scotney Castle" which came with a nice cash prize. I was impressed by the body of work that was there and was proud of our artists for the quality of the presentation. Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck and several members of the City Council were in attendance and their support of the arts is evident in the nice arts facilities there.