Plein Air Watercolor - Workshop Goes Outdoors to Study the Red Rocks

It was hard to keep up with the artists in my watercolor painting workshop "Painting the Red Rocks of Southern Utah." I had a group of very competent artists join me for a couple of days as we explored the way nature presents light and shadow to create drama in the landscape. Artists from Arizona, Idaho, Colorado, and Utah converged as we combined classroom Powerpoint demonstrations with live outdoor painting in colorful Snow Canyon State Park. Dozens of wonderful paintings resulted from our efforts. My next watercolor workshop in St. George is already full, but there is a waiting list. I will be presenting a two day watercolor painting workshop in Salt Lake City for the Utah Watercolor Society on October 26-27. See my website for workshop information.

Classroom demonstrations on how to paint light and shadow 

Free Box of Art Cards to Everyone Who Stops by the Roland Lee Gallery Open House Friday Oct 12

Get a free box of art cards just for stopping by during the Art Walk. Each box contains 16 cards and envelope with eight different winter images.

Roland Lee's new studio and gallery, located in the First East Plaza building next to the DUP museum at 165 North 100 East #2

Roland Lee has two gallery rooms filled with his original paintings and prints

I'd like to invite everyone to stop by the Roland Lee Art Studio and Gallery during the St. George downtown Art Walk Friday Night. Everyone who comes will receive a FREE box of Roland Lee Art Cards with winter images --16 cards and envelopes perfect for Christmas Cards or general use. Drop by anytime from 4pm to 9pm. My gallery is located in the First East Plaza office building right next to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers museum at 165 North 100 East #2. You can see my newest original paintings and some of my new limited edition prints as well. The Art walk begins at the St. George Art Museum, just north of my studio and continues to all the galleries down main street. Be sure to step inside the main Street Theater as well and see a fantastic display of watercolors from the Dixie Watercolor Society. It will be a big night for art in St. George. Plan to be there.

Watercolor Demonstration Using Value Studies

As always, I refine my reference photo into a black and white value thumbnail study, before I ever lay the brush to paper. In the first half hour of painting I lay in most of my light and middle values, being careful to retain the light areas as needed.  

The finished painting of the "Hanging Door". What started as a fairly ordinary photo of an old shed turned into a very dramatic watercolor painting with lots of contrast at the edges.

In this classroom demonstration I selected a small snapshot photo and showed how to develop my composition using a value study. I always start a painting in this manner, using a very dark, a very white, and a middle gray to develop my ideas. I am looking for contrast of value. When we see contrast we identify it as an edge. When we see edges we see shapes. Notice how carefully I placed the elements so there would be light against dark edges. This was done in my September St. George two-day workshop called "Painting Old Stuff." Some of my artist students are shown working on their own paintings in the photos below. Notice how they are using their own sketchbook "value studies" to work up their paintings. Good students! See more painting demonstrations.

Watercolor Demonstration "Stone Cottage"

I started this painting to demonstrate allowing Ultramarine blue, Cad red light, and Yellow Ochre to mingle freely wet-into-wet to create dramatic three-minute skies. I had no idea what I was going to put into the painting after that. After the wash was dry I laid in the foreground field and sketched in the stone cottage with pencil.

Since the sky wash was so light, I could easily paint the stone cottage over the top. I finished up by adding the bushes on the far left.

This little painting was started at my Milford Michigan watercolor workshop. The sky and foreground were laid in using my three-minute sky technique. I sketched in the stone house using my photo reference and finished the painting later in my studio. To attend one of my painting watercolor workshops see my workshop page on my website.

Demonstration Watercolor Paintings

This painting started as demonstration of a 3-minute wet-into-wet sky. We did four or five different skies then added the landscape elements afterwards.

"English Cottage" was used to demonstrate "negative painting" techniques for foliage, but at the same time I showed the students how to handle characteristics of structures.

I taught the artists how to begin each painting with a pencil "Thumbnail Sketch" value study which provides a road map to follow. If it works in the thumbnail it will work in the painting.

A rough thumbnail value study helped me determine how to depict the shapes through the use of light against dark edges.

If it works in the value study it will work in the painting too! The eye sees shapes because of edge contrast.

I completed several watercolor demonstration paintings at my recent watercolor workshop in Milford Michigan. Each was started to demonstrate a specific concept or watercolor technique. I used both powerpoint and painting demonstrations to get my point across, then had the student artists do their own paintings based on what they learned. It was a great workshop with some excellent artists.

Michigan Watercolor Workshop a Success

Thanks to Dorothy Koliba and Janice Sparks for putting together a great watercolor workshop in Milford Michigan last week. About 20 wonderful artists joined me as I conducted five days of instruction and painting in this intriguing area of beautifully restored victorian houses and pastoral lakes. The enthusiasm was as high as the expertise of this fine group as we explored the keys to painting believable landscapes in watercolor.

The best day to be in Zion National Park

Here's a heads-up for all you Zion art enthusiasts. Mark your calendars now.

A group of enthusiasts watch as Roland Lee paints in the Quick Draw event of the 2011 Plein Air Invitational at Zion National Park. 

If you can spend only one day in Zion National Park this year, make it Saturday, November 10, when 25 of the nation’s best landscape artists will begin painting at 1:00 p.m. on the lawn in front of the Zion Lodge and will each create a masterpiece by 2:30.  It’s perhaps the most intriguing part of the annual week-long “In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran” Plein Air Art Event in Zion.  Early November is a magical time in the park.  There are relatively few people in the canyon, the colors are magnificent, and the opportunity to see great artists at work is priceless. Schedule of events.

Land of Contrasts: Artists Diary of Dixie National Forest. Step by step painting of Pine Valley Reservoir

I am Getting ready for "Land of Contrasts: Dixie National Forest" to be exhibited at the Eccles Art Museum November 16, 2012 through January 22, 2013. I turned to one of my favorite local spots in the Dixie Forest -- Pine Valley Reservoir for this new painting. Based on my plein air studies, I thought you'd enjoy seeing the three main steps in the production of this piece. Using Arches 140 lb paper mounted on "Incredible Art Board" I begin by laying down most of the basic glazes with very little detail. In the next image I begin adding darks as I delineate some of the major features. In the final painting I have added foreground details and refined the edges.

Plein Air Painting at Pine Valley

I have been invited to participate in a special art exhibit at the Eccles Museum this fall featuring paintings of the Dixie National Forest in Southern Utah. A number of other artists have also been invited, along with Arlene Braithwaite who is the featured artist. In preparation for that event my buddy Myron Laub and I enjoyed a morning painting at Pine Valley. We chose a cool and shady spot along the Santa Clara creek where the meandering waters tumbled over rocks and logs.

My little plein air watercolor

My friend Myron Laub came up with a nice plein air watercolor

Southern Utah Watercolor Society Enjoys Plein Air Painting at Pine Valley

Our local painting group, the Southern Utah Watercolor Society decided to head up to the mountains to bask in the cool air recently. Our destination, Pine Valley Mountain turned out to be just the spot. With 105 degree weather down in St. George the cool air and higher elevation of this quaint pioneer town was just the ticket. Some chose to work along the river, and near Pine Valley Reservoir, but most were drawn to the weathered barns and charming pioneer homes. After a morning painting we gathered near the old pioneer chapel and spread our paintings along the fence. We were surprised to find one of our favorite watercolorists, Spike Ress, had dropped in unexpectedly and shared in the critique. Everyone enjoyed a tour of Spike's "custom" van which has been converted into a near-perfect rolling art studio. What a great day painting outdoors!