The Dove Cottage in Grasmere England

"The Dove Cottage" in Grasmere England 8x 12 watercolor painting

On-location pencil sketch of the Dove Cottage

All of my pencil sketchbook studies help me more completely explore and experience what I see when I travel. After sketching on location I find I can remember the scene enough to paint without reference later. Of course this gives me lots of freedom to use artistic license. This little drawing of William Wordsworth's home in Grasmere England helped me to complete the above watercolor painting in my studio after returning home. My paintings and drawings from this summer trip will be on display in my gallery throughout the month of August. A reception will be held Thursday and Friday August 8 and 9. Gallery open weekdays from 10am to 5pm.

Unique Houses and Cottages

This little bridge house in Ambleside England pays no taxes because it uses no land!
"Ambleside Bridge House" 4 x 6 original painting

 In addition to the great castles and manor houses, Great Britain has some very unique smaller houses as well. The little bridge house at Ambleside in the Lake District of England pays no taxes because it is over water. The little crooked house of Windsor appears like it is going to fall any second, but has been around for hundreds of years. I have included here various sketches of other houses as well including some beauties from Cabourg France. Stop by my gallery and take a look at these and many other paintings and drawings from our recent travels.

The crooked house of Windsor. It's amazing it still stands.
"Crooked House of Windsor" 4 x 6 original painting

Sketchbook drawing at Cabourg France

Sketchbook drawing of common gables in France

Sketchbook drawing of Adare Manor cottage

Sketchbook drawing of Adare Carriage House

New Paintings of Thatched Cottages in Ireland

"The Red Gate" Inspired by a thatched cottage in Spiddal Ireland. Original 5 x 8 watercolor

Sketchbook study of a thatched cottage done on location in Spiddal Ireland. this was my inspiration for the painting "the Red Gate"

"Irish street" 4 x 6 original watercolor

I am always intrigued by thatched-roof homes and buildings. In times past, they were used because reeds were readily available. Nowadays, however, it is a mark of wealth to be able to afford thatching. It is a highly-prized skill to have. These two cottages are in Ireland. All my new paintings and sketchbook drawings will be on display starting August 2 at the Roland Lee Gallery in St. George, Utah. Receptions are scheduled for Thursday and Friday August 8 and 9. Stop by when you get a chance.

Paintings and Drawings of Rothenburg Germany

Painting of Rothenburg Germany street scene
8 x 12 watercolor by Roland Lee

I loved painting in the wonderful town of Rothenburg Germany. We stayed at the Eisenhut Hotel in the middle of town. In the early morning I walked the quiet streets as the sun was coming up and sketched in my travel sketchbook. Back in the studio I completed this painting and several others from this historic place. I will have an art show in my gallery featuring about 20 new paintings from this trip from August 2, 2013 until August 31. We'll have a reception Thursday August 8 from 6 to 9pm and again on Friday August 9.

Rothenburg Street Scene Watercolor Painting 5 x 8

Rothenburg Skyline watercolor painting 5 x 8

Sketchbook drawing of Rothenburg Germany tower

Sketchbook drawing of Rothenburg Germany Saint Jacob's Kirche

Sketchbook drawing of Rothenburg Germany tower

Sketchbook drawing of Weiser Turm in Rothenburg Germany

Sketchbook drawing of Rothenburg Germany

Sketchbook drawing of House at Plonlein in Rothenburg Germany

Back From Europe with a Full Sketchbook

Windsor Street Scene - watercolor 8 x 12
In Windsor England, we stayed in the Castle hotel just across from the Windsor Castle and by this lovely street. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the town as much as I enjoyed the castle itself.

Nellie and I enjoyed our two weeks in Europe and Great Britain but we're just getting over our "jet lag." It was a great trip and I have tons of new drawings and research material for new paintings. I will have an art show featuring the new paintings in my gallery from August 2, 2013 until August 31. We'll have a reception Thursday August 8 from 6 to 9pm and again on Friday August 9. At 7pm each night I will give a short Powerpoint presentation about the trip and how I use on-location plein air drawings and watercolor studies to prepare for finished studio paintings. Stop by if you get a chance. I'd love to see you. Over the next few weeks I will be posting some of my travel sketches and paintings on the blog, featuring England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and France. So stay tuned.

On-location pencil study of the Windsor Castle in England

Pencil sketch of a Windsor Castle Tower

Pencil sketch of the crooked house of Windsor.
It was across from our hotel

We're Off to Europe Again!

Original watercolor "English half-stone cottage" 5 x 8

I don't mean to rub it in, but Nellie and I will be joining a tour group to Europe this weekend. We'll spend some time in Germany and France, before heading to England, Ireland, and Scotland with a return on July 16. Of course I will be sketching, painting, and doing a little teaching while there. We're excited to get back across the pond again, to recharge our batteries as we visit a few of our favorite places, plus lots of new locations. In order to get in the mood, I've done a few small European paintings this past week from my old reference material. Expect to start seeing a flurry of new images of our travels soon. You are all invited to a special preview showing of the new paintings Thursday August 1 through 31 at my studio. 165 North 100 East #2, St. George, UT 84770.

Come See My Paintings!

Where the River Turns is available as a gallery-wrapped canvas giclee

I've got a gallery full of new paintings of Zion National Park and the Utah Landscape. I'd like to invite you to stop by and see them this weekend during the downtown gallery walk. I have some wonderful little original paintings framed and ready to go for under $400, plus some great big gallery-wrapped giclees on canvas which are just spectacular. Stop by any time Friday from 10am to 9pm, and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. I'm just above St. George Blvd a block east of Ancestor Square. 165 North 100 East #2, First East Plaza. 435-673-1988. Look forward to seeing you.

Come by anytime Friday from 10am to 9pm during the downtown gallery walk

Plein Air painting demonstration for Dixie Watercolor Society

My good friend and fellow artist Myron Laub asked me to do a quick plein air painting demonstration at the monthly paint-out of the Dixie Watercolor Society this week. He chose a wonderful spot on the edge of Green Springs near St. George with a grand view of the red cliffs and Pine Valley Mountain. My job was to show how I approach the subject of sage brush in watercolors.
  I started by explaining how our artistic eye is drawn to the lightest light against the darkest dark as we find edges and shapes in nature. I showed how the morning light distinctly outlined the edges of each sagebrush and showed the soft whispy structure of the plant against the dark shadow side of the bush behind it. I did a fast pencil value study to show how it works, then launched into a quick quarter-sheet demo in watercolor. Following my demonstration the others in the group retired to their individual painting spots and went to work creating their own images.

My plein air demonstration painting for the Dixie Watercolor Society

Southern Utah Art Guild Paint Out at the Red Mountain in Ivins, UT

Me with my finished painting

I'm always looking for a good excuse to paint outdoors, so when the Southern Utah Art Guild announced a plein air paint-out near Snow Canyon I jumped at the chance. A few faithful members gathered at the top of 300 East, which stops at the foot of Ivin's big Red Mountain. I was a little late due to Saturday morning chores, and some of the artists including Royden Card and David Hansen had already  got a good jump on their paintings. Art event guru Bobbi Wankier and SUAG president Michael Foot were there cheering us on and snapping photos of the artists at work. Bobbi's husband Erric Wankier worked on an amazing pastel painting while I worked in watercolor.

Roland Lee 5 x 8 watercolor study of the Red cliffs done on location during the paint out

She decided to shoot a short video of me painting for publicity purposes. Ever the teacher, I decided to do a step-by-step instructional video as long as I had a willing camera person. So I proceeded to explain how I chose the view, sketched out the scene and built up the glazes in succeeding values to the finished piece. Of course the painting was small, and I painted a little faster than usual so as not to bore the viewers. But it turned out okay. We'll probably post the video on YouTube at some point.

Erric Wankier with his pastel painting of the cliffs

Plein Air Painting in Zion Canyon

Painting from this lovely spot, we enjoyed the view of Mt. Moroni and the rush of the Virgin River falls in Zion National Park.

Painting outdoors on location can be difficult at times. The focus of a recent workshop was learning how to identify a good subject in nature, and how to adapt to the changing light and shadow. The first day we worked from a wonderful shady green spot in Snow Canyon near St. George Utah, then traveled the second day to Zion National Park where we chose two pastoral spots to test our skills.

Everyone enjoyed a different set-up for painting on location

Showing off the results of our quiet morning's efforts

The first objective in any outdoor painting effort is to narrow down what you are looking at, to find something manageable in the time you have. Begin with a quick thumbnail value study to isolate the subject matter, and give yourself a roadmap to follow. Since the light changes by the minute, it is necessary to follow your sketch as you begin painting, establishing the shadows quickly, and sticking to your plan even though the scene constantly changes.

It helps to keep your painting small, under 11 x 14. I feel comfortable completing an outdoor painting in about an hour and a half. Anything longer than that, and you may as well be in the studio because you are making up just about everything anyway. I was pleased with our efforts as I feel like we captured the essence of both canyons in watercolor.