Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

Enjoying a few days in beautiful New Mexico with APPL meetings in Albuquerque and gallery hopping in Santa Fe. Santa Fe is one of the great locations for western art with literally hundreds of fabulous galleries. We especially enjoyed the Mountain Trails Gallery and the paintings of fellow artist and Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational participant Dave Santillanes.

Here's a photo in Santa Fe that invites your own caption!

New Roland Lee Paintings from Salt Lake City Watercolor Workshops

Salt Lake City's Best artists!

Both my recent Salt Lake City workshops were themed to recent travels to the British Isles. We used my photographs as subjects, as I demonstrated how to create better paintings from ordinary travel photos. Attending the workshop were seven outstanding watercolorists: Colleen Thompson, Christena Gates, Margo Cook, Antje Evans, Catherine Humphrey, Heidi Vriens, and Joan Bodell.

8 x 12 "Cottage Gate" Workshop Demonstration Painting

8 x 12 "Irish Welcome" Workshop Demonstration Painting

8 x 12 "Shakespeare Memories" Workshop Demonstration Painting

Salt Lake City Watercolor painting Workshop with Roland Lee

This workshop explored the textures and colors of ancient crumbling walls in the British Isles. We studied how the light and shadow affects the way we see nature as we painted castles, cottages, and gardens of England and Ireland. Organized by Margo Cook with help from the Utah Watercolor Society we had an outstanding group of artists show up at the SUP headquarters building in Salt Lake City for the two-day class. Class participants included: Mark Rose, Coddie Madsen, Shari Cannon, Marjorie Anderson, JoAnne Hamm, Dewey Hansen, Tammy Northrup, Jen Brown, Lynne Peterson, Diana Edvalson, Glade Kirkham, Barbara, and Catherine Humphrey.

Diana Edvalson

Mark Rose

Tammy Northrup

Jen Brown

JoAnne Hamm

Margo Cook

Lynne Petersen

Becky Hartvigsen

Connie Madsen

Marjorie Anderson

Shari Cannon

Barbara

Dewey Hansen

Glade Kirkham

Roland Lee Painting Demonstration at Zion National Park

Roland Lee demonstrates how to do a watercolor painting at Zion National park

I was invited to do a watercolor painting demonstration for about 80 people during the Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational. I chose to paint the "Sun Dial" one of the towers of the Virgin visible from the Human History Museum. I showed how I plan a painting, then proceeded to lay down the basic washes, establishing light and middle values. The audience was both receptive and kind, as it is hard to complete a painting in just an hour. I needed to finish it later and it turned out nicely. The painting was purchased by Bob and Louisa Geiger in a silent auction held Saturday at the Zion Lodge.

Participants gather to ask questions following Roland Lee's painting demonstration during the 2013 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational

An audience of about 80 people watched as Roland Lee completed a demonstration watercolor painting in Zion National Park at the Zion Plein Air Art Invitational

A Week Painting Outdoors at the Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational

Bob and Louisa Geiger celebrated their anniversary in Zion by purchasing two of my plein air paintings for their home.

I was fortunate to be invited to participate in the fifth annual Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational this past week. As you might guess, a week in Zion doing anything would be great, but combined with daily painting, workshops, and seminars it was a fantastic week! 24 of America's top plein air artists converged for the event which concluded yesterday and today with a wet-paint sale and auction. I was fortunate to sell 11 paintings completed during the week to some great art collectors. Since we painted on the spot, many of the art buyers were able to actually see the art created. Sponsored by the Zion National Park Foundation and Zion National Park, with help from many sponsors this was one of the premier plein air events in the nation.

Collector Kim Cook (right) joins me after purchasing one of my paintings at the wet-paint sale. Melanie Madsen-Thatcher and parents Mr. and Mrs. JR Madsen enjoy the paintings.

The Riley's were first at the Saturday public opening to snatch up one of my plein air paintings. 

Artists Learn to Paint the Zion Park Area at Plein Air Landscape Workshop

Workshop participants

The Clear Creek Guest Ranch outside the east entrance to Zion National Park was our headquarters for a great two-day plein air watercolor workshop. Cold mornings and warm afternoons combined with outstanding fall colors to make this the perfect painting experience. Some great artists joined us including: Mary Brown, Margo Cook, Dixie Stoddard, Myron Laub, Mark Rose, Sally Valiton, Vanessa McCullough, Mary Manning, and Chris Martin.

Mark Rose

Chris Martin

Sally Valiton

Margo Cook and Dixie Stoddard

Mary Brown

Myron Laub

Vanessa McCullough

Vanessa's sketchbook pencil study

Plein Air Watercolor Painting Workshop at East Zion

The main lodge at the Clear Creek Guest Ranch, east of Zion National Park

The next two days I will be in the Zion National Park area teaching a watercolor outdoor painting workshop. We will base our workshop at the Main Lodge of the Clear Creek Guest Ranch just 2 miles from the east entrance to Zion National Park. Two days of painting outdoors along with intensive indoor preparation and study will tax our energy and talent, but boy will it be fun!

Roland Lee painting during the 2012 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational 

Following the workshop I will be in Zion National Park painting for a week as one of the 24 invited artists for the Zion National Park Invitational Plein Air competition and sale. Held the first week of November each year, the event features lots of artist demos, nightly presentations, a quick-draw and wet-paint sales. All events are free and open to the public. I will post some of my paintings during the week if I can get internet service.

Meeting New Collectors at Kayenta Art Festival

This stunning backdrop greets artists and collectors at the Kayenta Art Festival

The Kayenta Art Festival and Quick Draw in the past was held in February, but this year they changed the date to the fall. That made it possible for me to participate for the first time and I'm glad I did. This well-organized festival features numerous displays of art in all mediums. Food and good music is a big part of this event, but the attendees are treated to a great art show and sale as well. A fund-raising silent auction added interest while collectors browsed the booth displays. A one and a half hour quick draw was held Saturday afternoon, followed by a spirited auction. All the art pieces were of outstanding quality, and every piece was sold at the crack of the gavel. In addition I sold several other original paintings and a few prints as well.

Roland Lee in front of his display booth

A large crowd gathered for the auction of quick-draw pieces

I painted a little desert scene during the quick draw event which sold during the auction

Painting Workshop at Flaming Gorge Utah

Watercolor Painting Workshop participants at the Flaming Gorge Resort

The weather was warm and sunny as we gathered at the wonderful Flaming Gorge Resort for a two-day workshop sponsored by the Uintah Mountain Artists last week. This was my second trip to Flaming Gorge to conduct a workshop. Last year was beautiful as well, but very cold as it snowed heavily on the mountain. It was nice to experience both seasons in this magnificent place.
Participants included: Paul Nielson, Aloma Rios, Lori Burchinal, Jenice Allred, Aljean Foley, Janet Abplanalp, Deena Millicam, and Susan Dart. While there we took a sidetrip to visit Dinosaur National Monument and stop for a visit with my artist-friend Randy Fullbright who runs a gallery in Vernal.

Red Canyon Overlook at Flaming Gorge Utah

Learn to Paint English Gardens, Cottages, & Castles. Watercolor Workshop Oct 24-25

Roland will share tips and techniques for painting the cottages, castles, and gardens of the British Isles.

Adare Manor in Ireland 8 x 12 watercolor

Flaming Gorge Resort near Vernal, Utah will be the site of an exciting watercolor painting workshop with Roland Lee on October 24-25. Sponsored by the Uintah Mountain Artists association, the workshop will feature two days of learning techniques and tips for painting the charming gardens, cottages, and castles of the British Isles. Roland spent time in England, Ireland, and Scotland during the summer, and will share his research photos and sketches with us. The cost is $175 for the workshop. Lodging is available. Contact Lori Burchinal at 435-828-3668 or email uintahmountainartists@gmail.com to register.