Roland Lee workshop - How To Draw Anything

Drew uses his sketchbook to study the values and shapes of the red cliffs during a Roland Lee drawing class

Because drawing is so fundamental to all the visual arts, I try to teach at least one drawing workshop during the year. Last week we held that class in St. George and 12 wonderful artists attended. Learning to see with the "Artists Brain" instead of the "Intellectual brain" is critical. The artists brain sees shapes and values while the intellectual brain wants to identify and record data, information, and things. I taught this class how we identify shapes because of their edges. We see edges because of value changes. Once we learn to look for edges, values, and shapes we can draw anything from portraits to landscapes in just a few minutes. I showed the class how I use travel sketchbook vignette drawings to record my experiences, and often use those drawings and my memories to develop larger studio paintings. We also learned how to use small "thumbnail" value studies as a preparation for full-size paintings. This was an exceptional class, and they succeeded in picking it all up very rapidly.

Two students sketch the red rocks during Roland Lee drawing class

Deerdre sketches the Woodward school Tower in Roland Lee's drawing class

Amazing Death Valley

We are in Ridgecrest California for a few days, teaching a watercolor workshop for the Desert Artists League. Yesterday on the way down we took a sidetrip through Death Valley National Park. Being the lowest point in the nation you expect it to be sweltering hot, and it usually is. But with a rare series of heavy rains over the past two days, the valley was inundated with water and we enjoyed a real visual treat both in the sky and on the ground. Enjoy the photos.

Book Signing Planned for Art of the National Parks- Historic Connections, Contemporary Interpretations

Paintings of Roland Lee are included in the book, Art of the National Parks - Historic Connections, Contemporary Interpretations from Fresco Publishing

Last night I was able to have a nice visit with the publisher and designer of the new award-winning book, Art of the National Parks, historic Connections, Contemporary Interpretations. Kay Fowler, owner of Fresco Publishing, and Nancy Stem, publication designer were at the Association of Partners for Public Lands conference in Albuquerque New Mexico to promote the book. Five pages of my watercolor paintings are featured in the new book in the section on art of Zion National Park. The gorgeous coffee-table book was released recently and sales have necessitated a second printing soon. Watch for a special book-signing event and art show by seven of the participating artists in St. George during April 2014.

Left to right: Nancy Stem, book designer; Roland Lee, artist; Kay Fowler, publisher; and Jill Burt, Zion Natural History Association marketing director in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

YouTube Interview with Artist Roland Lee

The Arts to Zion Art Studio Tour recently filmed a short video interview with watercolor artist Roland Lee in his studio. Roland talks about his painting career and how he draws inspiration from nature for his watercolor paintings. Click on the photo to view.

Watch a 3-minute interview with artist Roland Lee in his studio

http://youtu.be/FbuO6n-8NYk

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