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Roland Lee watercolor plein air painting at Capitol Reef |
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We are guests at the little restored pioneer home owned by Dawn House. |
THE ART JOURNALS OF UTAH ARTIST ROLAND LEE. New watercolors and oil paintings. Awards and exhibits. Art lessons, videos and art books. Travels, sketchbooks and plein air paintings.
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Roland Lee watercolor plein air painting at Capitol Reef |
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We are guests at the little restored pioneer home owned by Dawn House. |
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Roland Lee explains how to find the best views. |
What a wonderful three days we enjoyed in Mt. Carmel Utah at the Maynard Dixon Legacy Plein Air Workshop with Roland Lee. Two days of sun, and one day of cool rain set the tone for this experience. I was joined by 14 other excellent artists who dove in to their paintings with enthusiasm. We are grateful to Paul and Susan Bingham of the Thunderbird Foundation for hosting us at their beautiful Maynard Dixon Legacy Museum. Nellie and I were able to lodge in the lovingly restored Maynard Dixon Home which was a highlight for us. On the rainy day we painted in the Edith Hamlin studio where she completed some of her wonderful paintings after Dixon's death. The property was purchased by famed watercolorist Milford Zornes who held watercolor workshops there for a number of years.Thanks to Margo Cook, Dixie Stoddard, and Diane Stephenson for creating wonderful breakfasts for us each day, and to Melissa Griffiths for our fabulous "Garden to table" dinner one night. What a delightful group of people to spend a week with.
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View from the Maynard Dixon Property in Mt. Carmel Utah |
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Roland Lee doing a watercolor demo of an old barn |
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Roland Lee and watercolor workshop group |
I was thrilled to rub shoulders with watercolorists I admire, and meet wonderful new collectors at the group show "The River Flows -- Watercolorists of the American West." The show is a result of the new book by the same name produced by Marlin Rotach and Don Weller, which traces the use of watercolors by many revered artists of the west.
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Marlin Rotach, Jim House, William Matthews, Cha Cha and Don Weller, Roland Lee and Kathy Sigle. |
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Barbara Nelson with Roland Lee and the painting she purchased at Phippen Museum |
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PBS Utah filming video of Roland Lee painting in Zion |
Check out this 360 degree video short featuring Roland Lee painting in Zion. It celebrates the spring 2022 release of Call of the Canyon, Zion National Park, a one-hour PBS Utah documentary celebrating Zion's native legacy, history, and dazzling landscapes that have inspired generations of visitors and artists. Woven throughout the story of Zion National Park are glimpses at artists and their works inspired by the area — from Paiute Indian Tribe artisans to 19th and early 20th century photographers and painters, including Thomas Moran and Maynard Dixon. The park comes alive through interstitial artistic journeys with painters Kate Starling, Roland Lee, folk musician Hall Cannon of 3 Hattrio and cowboy poet Waddie Mitchell. Viewers experience first-hand how Zion National Park sparks a uniquely human creative response.
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PBS Utah film crew with artist Roland Lee in Zion National Park |
Plein Air Magazine's online American Watercolors Weekly featured a nice spotlight on Roland Lee and his paintings in the September 1, 2021 issue. Included in the article were six images of Roland Lee Studio, four of his recent watercolor paintings and an image taken during the filming of a new PBS Utah special "Call of the Canyon - Zion National Park" on Artists in Zion.
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Sentinel Shadows 22 x 30 watercolor |
In an article called "Watercolors of the West," Art of the West magazine featured a Roland Lee painting "Sentinel Shadows" in the October 2021 issue. The article was about the upcoming "River Flows - Watercolorists of the American West" show running October 1, 2021 to February 6, 2022 at the Phippen Museum in Prescott AZ. Roland Lee is one of the 14 western artists who will be included in the show.
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
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Roland Lee painting "The River Flows" Exhibit |
A wonderful film crew from PBS Utah spent the last two days filming me at my cabin at East Zion, and plein air painting in Zion National Park for a new documentary "Call of the Canyon - Zion National Park". The documentary will address how artists respond to the National Park. Watch for the documentary on tv at a future date.
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Roland Lee paints in Zion National Park while being filmed for a new documentary by PBS Utah |
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Roland Lee painting en plein air in Zion National Park |
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Roland Lee being interviewed by PBS Utah for Zion Park documentary |
I drove out to Warner Valley, a beautiful desert near my home and did some sketching. Sometimes I just love to get out and travel the cow trails for awhile. On this trip I decided to stay out there overnight in my art assault vehicle (1988 Toyota pickup with 1992 Six Pac Camper.) On this trip I visited the Fort Pearce ruins and searched out some wonderful dinosaur tracks. The evening was gorgeous and the night stars were wonderful. You can see from the photos how magnificent our scenery is around St. George UT.
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Dinosaur track in Warner Valley |
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Exploring Warner Valley in my 1988 Toyota pickup "Art Assault Vehicle" |