Finished Mural for the Children's Library

“Reading – A Window to the Past, and a Doorway to the Future”
Oil Painting by By Roland Lee

Southern Utah is a unique and wonderful place. The power of nature has sculpted the land into a complex labyrinth of towers and canyons, where prehistoric creatures and ancient peoples have carved their own marks as they struggled to survive in a harsh, but beautiful environment.
1. The towering walls and deep canyons of Zion National Park are evidence of the geologic upheavals that shaped our land. Today millions of people from all over the world travel to Utah to see Zion’s wonders.
2. Even before man stepped foot on this land, prehistoric creatures left their large footprints. The Allosaurus, a fierce carnivore, was so prevalent in Utah that it is now the official fossil of the State of Utah. Hundreds of tracks of other dinosaurs have been discovered and preserved near St. George.
3. Although other white explorers had visited southern Utah, the Mormon pioneers were the first to colonize the area. Travelling by covered wagon, they brought little with them as they struggled to farm the desert and tame the Rio Virgin.
4. Ancient peoples inhabited this land long before the white man came. The Anasazi left symbols of their life on rock walls, pottery shards, and dwellings. But the southern Paiutes, who came in 1200 AD and live here still, provide our strongest cultural link to human history in this land.
5. As a child I was fascinated by space flight and watched in awe when man stepped on the moon’s surface in 1969. Today, people of many nations work together in space stations and travel freely back and forth into space on vehicles such as the Discovery Space Shuttle. Who knows what changes technology will bring to the lives of tomorrow’s children?

Mural for the Children's Library

This past week I've been working on the second large painting for the new Washington County Library. this one will go in the Children's Library area. I wanted to depict the history of the area, showing a couple of young people opening a book to learn about the past as they look to the future.

In the first sketch I planned for an 8 foot painting and included a dinosaur, the Native Peoples, the Pioneers, and Space Shuttle.



When I visited the spot in the library where the painting is going to be placed I decided to reduce the width of the painting to 6 feet. I zeroed in on a few specifics and added red cliffs in the background to show the unique geology of the area. Now I've got the design worked out and feel pretty comfortable with it.



I started by mounting Claessons Belgian Linen to hardboard then sketched up the drawing using a prismacolor pencil. With my drawing and reference photos taped to the canvas, I started working on the children's faces before moving on to some of the other elements.



The history of southern Utah is filled with fantastic subjects. On the left are two southern Paiutes, representing the indigenous peoples who lived here first. Behind them is a covered wagon used by early Mormon Pioneer settlers. The red sandstone cliffs of Zion Canyon rise up in the background to show the incredible and unique geology found here. The Allosaurus was one of the fiercest meat-eating dinosaurs who once tromped through Utah, and is now the State Fossil of Utah. Finally a space shuttle launch brings us into the present and future through space exploration.

Zion Canyon Fall Colors

We usually spend a few weeks in Vermont during Autumn, painting the fall colors. But this year we stayed in Utah where the Autumn leaves are pretty spectacular too. Here's a few photos I took over the last couple of weeks in Zion National Park, as I begin working toward my March one man show "Roland Lee's Canyon Country" at the St. George Art Museum.

Roland Lee November Watercolor Workshop

I enjoyed a couple of days with some terrific artists in November as I conducted a special two-day watercolor Workshop at A Passion for Painting in St. George, Utah. I was impressed with the skill level of these artists as I coached them in "Learning to See the Landscape." A key element in learning to paint the landscape is being able to discern how light affects what we see. Through demos and Powerpoint examples I was able to show them how it works. We are planning another workshop some time in January.

The Library Mural Painting is Finished

At last I finished the library mural painting. Upon completion I got the approval of Douglas Alder from the library committee, then we brought in construction manager, Bob Coulter to discuss placement and framing of the painting. We decided that they would construct an architectural frame of the same walnut stained red oak that was being used on the woodwork in the library. I let the painting dry for a couple of weeks then applied a varnish coat for protection.

the Mural Goes Outside

Today I lifted the big mural off the wall and carried it outside so I could take a better look at it. Still lots to do, but it holds together well. I am pleased.

At Work on the Library Mural

Here's a photo of yours truly at work on the library mural. As you can see it is getting close. I completed two of the buildings today. By the way, the brush I'm using is Gerald Olson's (see previous post.) I thought it would be fitting to use his brush as I worked on the historic buildings, since Jerry actually taught his first years in the old Academy building in the painting on the left.

I'll have to hang up the brushes for a couple of days to go pick up my wife Nellie in Highland. I will sure be glad to have my partner back again. This is the longest we have been apart in our life and I miss her.

Mural Progress Update

My wife Nellie has been gone for the past two weeks and I've missed her a lot. She went to stay at our other home in Highland Utah to tend our grandkids while Jim and Barb vacationed in Mexico. Tomorrow I will head up north to join her and her bring her home. While she's been gone I've been working long days on the mural painting. I thought I would finish it by today, but it still needs more work on the buildings and background. Here's an update photo.

A Tribute to Gerald P. Olson, Teacher, Artist, Mentor, and Friend

A good friend and artist, Gerald Olson passed away this week after a short battle with cancer. He and his wife Sally recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Since his passing a couple of days ago I've spent some time reminiscing about our experiences together. This is the third artist friend that I've lost this year and it really started me thinking. Life is very short, and our associations are everything. I believe we not only live again after death, but that our associations continue in Heaven as well. So why not get started now? Lately I've become more involved in local art groups, and even signed up for workshops with other artists. I do not want to have to say when it's too late, "I wish we had spent more time together."

Photo at left: A wonderful display of some of Gerald Olson's artist materials(including his well-worn green artist's smock) that the Olson family lovingly set this up at the funeral to celebrate his life.

Jerry was the art department chairman when I began teaching at Dixie College in 1976, and became a mentor as he encouraged me along as a young teacher. As a former commercial artist I was confident in my own abilities, but he shook that confidence a lot when he assigned me to teach classes in photography, silk screen printing, and art for elementary teachers. I tried to stay one step ahead of the students and plowed through books night after night. But I enjoyed every minute of it and became grounded in art fundamentals that have affected my life in many ways since. Jerry never once criticized my teaching, but instead gave some helpful advice in gentle ways. After four years of teaching, I left Dixie College to begin a full-time painting career. Jerry continued teaching and retired in 1987. It's hard to say how many lives have been affected by him, but I know hundreds of young students who have him to thank for their start in art.

As I left the funeral home tonight I asked Sally for one of Jerry's oil painting brushes. I am going to save it, but before I put it away I'm going to honor his name by using it in my painting. I think he would like that.

First Place Award at Dixie Arts Foundation Event

Friday was perfectly gorgeous with clear skies and warm sun for the Dixie Arts Foundation's annual Art in the Park Event. They had set up two large pavilion tents for the artists' booths with special lighting so the event could go on into the night. The whole park was festooned with colored ribbons and it was a very festive atmosphere. My painting "Little Mill House" (pictured above) received a First Place ribbon which was presented by Mayor Dan McArthur.



Saturday's weather was a totally different story. As the weatherman promised, a huge tropical storm blew in with fury just as we closed up Friday night and pummeled the festival tents all night. We awoke to more of the same this morning which worried us, but by noon blues skies began to dominate, and the day became very pleasant. People were anxious to get outside and by afternoon the park was alive again.