Snow in St.George

Now just a few days ago I was bragging about the flowers blossoming and Spring being in full bloom. All that changed today. Take a look.

My studio from the parking lot.


The view out my studio window.

Lake Powell Quiet Canyons Painting

I feel like I'm catching on to it a little. With a nod to my hero David Drummond, I used a photo I shot near Bullfrog on Lake Powell and tried to capture the glassy undulating feel of the smooth water beneath the striated cliffs. I can almost hear the "plop" of my bass lure as I sling it near the rocks. I had this one framed with a knotty alder frame in a light stain, with ivory mats, and the whole package looks great. Maybe I ought to just keep this one. Ah, but it's going in the upcoming St. George Art Museum Canyon Country show in March. Click for purchase information

The first step is to sketch out my drawing on 140 lb. Arches paper. I then begin with a wet-in-wet wash for the sky. It is completed in just a few minutes and allowed to dry with no overglazing.

I also use a wet-in-wet watercolor technique for the water and the rocks. After they are dry I can use wet-on-dry overglazes to add color, contrast, and detail.

A good way to build up texture on the rocks with watercolor is to splatter with clear water just before the glaze dries. This creates a fun random texture that looks very much like stains on the canyon walls.

Washington County Library Dedication 2007

Photo above l to r: Ben Rogers the library architect and his wife Michelle; Ben's mother and Nellie's sister-in-law Anna Marie Rogers Budge; Nellie Lee; and Roland Lee standing in front of one of Roland's historical murals.

Yesterday, on President's Day they held a wonderful old-time ceremony celebrating the dedication of the new Washington County Library. Since I painted the murals, Nellie and I attended the whole event. It started at 10am with a packed house in the historic St. George Tabernacle to hear a dedicatory address and prayer by LDS Apostle Jeff Holland. After the ceremony we formed a cavalcade led by a brass band in pioneer costume and marched together arouind the corner to the Library. Here hundreds of people filled the facility to overflowing exploring every inch of the new library. Designed by Nellie's nephew, Ben Rogers, it is constructed of natural sandstone in the same style as the other pioneer buildings on the town square. I stood by my mural answering questions about its production. We finished the day with a nice luncheon especially honoring all the donors who contributed so much to the facility. My two large murals were commissioned by the Larkin family in honor of Montrue Larkin who fought for many years to acquire this new library.

Kayenta Art Festival at Coyote Gulch

What a gorgeous southern Utah day it was today! I was invited to join a few other artists to demonstrate painting at the huge Kayenta Art Festival. The setting is absolutely spectacular with the red Kayenta cliffs rising in the background and surrounded by natural desert vegetation. As the desert sun rose, so did the temperatures, reaching into the high 60's. Other than a little sunburn I enjoyed the day working on a watercolor and chatting with festival attendees and the other artists. Those painting together in the Xetava Gardens included Sam Lawlor, Ben Patten, Bonnie Conrad, Ron Larson and me.

The annual Kayenta Art Festival is the fundraiser and sole support for the Xetava Desert Arboretum, a garden formed of native desert plants beautifully laid out and carefully tagged - giving visitors the opportunity to become familiar with desert flora. Nearly 100 artists participated this year. Those of us painting on location each donated a piece for the silent auction, with proceeds to benefit the Xetava Desert Arboretum.

Sam Lawlor worked on a couple of oils, while chatting with artist Larry Bees.

Bonnie Conrad finished up a painting of a young Native American girl and had enough time to start another nice painting.

Artist Ron Larson with show organizers Barbara Aikens and Cherie Stoddard.

Award at the Sears Invitational Art Show

I have participated in the Sears Invitational Art Show for some years, which is held annually in the Eccles Art Gallery at Dixie State College. I entered two very large paintings this year and received a second place award in Watercolor with my "Lake Powell Panorama." One of my favorite watercolorists, Spike Ress, took first place with a fine painting. We attended the banquet and show opening tonight and enjoyed visiting with past collectors and the other artists. My good friends Frank and Kathy Richards were honorary guests, and painter David Koch judged the show. Michael Malm won this year's purchase award.

Emma Paints in Grandpa's Studio

My daughter Jennie and my two little granddaughters Emma and Ellie came to spend the week with us. I always like to let the grandkids have a turn painting in my studio. Today it was Emma's turn. She carefully put on the apron, then dove right in -- grabbing explosive colors and painting with wild exuberance. It's amazing how children have no fear of making art. They love the tools and they love the process. That's the way it should be for all of us. Art is a joy!

Winter Reflections Workshop Demonstration

"Winter Reflections" 14 x 21 transparent watercolor by Roland Lee

This is the painting I demonstrated in my February workshop. I had the class participants work from the same resource material which I shot last weekend along the Sevier River near Richfield, Utah. My emphasis was how to use natural wet in wet techniques along with drybrush to create realism in the landscape.

February Watercolor Workshop

I enjoyed spending the last two days with some wonderful artists at my February watercolor workshop. I took a different approach with this group, and we did a lot more hands-on work actually completing two paintings in class. It was a test run of sorts for me, since I usually approach my classes with a little more discussion and theory using powerpoint demonstrations. This time I used actual examples and demonstrated on the spot. I think it was successful judging by the student comments.



Students included: front row - Shari Cannon, Lola Krummenacher, Karen Bettilyon, Gwendolyn Joy Mitchell, Luzon Glines. Back row - Gary Fawson, Roland Lee, Glen Bessenette. Not pictured - Viona Wilson, who won Best of Show at the Southern Utah Watercolor Society juried show currently on display in Mesquite Nevada. We are all proud of her.



Karen Bettilyon (above), a fine watercolor painter, became a second-time collector by purchasing my demonstration painting from January called "Classic Clouds."



"Classic Clouds" (above) watercolor painting by Roland Lee

Zion Canyon Reflections Painting Step by Step Watercolor Demonstration

In late fall Zion Canyon is peaceful and quiet. The crowds are gone, the streams have dwindled to standing pools, and the leaves have begun to fall. In this scene the afternoon glow on the cliffs above is reflected in the shallow water of a shaded canyon. The worn rocks and strewn boulders are evidence that at certain times of the year this little stream is a raging torrent. But right now all is at peace.

The painting begins with a pencil sketch on 140lb Arches watercolor paper. Following my usual pattern I begin to lay in broad washes of color, adding texture in the rocks by flipping clear water into the glazes with my brush. I also allow some of the pigment to mingle and blend on the paper.

Now I lay in the distant cliffs and some of the background area using the same tecniques as I used in the rocks. I am establishing value patterns, at the same time building up a sense of texture in the foliage and rocks. I will refine many of these areas with darker glazes as the painting progresses.



The foreground grasses are painted using a technique called "back painting" or "negative painting." In objects that appear light in a watercolor painting they must be preserved and established by painting the dark (or negative) areas around them.



Once the negative shapes are in place we can see the grasses emerge in a random fashion. Now I create a little more detail by overpainting additional shapes on the weeds.

Exhibit Opening at the Mission Gallery

Jane Juber, owner of the Mission Gallery and Authentique Gallery in St. George, Utah, put on a wonderful three-day show featuring six of her gallery artists. Last night she invited about 80 of her good collectors for a full-menu dinner at Painted Pony Restaurant which was fabulous, followed by a private gallery preview for her chosen guests. Tonight the show opened to the general public and both galleries were packed! I had a chance to meet some new collectors as well as visit with some of my previous collectors. I had a surprise visit from Charles and Jeanne Kasper from Madison, Wisconsin, who own one of my paintings. They were anxious to have a photo taken with me (above), and I had fun visiting with them.



My wife Nellie isn't crazy about art receptions but she is always a good sport and comes with me for moral support. She is a great partner and patiently accompanies me on all my painting expeditions.