Roland Lee Watercolor Class filmed for Zion National Park Documentary

Sound man holds boom microphone on Sandra Feldman (left) while cameras roll on artists Vanessa McCullough and Lola Krummenacher (center) and Myron Laub (right) as they work on paintings on location by the Virgin River in Zion National Park.

Yesterday I conducted a painting workshop in Zion National Park. But this was a little different. This time we were followed around by a film crew making a video documentary about the Centennial of Zion National Park. Emmy award winning film producer Phil Tuckett, with 30 Emmy awards to his credit, is producing the film leading a crew from the advanced film production program at Dixie State College. In the photo above I stand by the demonstration painting I completed near the Temple of Sinawava.

A Cameraman zooms in on artist John Mangels while John's wife enjoys the show. At first the artists were shy, but once they got into their paintings they forgot about the cameras. The filming took several hours.

Dick Rose works on a small watercolor painting by the Virgin River near the Temple of Sinawava. Dick is president of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society.

English Cottage Lane Watercolor Painting

This little painting came on the tail end of the paintings for my England and Europe one man show at Mission Gallery. I shot several photos during the process and finally got time to post them. This is a little lane in England.

After doing a quick outline sketch on the watercolor paper I begin with some very broad washes, wet-into-wet, allowing the pigments to blend freely from warm at the top to cool in the shadow areas.

With the underglazes in place and dry, I begin painting the dark areas on the cottages and the distant trees.

Next to the finished painting is the original photo I used as reference. Obviously I always use a lot of artistic license in my paintings. Remember my role as an artist is not to duplicate a photo, but to create a new image based on my own personal experiences.

click for more step by step process in painting "Cottage Lane"

Click for information on purchasing this painting of Cottage Lane in Kent England

November Watercolor Painting Class

We enjoyed another watercolor class with some great artists yesterday. We devoted our classtime to a study of how to paint water, and everyone did great. Class members included: Phil Larsen, Lottie Hurst, Lillie Jones, Karen Bettilyon, Vicki Clayton, Shari Cannon, and Gail Alger.

England-Europe Art Show Opening a Success

Over 100 people turned out last night for the opening of my new one-person art show of England and European paintings. the show was held in Jane Juber's new art gallery space in Ancestor Square which worked out great. We had lots of room to accommodate the crowd plus seating space for my slide presentation and talk. About 50 people were present for the discussion.



Along with the 15 original paintings, I displayed images from my travel sketchbooks and step-by-step demonstration posters. All in all it was a great evening. The show will remain on display through the month of November. Stop by if you get a chance. Mission Gallery 173 North Main Street St. George UT 84770.





The Spectrum Newspaper article on Roland Lee Art Show by Lisa Larson

Watercolor Painting of Tonbridge England

I thought I'd post photos of some of my new paintings as we get ready for my one-man show this Thursday. Maybe just a little preview. This was a house near the Tonbridge Castle in Kent England.

The painting started with a thumbnail value study, then a light outline drawing on the watercolor paper. the paint is applied in glazes from light to dark pigment.







Painting of Tonbridge England - purchase information

Painting of Tonbridge - step by step painting demonstration on how to paint water reflections

Hiking to Angels Landing in Zion National Park

Above: Angels Landing rises 1500 feet above the Zion Canyon floor. Below: The view from the top.


I figured it was time to get out of the studio and fill the creative bucket, so I spent the day today in Zion National Park. I had in mind to get "above it all" with a hike to Angels Landing. It's not a long hike but takes about 4 hours round trip. It was 28 degrees when I parked my truck and took the canyon shuttle to the Grotto. But things warmed up considerably as I started up the switchbacks that led to Refrigerator Canyon. The leaves still haven't turned yet, but there was enough color to add drama to the scene.

A series of 21 switchbacks called "Walters Wiggles" made my legs burn and my lungs ache by the time I leveled off at Scout Lookout. Here things get interesting with a Class 3 scramble assisted by well-placed chains across a narrow 3 foot wide passage with 1500-foot drop offs on BOTH sides. Not for the faint of heart, but it was all worth it as an incredible view opened up on both sides of the canyon from the small perch at the top.


What a place to relax and enjoy my baloney sandwich while taking in the view and the crisp wind. I ignored the hopeful appeal for a handout from the resident chipmunks, but couldn't ignore the two huge Condors that appeared with a rush of wind and soared on their huge wings right past the peak. Finally I started down the chains and worked my way back to civilization. Now that's the way to spend a day!

You're Invited to My Art Show featuring New Paintings from England and Europe

"Village in Kent" a watercolor painting by Roland Lee which will be in the upcoming one-man-show at Mission Gallery November 6, 2008

I will be presenting a One-man-show at the Mission Gallery during the month of November, and you are invited. You can download an invitation here or go to my website for complete information. I will be presenting my new paintings of England and Europe, along with my travel sketchbooks. I will also give an art talk about our travels and the new paintings at 7 p.m. on Thursday November 6, 2008. An Artists reception will be held the same evening from 6 - 9pm at the Tower Building in Historic Ancestor Square next to the Painted Pony Restaurant. For the remainder of November the Art show will move to the Mission Gallery at 173 North main, St. George, Utah. For more information call Jane Juber at the Mission Gallery 435-688-7278.

Download an invitation (pdf)

A trip to Zion National Park, and a Visit to my Studio

I had a nice visit at my studio this morning with three nice ladies spending the weekend at Zion National Park. Theresa, Brenda, and Linda were visiting from northern Utah, basking in the warm sun and cool canyons of Zion. While there they purchased a "Century of Sanctuary" book and one of my Zion prints at the ZNHA bookstore. They also enjoyed the Zion Centennial art show at the St. George Art Museum where they saw my original painting of Zion's West Temple. It's always fun to meet those who appreciate my work.

New Watercolor Painting of Historic Bloomington Schoolhouse

Historic Bloomington School House
22 x 30 Watercolor by Roland Lee

All that remains of this old school house in Bloomington, Utah is the foundation. But using a few old photos and interviewing some descendents of early teachers, I was able to re-construct this wonderful brick building. The structure was used as both a church and schoolhouse, as well as a community center between 1879 and 1929. I wanted to put life back into the building by adding the figures in the painting. At the doorway is the school teacher greeting a young girl (notice the flower behind her back for the teacher.) Two brothers walk down the lane on their way to another school day. Jeff and Connie Morby, early residents of the modern community of Bloomington, own the land where the foundation sits, and also purchased this painting.

See step by step watercolor painting lesson on this painting

Roland Lee Featured in Documentary Film on Zion National Park Centennial

Above: Motion Picture producer Phil Tuckett and crew record Lyman Hafen and Deborah Reeder discussing the paintings in the Zion Centennial Art Exhibit at the St. George Art Museum.

Renowned film maker, Phil Tuckett, and an advanced film production class from Dixie State College are producing a new documentary film spotlighting the Centennial of Zion National Park. They interviewed Lyman Hafen and Deborah Reeder at the St. George Art Museum talking about the contemporary Zion paintings currently on display with "A Century of Sanctuary, the Art of Zion National Park." Then Tuckett conducted an on-camera interview with me upstairs in the historic art exhibit, talking about my own experiences painting Zion over the past 30 years. I was uncomfortable about being on camera, but never have trouble talking about Zion National Park. They will film more footage on location in Zion National Park as I conduct a workshop there in November.