New Oil Paintings Coming...

I decided to spend the month of July working on some landscape paintings in oil. I was inspired by a recent plein air workshop with Brad Holt. Some of the paintings turned out pretty good, so this fall you might see a few on exhibit at the art shows and at my galleries. Here's a sneak peek at some oils in progress in the studio.

My studio and a few new oil landscapes

New Paintings of Zion National Park at Lafave Gallery

I've been working on a few new paintings of Zion National Park to replace the ones I've sold this month at Lafave Gallery in Springdale. If you get a chance this summer, stop by and see Kathy Lafave at the gallery. Her beautiful gallery is located at the entrance to Zion National Park.

"Canyon Colors" 12  x 20 watercolor painting of Kolob Fingers area of Zion Park

"Cliffs of Kolob" 10 x 14 watercolor of Zion National Park

"Flash of Gold" 7 x 9 watercolor of Zion National Park

Sketching at Pine Valley

Camping at Pine Valley Reservoir with "Old Blue" my 1988 Toyota truck and Six Pac camper.

Nellie and I took "Old Blue" up to beautiful Pine Valley last night for a little R and R and R (That's Rest, Relaxation, and Research). One of my art collectors wanted me to do a commission painting of their Pine Valley log cabin, so we took a drive up to take some photos and stayed the night at Pine Valley Reservoir. It was cool, green and wonderful. We got the last remaining campsite at the Dean Gardner Loop, which is in a stand of large pine trees adjacent to the Reservoir. The smell of mountain pines swaying in the breeze can't be beat! Before nightfall I managed a few sketches of the trees in my travel sketchbook.

Sketchbook pencil study of an evergreen tree by our campsite in Dean Gardner loop at Pine Valley

Sketchbook Pencil study of a stand of Oaks near our campsite at Pine Valley

"Old Blue," my art assault vehicle doing aquatic research at Sand Hollow Reservoir

I have to admit, half the fun of having a vintage truck and a six-pac camper is just plain camping! Always ready to roll, the camper also enjoys aquatic research once in a while. Nellie joined me for an evening at Sand Hollow Reservoir. :)

Six Pac Mini Camper on "Old Blue" my vintage Toyota pickup

Rainy Watercolor Workshop in Zion

Singing in the rain. Karen Bettilyon, Julie Strong, and Sally Valiton duck for cover during the Roland Lee watercolor painting workshop

Abraham and Isaac poke their heads into the clouds as rain begins to fall in Zion National Park.

We had great fun the past two days in my fall plein air watercolor workshop. Awesome painters, and amazing weather kept us on our toes, as we scrambled for umbrellas and cover. We generally don't get too much rain in this part of the desert, but we received a fair amount today and yesterday which will enhance an already healthy wildflower crop.

Connie Madsen at work in Snow Canyon. View through a sandstone keyhole.

Mark Gamett, from Las Vegas Nevada, with his Strada Easel setup purchased at the Monterey Plein Air Convention last month.

Julie Strong from Canada was smart enough to bring an umbrella to protect her wonderful sketchbook studies

Steve Cherry was well equipped for outdoor painting. His sketchbook studies were awesome.

Thursday we got in a sketching stop at the Pioneer Park desert reserve above St. George, then spent the afternoon painting in Snow Canyon, tucked up against the red rocks.  Everyone got right to work as the wind began to howl, and the rain clouds moved in. Most of us made good progress on our paintings in spite of a few rain showers.

Mark Rose, from Idaho works on a value study in his sketchbook prior to starting  a watercolor painting in Snow Canyon State Park. He is using a Sienna pochade paint box.

Sally Valiton from Ridgecrest California pulls a hood over hear head but keeps on working as rain begins. She is using a Sienna Pochade Box and easel.

With dark clouds hovering and a prediction of rain, we drove to Zion National Park hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst. We set up our easels near the falls at Court of the Patriarchs. The clouds broke just long enough to whet our appetites as we quickly dove into our paintings. Umbrellas and parkas came out as the rains began, but we scurried for cover under big cotton wood trees when giant hail stones began to pelt us. We hung around like stalwart pioneers as the weather got colder and we got wetter. Finally we gave in to a warm lunch at the Zion lodge, followed by a stopover at the marvelous Lafave Gallery in Springdale. We finished the day painting back in the studio, tired and happy.

Watercolor Painting Demonstration at LaFave Gallery

Kathy LaFave (left) and Roland Lee with a blank sheet before beginning his watercolor painting demonstration at LaFave Gallery in Springdale Utah

The Zion Watchman 10 x 14 watercolor painting completed  during demonstration at Lafave Gallery

Members of the Copper Club, donors to the Natural History Museum of Utah watch as Roland Lee presents a demonstration at the Lafave Gallery in Springdale Utah

Friday night I was invited to do a private watercolor painting demonstration at the LaFave Gallery in Springdale Utah. Attending the presentation were about 50 members of the "Copper Club", who are donors to the Natural History Museum of Utah. They were spending a couple of days in Zion National Park. It was fun to talk to them while I painted and it was clear many of them were either art collectors or had painting experience because they were very interested in my techniques. I was pleased to have a new collector, Mr. Aoki, purchase one of my originals for his collection. Thanks to Kathy LaFave, whose gallery is absolutely first class.

Collectors Purchase Two More Original Roland Lee Paintings

Roland Lee (left) with Linda and Ken Crandall who purchase three of Roland Lee's paintings.

A few weeks ago, I was invited by Soltis Investment Group to do a live outdoor painting demonstration in Zion National Park for a Zion Canyon Field Institute gathering. It was a fun and intimate experience with a lively and interested group of people. Two of the attendees, Ken and Linda Crandall expressed interest in my demonstration painting and after a visit to LaFave Gallery in Springdale purchased two additional paintings. It is fun to get to know my collectors and spend time with them. I was also able to meet and share art ideas with their daughter Kimberly Crandall, who is a high school art teacher. Thank you Linda, Ken, and Kim.

"Ripples along the Virgin River" watercolor by Roland Lee 

"Springtime in Zion" Plein Air watercolor by Roland Lee

Roland Lee Drawing and Sketch Book Journaling Workshop

Roland Lee Drawing Class in St. George Utah

Learning to see edges as value changes

Eight accomplished artists joined together for my April class on Sketchbook drawing and journaling. It was a fun experience with some quality art produced. We started in the studio with a powerpoint demonstration and exercises to hone our ability to see values, edges, and shapes--key elements in drawing. The techniques I taught were designed to give them the tools they need to draw anything in nature. We then went outdoors to sketch on location at Green Gate Village, a delightful place with pioneer homes, buggies, and old cars. Ed and Lindy Sandstrom, the owners, are kind enough to allow our workshop participants to sketch there frequently. Those attending included: Kurtis Larsen, Mark Rose, Peggy Hackney, Elsa Howard, Sharon Bunderson, Shari Cannon, Yvonne Hatton and Carol Lopacinski.

Gathering for a group photo at Green Gate Village during Roland Lee Drawing Workshop

Carol Lopacinski getting ready to sketch at Green Gate Village

Kurtis Larsen working in his sketch book at Green Gate Village

Shari Cannon sketching on the lawn at Green Gate Village in St. George Utah

Artist Mark Gunn Rose drawing on location in his Watson Guptill Sketchbook

Peggy Hackney finds a comfortable place to sketch during Roland Lee Drawing Workshop in St. George

Elsa Howard, Peggy Hackney and Shari Cannon in the studio during a Roland Lee Drawing Workshop at A Passion for Painting

Sharon Bunderson, Yvonne Hatton, and Kurtis Larson in Roland Lee Drawing Workshop

Looking Back 35 Years to Art West Magazine

Irene Emett presents Roland Lee with a 1981 copy of Art West magazine which featured Roland's work as a new artist.

What a fun experience I had yesterday at the St. George Art Festival. A wonderful old friend Irene Emett stopped by my display with her family and presented me with a 1981 copy of "Art West" magazine that had a nice article on my paintings. She had purchased it while living in Montana and first became acquainted with my paintings. Later she moved to Veyo, Utah to live near her family and found out I was living in nearby Dammeron Valley. What was more fun, I was her Bishop in the LDS church. So we became personal friends. Well, I never knew about the magazine until she told me the story yesterday. Back in 1981, after a sell-out show at the Phippen Memorial show in Prescott Arizona, I was "discovered" by Art West magazine and they did a wonderful feature article on my work. It really helped my career as a new western artist. Wow, it's fun looking back, and it's great to have such good friends!

A 1981 issue of Art West Magazine with a feature article on artist Roland Lee

Sold! Painting Sales at St. George Art Festival

Art Collector Rachel Carignan and artist Roland Lee

"Pine Valley Autumn" original watercolor by Roland Lee 

Art Collector Rachel Carignan purchased my new painting "Pine Valley Autumn." Rachel has collected many other Roland Lee original watercolor paintings in the past. She was on hand at the presentation of my "Excellence in Art" award last night and picked up the painting today at the St. George Arts Festival. Thanks to all who stopped by my display today, and those who attended he award presentation last night at the City Council meeting.

Ken Andersen purchased two paintings from Roland Lee at the 2015 St. George Art Festival