Plein Air Utah Rendezvous and Retreat Painters

I snapped these photos during the week at the Utah Plein Air event. So much talent, and tons of fun!

Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous

Father and son team, Roland Lee and Jim Lee at Plein Air Rendezvous & Retreat

About 80 artists and 20 more instructors joined together in Midway Utah for the 2018 Plein Air Utah Retreat and Rendezvous. Four days of daily instruction, demos, seminars and outdoor painting culminated in a fantastic "Wet Paint Show and Sale" at the Midway town hall. Jointly sponsored by the Midway Art Association and the Plein Air Painters of Utah, the event is now in its second year. I was one of the instructors and made a presentation on plein air painting and gave a watercolor painting demonstration.  It was great to rub shoulders with Utah's best painters and aspiring artists. We have so much talent here in Utah. It was fun to have my artist son Jim Lee join us as well.

Original photograph, Sketchbook pencil study, and finished watercolor painting demonstrated at the 2018 Plein Air Utah Retreat in Midway UT

Roland Lee Finished watercolor demonstration painting at Midway Utah

Roland Lee Watercolor Demonstration at Plein Air Utah Sept 12-15

Plein Air Utah will be held September 12-15 in Midway Utah. About 100 artists will gather for a plein air event featuring outdoor painting, painting demonstrations, talks and education. A joint effort of the Midway Arts Association and the Plein Air Painters of Utah, the event is now in its second year. Artist Roland Lee will be doing a watercolor demonstration on Friday afternoon at the Midway Town Hall.

Roland Lee Painting Featured in Plein Air Magazine ad

Roland Lee and Mary Jabens featured in ad for 2018 Zion National Park Plein Air event. 

I am pleased to be featured in the October 2018 issue of Plein Air Magazine in an ad for the 2018 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational event.

Maynard Dixon Country 2018 a Huge Success

Artists Roland Lee and Glenn Renell at the 2018 Maynard Dixon Country event in Mt. Carmel UT

Some of the nation's best artists got together for a week of learning and comeraderie at the Maynard Dixon Country 2018 event. They were treated to artists demonstrations, presentations, seminars, along with great food, music, and outdoor painting. Held annually at the Maynard Dixon property in Mount Carmel UT the event is sponsored by the Thunderbird Foundation.

See you at Maynard Dixon Country

Join us at Maynard Dixon Country August 22 - 25, 2018

Schedule of events 2018 Maynard Dixon Country

Fordson Tractor Painting Sold

Tony and Wendy Kraatz with new Roland Lee painting of a Fordson Tractor

Thanks to Tony and Wendy Kraatz who stopped by the studio and picked out "Retired" for their collection. It is a painting of a very old Fordson tractor which rests comfortably on the Mathews Ranch in Nevada.

Old Fordson Tractor at Mathews Ranch in Nevada
Painting by Roland Lee

Everybody's a Critic - Plein Air Magazine

Roland Lee article in September issue of Plein Air Magazine

The current issue (September 2018) of Plein Air Magazine features me on the the back page "Postcards from the Road"! Well, not as fun as being on the front cover, but still, next to the back cover ain't bad. I tell about an experience I had with a curious cow while painting at Grafton Ghost town. My painting took a "lickin" when I wasn't lookin'. Somebody said it gave new meaning to the term "wet into wet" but another quipped "the cow's got good taste in art." Editor Kelly Kane just said "everybody's a critic!"

Join Me at Plein Air Utah Sept 11-15, 2018

I will be one of dozens of plein air instructors at the Plein Air Utah event in Midway UT Sep 11-15, 2018. Check out the list of teachers and presenters below and register now. It's already 2/3 full with only 100 openings. Can't wait to paint elbow to elbow with some of my favorite artists.

Award of Merit at Utah Watercolor Society Small Painting Show

Roland Lee wins Award of Merit at Red Butte Gardens

Award of Merit 2018 Spring Utah Watercolor Society Small Paintings Show

"Garden Dance"

It was fun to have both my painting and the paintings of my two sons, Jim and Jon, all represented in the 2018 UWS Small paintings show at Red Butte Gardens. I was fortunate to win an Award of  Merit. The juror was Al Rounds.

Plein Air Magazine Features Roland Lee Painting Experience in Postcards from the Road

Thanks to Kelly Kane, editor of Plein Air Magazine for including my story about an unusual outdoor painting experience in the August/September 2018 issue of Plein Air Magazine. "A nosy cow gives new meaning to wet in wet."

Story in July/August issue of Plein Air Magazine

Western Art and Architecture Magazine ad for Maynard Dixon Country

My painting "Desert Tempest" is featured in a new ad in "Western Art and Architecture Magazine" sponsored by the Thunderbird Foundation. Thanks to Paul and Susan Bingham for inviting me to participate in Maynard Dixon Country August 22-25 in Mt. Carmel, Utah.

August 2018 issue Western Art and Architecture Magazine

Taking over the Watercolor World

I have been coaching my two sons in watercolor the past few months and encouraging them to enter a few shows. All three of us entered the Utah Watercolor Society Small Painting Show and all three of us got in. The theme was florals, since the show is at the Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City. Show runs from June 22 to July 15. Hooray, we are taking over the watercolor world as a family!

Flower 5 x 7 watercolor by Jim Lee

Tulip 5 x 7 watercolor by Jon Lee

Lion House Flowers 4 x 6 watercolor by Roland Lee

2018-19 Utah Museums Traveling Exhibit

Roland Lee watercolor "Coal Creek" will be part of the 2019 Utah travellng exhibit

I am grateful to Fletcher Booth of the Utah Division of Arts and Museums for selecting my watercolor painting "Coal Creek," a painting of Cedar Mountain, to be part of the 2018-2019 traveling exhibit which will display first at the Utah State Capitol and at then at schools throughout Utah during the coming year.

UWS Juror's Award 2018 Spring Juried exhibition

Roland Lee received award at 2018 Spring Open Juried exhibition of Utah Watercolor Society

It's always good to be accepted in a juried exhibition but it is especially nice to receive an award. I was notified I have received "Juror's Award" for my painting "Zion Narrows" at the 2018 Spring Utah Watercolor Society Show. Thanks to juror Jeannie McGuire for the consideration.

"Zion Narrows" $200 Jurors Award at 2018 UWS Spring Art Show at VAI institute in Salt Lake City

Connie Madsen and Maddie Morrill Art Show

I am so proud of my long-time student Connie Madsen who presented her first-ever watercolor show this past week. I was able to attend her show which was presented at her lovely home in Holladay Utah. She was joined by her talented granddaughter Maddie Morrill, a recent college art graduate who showed her intricate and detailed watercolor and acrylic paintings. Her sketchbook is a work of art i itself. Needless to say, my wife Nellie and I left with three of Connie's and three of Maddie's originals to add to our own collection.

Three watercolors by Connie Madsen added to my collection

Showing off the amazing sketchbook of artist Maddie Morrill