My painting "Resting Peacefully" was accepted into the Associates only online exhibit which runs from June 6 to August 20, 2024. The painting is on the AWS YouTube page.
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| "Resting Peacefully" watercolor by Roland Lee. American Watercolor Society Associates show. |
Plein Air Salon Semi-finalist. I am one of 184 artists who received First Place in separate categories of the monthly "Plein Air Salon" competition in 2023. We are now semi-finalists for the annual awards which will be presented at PACE conference May 20-24, 2024. My chances are slim, but its an honor to make it this far out of the 1000's of entries. The competition is sponsored by Plein Air Magazine.
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| Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition |
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| Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition |
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| Roland Lee semi-finalist in $50,000 13th annual Plein air Salon Art Competition |
The Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational is on again November 9 - 14, 2024 and I have once again been invited as one of the 15 participating artists. The popular event was cancelled during the Covid years but has now been revived by the Zion Forever Project in cooperation with the Worthington Art Gallery in Springdale, Utah. Don't miss it.
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| Roland Lee is one of 15 artists invited to the 2024 Zion National Park Plein Air Invitational |
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| Finally at work in my permanent studio at East Zion |
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| My cabin studio at East Zion |
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| Roland Lee painting en plein air in east Zion National Park |
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| Roland Lee painting en plein air in east Zion National Park |
It's always a joy to find out one of my paintings makes it in to one of the big shows. My painting, "Hope of Dawn," was juried into the 2024 International Juried Watercolor West exhibition. The 56th Annual International Exhibition will be displayed July 6 - August 3, 2024 at Coastline College in Southern California.
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| "Hope of Dawn" watercolor by Roland Lee. Watercolor West 56th Annual International Exhibition |
I am excited to learn that my painting "Through Canyons Like This" was juried into the Utah Watercolor Society Spring 2024 Open Exhibition. This show will be on display at the Visual Art Institute in Salt Lake City, UT starting May 10 through June 13, 2024. If you get a chance stop by and see the show.
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| "Through Canyons Like This" juried in to the UWS Spring open exhibition |
We had a great master class in March at "The Art Place' studio. All six students are upper-level artists, so it is a joy to work with them. The artists included: Max Birnbaum, Karen Bettilyon, Shari Cannon, Connie Madsen, Virginia Howard and Teresa Larson. I did a watercolor demonstration of Zion National Park using a reference photo I shot there.
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| Watercolor demo by Roland Lee at March master class. |
The Dixie Watercolor Society enjoyed attendance of 387 people at their Spring Show reception March 9. Organized by show chairman Cheryl Sachse, the show "Splash of Color" featured 60 artists who contributed 147 paintings. The show will hang at the St. George Art Museum through May. Be sure to stop by and see it. I was grateful to win "Best of Show" for my painting, "Shopping in the Casbah."
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| Roland Lee, Best of Show, St. George Art Museum Splash of Color DWS Show |
I was invited to speak to a group of about 35 residents of The Meadows, a retirement community. I showed via PowerPoint how I conceived and painted a number of paintings representing the history of southern Utah and the pioneer town of St. George.
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| Nellie and Roland Lee with Ken and Janet Reber holding a Roiland Lee painting. |
My daughter, Jana Lee Cherry, and I enjoyed our sunny southern Utah weather by going out to the sand dunes in Warner Valley to plein air paint. We had a great time together and were able to come away with some fun paintings. The only hitch came when we tried to leave and ended up getting stuck in some very deep dry sand. I sunk my "art assault vehicle" up to the axels and needed to get a little assistance from a passer-by who had a wintch and a tow rope. Live and learn!
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| Jana Lee Cherry with her plein air sketchbook painting |
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| Roland Lee plein air painting in the sand dunes near St. George UT |
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| Roland Lee art assault vehicle stuck in the sand. 1988 Toyota pickup with 1992 Six-Pac camper. |
I presented paintings from my book "The Way to Angel's Landing" at the Robert and Peggy Sears Invitational Art Show at Utah Tech University. I was pleased to be awarded a second place award. The show will continue into March 2024 with hours from about 10am to 8pm.
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| Roland Lee painting received award at Sears Invitational Art Show. |
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| Roland Lee with award winning painting at 2024 Sears Invitational |
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| "House of the Lord" painting by Roland Lee of the St. George LDS Temple |
"The House of the Lord," original watercolor painting by Roland Lee. I worked on this painting of the St. George LDS Temple the week before its dedication, and the week following. We were grateful to have President Jeffrey R. Holland perform the dedication. There are 100 signed and numbered giclee prints available online at www.rolandlee.com When they are gone, they are gone. 14 x 20 on Epson Velvet paper. $300 plus UT sales tax.
It was exciting to see paintings from the Sears Museum permanent collection on display along with some current paintings of Zion National Park at the opening reception for "Mighty Five - Zion National Park."
I had three new paintings on display along with two from Utah Tech University permanent collection. It was a treat to have my paintings hung alongside other paintings from deceased artists Maynard Dixon, Robert Shepherd, and Wallace Lee. It was also great to rub shoulders with other artist friends including Royden Card, Mary Jabens, Arlene Braithwaite, and Diane Cliff. The show runs through December.
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| Artist Royden Card and his wife Sandee, along with Roland Lee at the Mighty Five, Zion National Park show. |
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| Roland Lee with painting from the Utah Tech Sears Art Museum permanent collection. |
Three of my new paintings of Zion National Park will be exhibited at the upcoming "Mighty Five - Zion National Park Art Show at Utah Tech University. The show will be on display from December 1, 2023 until January 12, 2024 in the Sears Museum. Reception December 1, 7-8:30pm.
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| Roland Lee Paintings will be on display at the Mighty Five Zion National Park exhibit |
I am loving my new location for displaying my paintings at Gallery 35 in St. George Utah. I am the featured artist there through January 2024. My work is also featured at the Maynard Dixon Legacy Gallery in Mt. Carmel, Utah. Stop by and let Susan Bingham show you my new paintings.
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| Roland Lee paintings are on display at Gallery 35 in St. George Utah |
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| Roland Lee paintings are featured at the Maynard Dixon Legacy Gallery at Mt. Carmel |
Since closing my art gallery in St. George I have moved my studio to east Zion National Park, where I will be painting during summer and fall. We have taken one of our cabins there and created a wonderful working space right in the heart of Zion country. I also have a home studio for the colder months. I will no longer have an "open studio" where visitors can drop in, but my paintings can be purchased from my website or from Gallery 35 in St. George Utah or the Maynard Dixon Legacy Gallery in Mt. Carmel, Utah near Zion National Park.
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| The Studio at East Zion, Roland Lee's new private studio |
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| Interior of Roland Lee art studio at east Zion National Park |
I am pleased to announce that Gallery 35 will be the new home for my paintings in St. George, Utah where I am the featured artist through January 2024. I have closed my downtown art gallery after 12 years in that location, and moved my painting studio to my east Zion cabin. I will no longer have an "open studio" but all my new paintings can still be seen and purchased from my website at www.rolandlee.com and at Gallery 35 as well as The Maynard Dixon Legacy Gallery in Mt. Carmel, Utah
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| Poster for Roland Lee Featured Artist at Gallery 35 |
I spent some time in Gallery 35 today, and enjoyed visiting with collectors who stopped by to see my new work as the gallery as "Featured Artist." I was pleased that Virginia Howard decided to add "Gentle Flow" to her collection.
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| Virginia Howard stands by new Roland Lee painting purchased today at the Gallery 35 |
We enjoyed a wonderful trip to Capitol Reef for Arts and the Park, co-sponsored by the Entrada Foundation and the Utah Watercolor Society. My oldest son Jim Lee and my youngest daughter, Jana Lee Cherry both attended, along with my wife, Nellie and I. We came away with a couple of ribbons and all three of us sold paintings, but the real fun was being with each other in one of our favorite places.
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| Jana Lee Cherry, Nellie Lee, Roland Lee and Jim Lee |
Each time I sell a painting I grow more appreciative of my collectors. Today I'm recognizing James Barrett, a young collector who is also an avid hiker in Zion National Park. He has purchased several of my Zion paintings in the past and just purchased "Observation Point Overlook," a very large and dynamic painting. He and his mom are both avid collectors, and I am so grateful for their support.
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| James Barrett and Roland Lee in front of James' new painting. |
Karen Bettilyon, a dear friend and artist, purchased two of my paintings today. one is of the old Bristlecone Pine at Cedar Breaks, and the other is a rustic barn and fence painted as a demonstration for the Plein Air Utah retreat in Midway Utah. I am excited for Karen to have the paintings as they are both among my favorites.
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| Karen Bettilyon with two paintings purchased from Roland Lee |
I was honored to be chosen to present a plein air painting workshop at the Escalante Canyons Plein Air Art Festival in September 2023. We had a group of wonderful artists attend the sold out workshop in Escalante, Utah. Class members included: Carole Lynd, Mary Kaufman, Mickey Hutchinson, Nancy Lewis, Suzanne Stevenson, Emma Knutson, Susan Hulet, Deborah Mechigian, Debi Crawford, Lisa Bryant, Sarah Clinger, Kathy McFadden.
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| Roland Lee class painting demonstration at Escalante Canyons Plein Air Festival |
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| Roland Lee plein air painting at Escalante Canyons Plein Air Festival |
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| Some of my class members painting a wonderful barn in Escalante |
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| Plein air painting at the Escalante River Trail Head |
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| The Bailey Cabin we stayed in at Escalante, Utah. A beautifully restored 1890's cabin was perfect for painting at Escalante Canyons Art Festival, Everett Reuss Days. |
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| Roland Lee at Escalante Canyons Art Festival |
The Plein Air Painters of Utah and the Midway Art Association teamed up to present Plein Air Utah. This was our fourth year and included 22 members of our group acting as instructors for the 45 artists who attended this fun event. I gave a painting demonstration and assisted the artists as they painted. A special treat was having my daughter Jana attend this year, and she created some fun paintings.
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| Teachers at Plein Air Painters of Utah Midway event |
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| Roland Lee teacher at Plein Air Utah in Midway, Utah |
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| Roland Lee plein air painting at Plein Air Utah event |
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| Jana Lee Cherry plein air painting at Bessendorfer Farm |
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| Roland Lee and daughter Jana at Heber Creeper Train Station |
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| Plein air painting at Midway |
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| Roland Lee demonstration painting at Midway Plein Air |
I was pleased to see my painting "Canyon Flow" on the cover of St. George Magazine. The painting features a scene at Hell Hole near Kayenta Utah where a long thin waterfall streaks down the canyon cliffs during rain storms creating this scene at the bottom.
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| Roland Lee watercolor painting on the magazine cover |
I enjoyed a wonderful Master Class with several awesome painters. What a joy to have them also leave with a few of my paintings as well.
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| Meg Mitragotri with Roland Lee |
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| Roland Lee with the Mitragotri family |
My painting, "Patiently Waiting" was featured on page 87 of the September issue of Plein Air Magazine along with the other winners in the May 2023 Plein Air Salon.
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| Plein Air Magazine Sept 2023 Plein Air Salon Winners |
