Zion National Park Plein Air Event 3 minute Video

Youtube video for Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational. Features plein air artist Roland Lee and others describing their participation in the 2015 event. Click here to see 3 minute video

Roland Lee paints during 2016 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational

Roland Lee Artist featured in Salt Lake Magazine

I was pleased to be featured in the regional magazine "Salt Lake" spotlighting my artwork and my eight year participation in the Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational. The article is entitled, "Art of Wonder - Roland Lee celebrates the National Parks Centennial by painting Zion National Park. Again." As one of the final events in the National Parks Centennial year, this is a a great time to honor those who helped establish the National Park system and made it the great treasure it is today. Early artists such as Thomas Moran and Maynard Dixon celebrated its beauty then, as artists today celebrate it still. pp. 51-52 Written by Lyman Hafen.

 

2016 Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational Better Than Ever

A group watches as I paint at the Zion Lodge on Saturday

Wow. What a great week painting in Zion! Wonderful weather, awesome fall colors, and a great group of art lovers to appreciate it all. This was the eighth year of the Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational. I have been fortunate to participate in all eight events and this was the best year yet. I enjoyed the many people who watched my demonstration painting and live painting at the Saturday quick draw. I hope it was fun for everyone. I met lots of wonderful artists as well as some great collectors who purchased five of my paintings. Thanks to the Park Service people as well as the staff of the Zion National Park Foundation who organized the event. Proceeds will benefit the "Youth Initiative" in bringing disadvantaged youth into the park, and taking rangers out to the schools.

Lots of photos of the finished demo painting

The lucky auction winners of my Wednesday demo "Towers at One O'clock". Mr. and Mrs. David Baldridge.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Child purchased my plein air painting "Angel in the Morning."

Roland Lee and Zion Plein Air Invitational featured in Etched magazine

Thanks to Lyman Hafen for the excellent article in Etched magazine. The Zion National Park Plein Air Art Invitational  is the first week in November 2016. Roland Lee will be presenting a painting demonstration in watercolor at the Zion Human History Museum on Wednesday November 9.

Two Zion Paintings Sold

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Lemons who purchased two of my Zion National Park paintings from the Arts to Zion exhibit at Gallery 35.

Two Roland Lee watercolor paintings of Zion National Park were purchased at Gallery 35

"Best of Show Award" at UWS Show

I was thrilled to receive the "Best of Show" Award at the Fall juried exhibit of the Utah Watercolor Society. My painting "Cliffside Oasis" received the award along with a $500 prize. I was also honored to receive the "Juror's Choice" award for my painting "Misty Morning Zion" a watercolor painting of the Watchman cliff in Zion National Park. The juror was award-winning artist Iain Stewart.

Nellie and Roland Lee in front of his painting "Misty Morning Zion" which received "Jurors Choice" award

Juror Iain Stewart and Roland Lee stand by "Best of Show" painting "Cliffside Oasis."

Two Paintings juried in to Fall Utah Watercolor Society Exhibition

"Zion Misty Morning" 10 x 14 watercolor by Roland Lee

I was pleased to have two paintings juried in to the Fall n Utah Watercolor Society Exhibition. The exhibit will be on display October 7 through November 5, 2016 at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre Loge Gallery in Salt Lake City. Noted watercolorist and Juror Iain Stewart selected "Cliffside Oasis" and "Zion Misty Morning" for the exhibit.

"Cliffside Oasis" Watercolor Painting by Roland Lee
juried into the Fall 2016 Utah Watercolor Society Show

Bryan Mark Taylor Workshop at Mt. Carmel Utah

Bryan Mark Taylor (left) and Roland Lee plein air painting in Zion National Park

I participated in a great workshop last week with one of my favorite plein air artists, Brian Mark Taylor. The event was sponsored by Paul and Susan Bingham through the Thunderbird Foundation headquartered at the famous Maynard Dixon Property in Mt. Carmel Utah. We were able to hone our plein air skills in oil while painting in Zion National Park, Mount Carmel, and along the river in the Barracks. Thanks to Brian for coming down to share his expertise.

Bryan Mark Taylor in Zion National Park

Karen Lee Luz plein air painting in Zion with her Strada Easel

Plein air painting in Zion National Park

New Roland Lee Paintings for Zion National Park Show

Painting of Taylor Creek in the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park

Cedar Breaks National Monument at Point Supreme

I just sent two new studio paintings for display in Zion National Park as part of the 2016 Zion Plein Air event. The 24 artists selected have been asked to submit two paintings for a special exhibit which will remain on display through Thanksgiving. In this special "Centennial Edition" artists were asked to paint one of Zion and another national park or monument. My second painting is of Cedar Breaks  National Monument.

Cedar Breaks Plein Air and Wildflower Festival - "Arts Afire"

Roland Lee painting at Cedar Breaks National Monument. Photo by Jean Bjerke

Painting outdoors is always fun. But to spend an entire week painting en plein air in a National Monument is truly special. I was given that opportunity when invited to participate in "Arts Afire" at Cedar Breaks National Monument recently.  The glowing red and white cliffs that cascaded down into the amphitheater at Point Supreme and Chessman Point drew my attention immediately. But as the week progressed I found myself equally entranced by the gently rolling fields of colorful wildflowers surrounded by groves of Evergreens.
     Many people stopped to look over my shoulder as I worked along the rim, where tourists flocked to see the views. I cheerfully answered their questions and often agreed to pose with them for photos. The photo above was shot by professional Cedar City photographer Jean Bjerke, who caught my silhouette as the sun dropped behind the distant cliffs at Point Supreme. As the light faded and the brushes were put away,  I headed for my camper to await the dawn of another day.

Roland Lee interviewed for film "Sanctuary, Story of Zion"

Poster for "Sanctuary, The Story of Zion"

A nice interview with Roland Lee appears in the new stage production of "Zion, the Story of Zion National Park" being presented this summer at the OC Tanner Amphitheater at Zion. The show, written by talented musician and storyteller Sam Payne combines live music, storytelling, and video projection to trace Zion's history and relationship to its people over the centuries.  Producer Steve Lemmon and musical director Ryan Tilby teamed up with Payne and Nic Chamberlain to produce this wonderful show. Read a review here from the Desert Pulse.

Photo of OC Tanner Amphitheater production "Sanctuary, the story of Zion" presented the summer of 2016. Photo by Christina Gregg

Roland Lee interviewed for film "Sanctuary, Story of Zion"

Poster for "Sanctuary, The Story of Zion"

A nice interview with Roland Lee appears in the new stage production of "Zion, the Story of Zion National Park" being presented this summer at the OC Tanner Amphitheater at Zion. The show, written by talented musician and storyteller Sam Payne combines live music, storytelling, and video projection to trace Zion's history and relationship to its people over the centuries.  Producer Steve Lemmon and musical director Ryan Tilby teamed up with Payne and Nic Chamberlain to produce this wonderful show. Read a review here from the Desert Pulse.

Photo of OC Tanner Amphitheater production "Sanctuary, the story of Zion" presented the summer of 2016. Photo by Christina Gregg

Cedar Breaks Plein Air event "Arts Afire."

Artists Royden Card (left) and Roland Lee painting on the rim at Point Supreme in Cedar Breaks National Monument.

     What fun spending a week at 10,000 ft. elevation Painting Cedar Breaks National Monument. I was invited to join ten other nationally known artists to paint en plein air as part of the second annual "Arts Afire" event. We painted the spectacular red canyon as well as the unbelievable wildflowers and Fir trees that are so recognizable there.
     At the end of the week I presented a live painting demonstration at the Brian Head Giant Steps lodge while they held a silent auction of paintings. Culminating the week was a reception and kickoff of a two-month show featuring the paintings completed during the event. This was held at the spectacular new Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) on the campus of Southern Utah University. I was happy to meet lots of new art collectors and sell six of my ten paintings on opening night.

Many park visitors stopped to watch us paint

Painting plein air at Point Supreme in Cedar Breaks

One of the oldest Bristlecone Pines in the world at Cedar Breaks

Painting with my Sienna Pochade box in a lovely forest spot at Cedar Breaks

I had to return to this spot three evenings in a row to capture this sunset scene plein air

"The Hand" one of the features easily viewed from the Cedar Breaks Visitors Center

Roland Lee 3-min Video Painting Bryce Canyon

In honor of the National Parks System Centennial celebration this year, I would like to share a few thoughts about the Parks, and what they mean to me. This is a new painting that is on exhibit at the St. George Art Museum called "Navajo Loop Trail - Bryce Canyon." Watch the short 3-minute video.

Roland Lee plein air painting in Bryce Canyon National Park

Sketching in the Mountains of Colorado

While staying with my daughter Jana and her family, I was able to get in some fun outdoor sketching. Their beautiful mountain home is surrounded by Evergreens of all kinds and big granite boulders. I love this place.

Plein air sketching in Conifer, near Evergreen, Colorado

Roland Lee Plein Air Painting in Snow Canyon State Park

A group of wonderful artists looked on as I painted a little plein air watercolor painting of the red cliffs in Snow Canyon State Park recently. After the demonstration, we went on a little nature hike where I showed them the unique features of the canyon. Then they embarked on their own paintings.

Watching Roland Lee painting demonstration using a Sienna All-in-one box

Connie Madsen gets tips from Roland Lee

Finding "Moki Marbles" on the petrified sand dunes

Pretending we are Mountain Goats on Galoot Hill

Roland and Kathy McFadden discuss her painting

Cheryl Sasche had a nice outdoor setup for plein air painting

Jenee Wunderlich came all the way from Hawaii for the workshop

Sue Roach from Las Vegas Nevada

Mark Rose from American Falls Idaho

Mona Woolsey is an experienced painter

St. George Art Festival Brings New Collectors

BobbieLee Kosuge and her new painting

Thanks to the hundreds of people who showed up at the St. George Art Festival recently. The weather was grand and it was a great day for sales as well. The St. George Art Museum purchased some of my paintings and new collectors added a few more to their collections as well.

Utah Watercolor Society Spring Open Exhibition

I was pleased to have two paintings accepted into the Utah Watercolor Society Spring Open Exhibition. The two paintings are "Pine Creek Pageant" and "Autumn Falls". The show will be held at the Eccles Art Center in Ogden Utah May 3 through May 27, 2016.

Autumn Falls 10 x 14 watercolor

Pine Creek Pageant 14 x 21 Waterciolor