Painting Utah Barns in watercolor

Silver stained and weathered barnwood was the subject of our workshop

When I told my class we were going to paint a barn, I didn't mean with red paint and a roller. My latest workshop explored the nuances of weathered-wood and rusted-tin as we enjoyed painting this age-old favorite watercolor subject. We were lucky to have a couple of nice old relics nearby that survived into the modern day while civilization encroached all around them, including a bustling freeway nearby. It seemed a strange mix, as we sketched and painted the silvered wood with gaping holes, while big diesel trucks roared by us. Back in the studio later we used sketches to complete paintings with fantastic skies.

While the class sketched I did a quick watercolor painting of the old barns, while cars whistled by us on the freeway. It seemed a strange mix of the old and the new.

St. George Art Festival brings great weather and lots of collectors!

The St. George Art Festival held Easter Weekend in St. George Utah brought thousands of art collectors and hundreds of artists together. I have participated in the show since its inception back in the '80s, but it has grown to be one of the premier shows of its kind today. I displayed lots of new original paintings along with some new canvas-wrapped giclee prints that were popular among the buyers. I had several new collectors including Rod Shorey from California who had seen my work before, but purchased two nice originals for his collection. Both paintings were completed en plein air at Zion National Park. If you missed the show you can still stop by my art studio and gallery to see my current original paintings at 165 North 100 East, St. George UT. Call me if you are in town 435-673-1988.

Artist Roland Lee and collector Rod Shorey at the St. George Art Festival

St. George Art Festival Great Place to See Hundreds of Artist's Work on Display

Duane and Shauna Woodmansee purchased another painting for their collection

Last spring some wonderful collectors, Duane and Shauna Woodmansee purchased their first original watercolor from me at the St. George Art Festival. they stopped by my gallery yesterday to view my new paintings for this years festival and purchased another one for their collection. I'd like to invite everyone to stop by my double-booth at this year's St. George Art Festival Friday and Saturday March 29 and 30. It runs from 10am to 6pm both days in the fabulous St. George City Town Square. Stop by and see us. I'll have plenty of new paintings and prints on display.

How to Draw Almost Anything Workshop

Our beautiful town square provided plenty of outdoor sketching opportunities for our workshop on How to draw anything

Each year I teach one workshop on drawing. Of course drawing is fundamental to all art forms, but I  feel it is key to understanding how we see in nature. Learning to observe light and shadow with our artists brain allows us to quickly draw anything we see. This workshop included time in the studio as well as sketching outdoors in our travel sketchbooks. We explored methods for establishing value contrast quickly and describing mass and form with middle values in three simple steps. If you'd like to find out more, take one of my art workshops!

The Portland Art Museum - Some Thoughts on Fine Art

Artist Roland Lee at the Portland Art Museum

My volunteer work with the Zion Natural History Association and the Zion National Park Foundation took me to Portland Oregon this week for the annual APPL conference. While there I was able to slip away and visit some of the art sites including the Portland Art Museum. The public transportation makes it easy to get around, and the city is very friendly, so it was relatively easy to find our way to the Art Museum. They have a large collection covering many subjects and genres, with a current display of very contemporary works spanning the past century. Each trip to a museum causes me to think and re-think about what constitues fine art. While I can accept and appreciate that all art deals with human emotions, I must say that to create art that displays the worst of human behavior and flaunts the baseness of humanity is a waste of talent. Reality gives us enough of that. Most of the big museums provide their share of art pieces that are very disturbing, and the Portland was no exception. But thankfully much of the art was uplifting, especially the fine impressionist paintings -- and the display space was wonderful. In any case I always appreciate the many donors, docents, curators, volunteers, and patrons that provide places for us to enjoy art, and make our own choices.

Some of the best watercolor painters (and friends) in the world!

Our March 2013 watercolor workshop in Salt Lake City, UT

What a joy it is to rub shoulders with some of the best painters in the world. That's what it is like when I get together with other artists. Even though, I am the teacher, I learn just as much from them. Likewise, when we all display our paintings, I am more excited about theirs than I am my own. It is so great to be able to enjoy the experience of watercolor painting with others. Thanks so much to Margo Cook for organizing and producing these great workshops.