Roland Lee (artist)

Infobox Artist


imagesize = 142
caption = Roland Lee in his studio
name = Roland Lee
birthname = Roland Loren Lee
birthdate = birth date|1949|3|23|df=y
location = Alhambra, California, USA
nationality = American
training = B. A. in Art from Brigham Young University
movement = Realism
field = Painter
Drawing
Art Instruction
works = Zion National Park
Zion’s Great Arch
Great White Throne
5 Minutes of Fame
Holland Memories
patrons =
awards =

Roland Lee also known as Roland Loren Lee (born 23 March 1949) is recognized as one of the key practitioners and teachers [ [http://www.artistsofutah.org/15bytes/07may/page1.html 15 Bytes Artists of Utah eZine] , "Roland Lee: A Love of Art and Teaching" by Lisa Huber, 6 photos, May 2007 "Lee puts as much enthusiasm into his teaching as he does his painting. He left his University position years ago, but he is still in demand as an instructor. Catherine Hostetter, organizer and attendee at a recent three-day workshop for the Utah Watercolor Society in Salt Lake, describes Lee as "the most prepared instructor I've ever seen." His teaching makes use of Powerpoint slides, demonstrations, and plenty of time for hands-on work. Hostetter says that his teaching attitude is "you can watch and you can listen, but if you don't experience it, you won't address issues that arise with new techniques."] of the transparent watercolor method of painting landscapes, and is one of the most respected artists of Zion National Park alive today. [“Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park.”cite book |title=Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park |last=Frasier |first=Pam |year= |publisher=Zion Natural History Association |location=Springdale, UT |isbn=978-0-915630-47-9 |pages=132. Front cover fl
Thomas Moran to Jim Jones and Roland Lee...have translated onto canvas and paper the wonder, the mystery, and unutterable beauty of Zion Canyon. Commemorating Zion National Park's 2009 Centennial, an amazing assemblage of these timeless works was gathered into one exhibit at the St. George Art Museum and is now preserved forever in this book. On these pages are found many of the finest works of Zion Canyon art ever created, from the historic to the contemporary." "Lyman Hafen, Executive Director Zion Natural History Association"] Articles on his painting techniques and travel sketchbooks have appeared in numerous art publications(see references below), and he is sought after by National Watercolor Societies to conduct painting workshops. His original transparent watercolor paintings of American and European landscapes have been exhibited in over 50 juried art shows and can be found in over 1000 museum, bank, corporate, university, and private art collections.

Background and Education

Influenced by the book and magazine illustrators of the 1960’s Lee received a B.A. in Art from Brigham Young University in 1971 and worked as a designer/illustrator for several advertising agencies in Los Angeles, CA before forming his own art studio in Utah in 1973. From 1976 to 1980 he taught art at Dixie State College of Utah and began exhibiting his watercolor paintings in commercial galleries in 1979. He operated his own gallery, Roland Lee Art Gallery, Inc. in Saint George, UT from 1994 to 2002 and has devoted the remaining years to traveling and painting worldwide. The travel sketchbooks of Roland Lee have received worldwide interest and he has presented many workshops and published several articles [The Artist’s magazine March 2005 “Capturing Memories.” By Roland Lee pp. 42-46. Roland Lee demonstrates how to use sketchbook studies to work up finished watercolor paintings in a five-page article] about his on-location sketching techniques.

Collections

Lee’s paintings are in the permanent collections of the [http://sma.nebo.edu/ Springville Museum of Art] , [http://www.sgcity.org/artmuseum/ Saint George Art Museum] ,Dixie State College of Utah, SkyWest Airlines, and Zion National Park. His works are also owned by [http://www.artistsofutah.org/15bytes/07july/page6.html Zion’s Bank] , The Village Bank, First Security Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, and other corporate collections.

Books

40 of Roland Lee’s southwest landscape paintings are included in the book, "Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon", [Hafen Lyman, Lee Roland. "Mukuntuweap, Landscape and Story of Zion Canyon" (St. George: Tonaquint Press, 1996) Includes 40 original paintings of Zion Canyon by Roland Lee] and his essay, “Eye of the Beholder, 30 Years of Painting Zion,” is included in the book, "Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park". ["A Century of Sanctuary, The Art of Zion National Park" - Aug 25, 2008 - January 2009. Book and Catalog with 6-pg essay "Eyes of the Beholder" by Roland Lee. Painting, "Zion's Great Arch," and Painting "West Temple."] He is also featured in the books, "Painters of the Red Rocks", "Contemporary Western Artists", [Samuels Peggy and Harold. "Contemporary Western Artists" (Washington DC, Judd’s Inc. 1982) p. 306 with photo] "Artists of Utah", [Olpin Robert S, Seifrit William C, Swanson Vern G. "Artists of Utah". (Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999) p.162] and "Utah Painting and Sculpture". [Swanson Vern G; Olpin Robert; Seifrit William C. Utah Painting and Sculpture. (Layton: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1991) p.287]

Publications

Lee has contributed articles to "The Artist's" [“The Artist's” magazine March 2005 “Capturing Memories.” By Roland Lee pp. 42-46.] and "The Drawing Board" ["The Drawing Board" magazine May 2006 P. 28-32] magazines, and his work has appeared in "Southwest Art", "Art-Talk", ["Art-Talk" magazine - Full-width painting "Lake Powell Panorama" Calendar section April 2007] "Salt Lake City Magazine", ["Salt Lake Magazine" January 1997. ”Roland Lee, Southwestern Drama” pp.32-33] "Art News", and other publications. His southwest paintings were the subject of a feature article in "Art West" [ "Art West" Art March 1982 “Roland Lee - Illustrator Turned Illusionist.” By Pam Hait pp.56-65] magazine and his European landscape paintings were the subject of a pictorial in "European Homes and Gardens magazine" ["European Homes and Gardens" November 2003 “Roland Lee, an artist with a European flair” by CJ Johnson. pp.114-118.] His paintings have also graced the covers of "Pioneer", ["Pioneer Magazine" - Front Cover and feature article illustrated with Roland Lee paintings. Fall 2008] "SkyWest", [Cover "SkyWest" Magazine Jan/Feb 2005 Cover painting “Days End at Lake Powell by Roland Lee. “Painting a Sense of Serenity.” Feature article P.16] and "Ensign" ["The Ensign" November 2003 Cover 3 Painting “Temple Morning” watercolor by Roland Lee] magazines as well as numerous book covers. As a prominent artist of Zion National Park, he was quoted in AAA's "VIA magazine". ["VIA" AAA travel magazine July 2002. “Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Capitol Reef national parks will rock your socks off.” by David Sharp "When you see photographs of the slot canyons," says Utah watercolorist Roland Lee, "you think, 'Oh, that picture is enhanced somehow.' But it isn't. The light bounces from one surface to another, making the rocks glow like neon."] Lee's contributions to art education are spotlighted in "15 Bytes". [Feature article 15 Bytes Artists of Utah eZine - by Lisa Huber - 6 photos - May 2007]

Exhibits

Lee’s watercolor paintings have been selected for exhibit by the [http://www.watercolors.org/ Transparent Watercolor Society of America,] Arts for the Parks Top 100, and [http://www.paintamerica.org/ Paint the Parks Top 100] shows which toured America. He was one of only a handful of living artists to be included in the major [http://www.nps.gov/ National Park Service] centennial exhibit [http://www.nps.gov/zion/parknews/a-century-of-sanctuary.htm “A Century of Sanctuary, The art of Zion National Park,”] which included original art by such notable deceased artists as Thomas Moran, Maynard Dixon, Ansel Adams, and Gunnar Widforss. He was also invited to write an essay on his 30 years of painting Zion for the accompanying book and catalog. Lee has received awards from several watercolor societies and Best of Show plus Purchase award at the [http://new.dixie.edu/culturalarts/sears_art_gallery.php Sears Invitational] in 2004. Other exhibits include the Spring Salon of the [http://sma.nebo.edu/ Springville Museum of Art] , [http://www.cmrauction.com/Website/ Charles M. Russell Show] , Western Masters, and [http://www.svu.edu/development/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=54 Shenandoah Invitational.] In 1996 the [http://www.sgcity.org/artmuseum/ Saint George Art Museum] presented a major retrospective of Roland Lee’s work spanning 25 years.

Online Art Instruction

As a means of sharing art ideas and concepts, Lee posts all his [http://www.rolandlee.com/category15.html travel sketchbook drawings] on [http://www.rolandlee.com his website] along with numerous step by step [http://www.rolandlee.com/articles.html painting demonstrations] of watercolor painting techniques. Hundreds of artists and students visit [http://www.rolandlee.com his website] daily to access this free learning resource.

References

;Cited

External links

* [http://www.rolandlee.com Watercolor Paintings by Roland Lee]
* [http://www.travelsketchbook.blogspot.com/ Roland Lee's Blog and Travel Sketchbook]
* [http://www.artistsnetwork.com/artistsmagazine/ The Artist's Magazine]
* [http://www.byu.edu Brigham Young University]
* [http://www.dixie.edu/ Dixie State College]