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Roland Lee: A Love of Art and Teaching
by Lisa Huber
Re-published from the May 2007 issue of "15
Bytes" eZine
St. George artist Roland Lee is internationally known
for his wonderful, transparent watercolors of Southwestern Utah's "red
rock" country and rural scenes from across the United States and
Europe, the result of over thirty years of dedication to his craft.
In addition to his prowess as a creative artist, Lee's love of teaching
his trade is inherent in every workshop, exhibit, and conversation.
Both aspects of this artist's career and personality are on display
at the St. George Art Museum through June in an exhibit entitled Roland
Lee: Canyon Country Paintings. After seeing the exhibit you might be
surprised to learn that Lee, a graduate from Brigham Young University
in 1971 with a degree in Art, did not begin his career teaching his
art techniques. In fact, as he was growing up he never even dreamed
of a career as an artist.
Roland Lee was born in southern California, where he
spent many hours as a child drawing and admiring the magazine and book
illustrators of the sixties. His childhood interests spurred him to
pursue a degree in illustration and graphic design at Brigham Young
University. After graduation, he returned with his wife, Nellie, to
southern California to pursue a career in design and illustration. With
the birth of their first child in 1973, however, the couple decided
to relocate to St. George -- to get away from "the hectic chaos"
of the big cities of Southern California and in order to raise their
family, which eventually numbered five children. In St. George, Lee
evolved from the highly successful commercial Designer/Illustrator and
Design Director of Lawry's Foods he was in California to become a St.
George art studio owner and art teacher at Dixie State College. He taught
at the college for four years, and publication design work at the College
led him to the founding of "St. George Magazine" which he
co-owned for many years.
It was while teaching, however, that Lee embraced his
childhood love of art and began a serious study of transparent watercolor.
After a few workshops from Osral Allred, Carl Purcell, Glen Dale Anderson
and Tom Leek, Lee's mind was settled on watercolor as his medium. The
peaceful surroundings of his home were a natural inspiration to his
work. As he says, "five minutes in any direction gets you away."
Zion Canyon was a particular "haven" for him in early years
and he spent many hours there. His strong desire to be "in the
landscape . . . as a part of the landscape, rather than painting on
a street corner" took him to sketching on location. If you have
heard him speak or seen one of his gallery shows, his sketchbooks are
an incredible testament to his commitment to journaling what he experiences
in nature. He gladly shares these sketchbooks with others and encourages
the use of hard-backed sketching journals of a size that are easy to
carry. He says that he takes his journal everywhere he goes so he will
not miss out on any opportunity that arises. "What nature does
in and of itself is wonderful," he says. As is apparent from his
work, Lee spends hours studying rock formations and the way light and
shadows play against each other.|1| "The light is the key to the
drama in the landscape," he says. "If you understand that,
you will be successful".
Lee's paintings demonstrate that he has understood this
key, and he has been recognized in a variety of venues for his success.
Lee's attention to lighting makes his pieces stand out from other "red
rock"paintings. He is especially careful to preserve the whites
on his paper, using technique, rather than masking, to accomplish this
goal. His shadows are carefully shaped to bring the eye to the focal
point of the painting. His colors are muted shades that evoke a sense
of peace to the viewer. Most notable are Lee’s skies, which are
seldom calm and always full of color and movement.|0|
Lee has received numerous awards and endless recognition
over the years. He took second place at the Sears Invitational Art show
this past February in St. George, was in the "Arts for the Parks
Top 200" in Jackson, Wyoming in September of 2006, and the "Arts
for the Parks Top 100 mini show" in Jackson, Wyoming the same year.
Lee's work has been widely talked about and published in newspapers
and magazines over the last 20 years, most recently in the featured
article of "The Drawing Board"" Magazine in May of 2006,
and "SkyWest" Magazine and "The Artist's Magazine"
in 2005. His work can be found in over 850 public and private collections
throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. He is
listed in "Artists of Utah" by Verne Swanson and Robert Olpin,
and in McKittrick's "Guide to Fine Art."
Lee has been inspired by other artists. He particularly
notes his college professor, William Whittaker, who taught him about
commercial design but whose figurative painting skills were especially
admirable and continue today. He also mentions John Singer Sargeant
and his wide artistic abilities with oil, watercolor, crayon, or block
and his incredible ability to define light, edges, and form. He mentions
that of the early Utah artists, Maynard Dixon has inspired him the most;
particularly since BYU had a large group of his paintings on display
during Lee's college years. Dixon's early California Impressionism technique
and bold shapes taught Lee how to see color.
Lee describes himself in one sentence as a "peaceful
person who is passionate about the landscape." And his landscapes
and rural scenery portray the peace he speaks of. He also points out
that any people or animals in his landscapes are purposefully at peace
with the surrounding landscape. He describes art as a dance between
artist and spectator. Both are required for art's purpose to be fulfilled—in
his case, the sense of peace with the landscape. When asked what makes
Roland Lee different from other artists, he says it may be his enthusiasm.
"I have never had an artist block in my entire life. My head is
filled. In fact," he says with a grin, "I am surly without
painting."
What does Lee see himself doing in five years? "The
same as now, with more travel, but I don't plan on ever quitting."
His wife is at his side on his trips to California, Europe, New England,
the South Pacific, and the Midwest. He says she doesn't seem to tire
of reading a book while he sketches or blocks out a quick watercolor
study of a scene. When he is not traveling or on location, Lee paints
out of his studio/gallery overlooking St. George. He has a remarkable
view with good north light. He shares his gallery on the third floor
of an office building with several lawyers who seem to enjoy his work
hanging in the hallways. His studio is tight, but contains everything
he needs at arm's reach. Again, his view of the "red rock"
is inspiring and a stone's throw away. He points to an area of rock
nearby and says, "When it rains, I have my own private waterfall
right there."
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."
She also states that he "doesn't hold back" on steps to creating
certain trademark effects, is very personable and "his whole persona
is kindness." She says that Lee prefers smaller groups, but due
to the demand, there were twenty-three in this workshop, but it appeared
to pose no problems for him. Lee's web site is a learning place for
watercolor artists and sketchers alike. It includes multiple step-by-step
demos of his technique. In one, he shows you how to use a sketchbook
to develop, with a little artistic license, a delightful watercolor
out of what was a fairly mundane scene. In another demo, he provides
insights on how he creates his stunning Lake Powell paintings, including
techniques for the water and rock walls.
Lee's enthusiasm as painter and teacher is now on display
at the St. George Art Museum. Roland Lee
Canyon Country Paintings |2| is currently running through July 7
at the St. George Art Museum on 47 East 200 North in St. George. The
hours are Monday through Saturday from 10-5. Admission is $2 for adults
and $1 for children. The gallery is a "learning place" gallery,
featuring art experiences for children. Lee's show is a wonderful experience
for children and adults who want to get inside the head of the artist.
Lee has provided three sets of step-by-step progress images alongside
the final watercolors to explain how the watercolor evolved. Also included
in the show is a collection of pages from his sketchbooks, as well as
a display of his artist pouch and the items he typically carries with
him.|3|
If you would like to know more about Roland Lee, visit
his web site www.rolandlee.com
and his daily blog
where he journals art events in his life. His work may also be seen
at the Mission Gallery in St. George and the Datura Gallery in Ivins.
Also, the Watercolor Gallery in Laguna Beach carries his work. ||
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