Watercolor Painting of "Nature's Sculpture - Kolob Cliff
Face in Zion National Park "
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 Returning from the "Footsteps of Thomas Moran" invitational paint out during the Zion National Park Centennial, I was overcome with the massiveness of Zion's huge rock walls. Their scale is almost beyond comprehension. This is one of the largest watercolors I've painted. I wanted it to be big and "in your face." It is a deliberate attempt to capture the sheer magnitude of those cliffs. The scene is along Taylor Creek in the Kolob Canyons section of Zion National Park. |
STEP BY STEP PAINTING DEMONSTRATION BY ROLAND LEE |
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1. I am using an oversize sheet of Arches 140 lb. cold pressed watercolor paper for this painting. I first soaked it in the bath tub, then stapled it to my backing board. When dry I carefully worked up my drawing using a light 4H pencil. I am using photos I shot during an early Spring hike up Taylor Creek Trail. After painting in the sky, as I usually do, I begin laying in broad washes of color across the cliffs, with no regard for detail or edges. I am using yellow ochre, along with Cad Red Light and Quinacridone Coral alowing the pigments to mingle naturally in the wet wash. |
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2. Once the first washes are dry, I move back into the cliff face and start delineating some of the form, shadows, and surface features of the rock. I rough in the foreground using very dark pigments again letting them mingle together to create a variety of colors and values. |
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3. This close-up shows how I rough in the foreground rocks and shrubs. While drying, I splatter clear water into the washes using a flat brush and flicking it against my finger. The purpose is to create a natural texture through hard and soft edges, and warm and cool colors. When dry, I will come back with darker washes and use the natural shapes already present to determine where brush, branches, and rocks will go. |
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4. After painting the sillouettes of the Pinion and Juniper trees I go back to work on the cliffs, carefully identifying shadows and fissures in the rock face. This is fun, but time consuming. Since its actually a portrait of a cliff's "face" I work hard to capture the features and characteristics of the splintered sandstone cliffs. |
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5. I usually paint on a drawing board which is tiltable so I can control the flow of water. But as I move into the detail stages of a larger painting I am more comfortable placing the work on an easel and working vertically. Since I am no longer working with loaded brushes and really wet washes, I don't have to worry about the paint running. I also like to get back away from the painting and evaluate the overall feel of the composition. I am painting with the darkest darks now and doing the finest detail work as I bring the painting to its finish.
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6. Now I bring everything into sharp
focus and complete the foreground trees. The finished painting is big
and dramatic. I love the power and strength in the stone face. This
is one of my favorite Zion paintings that I've done. "Nature's Sculpture" Kolob Cliff Face - Zion National
Park Click for purchase information
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