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Ad Code: 4
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from Auction House Records.
The Retired Pioneer (Wagon)
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
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Biography from AskART:
| The following, submitted October 2005, is from the artist who lives in St. George, Utah.
Roland Lee was born in southern California in 1949. As a child he
enjoyed drawing, and was influenced by the great magazine and book
illustrators of the time. He attended Brigham Young University
where he studied illustration and graphic design with William
Whittaker, receiving a BA degree in art in 1971.
Following graduation Roland married Nellie Rogers and returned to
southern California where he was a designer and illustrator for several
advertising agencies. His logo designs appeared in three volumes
of the Book of American Trademarks and his work appeared on
everything from billboards to annual reports. Eventually he
became the Design Director for the international Lawry’s Foods
corporation.
With the birth of his first child, he and Nellie decided to begin their
life as a family in southern Utah, away from the hectic chaos of the
big city. They moved to St. George, Utah in 1973, a town
originally settled by his own pioneer ancestors. Here Roland
opened a small art studio and they fell in love with the spectacular
red rock landscape and the peaceful surroundings.
In 1976 Roland sold his art studio, and accepted a fulltime job at
Dixie State College, where he taught art classes and did publication
design for four years. Later he was instrumental in starting St. George Magazine and served as its art director for many years.
However, while teaching at Dixie College, Roland became intensely
interested in fine-art painting and began a serious study of the medium
of transparent watercolor. A few workshops with Osral Allred,
Carl Purcell, Glen Dale Anderson, and Tom Leek helped cement his love
for watercolor and sent him permanently on the path as a fulltime
painter.
Roland Lee began exhibiting and selling his paintings in 1980. At
his first juried show, the 1981 George Phippen Memorial Art Show in
Prescott Arizona, he was further encouraged by winning an award and
selling all of his paintings except one on the first day of the
show. In addition he was “discovered” by several notable
galleries, and was interviewed by representatives from the Western Art Collector newsletter and Art of the West magazine.
Since then Lee has exhibited and won awards in many other juried shows
including the Transparent Watercolor Society of America annual, the CM
Russell Show, the Western Masters Invitational, Museum of Native
American Cultures, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, and Utah Watercolor
Society.
Painting in a representational style, Roland uses the traditional
transparent watercolor technique, using no white or black paint,
opaques, or masking to achieve his results. He has traveled world
wide, doing scenes of Europe as well as his southwest landscape
scenes.
In addition to private collections, his work is in the collections of
The Springville Art Museum, Zions Bank, First Security Bank, The
Village Bank, Brigham Young University, and the permanent collection at
the museum in Zion National Park.
Roland Lee keeps hardbound sketchbooks on all his travels, and his
on-location drawings have recently been the subject of feature articles
in European Homes and Gardens Magazine and The Artist’s Magazine.
His work has also been seen in many other major art magazines, either
in gallery ads or feature articles. Those publications include Art Talk, U. S. Art, Southwest Art, Art West, Art Business News, Décor, and the LDS Ensign Magazine.
As a recognized artist, Roland is listed in several art journals including Contemporary Western Artists by Peggy and Harold Samuel's, Artists of Utah by Olpin and Swanson, and The Artist’s Bluebook from AskArt.com.
In 2003, Roland and Nellie took 18 months off to serve a mission for
the LDS Church in the Fresno California mission. On their
infrequent days off, Roland sketched the farms and ranches of the
Central Valley, and hiked in the Sierra Nevadas, sketching in Yosemite
and Sequoia National Parks. Upon returning to Utah, Roland delved
deeper into his painting, continuing his world travels and branching
into an even wider range of subjects including scenes of the South
Pacific islands.
Roland and Nellie currently make their home in St. George, Utah, where
Roland maintains a painting studio in the historic downtown
district. He and Nellie have five married children and 14
grandchildren.
ROLAND LEE - ARTIST'S STATEMENT
“Art is something I need to do, not want to do. Earning a living
from creating art is a wonderful blessing, and I thank the Lord each
day for being able to live in a place I love, with people I care about,
doing what means so much to me. No one could ask for more.
Being
a representational painter, I have to succeed on two levels. The viewer
must first respond to my painting intuitively or emotionally based on
the foundation of good composition and design, and second they must
respond intellectually based on recognition or familiarity with the
subject matter. Always, the fact that my subject is recognizable from
nature is second in importance to the overall design impact of the
painting. But if either one fails it makes the entire painting
unsuccessful. Bad art fails in one of those two areas.
Beyond that,
I try to capture the viewer through the use of drama. Ill alter the
light source to create exciting light and shadow patterns. I’ll
manipulate aerial perspective to create depth. I’ll change the local
colors to create a mood. I’ll be selective with the elements I include
to direct the viewers attention. I’ll do whatever I need to do to
create an image that emotionally involves the viewer. As an artist that
is my job.
I live in southern Utah because I love the landscape
around me. Initially that is what brought me here, and it is still the
driving force behind my work. Zion National Park is a special subject
of mine. The first time I saw the place I had an affinity for it. The
jagged cliffs and varied colors seemed to change at every turn, like a
chameleon. It’s almost as if God decided to have fun with this part of
the planet, giving vent to His own artistic expression. We have a
family cabin on the east rim of Zion, and I am always at peace there.
But I also have a deep interest in historical themes. My ancestors
were among the original pioneer settlers of Utah, and I’m proud of that
heritage. I have done a number of paintings which re-create early
pioneer life, and I love the texture and colors of the crumbling adobe
homes and weathered barns and fences. Recently that interest in
history has taken me on numerous painting trips to England and other
European countries where I have fallen in love with the rich
antiquities found everywhere. I have walked where my ancestors walked
before coming to America and feel a strong sense of connecting there.
Recent trips over the past few years have taken me to Switzerland,
Germany, Austria, Italy, France, England, Ireland, and Scotland where I
enjoyed painting and sketching on location. I keep extensive pencil
sketchbooks as I travel which I use for reference in completing larger
paintings later in the studio.
I’m often asked if I’m afraid I’ll
run out of things to paint. That could never happen. I've never had a
single day of "artist block" in my life. My biggest fear is not having
enough time in my life to paint all the things that interest me. The
world is a fantastic place -- especially when viewed through the eyes
of an artist.” -- Roland Lee
TECHNIQUES
I paint almost exclusively in watercolor, using the traditional
transparent painting method. I use no white or black paint, and no
masking of any kind. My preferred paper is Arches 140lb and 300lb cold
press, using primarily Daniel Smith and Winsor & Newton tube
colors. My paper is stretched by soaking and then stapling the paper to
a board. My travel setup includes hardbound 5x8 sketchbooks and 6B soft
lead pencils, kneaded eraser, 3-legged lightweight stool, Winsor and
Newton pan paints, and a small collapsible water can.
EXHIBITS AND AWARDS
• One Man Show - The Watercolor Gallery, Laguna Beach CA Nov 2005
• Shenandoah Invitational – Southern Virginia University April 2005
• Color of the Land - Deseret Morning News Juried exibit July 2005
• Feature article in The Artist's Magazine, March 2005
• St. George Spring Art Festival – Featured Artist, Poster Desert Blossoms, March 2005
• 6th Annual Art in Kayenta – Demonstrating Artist - February 2005
• Robert and Peggy Sears Invitational Art Show February 2005
• Cover of SkyWest/Delta Airlines in-flight magazine February 2005
• One-man show Datura Gallery October 2004
• SG Art in the Park First Place Watercolor Sep 2004
• Feature article in European Homes and Gardens Magazine 2003
• Inside cover Ensign magazine 2003
• Purchase Award and Best of Show Robert Sears Invitational Art Show 2003
• Library in the Park National Juried Invitational UT 2003
• Color of the Land – Deseret Morning News July 2005
• Transparent Watercolor Society of America Juried Exhibition 2002
• One man show - The Watercolor Gallery, Laguna Beach CA 2002
• Festival of the American West, UT 2002
• Days of 47 Invitational, Salt Lake City UT 2002
• Olympiad of Artists - Repartee Gallery, Provo UT 2002
• The Regional - St. George Art Museum 2002
• Robert Sears Invitational - Dixie State College 2002
• Zions Bank Collection, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah
• St. George Marathon 1995 Poster Artist
• Museum of Native American Cultures - Spokane WA
• CM Russell Show - Great Falls Montana
• American Indian & Cowboy Artists Assn. - San Dimas CA
• Calgary Stampede Art show - Calgary, Canada
• Western Heritage Art Invitational - Denver CO (Bronze medal)
• Western Masters Invitational - Scottsdale AZ
• George Phippen Memorial Art Show - Prescott AZ ( Multiple Awards)
• Death Valley 49ers Competition - Furnace Creek CA (Multiple First Place Award Winner)
• Sun Valley Western Art Show - Sun Valley ID
• Fort Robinson National Art Show - Crawford, NE
• Artists of Utah Invitational - Park City UT
• Southern Utah Invitational - SUU, Cedar City UT
• Utah Watercolor Society juried exhibition - Salt Lake City UT
• Dixie College Invitational - St. George UT
• St. George Arts Festival (Purchase Awards)
• Utah State Fair - Salt Lake City UT (Awards)
ART BOOKS AND JOURNALS
Dunbier, Lonnie Pierson (ed). The Artists Bluebook, 35,000 North American Artists (AskART.com, 2005)
Olpin, Robert S, Seifrit William C, Swanson Vern G. Artists of Utah. (Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1999) p.162
Swanson, Vern G; Olpin Robert; Seifrit William C. Utah Painting and Sculpture. (Layton: Gibbs Smith Publisher, 1991) p.287
McKittrick, Rosemary. Official Price Guide to Fine Art (House of Collectibles Publisher, 1993)
Samuels, Peggy and Harold. Contemporary Western Artists (Washington DC, Judd’s Inc. 1982) p. 306
Medina, Danny. Arizona Artists and their Galleries (Phoenix, AZ: The Dandick Co., 1982) p. 53
Wolf, Mirian Ross: How to Feed a Starving Artist (Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing company, 1983) p. 137
Mormon Arts – published by Brigham Young University
EXHIBITION CATALOGUES
The Midwest Watercolor Society - 26th Annual National Exhibition of
Transparent Watercolor. Kankakee, Illinois P. 16 Watercolor painting
“Kayenta Light” by Roland Lee
American Indian and Cowboy Artists – 7th Annual Exhibition. San Dimas, CA “Lazy Afternoon” watercolor painting by Roland Lee
Western Masters Exhibit – Scottsdale AZ. “Johnson’s Barn” watercolor painting by Roland Lee
Books featuring Roland Lee Paintings:
Neilson Reid L.: From the Green Hills of England to the Red Hills of
Dixie (Provo,UT: Red Rock Publishing, 2000) Cover Painting:
“Atkinville, The Last Visit” watercolor by Roland Lee
Hafen Lyman: On the Edge of Memory (St. George, UT: Tonaquint Press,
2000) Cover Painting “Between These Ridges” watercolor by Roland Lee
Platt Lyman: Grafton, Ghost Town on the Rio Virgin (St. George, UT:
Tonaquint Press, 1998) Cover Painting “Grafton School Days, watercolor
by Roland Lee
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
Cahoon Harold P., Cahoon Priscilla J.: Utah’s Dixie Birthplace (St.
George, UT: Published by Washington City Historical Society, CFP Books,
1996) Cover Painting: “Washington Cotton Factory” by Roland Lee
Hafen Lyman: Roping the Wind (Logan, UT: Utah State University Press,
1995) Cover painting “Roping the Wind” watercolor by Roland Lee
Crampton, C. Gregory: Ghosts of Glen Canyon: History Beneath Lake
Powell (Cricket Productions, 1994) Pen and ink historical drawings by
Roland Lee
Hafen Lyman: In the Shade of the Cottonwoods (St. George, UT:
Publishers Place, Inc., 1992) Cover Painting: “Under the Cottonwoods”
watercolor by Roland Lee
Hafen Lyman: A Dixie Christmas, Stories of Christmas Past (St. George,
UT: Pulbishers Place, Inc., 1988) Pen and ink drawings by Roland Lee
Newspaper Articles:
“Indulge in Art Piece by Piece.” The Spectrum, 20 March 2005. Southwest
Living Section. By Jennifer King. “Featured artist for the 2005 Art
Festival is St. George resident Roland Lee with his painting, “Desert
Blossoms.”
“Roland Lee Exhibit Features South Pacific” The Senior Sampler, 29 July
2005. P1 “Vakas on the Beach is one of the South Pacific paintings by
Roland Lee.”
“Travel Down Under with Roland Lee.” The Spectrum, August 2005.
“Artist Roland Lee will present a special travel exhibit…featuring new
paintings and drawings from his recent painting trip to the South
Pacific.”
“Dixie Invitational Art Show Returns.” The Spectrum, 6 February
2004. by Chris Taylor. “In From the Fields by Roland Lee was last
year’s Best of Show Winner.”
“Library in the Park now featuring National Juried Show 2004.” The Spectrum, July 2004
“Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show Returns Valentine’s Weekend.”
The Spectrum, 6 February 2004. “In From the Fields Best of Show
purchase prize winner by Roland Lee.”
“Stroke of Creativity.” The Spectrum, 21 February 2003. Events section
“Take a Closer Look - The Secret Is Out.” The Spectrum, 5 July
2002. “Roland Lee received the People’s Choice Award for his
watercolor, ‘Symbol of Freedom’. He also received the Special Merit
Award for the same painting.”
“Backroads of America – Watercolors by Roland Lee.” The Spectrum, 7 December 2001. Out and About section
“Holiday Original Art Show Features Paintings by 7 Top Utah Artists.” The Spectrum, 28 November 2001, C2
“Develop a Taste for Art.” Southwest Living Datebook, 22
September, 2000 D2. “Roland Lee will have his lively landscapes of
Southern Utah and his depictions of villages abroad available as well.”
“A Window on the World - British Isles Captured by Roland Lee.”
The Spectrum, 20 August 2000. Focus C1. “While local artist Roland Lee
is best know for his Southern Utah paintings, more recently collectors
have started looking forward to Lee’s annual exhibit of works completed
during his summer travels across the Atlantic.”
“Roland Lee’s England and Ireland Paintings.” The Spectrum, 18 August 2000. D8 Southwest Living
“Footsteps of Pioneers Art Exhibit will Feature Works of Roland Lee.”
The Spectrum, 7 July 2000, D10 “Watercolor paintings by Roland Lee
depicting Utah’s history will be featured during the month of July at
the St. George LDS Tabernacle.”
“Masterpieces in Miniature.” The Spectrum, 17 December 1999. D8 Southwest Living
“Lee Introduces Giclee Prints.” The Spectrum, 11 June 1997.
“Southern Utah watercolorist Roland Lee will introduce several new
historical prints this month at the Roland Lee Art Gallery.”
“Artful Walk.” the Spectrum, Cover spotlight. 8 May 1997. “Some of the
featured art is by local artists such as Roland Lee and Max Bunnell.”
“Dixie Art Walk Takes Art to Heart.” The Spectrum, 8 May 1997. “Lee’s
art dwells on mainly landscapes of the Southern Utah area, although he
has painted in other areas of the country.”
“Businessman turns love of author into profit.” Daily Spectrum, 5
January 1996 by Scott Van Winkel. “He just bought two signed
books from Hafen and artist Roland Lee, for example that he believes
have already doubled in value.”
“The Grand Ole’ Opera.” The Senior Sampler, 15 March 1996. “From an
original watercolor painting by Roland Lee depicting the Opera House in
the late 1800’s.”
“Roland Lee and Lyman Hafen Team for New Book on Zion.” The
Spectrum, 20 November 1996. B6. “Roland Lee and Lyman Hafen grew up in
different worlds but with ties to southern Utah.”
“The West Under Cover.” The Salt Lake Tribune, July 30 1995 by Paul Swenson. Book review of “Roping the Wind”
“Local Scenes are Inspiration.” Daily Spectrum, 3 July 1995, by Fred
Ludwig “The mountain in the painting looks like one of those at Zion
National Park.”
“Pretty as a Picture.” The Spectrum, 8 August 1992. “Colleen
Harris studies a painting by Roland Lee that captured Best of Show and
Judges choice at the Washington County Fair.” Painting Great White
Throne by Roland Lee.
“Watercolor – The Magic Medium, Lecture Series.” St. George Art Museum News, Vol 3 Winter 1992 P3
“Outstanding Young Businessman” The Spectrum 22 January 1990
“Southern Utah Artists Part of Festival” The Spectrum 10 April 1990
“Two well-established and popular southern Utah artists, Jerry Anderson
and Roland Lee will again exhibit their works.”
“Varied Styles Come Together.” Deseret News, June 1985, 2E. by Richard
Christenson, Deseret News Art Critic. Zions Bank Show, Utah Museum of
Art “Also appealing are two watercolors of Bryce Canyon by Southern
Utah’s Roland Lee.”
“St. George Art Fest Features Local Artists Jerry Anderson, Roland Lee.” Daily Spectrum, March 1985, by Fran Sheehan
“Plans finalized for annual Pioneer Invitational Exhibit.” Daily
Spectrum, Sept, “Lee is a watercolorist who captures the drama of the
southwestern landscape and pioneer heritage through transparent
watercolors.”
“Arts Council Plans Events.” Color Country Spectrum, 25 February 1983
“He Paints the Spirit of Southern Utah.” Deseret News, 18
December 1983, 2E. by Richard Christenson, Deseret News Art Critic
“St. George Festival Termed Super.” Daily Spectrum, 3 April 1983, P11
“The Secret Place.” Deseret News, 26 April 1982, Spectra P1, by Edward Geary
“St. George Arts Festival.” Color Country Spectrum, 9 April 1982, Special Section
“Lee Awarded Bronze Medal.” Color Country Spectrum, 1982
“Spring in Snow Canyon.” Deseret News, 20 April 1981, Spectra P1, by Dave Conley
“Local Artist Receives Award.” Color Country Spectrum, 22 Nov 1981
“Roland Lee – Washington County Art Scene.” Washington County News, 7 June 1981
“Falk, Dollar nab People’s Choice Prize at Phippen.” Daily Courier, 26 May, 1981, 3A
“Gallery to Open.”
“Artist Opens Gallery to Young, Promising Talent.” The Phoenix Gazette, 9 September 1981, NE7 by Lynn Pyne
“Annual Western Art Show at the Burk Gal’ry This Weekend” Boulder City News, 17 September 1981
“Mammen to Feature Western Bronzes.” The Phoenix Gazette, 28 Oct, 1981
“Mammen Gallery II Schedules Busy Month.” Arizona Art Talk, November 1981, P6
“Art News – Southwest Watercolorist Roland Lee.” The Phoenix Gazette, Oct, 1981
“Annual Art Festival in St. George Open Three More Days.” The
Salt Lake Tribune, 5 September 1981. by Ed Rogers. “The watercolors of
Roland Lee feature the pioneer heritage and landscape of the
southwest.”
“Western Art is Common Bond Between 2 Artists” The Daily Spectrum 9 March 1980
“Art Show” Las Vegas Review Journal 13 April 1980 2L “This
painting, A twisted Fence, by artist Roland Lee of St. George, Utah is
one of many paintings that will be on display…”
“Art Show Scheduled during Boulder City Jamboree” Las Vegas Review
Journal 20 April 1980 2L “A mini art show at the Burk Gallery
will be part of the third annual Boulder City Jamboree…”
“Mini Art Show Featured at Jamboree” Las Vegas Sun 20 April 1980 3B.
“Watercolorist Lee was born in California. He has several national
awards to his credit….”
“National Art Award Goes to Former Californian.” California Intermountain News, 9 October 1980, P4
“Brazzeal and Lee to Display Work.” Color Country Spectrum, 9 March 1980, Outlook P7
MAGAZINE ARTICLES/FEATURES
SkyWest Magazine Jan/Feb 2005 Cover painting “Days End at Lake Powell
by Roland Lee. “Painting a Sense of Serenity.” Feature article P.16
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
The Ensign November 2003 Cover 3 Painting “Temple Morning” watercolor by Roland Lee
European Homes and Gardens magazine November 2003 “Roland Lee, an
artist with a European flair” by CJ Johnson. pp.114-118. Showcased
Roland Lee's recent travels and paintings of England, Germany, Austria,
and Switzerland.
St. George Magazine May 2003. “20 Years of Magic.” By Jennifer King p.50
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."
St. George Magazine March 2002. “Zion, Telling the Truth of It.” by Lyman Hafen. p.65
Utah Business Magazine “Around Utah”, December 2000
Salt Lake Magazine January 1997. ”Roland Lee, Southwestern Drama” pp.32-33
St. George Magazine January 1997. “Pa’rus – See What this river has wrought.” by Lyman Hafen. p.23 Springdale Section
St. George Magazine April 1996. “Dixie’s Year-long Party – Washington County Celebrates a Century.” by Linda Sappington. p.15-16
St. George Magazine September 1996. “Promised Land – Pioneer and Modern-day perceptions of Zion Canyon.” By Lyman Hafen. p.13
This People Magazine “The St. George Temple” p.56
Art Business News – Spotlight on gallery and prints
U.S. Art Magazine - Spotlight on new gallery and prints
The Ensign November 1992 Cover 3 Painting “St. George Temple” watercolor by Roland Lee
Art Scene Magazine Spring 1991. “The St. George Art Festival.” By Cheryl Koeven p.17; “A Gallery of Artists.” P.35
Desert Southwest Magazine Spring 1988. “April Means Art Festival in St. George.” p.6-7
Art West March 1982 “Roland Lee - Illustrator Turned Illusionist.” By Pam Hait pp.56-65
Art West September 1980 “Art News– Roland Lee, of St. George Utah recently exhibited his works at the…” p74
Art West December 1980 “Art News – Roland L. Lee won the “Peoples
Choice Award at the recent St. George National Invitational Art Exhibit
with his watercolor Gathering Storm.” p.80
Gallery Magazine Ads:
Art of the West Magazine Artists of Utah Sale and Show – Saguaro Gallery, Park City, UT
Southwest Art Magazine – January 1982 – Full page ad featuring “White House” by Roland Lee – Wilson Gallery, Fresno CA
Art West Magazine – March 1982. Inside back cover ad featuring “Old
Timer” by Roland Lee – George Phippen Memorial Art Show, Prescott
AZ
Art West Magazine – March 1981. Full page back cover ad featuring
“Johnson’s Barn” by Roland Lee – Heaton Gallery West, St. George, UT
Southwest Art Magazine – May 1981. Full page ad featuring “Springdale Sunrise” by Roland Lee – The Burk Gal’ry, Boulder City NV
Artists of the Rockies and the Golden West – Winter 1981. ½ page
ad featuring “Schools Out by Roland Lee - The Burk Gal’ry, Boulder
City, NV
Artists of the Rockies and the Golden West – Fall 1980. Winter Art Roundup - Heaton Gallery West, Ancestor Square, UT
Mountain West Magazine – October 1980 - Laughing Horse Gallery, Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake Magazine
This People
St. George Magazine
US Art
Southwest Art
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