Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch…
We’re enjoying a quiet weekend tending Clear Creek Family Ranch for my son Jon while he and his family travel to a mission homecoming. The weather is amazing, the scenery is tops, and the [...]
By Roland Lee
Posted Field Studies and Paintings on Utah’s Grand Staircase Geology Trail – Part 1
Roland Lee painting Thor’s Hammer along the trail below the rim at Bryce Canyon National Park. It’s amazing how many people want to stop and look over your shoulder when you’re [...]
Hitting the Road in my Rolling Studio
Primitive camping at Sand Hollow Reservoir with my 1992 Six Pac Super Mini Camper and classic 1988 Toyota 4 x 4 pickup Some people may call it vacationing, but for an artist any trip into the [...]
Amazing Death Valley
We are in Ridgecrest California for a few days, teaching a watercolor workshop for the Desert Artists League. Yesterday on the way down we took a sidetrip through Death Valley National Park. [...]
Pein Air Painting with the Dixie Watercolor Society
Russell Black, our local master of the Rex Brandt watercolor style, is comfortable outdoors painting on location. Lola Krumenacher uses her Sienna paint box to whip up another wonderful [...]
Plein Air Painting at Pine Valley
I have been invited to participate in a special art exhibit at the Eccles Museum this fall featuring paintings of the Dixie National Forest in Southern Utah. A number of other artists have also [...]
Southern Utah Watercolor Society Enjoys Plein Air Painting at Pine Valley
Our local painting group, the Southern Utah Watercolor Society decided to head up to the mountains to bask in the cool air recently. Our destination, Pine Valley Mountain turned out to be just [...]
First Day at Mesa Verde
Our first day of a two-week residency at Mesa Verde was a whirlwind of adventure! First of all our guest hogan is completely charming, decorated in a 1930’s pueblo style and offering all [...]
Camping and Sketching in Snow Canyon
We awoke to this glorious view of the sunrise on Snow Canyon’s cliffs A couple of days ago Nellie and I decided to do some tent camping in Snow Canyon. The weather was perfect — sunny [...]
Wet Weather and Watercolor
Left: “North Fork of the Virgin River” 8 x 12 by Roland Lee We have had unprecedented moisture in the state of Utah the past few days, which is fortunate for the ski resorts but [...]
In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran Plein Air Show a huge success for everyone involved
The weather was incomparable, the fall colors at their peak, and the artists were in their glory this past week in Zion National Park. It all ended too soon as far as I was concerned, but our [...]
More miles and more Desert Blossoms
My evening hikes are getting longer and longer and the view is getting better and better. Here are a couple of photos from the T-Bone Mesa trail above St. George.
Desert Blossoms
I’ve been walking in the desert each evening before sundown, soaking in the peace and serenity of the land. The frequent rains have made the desert blossom. Every inch of sand is covered [...]
Hike in Snow Canyon
The sun finally came out with a vengeance, so I decided to hit the trails. On Saturday I did a little exploring in Snow Canyon, and soon discovered half the planet had the same idea. The parking [...]
Desert Waterfalls
It’s been raining and snowing for the past few days and I’ve been anxious to get out into the desert to see the results. This morning I grabbed my sketchbook and camera and went [...]
Winter is still with us
I don’t know if its just old age, but I’ve never been so cold as I have in the past month. I’m ready for summer already, and Winter has barely sunk its teeth into the season. [...]
A Once-in-a-lifetime Walk in the Zion Tunnel
I was one of 300 lucky ticket holders who were allowed to walk through the mile-long tunnel at Zion National Park last night. As part of the Centennial, they blocked vehicle traffic making it [...]
An Afternoon Stroll in the Watery Zion Narrows
When I get a chance to hike in Zion National Park I go almost giddy! I had that opportunity again on Saturday after our quarterly board meeting of the Zion Natural History Association, when three [...]
Hiking to Angels Landing in Zion National Park
Above: Angels Landing rises 1500 feet above the Zion Canyon floor. Below: The view from the top. I figured it was time to get out of the studio and fill the creative bucket, so I spent the day [...]
Photos of Desert Tortoises near St. George, Utah in the Red Clfifs Desert Reserve
I had another close encounter of the Tortoise kind on my walk in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. As I walked up the trail I spotted a tortoise ambling up the trail towards me. He was about 30 feet [...]
Joshua Trees and Cactus Flowers
I took my wife to the airport in Las Vegas (off to see our new granddaughter in Houston)and on the way back this morning I decided to use the Old Highway and stop off at the Woodbury Desert [...]
Photos of Desert Tortoise and Wildflowers in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
I’ve taken up walking during my lunch hour as a way of getting in better shape and getting in touch with my inner “desert tortoise.” I love the desert. I relish the feel of the [...]
Desert Wildflowers in Bloom
Today the weather was so gorgeous I took a little walk in the desert at lunchtime and shot these photos of yellow wildflowers. The desert is full of them right now and all the red sand is covered [...]
