The Gold River Gallery hosted an art show opening reception on Friday, Sept. 12, titled “A Legacy in Landscapes,” showcasing the work of renowned artist Roland Lee.
He showcased his new book and explained his creative process to the crowded gallery through a presentation of paintings.
Lee has been painting for 50 years and specializes in watercolor paintings of Western landscapes.
“The reason I paint outdoors is because I like to be outdoors. The first time I saw Zion, I was just stricken with it, I couldn’t get over it,” said Lee.
Zion National Park had such a strong effect on Lee and his wife that they decided to move from Los Angeles to St. George.
The national parks and scenic views that Southern Utah provides allow Lee to paint landscapes right at home.
“It’s not about what I see as much as what I feel. Whenever I’m somewhere I can get my paints out, I’m happy,” shared Lee.
He began painting watercolor after being inspired by the artwork of Robert Shepherd, who moved to St. George around the same time as Lee. From that moment, Lee and his friends started what he called “a little colony of watercolor painters,” led by Shepherd.
Due to the lack of galleries, the group started renting hotels to put on art shows and sell their paintings. After the success these events generated, Lee decided to stick with watercolor painting and improve his skills at Southern Utah University.
“Making a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional surface is like magic. I never get tired of it, and I think without the creation process, I would have nothing, I would have to pull weeds all day or something,” said Lee.
At his first art show, using borrowed pegboards, Lee sold all but one painting he had brought. Over the course of his career, he has sold over 2400 original paintings and thousands more prints.
“Everybody has the ability to create. We all have this wanting to make order out of chaos and if we leave things alone, chaos ensues,” said Lee. “It’s a natural part of human existence, but the way we do it is different. I paint.”
The Gold River Gallery will be holding a meet and greet on Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Lee and purchase his paintings and book. To view Roland Lee’s artwork, visit the Gold River Gallery at South Main St. #2a, Cedar City, UT, or visit his website .
