FRIDAY FEATURE: Featured Artist ~ Lester B. Lee
Here is a re-post of my Friday Feature of artist Lester B. Lee (first published 5/1/15). Enjoy!
________________________________________________
Lester Bird Lee...from the "Old School"
I met Lester B. Lee on my first day of art class in 8th grade. Fresh out of graduate school and already an amazing artist, he took my art education to an entirely new level. "Mr. Lee" was (and still is) a natural teacher - motivating, great at constructive criticism, and he never made you feel that you weren't good enough or talented enough to learn the fundamentals of art - even though I'm sure our 14-year-old art skills were seriously lacking! He used a systematic approach to teach art basics to his students for the first half of the year. Then, after having introduced a variety of mediums and techniques, he allowed the students to write a contract with him to complete a certain number of assignments of their choice for the remainder of the year. Some of those projects were required to be drawings, but the rest were entirely up to the student. This was an unheard of amount of freedom for an 8th grader! It allowed each student to pursue the type of art that interested him or her most. This teaching method has left a lasting impression on me even into adulthood: Know the basics, but use them to create what you love to create.
About this same time in my life, I was coming to an artistic crossroads. I had studied ballet for the past 10 years but realized that I did not have the body type or drive to be a dancer. It was Mr. Lee who encouraged me in visual arts, and convinced me that I did, in fact, have a natural visual arts talent that I should continue to develop. He was an incredible positive influence on me as an artist at a critical time, because, let's face it, Jr. High is an experiment in terror for even the most balanced and confident of individuals!
I credit Mr. Lee (then and now) with giving me to confidence to continue pursuing art through high school - which ultimately earned me an art scholarship in college that I successfully maintained throughout my 4 1/2 years in school. It is because of him that I am unafraid to stand up and call myself "Artist" among my peers. I'm sure many students who have studied with Mr. Lee over the years of Jr. High and High School have felt the same. He is a natural mentor.
Fifteen years later...
I had finished graduate work and recently purchased my first house. Finally getting out of rental properties, I was able to set up a studio space in my home where I could create at will. I started enrolling in workshops and art classes for enjoyment and to further my skills, which had been dormant for my graduate years.
It is at that time that I reconnected with Lester Lee as an instructor, and at that time that we also developed a special artist friendship. Now, instead of "Mr. Lee," he is just "Lester" to me and my family. I have taken several workshops with Lester and my husband and I are collectors of his beautiful work, and lucky recipients of many gifted pieces of art from this generous man! We also discovered that we each had a personal connection to Parkinson's Disease over the past decade that increased our bond (as my husband was diagnosed and one of Lester's family suffered with the same), and I am so lucky and honored to be one of the people that Lester now calls "friend." His guidance and feedback in the beginning and throughout my adult art career have been invaluable.
Lester can render anything he sees with a pencil and paintbrush in amazing realism. He creates perfect proportion and composition with masterful ease. He draws, paints, illustrates, designs theater sets, and sculpts. He gives of his time and talent freely, whether it be hosting a troop of Boy Scouts to giving away his demonstration paintings to lucky students in his workshops. Incredibly talented, amazingly humble, generous, and one of the most gentle and soft-spoken persons you will meet...Lester Bird Lee is truly one-of-a-kind!
So, of course, when I reached out to Lester about being a featured artist on my blog, he was happy to answer my questions, along with a very sweet email reply. :)
Here are Lester's responses to my interview questions:
Q: What are your favorite materials and tools...the ones you just can't live without?
A: My favorite tool is the pencil. To me, the lines made by an artist with a pencil are the most expressive marks that can be made by artist. Next, of course, is watercolor. But, I could not live without my pencil.
Q: Who are your artistic influences?
A: Locally, my biggest influence was Richard Bird from Rexburg ID, and L'Deane Trublood from St. George, UT. From art history, N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, and Winslow Homer.
Q: What is/are your favorite subject matter and why?
A: My favorite subject matter is anything nostalgic under bright light and shadow. I mostly paint odd farmland outbuildings and implements. As to why, I don't know. I just get turned on by the simple shapes that light and shadow can make...and I love to portray lonely places. Old buildings often make better friends and have more personality than people.
Q: What advice would you give to emerging artists?
A: My advice to beginning artists...Learn To Draw, and draw well, and shade well. Become a master of documentation and composition. Stay simple. Edgar Payne said, "Beginning artists often chose subject matter that would tax even the most experienced artists."
Q: What would you most like to be remembered for in life?
A: I want to be remembered as a kind generous person...who wouldn't? Of my artwork, I want people to people to say that "He was old school."
Lester Bird Lee is originally from Mesquite, NV. He is one of nine children and was encouraged by his father at an early age to pursue art. Lester taught art classes on a Jr. High and High school level for many years. You will see his illustrations in the book series The Work And The Glory by Gerald Lund, among others. He recently won the People's Choice Award at the prestigious CNS Art & Soup event this Spring (2015).
You can find Lester and his work on Facebook. He took an early retirement a few years ago to build a studio-cabin and house in Clarkston, UT, where he now resides with his wife and children. But, teaching remains in his blood! In addition to private workshops that he teaches from his studio-cabin in Clarkston, Lester will be the new art teacher at Sky View High School in the Fall of 2015! Lucky students of Sky View - you are about to get "Old Schooled!"
As always, thanks for stopping by my blog!
I hope you enjoyed this Featured Artist post. Please leave a comment with your thoughts and feedback. I would love to hear from you!
________________________________________________
About this same time in my life, I was coming to an artistic crossroads. I had studied ballet for the past 10 years but realized that I did not have the body type or drive to be a dancer. It was Mr. Lee who encouraged me in visual arts, and convinced me that I did, in fact, have a natural visual arts talent that I should continue to develop. He was an incredible positive influence on me as an artist at a critical time, because, let's face it, Jr. High is an experiment in terror for even the most balanced and confident of individuals!
I credit Mr. Lee (then and now) with giving me to confidence to continue pursuing art through high school - which ultimately earned me an art scholarship in college that I successfully maintained throughout my 4 1/2 years in school. It is because of him that I am unafraid to stand up and call myself "Artist" among my peers. I'm sure many students who have studied with Mr. Lee over the years of Jr. High and High School have felt the same. He is a natural mentor.
.JPG) |
| Lester B. Lee painting hanging on the wall in my Mother's home. This painting occupied a position over our fireplace throughout my years living at home from age 14 until I moved out. |
Fifteen years later...
I had finished graduate work and recently purchased my first house. Finally getting out of rental properties, I was able to set up a studio space in my home where I could create at will. I started enrolling in workshops and art classes for enjoyment and to further my skills, which had been dormant for my graduate years.
It is at that time that I reconnected with Lester Lee as an instructor, and at that time that we also developed a special artist friendship. Now, instead of "Mr. Lee," he is just "Lester" to me and my family. I have taken several workshops with Lester and my husband and I are collectors of his beautiful work, and lucky recipients of many gifted pieces of art from this generous man! We also discovered that we each had a personal connection to Parkinson's Disease over the past decade that increased our bond (as my husband was diagnosed and one of Lester's family suffered with the same), and I am so lucky and honored to be one of the people that Lester now calls "friend." His guidance and feedback in the beginning and throughout my adult art career have been invaluable.
Lester can render anything he sees with a pencil and paintbrush in amazing realism. He creates perfect proportion and composition with masterful ease. He draws, paints, illustrates, designs theater sets, and sculpts. He gives of his time and talent freely, whether it be hosting a troop of Boy Scouts to giving away his demonstration paintings to lucky students in his workshops. Incredibly talented, amazingly humble, generous, and one of the most gentle and soft-spoken persons you will meet...Lester Bird Lee is truly one-of-a-kind!
 |
| Lester creating the sculpture for the Panaca Sesquicentennial Founder's Monument - ultimately cast in bronze |
 |
| Lester hosting a Boy Scout Troop at his studio |
 |
| Painting of Christ that Lester generously created for a church youth activity and then donated to the group. |
So, of course, when I reached out to Lester about being a featured artist on my blog, he was happy to answer my questions, along with a very sweet email reply. :)
Here are Lester's responses to my interview questions:
Q: What are your favorite materials and tools...the ones you just can't live without?
A: My favorite tool is the pencil. To me, the lines made by an artist with a pencil are the most expressive marks that can be made by artist. Next, of course, is watercolor. But, I could not live without my pencil.
 |
| Wonder by Lester B Lee |
Q: Who are your artistic influences?
A: Locally, my biggest influence was Richard Bird from Rexburg ID, and L'Deane Trublood from St. George, UT. From art history, N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, and Winslow Homer.
Q: What is/are your favorite subject matter and why?
A: My favorite subject matter is anything nostalgic under bright light and shadow. I mostly paint odd farmland outbuildings and implements. As to why, I don't know. I just get turned on by the simple shapes that light and shadow can make...and I love to portray lonely places. Old buildings often make better friends and have more personality than people.
 |
| There was a Crooked Man by Lester B Lee |
Q: What advice would you give to emerging artists?
A: My advice to beginning artists...Learn To Draw, and draw well, and shade well. Become a master of documentation and composition. Stay simple. Edgar Payne said, "Beginning artists often chose subject matter that would tax even the most experienced artists."
 |
| Irish Whiskey by Lester B Lee |
Q: What would you most like to be remembered for in life?
A: I want to be remembered as a kind generous person...who wouldn't? Of my artwork, I want people to people to say that "He was old school."
 |
| Seanmhathair Leigh by Lester B Lee This is one of several of Lester's paintings currently hanging in our home |
Lester Bird Lee is originally from Mesquite, NV. He is one of nine children and was encouraged by his father at an early age to pursue art. Lester taught art classes on a Jr. High and High school level for many years. You will see his illustrations in the book series The Work And The Glory by Gerald Lund, among others. He recently won the People's Choice Award at the prestigious CNS Art & Soup event this Spring (2015).
You can find Lester and his work on Facebook. He took an early retirement a few years ago to build a studio-cabin and house in Clarkston, UT, where he now resides with his wife and children. But, teaching remains in his blood! In addition to private workshops that he teaches from his studio-cabin in Clarkston, Lester will be the new art teacher at Sky View High School in the Fall of 2015! Lucky students of Sky View - you are about to get "Old Schooled!"
As always, thanks for stopping by my blog!
I hope you enjoyed this Featured Artist post. Please leave a comment with your thoughts and feedback. I would love to hear from you!
Wonderful artist and, as I discovered last year, wonderful human being!
ReplyDeleteWell said! Its been almost 30 years since he was my art teacher and friend. He has made a difference in my life. Gave me confidence in being an artist. We used to travel Provo once a month to get art supplies for the school in Delta and catch a movie. I still think of those drives,,, 75 miles but only seemed like 5 miles because he was so easy to talk to and we talked alot! I needed a friend and mentor like Mr. Lee at that time in my life. One of the coolest human beings I have ever come across.
DeleteSo true!
ReplyDeleteYes those kids at Sky View are the lucky ones! Mr. Lee will change some of those kids lives forever by helping bring out their natural talents! I was fortunate to have been a student of Mr. Lee his first year of teaching in Delta, Utah. Not only is he a natural teacher he is a wonderful person. We need more people like L.B. LEE in this world!
ReplyDeleteBack in 2008,or so, I bought a beautiful pen and ink drawing of the then-16 presidents of the Church in this dispensation, ending with Thomas S Monson. Now that we have a new Prophet, I would like to know if there has been an updated pen and ink that I can use to replace the framed copy we have up in our house? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow. Mr. Lee was my 8th grade art teacher at Millcreek Jr. High in 1988. I believe it was pretty early in his career. have ZERO artistic ability (I had a vocal scholarship in college but can't draw to save my life) but he was one of the best teachers. I remember him working on his pencil sketch of the prophets in his office. It was cool to see it finished later at Deseret Book. The weird thing is I actually live in Cache Valley now and work in morning radio here. It's cool that he built a studio in Clarkston and is it Skyview. I'm happy to see his success... He really was the most excellent teacher.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer. I loved reading this about Lester B Lee.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in the pencil sketched picture Lester B. Lee did of the 16 latter-day prophets. I have a beautifully framed copy in my home.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to find out if Mr. Lee has considered drawing an updated picture that would include the current prophet Russell M. Nelson?? I suspect many people familiar with the original piece...would be highly interested in an update too! Please let me know anything you can on this topic!
Daryl Ayers, daryllayers@gmail.com