Artist Renee Lammers

"Monhegan Chicken Coop" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold today off the website!  Thank you!  

    I wonder sometimes if more of my plein air work sells over my studio paintings?

 I have looked over my sold paintings this last few years to determine the answer.

I sell more plein air paintings.  The percentage is about 70% plein air

to 30% studio work.  The weather here in Maine is perfect

plein air weather.  Temperatures were 68 degrees today!  The leaves are just now

starting to grow.  I may venture out somewhere to paint tomorrow!  I am feeling

better.  

     Today Daisy, Duke, and I went to Lake Alamoosook.  I love this lake.  I admire

the water and the trees while they swim.  

   I have been thinking about painting this scene!  

   The complementary colors of the warm reds in the pine needles in contrast with the

brightly colored green pine needles is sweet.  I also admire how many values are in this

scene.  There are many nice textures.  There is a nice feeling to this format.  

"Calm Night" 4x4 oil on copper has a auction bid of 39$ right now!  click on the link to bid.  This

is a great way to have one of my copper paintings!  http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Buy/Auction/128442

   Have a great night!

"Sandy Point After The Storm" 10x10 oil on copper sold today!

   I spend a lot of time working on my website almost everyday.  I

believe it makes shopping for a painting very easy for clients 24 hours a day!

When they click on a painting image, under the painting heading, a buy it now

buttom appears.  Clients can pay with a variety of payment methods.  Shipping

is always free.  This painting was shipped to Oregon today.  Thank you.

  Here are a few photos from Mount Desert Island.  I am sick as a dog.  So my energy is

limited!  

Here is La Paus Point.  

   Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.  Robert wants me to go to a doctor.  I don't have

a fever.  It may be allergies or a cold or the flu.  I will survive!  Daisy and Duke are keeping

me company.  Have a good night.  The new little skiff painting is at 29$ right now in the auction.  Sometimes

the auction link comes up right below but sometimes you have to click on comment button and then

it shows up!

"Calm Night" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks

"Red Hollyhocks" 6x6 oil on copper. sold! Thanks.

   Yesterday I worked on this painting for 8 hours.  I had painted every leave, flower, the photo

showed.  I wasn't happy with the painting.  I was going to wipe it all off!  But I stopped myself.

What was wrong?  I had painted it piece meal.  Another words I had painted it like a paint by

number.  I had become a replicator of a photograph...a machine!  I had worked yes but I had

not used my mind or my emotions.  I had nothing to show for my effort.  To make a great

painting an artist must work, use their minds, and use their emotions.  I grabbed by

palette knife.  I never use a palette knife except to clear my palette.  I decided to destroy some

of the painting intentionally.  I started to like it better.  I added a few light areas.  I think this

is much better than what I had before.  I wanted one stalk of red hollyhocks to show up and

come forward.  If I had not done this, the viewers eye would have been darting all over the

painting.  There were too many stacatto notes!  There were many center of interests.  There was no

movement intended for the viewer.  Anyway.  I just thought I would show you what I did.

I may work some more on it.  For now I think it is done.

   Here are a few of my pen and ink daffodil doodles.  I sat down next to my own daffodils.  I drew six drawings.  Then

I went inside and watercolored them from memory.  I will be sending these out to clients who purchase oil paintings

as thank you notes!  Have a great night!  Daisy and Duke are getting slick fat from all their frosty paw ice cream treats!

Here is Duke relaxing in the sun while I drew daffodils!  Daisy was sitting under the steps in the shade.  

"White Daffodils" 6x12 oil on copper.  Sold!

"Lupines and Daisies" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold!

"White Casablanca Lilies" 12x12 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you so much!

  I love to paint a variety of subjects!  It is working for me.  I never get bored with painting.

I really enjoy working on different projects each day.  I was painting four red holley hocks

today.  Daisy and Duke normally take an afternoon nap.  First Duke was nudging me.  He

kept putting his front paw on me.  First he was putting his paw on my shoulder.  Then he 

started to paw at my knee.  Finally after listening to his deep sighs, I gave up painting,

and drove them to Sears Island.  It was too nice to be inside today.

     We hiked up the hill on Sears Island.  We were about to hike on the path

lined with stones to the homestead.  But Daisy was too tired.  So

we hiked down the paved street to the ocean.  Daisy sat in the ocean

for several minutes.  She didn't move.  I think the ice cold water just felt good on her old

bones.  She had her eyes closed.  It must have really felt good.  Duke swam some too.

They are going to enjoy a few Frosty Paws doggy ice cream the next few days.  Thanks

for the painting sales this week!  I really appreciate it!

 "Sailor's Delight" 6x6 oil on copper.  sold!  Thanks.

    Here is Duke walking along the shore of Lake Alamoosook.  What a peaceful place to

spend an hour with your dogs.  Daisy was missing for 15 minutes.  Even Duke came to help

look for her.  Then she appeared happily walking behind us!  

   There were loons calling.  We also saw these ducks.  They were unusual looking.

    The large copper panel has been starring at me.  The oil primer is dried and ready to lightly

sand.  I really wanted to paint large plein air but the weather and lack of leaves of most trees

makes this not possibly yet!  So I will have to paint a image from my computer monitor.  I

am still trying to decided what to paint!  It is really an important decision.  Have a great night!

"Casablanca Lilies" 12x12 oil on copper.  SOld. Yeah!  Thanks.

   Sometimes a painting never gets put on to my website.  Here is one of them!  I painted my own

Casablanca Lilies my husband, Robert grew for me.  It was a beautiful August day well spent.

"Under The Moon"  7 x 2.5 oil on copper.  Private Collection.

   For some reason the moon is very facinating to me.  I spend a lot of time gazing at the moon.  Often I can't sleep

at night because of the moon!  I find myself drawing in the dark out on my deck making color notes.  I used my 

sketches to create paintings.  You can see the lights from my neighbor's home across the Penobscot East Channel.  

   Mrs.  Daisy having her Frosty Paw doggy ice cream treat yesterday!  She really enjoyed this!

   Daisy having a pork roll treat!  She loves her new bed.  

Nothing like a few rolls in the Spring grass!

   Spring is here!

      Just a few of our bees!  Duke had a bee riding on his back yesterday as he ran by their hives.

The bee was just checking Duke out.  I was hit in the eye by a bee.  I wasn't stung.  I guess

I had better stay out of the bee's flight patterns!  Have a good night!

"Dreaming Of Wild Roses" 6x10 oil on copper sold last night while I was sleeping!  Thanks!

   This has been a great week for painting sales.  I really appreciate these sales!

"Poppy Dance" 5x7 oil on copper  sold.

"What's Up Tiger Lily" 6x6 oil on copper sold.

"Moonlight Sail" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold!

"Little Red Dory" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

Daisy and Duke just wanted to stay outside today.  The sun was shining!  In Maine sunlight

can be a treat!  I decided to sit out in the sun by the edge of our property facing the Penobscot

East Channel.  I watched the dogs roll around.  I watched a few ducks.  Seagulls were flying

by.  Soon all three of us were lined up looking at the water.  

   Daisy and Duke always have the right idea.  Tonight they will celebrate!  Frosty Paws

doggy ice cream treats for everyone!  Thank you!  Have a great night!  The bees are doing great!

   I drove over to Mount Desert Island to Acadia National Park today.  Here are a few photos.

Here is a view on Otter Cliff Road.

A bird's eye view of a world famous Sand Beach.  

There are many beautiful birch trees on Mount Desert Island.  I like to visit a few of them to

see how they did during the winter.  I have painted some of these birch trees several times.

   Here is a secret beach only the locals know about.  We came here often when we lived

on Mount Desert Island.  There are sand dollars here if you look hard enough.  Also there

are mussels to harvest at low tide.

Bass Harbor is in the distance.  There are no leaves on the trees yet!  I did see a few small red

blossoms on the other side of the island.  There is hope.

   Here is a beautiful forest owned by one of the most famous people living on the island.  Buttermilk

is poured onto the ground so that green moss grows.  

   Have a great night!  I hope you enjoyed this!  

   Here is the 36x48 inch copper panel cradled to a ampersand 1 1/2 inch board with one

inch wood brass screws.  The screws were covered with JBWeld, a very strong epoxy, sanded,

and then sealed with Gamblin's oil primer.  I left some copper shining through.  When

the oil primer has dried, I plan to sand down the whole painting.  After I complete the 

painting's drawing, I can further sand down and expose more copper.  This is going to be a 

very light colored painting.  I wanted to give the oil primer a try!  It might make painting

this large painting easier.  The panel will not be as smooth because of the oil primer.

   I thought I would show you the JB Weld (epoxy) process.  The directions state to

pour out the same portions from each tube and then stir them together.  I used a black

plastic spatula purchased at the hardware store.  Then I just patched the JB Weld onto

the brass wood screws.  I wanted to cover the screws for additional strength and protection from

the elements. 

   Here is the JB Weld patched on top of the brass wood screws dried and sanded.  

   Here are the brass wood screws, JB Welded, sanded, and sealed with oil primer.  The 1/2

inch perimeter of copper where the screw are located will be underneath a wood frame.  I just

wanted it to be protected. I noticed the copper panel is more secure after this process.

  I purchased a few large brushes in Florida at Sam Flax.  I put my hand there so you

could see how large these brushes are!  Impressive sizes!  From the top:  Silver Brush 3 inch 1414 S,

a scraper thing by Catalyst number W-06, filbert size 16 called the Catalyst by Princeton made of Polytip

bristle, Flat sized 24 called Catalyst by Princeton made of Polytip bristle, and lastly a 12 bright by

Princeton number 5200 B.  I will be also using a print making brayer size 4 inch.  These large

brushes are all new.  This should really make painting big more interesting!

   Finally I purchased a army cartridge carton at an army supply place.  They are air tight.

I poured my turpenoid into this container so I can rinse out my brushes.  They do not

cost much, 14$.  I bet this will last me for many years.  It also has a convenient handle to

carry when it is closed!

Here is the metal t square I purchased for making sure my small painting's horizons are

straight and my buildings are not leaning!  It says X-ACTO and precision on it.  I was 

asked to show a photo. 

   Robert had the day off.  Daisy and Duke were so delighted to go to Lake Alamoosook!

Here he is tossing a big stick for Duke!  Daisy sniffing something.

Beautiful Daisy waiting for Robert and Duke to follow her!

    It is great to be at the lake with Robert along.  The pups are more under control!  

I can look around and relax some.

Rain has deepen the colors and darken the values of the trees and leaves.

The bees are settling into their new hives.  It was warm enough for them to fly.  They were

not feeling too well yesterday.  Robert purchased medicine.  He put it into their sugar water.

Today they seemed happy.  Sometimes it is difficult for bees to travel all day in their box in

a truck 20 hours.  Who knows how long they were in the box before they were driven to Maine.

Now they are going to be spoiled bees here at Lammers Gallery!  Have a great night!

"Radiance" 4x4 oil on copper.  250$ framed in gold wood.  Shipped free.

   I have been paintings skies lately!  They are quite challenging.  I painted in several 

layers, tonked the painting (set a paper towel on the painting, smoothed the surface of the papertowel, and 

then lifted the paper towel) (this eliminates any brushstrokes and excess paint),

then painted a last layer allowing my caligraphic strokes to show.  

    I have decided to enter a plein air event in Castine, Maine 20 minutes from

my home.  The director is a nice guy so he will be treating all the artists well.  I am

sure it will be fun.  The event is only  for one day, July 27, 2013.  I will

paint hard, be respectful, and hope for the best!  I paint in Castine all of the time.  

There are many nice things for me to paint.  

    I took Daisy and Duke for a ride to Castine today.  Here is Dyce's Head.  Colors

are very gray and brown yet.  

   We saw this adoreable puppy on the road to Lake Alamoosook.  Daisy saw the puppy first

and let out a little woof.  The puppy looked!  Duke didn't see the puppy.  He was concentrating

on the other things.  

    What a cute little golden retriever puppy!  

   The puppy did this a few time glancing at Daisy.  The pup was just relaxing outside.

He ran back to his house.  I think Daisy scared him.  

   Daisy and Duke swam some.

  This would make a nice painting!

   My painting "Unity" was part of the top 15% Judges Favorite for the Bold Brush

Painting competition.  This means they will put my website in the informed collector.  

Another painting sold off my website last night!  "What's Up Tiger Lily" sold.  Thanks.

Daisy and Duke had their Frosty Paws doggy ice cream treat to celebrate!  

Duke was howling for his treat!  Our Bees have an illness.  Robert is off to buy them medicine

to put into their sugar water.  Hopefully they will pull through!  Have a great night!

   Robert picked up three more bee packages today.  They were driven all the way from Georgia

last night.  So we suited up in our beekeeping suits.  We had prepared special syrup for the bees

last night.  The bee package is on the right.  There are so many bees inside.  There is one small

box containing a queen.  She can't get out until we release a cork and poke a whole in a sugar

patch.  The bees have grown use to her scent.  They have started to accept her...or not..but 

hopeful yes! We put the queen's box inside of the new hive and secure it so it hangs.  Then 

we dumped all the bees out of the package into the hive.  I sprayed with sugar water to relax

the bees.  It was cold so they didn't fly very much.  

   Here I am with one of the bee packages.  They cost about a hundred each.  I have read 

there can be 10,000 bees in one package.  They weigh about three pounds or so.  The queen

is inside in the center of the bees.  They are keeping her warm.  They rub their feet to create

heat.  I could hear them humming!

   The white string is important to hold on to.  The metal can slides out (this

contains sugar water, food for the bees during their road trip).  

  The white string is attached to the queen's little box.  If you let go of the string,

the queen's box falls down into the package of bees.  Then you need

to reach in there and grab it.  But there are 10,000 bees surrounding her.

 This is not easy.  Best to hold on to the white string!  We did very well with all

three packages securing the queen and delivering the bees into their new hive.

We had a bag of sugar water poked for them to eat on top of the hive.  We

also had sugar water in a feeder.

Here is Robert getting ready to do something important.  We didn't get stung during the 

whole process.  But one bee was sitting on his back.  When he pulled off his suit he

was stung once.  They say bee stinging is very good for your immune system.

   It was very exciting!  Robert told me I was a big help and we worked well together.  Hopefully

our new bees will be settled into their new home!  Make sure you do not use outdoor pesticides.

You can sprinkle salt onto weeds.  Water the salted areas with a little water.  This will kill weeds

more safely for animals, you, and it is less expensive!  Do that for me.  Without our bees we

have nothing.

Have a great night!  Let's paint!

"Silence of Winter" 4x4 oil on copper.  Framed in medium wood.  sold!  Thanks.

    I was inspired to paint this using a Charles Warren Eaton painting.  I changed the format

to a square and rearranged the composition.  I basically just used his color scheme and subject

matter to create a whole new painting.  I learned a few things while I did this.  Great way

to spend an evening.

"Under The Moon" 7 x 2.5 oil on copper Framed in medium gold wood shipped free. Sold!

    Here is another painting of a white pine inspired by the colors of a Charles Warren Eaton

night scene.  He had many white pines and his composition and format were completely different

than my painting.  I may go out some night to paint when the moon is full!

Sold!   I need to straighten the horizon line!  I have a niffy new tool any

plein air painter should have.  It is a tiny metal t square.  I bought it at home depot.

I fits in the palm of your hand.  It would be great for correcting slanted horizon lines.
It would also help create straighter building lines.  It has been one of my best

purchases!  

   I took Daisy and Duke to Lake Alamoosook.  Here they are marching up and down a small creek

that runs into the lake.  Duke had his foot out touching under water leaves hoping it would be a fish!

   Here they are having a Frosty Paws ice cream doggy treat celebrating another internet sale,

"Poppy Dance" sold last night while I was sleeping.  Thank you!  Love my website with Fineartstudioonline.

I believe he discovered my website through the connection with the new painting auction site.  

  It was too nice today to enjoy a treat indoors.  Daisy really enjoyed her treat.

   The colors of early Spring here in Maine.  Here are a few white pines.

   Daisy swimming!

Duke searches for a minnow!

    Have a great night!  Let's do some painting! 

Sold!  Thanks.

"White Pine's Trunk" 7x2.5 oil on copper.  Private collection.

   Today was a beautiful Spring day!  I grabbed my painting equipment and drove to

Lake Alamoosook without Daisy and Duke.  I had spent a few hours outside in the 

backyard so didn't feel too guilty about leaving them.  I have been admiring artists who

can paint three or four paintings at one time plein air.  They have all different types of

shaped small paintings taped to their easel.  Then they paint them all!  I could only handle

two.  I painted one and then I painted the other not exactly as they did.  I did come out 

with two good paintings today instead of possibly one.

"White Pine at Alamoosook Lake" 5x7 oil on copper.  Framed in gold wood. Sold!

"White Pine at Twilight" 5x7 oil on copper Sold!

    Last night I was looking out the window admiring the sky as the sunset.

I hiked down to the water's edge amazed at how beautiful my backyard

was!  I could paint a lot of paintings here.  I took a few photos and worked

really pretty hard on this painting.  I even worked more on the painting

today.  I think plein air is better.  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

    I am not a very electrical equipment savy person.  If I can do it anyone can!  

   I purchased a battery operated Ryobi sander!  I preferred a p60 sanding paper.  I

also purchased special safety glasses and a MSA mask.  Copper dust does go flying!

  Sanding a 36x48 inch copper panel properly took about a half an hour.  When I 

sanded by hand the same sized panel it took an hour.  My arm was too sore to paint

for two days.  I think the sander was a great purchase!  I poured some boiled linseed oil onto

some viva paper towels to seal the copper panel.  I polished and polished until all the copper

dust particles were gone.  The boiled linseed oil will also seal the copper.  I will put on another

coat and let it dry before I start to paint.

   I sanded by hand on the left and sanded with the Ryobi on the right.  The surface texture

is different.  They are both fairly smooth to the touch.  

A closer look at the texture from the Ryobi sander using the P60 pad.  

   On a 8x10 sanded copper panel I applied Gamblin's Oil Ground with a paper towel.  

I want to try a few products to see if I can add more texture so the panel won't be so

slippery to paint on.  I could also paint a coat of this thick oil ground.  But I decided to 

leave it light and allow some copper to sparkle through.

   A friend asked me if I was going to take out my large copper panel and paint it on location?

Here is a photo of my backyard.  It has been very gray outside.  I wouldn't want a 36x48 

sized painting of anything as dreary as this!  June or July the landscape in Maine starts

to be more inspiring.   I will paint from a computer monitor a view of Seal Harbor on this panel.  I have

painted at Seal Harbor plein air many times.  I am very familar with this scene. I can also refer to one

of my many Seal Harbor plein air paintings as a guide.  I think

I will be able to pull of a large harbor painting that will be interesting and inspiring.  

    Here is Duke enjoying a Frosty Paw ice cream treat especially for dogs on his new doggy

bed!  Luckily we were able to purchase two of them one for each dog!  They are sleeping in

style and comfort now!  

Here are Duke and Daisy enjoying Spring fresh air today!  Temperatures

are still cold!  40's.  The birds are singing!  Have a great night!

"Moonlight Sail" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

    I had ordered four 36x48 inch cradled wood panels from an online art company.  Unfortunately

the package arrived yesterday very damaged.  I could see one of the wood panel's corners all the way

throught two separate holes in the cardboard boxes.  I asked UPS to pick them back up.  They asked

me if the panels were repairable?  They asked me to carry them inside for safe keeping.  I may have

pulled a muscle or gave myself a hernia.  I am feeling the same pain in my stomach as a few years

ago when I had to be hospitalized.  They couldn't find anything then so I am not eager to go to the doctors.

I felt defeated the wooden panels arrived in such a damaged state.  My stomach hurt.

   Late last night I decided to go downstairs and cut open the cardboard boxes

to survey all of the wooden panels.  Two of them were in perfect condition.  So

I decided to keep those two.  UPS took away the other two and the art supply place

will refund me for two damaged panels.   Painting big is expensive...but exciting!  

   I kept the plastic on the wooden panel.  Wood is acidic and will eventually

react with the copper.  I don't know what exactly the wood will do to the copper

but it is to be avoided.  I had a few choices to avoid interactions.  I could put

plastic on the wooden panel.  I could seal the wood with oil primer, oils, waxes, and

a few other things.  This would take a lot of time to dry.  So I opted to leave the plastic

on the wood!

   Next I used two way tape to secure the copper to the wood panel.  Robert had

to help me. I was very impressed with how this two way framing tape held the copper

in place.  We did this just to secure the copper while Robert drilled

holes into the copper down into the wood panel. The tape held the copper perfectly.  He

used very long wood screws to secure the copper to the wood panel.  I will then

ues JBweld to cover the screws.  Sand the JBWeld.  Sand the copper panel.  Seal

the copper panel with two layers of boil linseed oil.  Then I should be ready to

paint!  The frame will have a 1/2 inch rabbet covering the screws which are hidden by

the JBweld.   The copper mounted to the cradled wood panel does not weigh over 15 pounds.

    Daisy and Duke decided to watch us work. 

   Preparing this large copper painting properly has been very exciting today!

   It snowed a little tonight!  This is my backyard!  One of our beehives survived the winter!

We have several new bee packages coming soon!  Have a good night! Lots of exclaimation

points.

"Bust of Laughing Man in a Gorget" 15.3 x 12.2 cm oil on copper by Rembrandt currently

shown in The Hague.  

    Rembrandt only painted two oil paintings on copper.  Some people feel the copper

will turn green under the oil paint.  According to the book by the Phoenix Museum, 

called "Copper as a Canvas" the copper still retains it pink color to the naked eye.

I thought I would enlarge on area of Rembrandt's painting so you could

see the copper under the oil paint.  Rembrandt must have glazed lightly over

the metal allowing some to show through.  He also might have scratched out

the paint to create a hair from his beard.  This painting was done in the year

1630.  This painting is 483 years old.  

   Have a wonderful evening!

"Twilight" 7x5 oil on copper.   framed in gold wood.  Sold!

    I have been working off and on this painting for a while.  I normally

work more directly with wet into wet paint technique.  I allowed a

few layers to dry and worked more on top until it looked as I remembered.

For some reason there are brilliant sunsets from Wadsworth Cove in 

Castine.  The colors are often brilliant.  Sometimes I like the twilight

much better.  

   While at Craig Pond today I saw these beautiful birds.  

There were only four of them.  

   As you can tell here it is very gray here in Maine.  See the squirell

sitting on the limb?  

Daisy really enjoying a Frosty Paws ice cream treat outside!  Duke enjoyed his too.

Here is a Lake Alamoosook today.  Have a great night!

"Stonington Morning" 8x10 oil on copper sold!  Thanks.

"Cadillac Mountain View of Seal Harbor" 8x10 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold wood and shipped.

"Sandy Point After The Storm" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!

"Bunny in the Garden" 6x6 oil on copper Sold!  Thanks.

"Asticou Garden's Cherry Tree" 7x5 oil on copper done many years ago.  Sold!

"Moonlight" 7x5 oil on copper. Sold.

"Moonlight Sonata" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!

     All of these paintings and many more are available for purchase under paintings at the top

of this page.  If you click on the painting's image the photo will enlarge and a buy it now button

will appear!  It is simple!  Treat yourself to a Spring painting!  Each painting sale will be shipped promptly.

You will also recieve a free watercolor painting!

    Here is Duke with his pet fake squirell.  He stands for hours with his

squirell.  He also likes his black bear currently in disrepair.  

Daisy and Duke behaved themselves today.  

They were experiencing Spring fever!  They had a peanut butter

flavored Frosty Paws ice cream for dogs.  Duke liked it so much he gave me

one lick on my hand.  Surely this is a

sign of great appreciation.  Have a great night!

"Rainbow Over Bar Harbor" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

   This is what I did today!  I worked inside my studio from an image I saw years ago while plein

air painting on top of Cadillac Mountain.  There are very light red and oranges in the white cloud 

not seen clearly in the photo.  The rainbow is directly over one of the Porcupine Islands.  A few years

ago I was painting the Porcupine Islands.  I was almost done with my painting.  Clouds moved in

and this rainbow appeared.  There was a crowd of people watching me paint. ( It is difficult

finding a private place to paint on top of Cadillac during Summer months.)  A few people asked

me if I was going to paint in the rainbow.  I thought about it for a moment and said no.  I 

didn't know how to do this without making a bright garish rainbow!  There is a trick to create

a translucent rainbow.  So you paint behind it and infront of it.  It is a bit of a dance!  The edges

need to be soft and the colors muted.  It needs to blend in.  I had a fun time today with this challenge.

   Daisy and Duke and I stayed up late last night.  I was working still on yesterday's painting.

Duke had already been outside twice.  It was twelve oclock.  Daisy was looking at me.  Her

eyes were wide.  She looked very awake for being so late.  I asked her if she wanted to go outside.  She

sprinted to the door.  I should have took this as a warning sign.  I should have found her a leash!  But

normally night outings are brief.  Normally.  

    She and Duke went out front of the house.  I walked outside without my shoes on.  I should have put on

a pair of shoes.  But these outings only last one minute at that.  Daisy

took off down our driveway.  She was running.  Duke took off after her.  I called them to come back.

I don't even know why I bother calling.  Within a minute they were gone.  I couldn't see them in the 

darkness. 

    I decide to go put on a pair of shoes and find their leashes.  I step out on the back deck searching for any

movement in the backyard.  Nothing.  I could hear them running around.   They were hunting.  I ran down the

stairs.  I ran down the hill in my backyard.  I could see Daisy and Duke sniffing something.  They were rambling

around like they have a scent!  They were ignoring me.  Suddenly we heard something very big in the woods.

I couldn't see anything.  It was large.  I could hear it scratching on a tree.  Daisy was next to me and Duke behind her.

They were looking. They were too afraid to go after it. 

   I grabbed Daisy by her collar and escorted her up the hill.  She started to run.  So did too!  Duke followed!

 We ran really fast back up the hill safely into our house.  One of the doors slammed in the house.

 We made a lot of noise running on our wooden floors.  Robert woke up.  He came downstairs.

 We were all sitting there wide eyed.  He said, "What happened!  I heard voices!"

 I relayed the story.  He came over to Daisy and petted her and laughed.  Midnight

hunting!  A new thing for Daisy and Duke!  Have a good night!

"Spring Cleaning" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you.

       Here is the painting I worked on today.  This is a scene at Owls Head Marina.  It

was incredibly challening to draw.  I was pleased when the drawing part was done.

I still had energy to paint!  With the winds howling outside, the wood fire blazing, and

Daisy and Duke playing with their new giraffe toy, I painted and painted!  It may

be done.  I will take a look at the painting in the morning light.  Now finally I will go

have something to eat!  Have a good night!

     A cute couple sitting in the car with their elderly golden lab were 

enjoying fresh air, sun, and the view of the slushy Lake Alamoosook.  I didn't notice

the lab sitting in the back seat.  Daisy spotted him as she marched by towards the water.  

She decided to keep walking even though she was mildly interested.  Duke stopped in 

his tracks as he walked by the parked car with the lab.  He walked over to the car.  He

jumped up on his back hind legs so he could better take a look.  I was running and

asking Duke to step away from the vehicle.  Duke and Daisy have scratched a few cars in

the past.  Luckily Duke only nicked the car.  I managed to grab his collar and guide

him over to the water.  We decided to walk along the shore so the people and lab could

have their privacy.  Along the shore of this lake are large boulders.  There are a few

places where a golden retriever can hike down an embankment into the icy waters.

   I know you are thinking, "Why doesn't she put leashes on those dogs?"  I have tried that

in the past here at the lake.  Their leashes get tangled up on rocks and each other.  It is

more of a danger for them to fall down the enbankments when their leashes are tangled.

I am also more at danger trying to walk the path with tree roots sticking up, rocks under

pine needles, and other things.  They pull me very quickly which creates more dangers for me. 

I don't know how many times I have tripped or fallen on slippery vegetation.  The hiking

trails can be treacherous here in Maine!  It is everybody for themselves!  

   Duke climbed out of the slushy water pretty quickly.  But Daisy decided she was going

to swim along the shore. A few moments later she decided she needed to get out of the 

water.  The boulders prevented her from doing so.  I called for her to come back so she

could get out.  She swam and tried several times to get out.  I became worried of course.

So I tied Duke up to the tree.  I climbed down there and called her again.  She came.  She

couldn't get up the enbankment.  So I picked her back in up and pushed her up the hill!

Duke howled and barked.  He didn't like being tied up to the tree.  (Robert laughed so hard

when I told him Duke was tied up)  Then Daisy and I walked up to Duke.  He was hopping

up and down to see her.  He licked her on the head.  I untied Duke.  We hiked out of the

trail.  Daisy grabbed a dead rodent.  I looked over to see a small gray furry thing sticking out of

her mouth!  Good grief!  I grabbed her jaw and asked her to release the animal.  Luckily 

she did.  Then Duke tried to grab it.  I was able to drag them away from the animal.  The

whole time the cute couple in the car watched our circus act.  

   Here is Daisy and Duke playing with their new giraffe doggy toy.  They play very slowly

now.  It is very beautiful to watch.  

   Today Duke remained in custody of the giraffe for a little while!  Have a wonderful night!

  Here is Duke with a new giraffe dog toy.  He is a little sleepy from playing all day yestersday.

     They were very happy to see me!  Duke was nearest to the door when I came in.  He

wanted me to give him a hug. I could hear Duke breathing really hard.  He was excited.

Then Daisy came over.  So I hugged the both of them.  I could feel Duke

giving me a lick on the forehead and hair!  Then Duke wanted his

chest petted.  He rolled on to his back so I would do this.  He was smiling! But I could tell

it had been a long month and a half without me being home.  Daisy buried

her head under my arm while I did this. I petted her too.   It is so nice to be home!

    Robert asked me if the dogs looked good?  I said yes they did!   I could tell he took

great care of them.

    I wasn't home long when they started to bark in unison.  This means they want a

treat!  I guess they knew I had sold a painting.  

"The Happy Tortoise" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold to a client in Florida.  Thank you!

Now I can buy more oil paint!  Ran almost out!  How could that happen...?

  Here is Daisy having her Frosty Paws too!  They love this doggy treat available in the ice cream section

at most grocrey stores.  It is specially formulated for dogs.  

      Close up of Daisy with Frosty Paws.  They get more energized the day after having this treat.

I think they should have more of these treats more often.  It will make getting older a little

more fun for them.  So that means I need to get to work!  Painting more paintings!  

   I have decided to stay closer to home!  I have enjoyed most plein air events.  They are hard work

and very challenging.  I have been so lucky to be able to sell well creating small works of art during

these plein air events.  I have weighed all the pros and cons.  I have decided they are not worth the

effort.  It takes a long time to recuperate from one week of intensely painting at one of these events.

It costs 750$ to travel to Florida with my painting equipment.  I am always a little home sick.  I

have met some very nice people during these events.  I am thankful for that.  I think all plein air

artists should do one plein air event just for the experience.  Now I would like to concentrate on

Maine oil on copper paintings.  I would like to paint a few larger copper paintings.  In order for

Daisy and Duke to have many Frosty Paws doggy ice cream treats I will need to paint a lot of 

smaller oils on copper too.  I would like to have my Lammers Gallery open more this year.  So

I will be painting in my studio while the gallery is open.  I will save gas money painting some 

studio paintings.  But I will still do a lot of plein air paintings as well.  I have come back to Maine

more determined to work hard but to stay more focused!  Have a great night!  Let's roll up

our sleeves and get to work!  

"Moonlight" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

   My Mom and I went to her art class.  I enjoyed painting the moon today.  I decided on 

a shimmery lighter sky than my last moonscape.  I have been studying the moon outside 

at 10pm.  I worked on this painting for many hours.  The sky changed colors many times

from being pretty dark to finally being luminous.  The complimentary colors of green

and pinks in the sky created the shimmery effect I was looking for.  I added small

highlights to the edges of the trees.  Then I decided on a creek.  I had to have the moon's

reflection in the water.  I used my brush to measure the moon's reflection.  It is not

easy to have the moon's reflection in the right place!  It has to be under the moon and

not a few inches to the right or left.  Finally I worked on a few water flowers.  Lastly

I decided I needed a frog sitting on a lily pad  Why not?  I was just having a good

time.  I didn't get too carried away painting many stars.  I just added one star.  

detail of the moon and surrounding sky.  Neat layers of pretty colors.

   Today is my last day here in Florida.  I am flying home to Maine very early 

tomorrow morning!  I have a giraffe dog toy for Daisy and Duke.  They should

like that!  I am really excited about being home again.  It has been an enjoyable

time here in Florida.  My Mom and Dad are great!