Artist Renee Lammers

    Schoodic Point has amazing hiking trails now.  Poppy grabbed a gigantic stick out of

a creek.  She tried to carry the stick for a mile!

    The fine gravel made it comfortable for the dogs feet.  The trails were elevated free

of mud puddles.

   Robert had taken the dogs to the beach that morning.  Still we hiked

over three miles at Schoodic.  We enjoyed ourselves.

   The waves were beautiful. 

   We purchased a cheeseburger for each pup for the ride home.  Special day today.

   I am still unpacking from the trip from Florida to Maine.  I should be back to painting

tomorrow!  Have a great night.

   I arrived home in Maine last night at 8:30pm.  Monet was the first at the door.

He stood on his hind legs.  He whimpered when he saw me.  He was very enthusiastic.

I sat down.  He climbed into my lap.  I hugged him. 

   Lily discovered I was home.  She sat in my lap.  She gave me a few kisses. 

   Poppy waited to greet me in the morning.  She had to think about greeting me.

Robert was happy.  He unloaded my car.  It is great to be home.

   I took the dogs to the beach today.  It was 55 degrees!  Beautiful day.  Have a good

night.

    I drove on I 95 for most of the day.  Our friend Ted who has been so

diligent letting out Poppy, Lily, and Monet  for a break four days

a week for almost two months, requested 150 cans of long cut spearmint

chewing tobacco from North Carolina.  I went to one Tobacco outlet in

South Carolina but they didn't have this type.

  I drove on to Lumberton, NC.

I decided to check in to a hotel.  I discovered I am 29 minutes from many

Tobacco Outlets in Fayetteville.  Luckily it is heading north where I would

be passing to travel home to Maine. 

Also I chuckled as I noticed my hotel

was located on Spearmint Drive.  I am so close to finding long cut spearmint!

I hope they have it! 

   I will call all the Tobacco Outlets in Fayetteville to check on their supply!

I later searched many stores.  Finally at JRs I purchased 50 cans.  This should

be enough.  It was wintergreen long cut he wanted. 

   Have a good night.

    I am driving home to Maine tomorrow.  The trip should take me three days. 

   I had a great time here in Winter Park, Florida with my parents.  I really enjoyed hearing

many new stories about their lives.  I went to another Rollins College basketball game with my

Dad tonight.  Rollins won again!  That was great fun. 

Have a good night.

    One of my favorite places to hike was always at the Orlando Wetlands

in Christmas, Florida.  I loved this trail through a palm tree forest.  There is

a real old Florida feeling on this trail. 

 I have never seen any animals or snakes.  

I have seen many birds and alligators!

   Ten years ago when I lived in Oviedo, Florida nearby, I decided on a

very hot August day, to paint here.  I dragged all my studio painting

equipment out to this location.  I didn't own plein air easels then.  I arrived

huffing and puffing carrying a giant wood easel, 24x36 thick gessoed

birchwood panel, painting stuff jammed into a large red wagon.  As soon

as I stopped, a thousand mosquitoes landed on me, and bit me like crazy.

I took off running with the red wagon in tow!  I was out of there!

   Another day when I lived in Oviedo, Florida, after drinking many coffees, I grabbed my

giant fancy gold mirror, loaded up my red wagon, wood easel, and dragged it out here

again to paint.  This time it was cooler in October.  I wore a lot of bug repellent.  I was

going to paint a self portrait out in the palm tree forest!

   I was almost finished painting the self portrait when a elderly couple hiking came upon me.

    They laughed like crazy. 

    I was laughing too! 

   I said to them, "You never know what you will encounter here." 

    They liked the painting.  I thought it came out surreal.   I was afraid of alligators

or giant hogs biting me while I painted.  I couldn't relax while I painted.  It just came

out kind of bizarre.  I think I still have this painting. 

    Another time my friend Kathleen and I were going to hike a long day here.  She was

pouring bug spray into my hands when the entire bottle blew up.  All the bug spray hit

me in the face.   We both laughed so hard.  Good memories.  I didn't get bitten by a bug

for a long time.

    Once I brought a painter friend Sandy here to paint.  She was not thrilled I drove a van

but still trusted me to drive.  I showed her where baby alligators were.  We were both admiring

alligator babies when we heard a hiss behind us.  The mother alligator was on the path.

She was not happy.  We ran.  We sat in my van.  Finally a park ranger passed by.  We had

him help us gather our painting equipment.  Sandy said she was never painting with me

again.  Oh well. 

   Once I sold a plein air painting here in the boonies.  You never know!

A tourist from up north loved this tiny oil on tile I was painting.  I gave her

the painting in a cardboard box to keep safe hiking back. 

   I saw so many painting locations! 

    Robert and I hiked here a lot.  I think we even rode our bikes around here a few

times.

 Have a good night.

    I had a great time today at a friend's house.  I was suppose to photograph their Chartreux cat

to paint.  Apparently cats sleep 18 hours a day.  Waking Elen up was not easy.  Every photo

made Elen look angry.  What a beautiful cat!   A Chartreux cat is one of the oldest breeds of cats.

   This was my favorite photo of Elen.  The cat's fur has brakes.  There are no stripes but

brakes or a type of separation of fur. 

    I hope to head home on Monday.  I know there will be rain, sleet, and snow along the way

to Maine.  Have a good night.

"Heavenly" 30x40 oil on copper 3500$ framed in gold or black with gold.  Shipped free.

"Dreamers" 30x40 oil on copper.  3500$ framed in gold or black with gold.  Shipped.

"Synchronicity" 14x20 oil on copper  sold.  Thanks.

"Harmonious" 14x20 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

"Me and My Shadow" 6x6 oil on copper  Sold.  Thanks.

"Blondes Have More Fun" 6x6 oil on copper. 350$ framed in gold.  Shipped.

  Here are a few paintings I worked on this last month here in Florida.  I am tired.  I decided

to take a few days off from painting.  I spent the day with my parents here in Florida.  This

trip has been great for me.  Robert and the dogs are doing great.  Have a good night!

"From My Garden" 14x20 oil on copper 1500$ framed in gold or black with gold.

"Forever Bouquet" 14x20 oil on copper sold.  Thanks.

"Teddy Bear" 5x4 oil on copper sold. Thanks.

"Forever Bouquet" 14x20 oil on copper sold. Thanks!

    For the last few days I have been working on the flowers I purchased for my Mom. 

She said I am very entertaining to have as a house guest. 

We have been having great fun.

  We don't have to do anything fancy. 

 Our good companionship is enough.

  I like how this painting came out.

Good night!

   I bought these flowers for my Mom the day after Valentine's Day.  I loved the variety of

flowers in the bouquet. 

     Here is a close up of the roses and lilies.  I will leave the vase alone.  I like how that part

came out.  The pink roses and red rose look finished.  Now I will paint many greens tomorrow

keeping them simple.   I will work more on the background once all the flowers and vegetation

is done.  I might paint an opalescent background as I did the other day with the black bear.

   My Mom made the most amazing homemade noodles today.  The noodles are thin and so

nicely made.  She made a wonderful chicken broth for the noodles.  I hope to have more of

this soup for breakfast!   My Brother came over to visit.  I went to a Rollins College basket

ball game with my Dad.  I am a real fan of watching basketball games now!  Watching the

game really gets the heart and blood pumping!  It is exciting. 

    Robert was doing well back in Maine.  I hope to start driving home next early week if the

weather permits.  I have been enjoying my parent's company.  Have a good night.

  "The Eyes Say It All" 5x4 oil on copper.  Sold this morning.   Thank you!

    The lady who bought this painting said she will give it to her granddaughter

who has not been born yet.  What a nice thing to do!  She will enjoy the painting

in the mean time. 

    It was a beautiful day here in Florida.  I headed to Black Point Drive in Titusville. 

I was so surprised to see white pelicans!

  I decided to tour another drive very close to Black Point Drive.  I think it was called

Bio Lab Road.  There were many alligators and birds on this drive.  It is much longer than

Black Point Drive.  I think I like it better. 

   There were many blue herons.

    I drove down a dirt road where people were fishing.  The pot holes didn't discourage me.

There were coots everywhere!

   I saw three of these birds by the Indian River. 

  This shore bird had very long yellow legs. 

"The Eyes Say It All" 5x4 oil on copper Sold.  Thank you.

    I started work on this one last night.  I decided the dark pink background was

too dark.  I borrowed my Mom's lighter pink shirt out of a closet.  I changed

the bear's background.  I used a tiny amount of cobalt blue with quinacridone red

and white to paint over the darker pink.  It created a shimmery quality.  It

almost looks opalescent!  Cool!

"Friends" 4x5 oil on copper.  I decided to keep this one.  I liked what my Mom said about it.

Good memory.

   Robert was inside the house with the dogs in Maine tonight because of very high winds.  He

guessed winds might be over 50 mph.  He said it was warmer...48.  He called later to let me know

the electricity went out.  They were still staying inside.  Then he called to say the electric was back

on.  Three or more trees in our neighbor's yard fell down.  This area in my neighbor's backyard is

where Robert plays with our dogs.  I am glad they were safe inside the house during the wind storm.

No trees fell down in our yard. 

Have a good night!

"Friends" 4x5 oil on copper.  Private Collection.

   I was painting teddy bears all morning, afternoon, and night!

   My Mom said she was so lucky to be able to watch two artists, Bob Ross and myself, at the

same time!  One was on TV painting and the other right next to her! 

"Pretty Bear" 5x4 oil on copper.  sold.  Thanks.

    Bob Ross was much faster of a painter than I was.  He finished a huge painting

in a half an hour on TV. 

"Three Little Bears' 5x4 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thank you.

    I am happy to report this painting, "Three Little Bears" will be going to live in the woods.

   Robert had the day off today and spent it with the dogs.  He was going to clean their ears.  He

wanted to know where I put the hair knot removal tool.  He cooked a great dinner for them.

Sounds like they all had a great day.  He says when he is on the computer, the dogs all jockey for

a spot closest to him.  He is popular!   Have a good night.

"Teddy Bear" 5x4 oil on copper  sold.  Thanks.

   I worked on this painting while my Mom and I watched the movie "Spectre".

I enjoy painting teddy bears from life! 

Happy Valentine's Day to you all! 

Robert was getting ready to play in the new snow with the dogs.  It has been snowing

a lot in Maine these past few days.  Poppy can't stay outside in the snow for as long

as Monet and Lily.  She doesn't have as much hair on her feet.  Maybe Robert will put

on her snow boots.  Lily is getting very bossy with her parents.  Have a good night.

"Three Little Bears" 4x5 oil on copper   Sold.  Thank you.

    Today I decided to paint my teddy bears! 

    I hope you find the process entertaining.

   I set up my teddy bears on a white shirt backed by a cardboard box for support. 

   I arranged the Ott Light Lamp to illuminate the bears from the left. 

   I drew out the composition with a mixture of cobalt blue and cadmium red light. 

    I started to paint the darkest bear first. 

    I painted with an old Holland flat kolinsky brush size 8 for the entire painting.

   My colors were:  Cadmium Yellow Light, Cadmium Red Light, Quinacridone Red, Cobalt

Blue, Ivory Black, and Titanium White.

   I used a tiny bit of medium by Gamblin called Neo Meglip. 

   I first tried to cover all the surface with paint. 

   I was wrestling with the white cloth. 

   I started this painting at 10am.  I worked all day long with out a break! Finished at 3pm!

I decided the cloth above the teddy bear's heads needed to be flattened, darkened, and cooled.

   My Mom handed me a pink bow used for her Yorkshire Terrier dog's hair.  She thought

it would look great in a teddy bear's hair.  I loved the pink bow!  I had to introduce pink

throughout the painting.

   Finished!   Here is a perfect little gift for Valentine's Day.  I will put this painting in a

category above under Painting, then Bears. 

  Robert said he fed the dogs a very good meal.  He was waiting for their stomachs to

digest.  Then he was taking them outside to play in the snow!  Have a good night.

   I am standing by my Grandfather Bottelman's rod iron/cement/shell planter

he created a long time ago.  He created these planters and bird baths in Ocala

as a hobby.  Sometimes a Doctor would receive one of these creations as payment

for the birth of a child.  My Aunt has most of them.  I think of the planters or bird baths

as a work of art.  He and my Dad would collect the shells in New Smyrna Beach.  I like

to hear about these planters.  My Aunt showed us a large house that may still have

one of these planters.  We drove to Ocala today to visit my only surviving Aunt, a cousin,

and her husband.  They drove from Cedar Key.  We had lunch at Eaton's Beach.

    I took this photo of my Aunt and I.  I think we look so much alike.

 She surprised me with a gift of an Italian scarf!  It was great to visit with her.

    This is Eaton's Beach. 

 When I was young my family would vacation in cabins at Eaton's Beach.

I have wonderful memories of swimming here. 

 Often I would lay on the sand at the edge of the water listening to music playing on a juke box.

  The building had pool tables and air hockey tables and candy for sale on the counter.

  They had chickadees for sale.

  Chickadee was a stick candy tasting like the inside of a butterfinger.

  There was a long dock going out into the lake. 

 There was also a very tall diving platform with a long wooden ladder to climb. 

We would climb all the way up to the tower and jump into the water. 

 The water in Florida can be very soothing to soak in.  I miss this activity. 

 Maine is beautiful but you just can not soak without shivering.

  I also love the beauty of Florida's water.

  I was admiring the colors today of this lake, the powder white sand,

 green vertical parts of the wave, shimmering light blue green

colors dancing on top of the water, and lashes of yellow deep down in the water from the white

sand below. 

 Much of it was changed but the colors of the water and the smells were the same.

     Have a great night.

    I have been taking photos of beautiful birds here in Florida.  These are wood ducks.

    I have been reading from about 10pm till 11:30pm each night.  I found the book,

"Monet by himself" by Richard Kendall very interesting.  Monet the artist's relatives

finally allowed Monet's letters to be published.  I found his letters interesting.

   These are Monet's water lily paintings. 

"Brushwork- A Guide To Expressive Brushwork for oil painting" by Emile A. Gruppe is

a really great book.  I am still reading this book.  Gruppe describes his own brushwork.

The book is out of print but I think it is a must. 

"Dog Days" by Jamie Wyeth is a fun book showing all his beautiful paintings with dogs.

    I learned Jamie Wyeth rarely paints with brushes. 

   In this book he described painting with various textures of cloth as a means to smear on paint. 

    I am reading, "Painting Methods of The Impressionists" by Bernard Dustan. 

 This book is packed full of great information describing painting methods by Monet, Degas, Turner, Pissarro,

Whistler, and many other artists. 

 The book tells their techniques and colors. 

   Degas had a habit of scraping down his oil paintings a day after he painted. 

 If he scraped the oil off the canvas right after he painted there would be

a ghost of the original image.

  He must have preferred leaving the paint sit over a day so more oil

paint would be left after scraping. 

Degas loved to redraw the same image over and over again restating his drawings. 

 This is why he needed to scrape. 

Drawing with oil is impossible if the oil paint is allowed to get too thick. 

    I wish I knew the name of this bird.  The bird was large.

    Here is another bird I have never seen before! 

    Robert reported it was snowing again in Maine.  He is taking excellent care of Monet, Poppy,

and Lily.   Have a good night.

  Happy Birthday Lily!  I hope Robert cooks you something good to eat!  I know there are

plenty of toys to play with.  I hope your Mom and Dad, Poppy and Monet, remember your

special day!

     Lady Edith/Lia is celebrating her birthday with her little brother Vincent/Tucker.

Little Vincent/Tucker has a party hat too!  They had sweet potato cupcakes! 

Vincent/Tucker probably thought it is his birthday too. 

   Lux has been celebrating her birthday!

Beautiful Lux had a cup cake complete with candle! 

   Lady Cora/Elsa has grown up to be a beauty. 

 She has a golden doodle friend who keeps her company.

  Mr. Moseley and Marigold will have a wonderful party.  They are

very happy.

  Mr. Moseley reports he had a three year old girl hug and kiss him and sing Happy Birthday

to Marigold and himself.  He also had dog ice cream.  It was a wonderful day!

    Here is a great photo of Lady Edith/Lia with her little brother Vincent/Tucker.

   "Dreamers" 30x40 oil on copper 3500$ framed in gold or black with gold.  Shipped.

    I painted both ropes this morning.  I pulled out a picture of these dories painted on location

in Grand Manan.  I used this painting to add a few more colors. 

    "Comraderie" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold last year.  Here is my plein air sketch painted

later that day.  The tide had went out.  I decided to downplay each board on the side of the boat

in the larger studio painting.

   Have a good night.

   Almost finished this painting today!  I need to paint two ropes on the dories tomorrow.

This painting is giant!  It is a 30x40 oil on copper!  Yippee!  I am happy it is almost finished.

Have a good night!

   My parents drove me through Black Point's wildlife drive in Titusville, Florida.

We saw many pink spoonbills!

   It was a cool Floridian day.  Birds were taking refuge.

Egrets and snowy egrets were huddling together.

   Pretty heron.

   Beautiful spoonbill!

   We saw a hundred black skimmers.  Amazing.

   I might be back to painting tomorrow.  Good to take three days off! 

   Robert told me Monet is the first dog to head to bed now.  He always stayed downstairs by

the door.  Poppy was always the first to head to sleep.  He took them for a long walk today.

They were taking a nap when I talked to Robert.  All is well with Robert and the dogs in Maine.

Have a good night.

   Palm Beach was lovely. 

 I am happy to be back in Winter Park, Florida again. 

 My parents are fun.  I went to Publix with my Mom. 

  I went to a Rollins College basketball game with my Dad. 

   I saw a lot of modern art in Palm Beach.  This artist used a fork to create

vertical lines in thick oil paint.

    Here is the artist's name and price of the painting.  Sorry for the blurry image.

   Here is the painting "Birds" for 32,000$.  Personally I preferred his parrot paintings.

   Here is the same artist, Stonem, Hunt's butterfly painting.

  Have a great night!

    I saw these ladies at the beach yesterday. 

 One lady looked like she was drinking beer wrapped in a paper bag. 

Another lady laid on a towel in a red bikini. 

 The last lady was shielding most of her face from the sun. 

Their umbrella was beautiful. 

I will work more on the water later. 

This painting is a 14x20.

"The Dress" 20x14 oil on copper.  Sold last night.  Thank you. 

 One of my faithful art clients who lives in Florida purchased this painting. 

   Palm Beach is on the Atlantic side. 

The waves can be very big!  I saw a few surfers today.

Robert is doing well taking care of the dogs. 

Ted visits the dogs during the day while Robert is working.

 Ted said he enjoys spending time with the dogs because they are all such good dogs. 

 Robert told me it will snow 3-6 inches tomorrow. 

This means he will be home very early from work.  I miss them.

    One of the recent puppies, Lilly, was found sitting on the dining table. 

 She didn't get down off the table when her owner came home! 

What a funny girl.  

 I suspect Lilly was eating a few tomatoes. 

   Daffodil is looking so beautiful!

   What a big boy Vincent/Tucker is becoming!   Have a good night.

"Palm Beach Breaker's Pool" 14x20 oil on copper    I painted a portrait on top of this one.

    Last night I worked on this painting!  I thought it would be a nice image to gaze at when

it was snowing outside. 

"Lifeguard On Duty" 5x7 oil on copper   Donated to the Palm Beach Residency Program.

    Today I found a great parking spot along a side street, prepared my palette with oil paints,

and hiked to the beach to paint.  I loved the lifeguard's boat. 

    I went to the Palm Beach Zoo today.  The Flamingos were beautiful.  I took many photos

for my Mom to paint.  She does a great job painting birds. 

   This beautiful green parrot was shy.  I waited for twenty minutes for him

to turn around to show his beautiful face! 

   I walk all over Palm Beach during the day.  The weather is perfect!  It was 86 degrees.

I am enjoying all the tropical plants and beautifully dressed people. 

    I might paint a few flamingos tonight!  Have a good night.  Thank you.

"The Dress"14x20 oil on copper  Sold.  Thank you!  Framed in gold or black with gold.

    Last night I located the exclusive shopping area in Palm Beach.  I saw this beautiful

white dress in the store front window earlier that day.  The dress cost 350$.  I decided to paint

the dress.  At night I could take my time painting because the light never changed.  I met

wonderfully elegant people strolling the avenue.  A driver kept me company as he waited

for his passengers to dine and get properly toasted.  He said in Palm Beach they love

to get toasted and hire drivers.  He also told me how to get into the Breaker Hotel without

paying the 30$ parking free. 

    Here is my painting of the dress on location. 

   Today I explored the Breaker hotel!  It was very beautiful. 

   What a beautiful place. 

Have a good night.