Artist Renee Lammers

"I Will Be Home Soon" 20x26 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thank you!  I am thrilled.

      I was deep in thought for many hours

a few days ago about this painting.  

At first I thought of adding a short spruce tree on the left in the foreground.

Another day passed while I kept thinking.

Then I decided to paint a golden retriever in the side window.

This would draw the viewer's eye away from the center window.

The center window would have become the center of interest.

It was not located in a good place.  It would have been almost in the center.

I was so happy when I completed the golden retriever in the window.

It was exactly what the painting needed.

   Here is a close up of the golden retriever.

   I decided to create snow flying around the tip of the roof line on the left.  

I intensified the purple in the shadows.  I made the foreground snow primarily cool.

I needed 2/3 cool in the painting and 1/3 warm.  The foreground purple made the

painting more cool.  

Dropping the value of the snow in the foreground also made the house stand out.

   It is so cold out these last few days.  The dogs will only stay outside for a few minutes.

Their paws start to burn.  They run back inside the house!  

I am so grateful for the painting sale.  Thank you.  This means alot to me especially in the

Winter!  Good night.

   It is just too cold to paint here in Maine.  I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup.

There is nothing like chicken broth made by boiling chicken bones.  Then I made dough for homemade

noodles.

   I think these noodles have been made on my Mother's side of the family for decades.

I am not sure about my Southern Father's side of the family making noodles.  

I will have to ask him during my next visit.

I added herbs to the noodles.

   I decided to make a tomato/bean soup for the rest of the homemade noodles.

It turned out to be the best soup.  

Here is the recipe:

Renee's Tomato Bean Soup

1 chopped onion

2 chopped celery stalks

1 tablespoons of olive oil

herbes of providence 3 shakes.

Saute above in a large pot.

Add two cans of white kidney beans (cannellini beans)

3 cups of water to the large pot.

Simmer for an hour.

Add salt to taste, hot sauce to taste

Take a potato masher and mash up the beans.

Add 1/2 can of Hunts herb and garlic tomato sauce.

Add 1 cup of parmesan cheese

Then the soup is done.

I added five handfuls of homemade noodles.  

I let the noodles simmer for 15 minutes.

This is the best soup I have ever had!  

It is delicious.  I hope you like it too!

   Lily jumped on to the dinning table and stole my glove!

She tried it conceal the glove with a ball in her mouth!

   Poppy allowed me to put this elk dog costume on for a few minutes.

Here is a self portrait.

I think the proportions are 100% accurate.

Turkeys

Good night.

"Heavenly" 20x26 oil on copper.  Finished!  1750$ framed in your choice of gold or black with gold.

Shipping is included in the price.  Photo was taken with a Canon 6t rebel for accurate colors.

    What a wonderful Christmas Maine day we had.  We had a blizzard all day!

It was more like a grey Christmas.  If it were colder we would have had a white Christmas.

We did receive a foot or more of snow.  It was cold inside the house.

I had the wood fire roaring, apple pie in the oven, and a oil filled radiator heater going.

I wore many layers of clothing inside of the house.

Robert went snowshoeing.  He racked the roof.  He cleared the snow.

I finished this Port Clyde painting.

   Here is a close up.  I will take a better photo when the snow stops!  

Good night.  Merry Christmas.

   Robert, Ted, and I watched the dogs unwrap Christmas presents.

The dogs have not learned how to unwrap gifts.  Ted had to assist.

Monet gathered up three large plush toys.  He placed them in his bed.

Then he arranged them.  The panda bear made a wonderful pillow.

The girls were playing with tennis balls equiped with a squeaky device inside.

   It was so nice of Ted to bring our dogs three wrapped gifts.  

There was a message on each gift.  One read, "From Luke to his girlfriend Poppy".

   Lily really enjoyed the gifts.  She ran around the house growling with a toy in her mouth.

Of course we all laughed at Lily.  Lily is an entertainer.

   I finished the grisaille painting for this 20x26 mansard roof house.

I placed the painting into a box to dry.

   Now I am working on the color of this painting, "Heavenly" 20x26 oil on copper.

I have the right side painted in color.  I find it reassuring painting on top of a value.

I also find I am better at seeing values with color.

What a wonderful night spend thinking of Jesus Christ being born!  

Merry Christmas from the Lammers Family!

Good night.

   Here is the progress on the 20x26 mansard roof house.  

It took me awhile to start to paint today.

I had to grocery shop before the snow started.

Then I had to get the wood fire going to warm up the house.

Oil paint moves much better in a room that is above 70 degrees.

I decided to paint sunlight on the mansard house.

   Well another year has passed.  Looks like there will be no puppies for Luke and Poppy.

   Good night!

   I am hard at work at this 20x26 mansard roof house!   I decided to paint the painting

in grisaille again.  Once the grisaille (painting in gray scale) is complete, I will allow it to dry,

then I will paint the color on top of the grey.  I won't be glazing.  I will just use the gray values

to guide me with the color.  I guess this is a new experiment for me.  I think this will produce a

less colorful painting but more delicate and tasteful.  But who knows?  Maybe I will paint

brightly as I normally do?  Or maybe I will love the grey paintings so much that I will not want

to add color?  

    This is a beautiful house in Stockton Springs.   No one has lived in this house for

decades.  During the Bucksport Art Festival a lady told me a story concerning this house.

She said a family moved into the house.  They did not live there long.  The people believed

the house was haunted.  Something was thrown at one of the family members while they

were in the kitchen.  They felt like they were in danger.  They moved out.  The house was 

never placed for sale.  I did find out the lady of the house died suddenly at 52 years old.  

The owners live in New England.  They do not come to visit.  

   I love the woodwork.  I should paint a painting of this house.  It looks wonderful in the snow.

   The Searsport abandoned house is still standing.  There is a new window missing in

the upper left turret roofed room.  

   Here is another Mansard roof beauty located in Searsport.  

I marvel at all the decorative trim.  Amazing.  

   Luke visited again this morning.  Lots of excitement but no puppy making.

Monet, Lily, and Poppy are exhausted.   Luke is beyond exhausted. 

 Luke, Poppy's boyfriend, is not working out.  He gets an A for effort and great looks and moral.

Lily seems depressed.   I told her I would try hard to find her a boyfriend

next year.  It is difficult to find a good looking male golden retriever for Lily.

I will be happy when things get back to 'normal'.  

I know Monet will be happy.  

   Look at this beautiful Rockland home!  Wow!  Good night.

   I am hard at work at this 20x26 mansard roof house!   I decided to paint the painting

in grisaille again.  Once the grisaille (painting in gray scale) is complete, I will allow it to dry,

then I will paint the color on top of the grey.  I won't be glazing.  I will just use the gray values

to guide me with the color.  I guess this is a new experiment for me.  I think this will produce a

less colorful painting but more delicate and tasteful.  But who knows?  Maybe I will paint

brightly as I normally do?  Or maybe I will love the grey paintings so much that I will not want

to add color?  

    This is a beautiful house in Stockton Springs.   No one has lived in this house for

decades.  During the Bucksport Art Festival a lady told me a story concerning this house.

She said a family moved into the house.  They did not live there long.  The people believed

the house was haunted.  Something was thrown at one of the family members while they

were in the kitchen.  They felt like they were in danger.  They moved out.  The house was 

never placed for sale.  I did find out the lady of the house died suddenly at 52 years old.  

The owners live in New England.  They do not come to visit.  

   I love the woodwork.  I should paint a painting of this house.  It looks wonderful in the snow.

   The Searsport abandoned house is still standing.  There is a new window missing in

the upper left turret roofed room.  

   Here is another Mansard roof beauty located in Searsport.  

I marvel at all the decorative trim.  Amazing.  

   Luke visited again this morning.  Lots of excitement but no puppy making.

Monet, Lily, and Poppy are exhausted.   Luke is beyond exhausted. 

 Luke, Poppy's boyfriend, is not working out.  He gets an A for effort and great looks and moral.

Lily seems depressed.   I told her I would try hard to find her a boyfriend

next year.  It is difficult to find a good looking male golden retriever for Lily.

I will be happy when things get back to 'normal'.  

I know Monet will be happy.  

   Look at this beautiful Rockland home!  Wow!  Good night.

   This is the image I decided to paint.  I drove by the house after it snowed yesterday.

More snow made the mansard roof look even more elegant.  

I am going to omit the car, grill, and bench.  I am going to add frozen laundry on the right.

This is Edward Hopper's "Bootleggers" painting.  

He placed the house in the center.

I studied how Edward Hopper placed his houses inside his paintings.

Many of the homes were in the center of the painting common for portraits.

Edward Hopper's painting "High Noon".  

Other homes were set off to the side with one wall of the home touching the edge of the panel.

I think this creates a gliding motion of the viewer's eye instead of circling around and around the house

if it is centered.  Artists might be concerned about the edge of the painting where the house

runs off the edge as a parallel line.   If Edward Hopper designed paintings with one house edge abut

to the edge of the painting it must be a fine way to design. 

I did decide to place the house a little off center but not abut to one edge.  

I made sure the sky area was less space than the ground.  It is not good to have equal spacing.

I spent many hours today studying the design.  I was trying to figure out the center of interest.

The bay window to the right of the front door might be the center of interest.  

   I drew out the design on copper using a small round firm brush loaded with a neutral oil color.

I think I will paint the painting as a grisaille (gray values).  

   Luke almost mated with Poppy today.  I was so excited to have red golden retriever puppies.

Luke was too tired from hiking.  Luke's foot was tapping like a man starting up a Harley motorcycle.

Ted said this was Luke's signature move.  I can see beautiful puppies from these two if the stars

would just line up.  I would bet with Luke's red color and Poppy's red haired parents there would be

redheaded puppies!  Oh well.  

   Here are the little love birds.

   "Bar Harbor Morning" 11x14 oil on copper was framed up today!  Wow it looked so nice

in a frame.  This painting will be heading to a couple who became engaged on top of Cadillac

Mountain.  It is a engagement gift.  

Good night.

"Heavenly" 20x26 oil on copper.  In progress.

   This is the painting currently on my easel.  

The scene looked difficult to paint because of the sunbeams and low color saturation.

I decided to paint the values.  I used my limited palette.  The darkest dark I can achieve

with this limited palette is a 8 value.  

    I decided to pay close attention to the little nativity scene to the right.  

There is Christmas wreathes on the doors to the left under the porch.  

I think this will be an inspirational scene.

I think I will put the painting in a box to dry.

I will paint color on top of the dried painting.

Many traditional oil painters worked in this manner.  I have never done this before.

It may be easier.  

   I saw this night scene in Orrington or Brewer off Route 15.  

I kept the wood fire going all day and night.  Robert played in the snow with the dogs tonight

for three hours.    They love the snow.  It is freezing outside.  I am glad he does this for the dogs.

I prefer to be inside!  Good night.

   I venture outside for a short drive each day.

I don't feel too much like painting.

The house is too cold.  It is too cold outside.

It is just too cold!  I did find my winter coats, hats, bog boots, gloves.

I am not sure what to paint.  I am glad I am going back to Florida Jan 2.  

I will try to motivate myself to paint snow and architecture.  

Here is a view in Orland.  This just doesn't seem like a good image to paint.

Every building is too far away.  I do not like the water leading the viewer into the photo.

The viewer of this scene could be treading water.  

The light is not there.  It doesn't look enchanting or inspiring.

Today Ted told me he asked Luke if he wanted to see Larry.  Luke didn't do anything.  Then he

asked Luke if her wanted to see the 'kids'.  Luke barked and hopped up and down shaking the car. 

It is nice he lets his dog decide who he wants to visit.

   I am considering painting this home with a mansard roof.  I love it.  I like the light

and the design.  Mansard roofs enchant me.

  I might add laundry to the right side of the house if I paint the second photo.

There are many things I would omit.  I would take out the gril, tree to the left, telephone pole,

house sign, and dirty snow.  I like the first mansard roof photo best.

   This is a pretty house to paint.  I love the mood.  Somehow the front door just does nothing for me.  

I wish there was a fancy front door.  This may have been a grand home at one time.  Now

it might be a multi unit home with a newer cheap front door.  The other house is more interesting

for a painting.  See how hard it is to decide what to paint?  Good night.

"Bar Harbor Morning" 11x14 oil on copper Sold.  Thanks.

   I am happy to have completed this commission painting.  It is a special painting for

a special couple who became engaged on top of Cadillac Mountain.  

I enjoy doing commissions.  

   Ted and Luke arrived this morning.  Lily climbed into Ted's car.  She found

Luke, her Grandfather's 7 year old Christmas toy.  She stole the toy!

 She ran around with the toy in her mouth.  She was doing that cute growl.

  I asked Lily what she had in her mouth? She growled and wagged her tail.

   Monet and Lily played tug of war.  I could see a few rips in the toy!

Too late.

  Luke was a gentleman.  He sniffed his toy.  Lily growled.  Luke trotted off.

   Poppy was flirting with Luke.

   It is too bad Luke is past his breeding age.  They would make beautiful red puppies.

   Monet loves his new sheet and pillow on his dog bed.  

I make his bed every morning.  He is so cute.  

Good night.

   Monet sat on my lap for an hour this morning getting lots of hugs.

I can pet Lily behind Monet's back and pet Monet too.

Poppy seems to like a few pats but she waits for Robert.

I had to get out of the house today.  

I drove by the famous abandoned house in Searsport.

Snow makes everything look beautiful.

   Finding the Olsen house in Cushing, Maine is not easy.

I was lucky today.

   The Olsen house was beautiful.

   Brian Kliewer, a painter friend, was too busy painting to come along for the ride.

He told me where to find Andrew Wyeth's grave.  I told him I would take a photo for him

to see.  The dark grey headstone in the foreground is Andrew Wyeth.

   His grave overlooks the Olsen house where he loved to paint.

   He is the only Wyeth buried in there...I think.

   It was windy and freezing at Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde.

   This is where Andrew Wyeth lived, Eight Bells, in Port Clyde.  

It was a beautiful day.  I am glad I went for a drive.  

I cooked Robert a pumpkin pie with sugar crumbles on the top.

He said it was excellent.  Good night.

  This is the little house Robert, Monet, Poppy, Lily, and I live inside.

It snowed today!  Here are a few photos.

Here is the view from across the street.  The house on the right is the oldest home in 

Bucksport.  

  Snow plow identification for my southern friends.

  I am inspired by all these photos!  

I especially love the tree.

  Monet climbed into my chair.  He sat there for hours while I cooked lentil stew and 

French onion homemade bread.  Bread takes forever to make.  Robert loved it!

   This is a 4x5 inch painting in progress.  I will let it dry.  Then work on the affect of

sunbeams.  

Good night.

   Lily was practicing modeling today.  She was wearing my wool scarf.

She said she is ready for LLBean anytime.

This is her very happy satisfied look.

   Very nice profile Lily!

She is elegant!

   She was a natural!  

   Ha Ha!  My sweet girl is so cute.

   Poppy came over to see what Lily was up to.  Lily is always doing something!

Lily still smells like a squirrel.

   Lily would be distracted if there were any sticks laying around in the

LLBean studio.  Here she is with her Dad Monet.  

   View at Sandy Point Beach yesterday.

   I am waiting for two large paintings varnish to dry!  Tomorrow morning if all goes well,

all the sold paintings, will be on their way!  Good night.

   At 10:00am I drove the dogs in the van over this bridge, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge,

on Verona Island.  We were at the beach from about 10:15-1045am.

I felt a strange feeling while we were walking on the beach.

  It was a feeling of negativity but nothing negative was going on!

 I turned around.  I wanted to leave.   Poppy growled then barked at me.

So we kept walking down the beach farther where the mill use to be located.

 Poppy was satisfied with the beach walk.  

   We loaded into the van to head home.  The beach is only a mile or so from this bridge.

We were approaching the bridge.  A police car appeared blocking the bridge.  He pointed to cars to

detour.  I noticed on the other side of the bridge another police officer was blocking

the other side.  As we passed by the bridge detouring, we saw many people who were

pulled over, on their cell phones, looking at videos on their cell phones, talking.  

We saw a lady on the bridge with a shotgun!  Police were trying to talk with her.

We drove on through Winter Port, Hamden, Bangor, to get home!

If I had left when I had wanted to leave we may have been driving on the bridge when

the lady with the shotgun was there.  Poppy saved the day.

   I always knew Poppy was a smart girl.

I hope the 54 year old troubled lady on the bridge received the help she needed.

I am so glad she did not jump.  Glad she was taken to the hospital to get help.

The mystery is how did she get to the bridge without a car walking with a shotgun?

Good thing is she is getting help.  

The dogs enjoyed our beach time.  They enjoyed the hour ride home too!

   Glad we are safe at home!  I have shipped out many paintings today.

I am still working on four more large batches of paintings.

I will be happy when they are all shipped.  Goodnight.

   Lily found a frozen squirrel today.

Recently we gave her a squirrel stuffed doggy toy.

I saw her walking carefully to me.

She dropped the squirrel in front of me.  

Then she wagged her tail.

I think she was giving me a present like a cat brings a mouse!

I told her it was a beautiful squirrel.

  She was very careful with the squirrel.  She was using a 'soft mouth'.

   Robert came home after day from work.  He let the dogs outside to play.

Lily picked up her frozen squirrel.  Robert thought it was the new squirrel dog toy.

Lily ran up the stairs into the house with the dead squirrel!  She dropped the squirrel

on to the floor.  Then Robert realized it was a dead squirrel.  He saw how proud Lily was

standing by her squirrel wagging her tail.  He told her how beautiful the squirrel was.

He said she was a good girl.  Then he disposed of the squirrel and cleaned the floor.

Poppy and Monet wanted nothing to do with the squirrel.  They looked embarrassed.

I took the dogs to the beach.  Ted and Luke, and Steve and Sarah, joined us on a hike.

   Sarah loves to climb up high on anything!

To the upper left on top of the fallen tree you will see a rump and tail of a dog, Sarah.

She climbed way up high, ten feet, on the roots of the fallen tree.  

Ted, Luke, and I were impressed!

   It was cold, probably 30's, and grey.  I had a good time.

The dogs were so happy to be outside hiking and swimming.

I chased down 5 giant rolls of bubble wrap to package the paintings.  This is no easy task

in Maine!   I varnished all the paintings I sold recently.  It takes two days for the varnish

to dry.   I will frame the paintings on Friday, package them all, and drive them to the

post office to ship!  Good night.

   My dogs were pleased to see me!  I am home in Maine.

As is the custom in our family, Monet, the Father golden retriever takes all the new toys.

He runs around the house gathering up as many new toys as he can.

He runs back to his bed with these toys.  Then he loves to lay down with them.

   I don't think Monet is selfish. 

Could this be how golden retriever boys create the feeling of being King?

The girls, Lily and Poppy, stand there watching him.

He shows his teeth if they come too close.

   He watches Lily and Poppy to see if he missed any toys!

   Lily took the moose!  

Then she took a ball toy!  Brave girl!

   Lily decides the moose would be safe upstairs in her bed.

(Painting is by Arne Westerman.  Subject is me at 30.)

   Poppy was happy to see me.  She didn't care about toys.  She nudged me with her nose and 

gave me a few quiet barks or grunting sounds.  Not sure.  She was trying to communicate.

   Poppy walked my Monet.  What an interesting look Poppy has on her face.

I don't know if Poppy was disgusted or admiring all the toy?

Poppy is the smartest dog in the family.

Good night.  Framing, packaging, and shipping all day tomorrow!

   This was beautiful driving over the St John's River in Oviedo on the 417.

I can remember my Brother and I boating back in this area.  

I am not sure if I would do this now.  I am not even sure if it was safe!

  Here is New Smyrna Beach.  I do love this beach.  I may love Captiva Island better.

During my next visit to Florida, Jan 4-Feb  4, I hope to visit Captiva for a day.

My Mother and I are having a Mother/Daughter painting exhibit at the Winter Park

University Club during the month of January.

I am also giving a painting demonstration to a large art organization in Orlando, Florida.

   I took my Frisco, NC shells for a photo opportunity.

The white sand was so different than than the orange sand.

I am flying home to Maine early tomorrow morning.  It is a three hour flight.

I will be happy to see my dogs and Robert.  Good night.

"Cockle" 4x5 oil on copper 100$ framed in black with gold custom frame.  Shipping free.

These little paintings are so much more difficult to paint than a larger one.

I find myself holding my breathe while I make a stroke!

It is rewarding to see the painting when it is done.

"Whelk" 4x5 oil on copper. Sold.  Thank you.  This one is heading to NC to live by the sea.

"Shells" 4x5 oil on copper  100$ framed in a custom narrow black with gold frame.  Shipping included.

   I bought my Mom a birthday present.  I can not wait to give it to her.

I purchased a holiday outfit including shoes that matched.  I hope it fits her.

I also bought her a comfortable pair of sketcher tennis shoes without shoe strings.

I really appreciate my parents.  They are very kind.

Good night.