Artist Renee Lammers

 

I have been working on my favorite Rockport, Maine seaside cottage!

 

The painting is 14x20 oil on copper.

 

I use a ruler to draw the image!

 

 

Slowly worked on the cottage.

 

I loved the different bird houses under the cottage eave.

 

I hope to paint tiny birds going into the bird houses!

 

 

Those sailboats were fun to paint!

 

I think I will lighten the door window of the cottage.

 

Now I will paint a lot of lupines into the foreground and add a blooming lilac bush

 

on the left.

 

I am going to paint a cat into the shadows on the lilac bush!

 

The cat will be not noticeable at first.

 

 

Ted and Milo came to visit.

 

Milo gets really excited about the dog toys in my backyard.

 

Milo greets me for a second with tail wagging.

 

Then Milo plays with the toys!

 

This was Monet, Lily, and Poppy's new skunk toy.

 

 

We talked about how far Milo has blossomed.

 

Milo almost drown the first day swimming at Sandy Point.

 

Today Milo swam for hours way out into the ocean!

 

Ted said he is a swimmer for sure!

 

I am so glad Milo is having all these great beach days.

 

Almost everyday Ted takes Milo for long swims and walks on the beach.

 

 

Milo took the fur off this old dog toy.

 

Ted said it was a much improved toy now.

 

Ted was scratching Milo's back.

 

Milo was smiling!

 

 

Ted told me he bought a beautiful big blueberry pie.

 

Milo and Ted have been eating the pie.

 

He said Milo loves blueberry pie and steak.

 

Milo looks to have gained a few pounds since being neutered.

 

Ted says Milo is very calm now.

 

Milo has not attacked any dogs for a long time.

 

 

 

Ted thanked me for rescuing Milo.

 

I told Ted, "Thank you for giving Milo such great care!  You are a good dog owner."

 

 

 

Robert and I have been invited by painting clients to dinner tonight!

 

The restaurant is a wonderful Italian restaurant in Bar Harbor.

 

I am looking forward to seeing them again.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I drove over two hours to Pemaquid Lighthouse again today!

 

This time I worked on the lighthouse painting.

 

I was surprised to see more greys, browns, greens, but no pinks or lavenders.

 

I like how the rocks look now.

 

 

I talked to a small boy who said he wanted to be an artist and a cook when he grows up.

 

I told him that was a very good plan!

 

He would be able to eat well and paint!

 

He said, "Maybe my Mom can let you hang your paintings in her museum!"

 

His Mom said hello and said she worked at the Brandywine Museum in Chadds Ford, PA.

 

She said they have the Wyeth's paintings there now!

 

She thanked me for answering her Son's questions.

 

I told her son, "Well that would be nice to have my work there."

 

We all laughed!

 

 

 

"On The Rocks To Pemaquid Lighthouse" 14x20 oil on copper 950$ Framed in gold or

black with gold.  Shipping included in the price.

 

 

I drove to Back Cove in New Harbor next.

 

This is a 5x7 oil on copper.  

 

I tweaked the little plein air sketch.

 

 

"New Harbor's Back Cove" 5x7 oil on copper 350$ framed in your choice of gold or black

with gold frames.  Shipping is included in the price.

 

 

I met a nice lady who asked me to meet her 13 year old Granddaughter, a budding artist.

 

A few minutes later she arrived with her Granddaughter and Daughter.

 

I had a great time tell her about being an artist.

 

They enjoyed hearing about using a limited palette, one or two brushes,

 

painting on location, art schools, painting locations, and sales.

 

I tried to be inspiring yet a realist.

 

I didn't want to sugar coat one of the most difficult careers in the world.

 

 

I met 13 year old Patches, a golden doodle, her other two doggy friends.

 

I thought Patches would look great in a painting.

 

I really enjoyed talking to Patches' owners.

 

 

This is such an interesting photo of the lighthouse.

 

I might paint it soon.

 

 

My dog Lily tried to eat a bar of soap.

 

She didn't like the taste of soap!

 

I found a nice pair of my wool socks in the bathroom trash can!

 

At first I thought Robert threw away my socks.

 

Then I saw Lily's bright eyes watching me!

 

I asked Lily if she threw away my socks!

 

She seemed to say yes.

 

Lily normally puts my socks in Robert's room or downstairs or outside!

 

She found a new place to hide socks.

 

 

Back Cove tonight.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"On The Rocks At Pemaquid Lighthouse" 14x20 oil on copper.  Finished!  950$ framed in

your choice of a gold or black with gold frame.  Shipping included in the price.

 

I changed the title three times.

 

I thought it was done five time!

 

Seems like all the figures and buildings needed more and more work.

 

I am pleased with it now!

 

I enjoyed so much painting people into the scene!

 

 

Robert took me to see Jamie Wyeth's paintings at the Farnsworth Museum.

 

I thought I would share close up photos of his work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love his work!

 

I was surprised to read some paintings consisted of watercolor, enamel, gesso, and oil paint!

 

Beautiful work.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a 14x20 oil on copper painting I am working on!

 

 

I drew the sketch on the copper.

 

I like to draw a line down the center of lighthouses and people to get them straight.

 

I also draw a diagonal line for the shoulders and tail.

 

 

See the lines?

 

They disappear into the oil paint.

 

 

I worked on this last night.

 

 

 

Here it is now.  I will try to paint rocks tonight.

 

 

Lily was carrying around a palette knife for painting!

 

 

Robert was eating fried haddock!

 

 

Owl Head Lighthouse from yesterday's photo trip.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I invited a painter friend Brian who does not drive to take photos for him to paint.

 

He has a few handicaps preventing his ability to drive.

 

How can he take photos to paint?

 

Once a year in October I have driven Brian to take photos.

 

I suggested we take photos twice a year.

 

He prefers to paint from photos because of these health conditions.

 

He shared many new places to paint and I shared places with him!

 

The situation is a win win for the both of us.

 

He wanted to take photos at Five Islands.

 

Five Islands is located near Reid State Park.

 

 

The road comes to a lobster pound where five islands can be viewed.

 

There are many paintings to be done from this location.

 

 

We took photos in Warren and Waldoboro.

 

Then we decided to visit Pemaquid Lighthouse.

 

I made a Columbia Restaurant salad called 1905 Salad for us.

 

We sat on a granite rock, eating salad, admiring the lighthouse.

 

He told me Andrew Wyeth once painted this lighthouse.

 

He cropped the top of the lighthouse in his painting.

 

A man watched Andrew Wyeth painting on location.

 

He said to his wife, "He must be a beginner.  Look! He doesn't even have all of the lighthouse

 

in his painting."   Andrew Wyeth laughed at this!

 

 

 

Here is the 1905 Salad Recipe by Columbia Restaurant

 

Salad Dressing:  1 cup grated parmesan cheese, 4 tablespoons worcestershire sauce, 1 juiced large lemon with pulp,

 

1/2 cup fine quality cold press extra virgin spanish olive oil, 4 cloves of garlic minced, 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped

 

oregano, 1/4 cup white vinegar, salt, pepper.

 

 

Salad:   2 cups spanish olives or more, 2 bunches of bib lettuce or other types of lettuces, 2 or 3 vine ripe tomatoes diced,

 

3 cups diced ham, 1 package of swiss cheese sliced, and any other vegetables.  I do like one red pepper cubed or

 

a cucumber or celery or a golden delicious apple!

 

Pour salad dressing on to salad and toss!  

 

This salad can last for two or three days.

 

The recipe makes 4 large salads enough for a dinner.

 

Robert and I eat this salad once a week and it lasts for several days.

 

My friend Brian loved the salad and wanted the recipe!

 

 

I showed him Back Cove.  He said it was quintessential Maine!

 

 

 

 

We took photos of my favorite seaside cottage in Rockport.

 

Mother birds were busy with their chicks!

 

We saw chickadees whirling and singing!

 

See a few birds on the edge of the roof or at the door of a birdhouse!

 

 

We started our photo journey at 11am.

 

At 6pm we were still going strong!

 

I said, "I really think we should go to Owls Head Marina!  You know the last time we went there

 

we both sold many paintings from there!"  

 

He was tired, but said, "Yeah, You are right.  Let's do it!"

 

We went all over Owls Head State Park too.

 

I headed down a steep cliff or hill not remembering his health conditions!

 

We climbed down behind the Owls Head Lighthouse to the beach!

 

I think he was surprised by his agility!

 

 

There was only a skiff on the beach at the Owls Head Marina, low tide, the lobster boats were far away!

 

We had a great time.

 

 

I have a lot of paintings to do now!  

 

I sure hope Brian has great images to paint.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I asked a man and his son doing yard work if I might see their view in Stonington!

 

The man thought about it for a full minute.

 

Then he said, "Sure!"

 

I ran up his stairs of his back porch with my eager camera.

 

It was a great view of the harbor.

 

I really loved the house in the foreground.

 

He said he was a lobster man.

 

He didn't like all the rules and regulations.

The government is worried about the whales getting tied up in nets and traps.

 

He said he never saw a whale in these waters.

 

I asked him about Dundee, the orange Maine coon cat.

 

He said he was impressed how street wise Dundee seemed.

 

He saw him once way out in the woods.

 

His son told me, "Dundee is the kind of cat you just pet three times.  He bites you

 

and pounds you with his back legs otherwise.  He must have a sensitive stomach."

 

 

 

 

I saw another man on his deck.

 

I asked if I could see his view.

 

There was a lovely view of lupines and homes.

 

 

I saw people outside one of the places I enjoy painting.

 

They let me take photos of their view.

 

 

I went to visit Dundee, the orange Maine coon cat.

 

Elmer, his owner, told me Dundee was taking a nap.

 

He said he saw the cat nip toy I had given Dundee recently.

 

We both laughed.

 

This is Dundee's view.

 

 

Lupines are everywhere!

 

 

I painted as the sun set behind Pumpkin Lighthouse.

 

 

Good start.  I will tweak the painting!

 

Interesting light in this painting.

 

 

Milo and Ted came to visit.

 

Milo kept his eyes on Ted.

 

They have a nice bond now.

 

Milo has been invited to play with two large dogs who tend sheep.

 

Great Pyrenees.

 

This might be interesting.

 

 

I did finished my commission.

 

She loved it.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am enjoying painting a very old photo of the Abbey Gin Mill located long ago in Webb, Mississippi.

 

I had to research horse leg anatomy to paint the horse properly.

 

 

I laughed when I discovered a person laying on top of cotton in the cart!

 

I had not seen this before.

 

Amazing detail discovered when I enlarged the photo to paint!

 

 

I believe the man on the right is sitting down.

 

I worked forever on the lettering of the Abbey Gin!

 

 

I learned today from Ted there are mules pulling the carts of cotton.

 

They have longer ears than the horse in the left foreground.

 

 

This is how the painting looks now on my easel.

 

I will change a few things.

 

The second cart of the left wheel on the right needs to be enlarged.

 

There are a few lines that need straightening in the building in the distance.

 

I need to check the height of the men in the distance.

 

That one guy on the right seems very tall!

 

 

Here is the photo I am working from.

 

 

I looked up from painting to see Robert hugging the dogs!

 

I have been trimming Monet, Lily, and Poppy's hair!

 

 

I was having a honey dew snack!

 

My dogs loved it!

 

One for me, one for Monet, one for Lily, and one for Poppy!

 

 

Their enthusiasm was wonderful!

 

I loved how Monet put his feet on my lap!

 

I had to be careful Monet didn't grab a piece of honey dew from my bowl!

 

 

My irises are doing great!

 

I am relieved to see our neighbors across the street putting on a new roof!

 

There are so many abandoned houses in Maine because of the cost of roofs!

 

 

Friendship, Maine.

 

Good Night!

 

Here was the photo I painted.

 

 

"Abbey Cotton Gin Mill In Webb, Mississippi" 14x20 oil on copper.  Sold. Thanks.

 

   I finished this commission today.

 

She loved it.

 

I did the best I could do with the painting.

 

I am a little proud of it.

 

 

Now I am going to paint an even older photo of the same cotton gin mill!

 

What an incredible photo.

 

I noticed the camera was tilted.

 

I fixed the perspective.

 

I wondered, What is a cotton gin mill?

 

There is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds.

 

These  cotton fibers can be then processed into cotton goods.

 

The seeds can be used to grow more cotton or produce cotton seed oil.

 

I thought it was a alcohol facility!

 

The word gin threw me off.

 

 

 

 

There.  Now I think it looks more natural.

 

I drew the drawing to show her.

 

She said it looked great.

 

 

For most of the day I drew the drawing onto the copper panel.

 

I am sure there will be many drawing changes once I start to paint.

 

This will be the same size as the other painting.  14x20

 

We decided to frame them both in an Italian black with gold frame.

 

 

I can't wait to see both paintings framed!

 

 

Milo and Ted came to visit a few days ago.

 

Milo has come along way since we rescued him in December.

 

He was once nervous, frightened, and stressed out ready to attack.

 

Today he was so playful, relaxed, and so joyful!

 

He picked out this toy from our box.

 

He was tossing the toy up into the air, looking at Ted and I to see if we were watching,

 

and then sort of grinning!

 

He was very animated.

 

It was funny!

 

He was really happy.

 

 

Ted is so loving and proud of Milo.

 

He is a good person to help him.

 

Now they both are happy.

 

Ted said he bought 40 pounds of chicken on sale.

 

They asked him what he was going to do with all that chicken.

 

He told them, "I have a beautiful dog named Milo who will eat it!"

 

Then of course Ted asked Milo if he would like to eat some chicken?

 

He talks to Milo all of the time.

Milo just loves all his attention!

 

It is so nice to see this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was asked to paint this old cotton gin mill located in Webb, Mississipi.

 

This photo was taken the last day the building existed.

 

I love doing commissions.

 

Right away I set up to draw!

 

 

I worked on the drawing most of the day and night.

 

She wanted the cotton gin mill photo to look just like the painting!

 

I made sure the vertical lines were straight.

 

Sometimes these lines slant because of the panoramic image distortion.

 

It was very difficult to draw.

 

I discovered a few drawing mistakes on the window on the left later.

 

I also had to redraw the tubular things on the left later.

 

I may ask her if I can make the building porch on the far left more pronounced.

When the painting is framed these porch legs may disappear into the rabbet of the frame.

 

 

I fixed the tubular things on the left.

 

I had not discovered the issue with the lower second window on your left yet.

 

 

Worked on the trees.

 

I painted the sky.

 

 

Worked more on the trees so they would be less purple.

 

Worked more on the sky and building.

 

Fixed the windows.

 

Working on the grass and what looks to be a railway?

 

Now I will make sure those window are lined up right.

 

I will finish the grass.

 

Maybe I will lengthen the porch on the left.

 

I realized the time of the day was sunset in the photo.

 

I had not noticed this before.

 

I think this will be an interesting painting.

 

I hope she likes it!

 

Commission paintings are so exciting.

 

 

There was a heat wave of 82 degrees on Monday!

 

We ran to Craigs Pond.

 

Monet looked so happy.

 

 

We met a one year old black lab/golden retriever mix at the lake.

 

He was beautiful.

 

 

What a beauty!

 

 

I loved this image of Back Cove in New Harbor at 6am.

 

If I was not so dazed by the early hour I may have painted!

 

It was all I could do to walk along the rocks and take photos.

 

Just not a morning person.

 

I did enjoy seeing the early morning light!

 

Have a good night.

 

 

I am thinking of painting this big!  20x26 oil on copper!

 

My camping experience was great except it was a very cold night.

 

It must have been in the low 40s.

 

I wore my arctic down jacket, wool hat, wool gloves, flannel lined jeans, wool socks...while I slept

 

in the van!

 

The campground was so quiet.

 

I could hear waves in the distance.

 

Then at 4am I heard the low roar of lobster boats heading out to work.

 

I knew the sun was rising!

 

I went to the Pemaquid lighthouse at 5:30am.

 

 

The sun rose to the left of Monhegan Island in the distance!

 

I was too tired to paint at the lighthouse as I had planned.

 

 

 

I do like this early morning photo of the lighthouse to paint also.

 

Robert thinks the first photo is better because of the iconic rocks.

 

This one looks happier to me because it has better light.

 

These are the things we talk about.

 

I trust his opinions.

 

 

I also love the warm glow created by the sun going down in the evening.

 

Robert said he liked it except for the dark shadowed grass.

 

Something to think about.

 

 

I love this photo too.

 

This one shows more ocean!

 

 

I was in the town of Friendship when I saw two Dundee look a likes!

 

They were enjoying the sunlight.

 

 

I enjoyed seeing so many beautiful places!

 

Spring is my favorite time of the year.

 

The entire landscape comes back to life after such a long winter.

 

I saw lobster men wearing shorts,

 

two small dogs running away from home with their owners chasing them,

 

cats sun tanning,

 

and people smiling!

 

 

My Mom loves these flowers.

 

 

These are the colors after sunset at Round Pond.  

 

I am glad to be back home.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Lighthouse Keeper's House in Pemaquid" 8x10 not finished yet.

 

I decided to camp overnight at the Pemaquid Lighthouse Campground.

 

I painted at the lighthouse today.

 

 

There was a young puppy at the lighthouse with a black poodle.

 

He was only 16 weeks old, a lab/poodle mix.

 

Very cute puppy.

 

 

It would be fun to paint people and dogs at the Pemaquid lighthouse from a photo.

 

 

There was a large wedding party at the lighthouse.

 

I will be painting at the Pemaquid Lighthouse tomorrow then I will head back home.

 

Good night.

 

 

 I was painting my favorite yellow house in Stonington, Maine.

 

A robin sang while I painted the bird into the painting (lower right).

 

I take a better photo tomorrow after I tweak the painting!

 

The light and temperature were perfect for painting.

 

A few black flies harassed me.

 

 

"Stonington-Song of a Robin" 8x10 oil on copper 550$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping included in the price.

 

Here is the finished painting after several hours of tweaking in the studio!

 

 

There was forsythia, a tulip, and lilacs blooming!

 

Pleased with the robin done on location!

 

 

I watched and painted the sun setting at Sand Beach.

 

Will post better painting photo tomorrow.

 

Beautiful night!

 

I was wearing shorts and a jacket!  

 

 

"Stonington Spring Sunset" 8x10 oil on copper 550$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping included in the price.

 

I didn't need to tweak this one too much when I returned home.

 

I just smoothed out brush strokes.

 

 

I took 1000 photos!

 

 

I love lilacs and apple blossoms.

 

 

The sun was down.

 

I was driving by Dundee, the orange Maine coon cat's house!

 

I saw Dundee outside his house!

 

He must have missed his 5pm curfew!

 

He might have elected to stay out all night to hunt mice.

 

I decided to stop and pet him.

 

 

Dundee came running while he wagged his tail!

 

I was running too saying, "Is that Dundee?  How are you tonight?"

 

He meowed.

 

I pet him.

 

He talked.

 

He had a lot to say tonight.

 

 

Dundee walked all around my van sniffing.

 

The street light made beautiful Dundee shadows!

 

 

Dundee sat right in the middle of Main Street.

 

Then he slowly walked into the bushes.

 

Good night Dundee.

 

 

Ted and Milo visited yesterday.

 

They looked happy.

 

Another visitor came to see us, Jean.

 

It was nice to spend time with her.

 

She was a nice lady.

 

 

Milo loaded up Ted's car with a few dog toys he found in the yard.

 

Robert reported Ted's car is packed with toys!

 

Milo is great at raiding toys from people's houses.

 

We all laughed!

 

Jean said, "Oh isn't that cute!  Who could blame Milo?"

 

 

Here is Milo looking through the dog's toy box.

 

 

Milo played with Monet's black bear for a long time!

 

When Milo left, Monet brought his black bear inside the house, dropped it, and whimpered.

 

I bet he was telling me "Milo played with my little black bear!!"

 

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Irresistable" 14x20 oil on copper 950$ framed in gold or black with gold.  

Shipping included in the price.

 

I am relieved this painting turned out.

 

The water in the painting had to be simplified.

 

 

  After fourteen hours of painting...

 

I didn't like the crazy water design.

 

Luckily the oil paint was still wet!

 

I decided to put the computer image of the boat away!

 

I needed to create a soothing believable water!

 

 

   While visiting Cadillac Mountain yesterday I met two young men with a cat.

 

There were 50 mph winds or more.  

 

There was too much wind to paint.

 

 

The guys were from Bangor.

 

Their cat didn't look too happy.

 

I thought the cat was cute in his sweater.

 

The guys took a photo with their cat then left.

 

I never saw a cat on top of Cadillac Mountain before!

 

 

Apple trees are in bloom!

 

 

It was a beautiful day in Acadia.

 

I just enjoyed the sights.  

 

I need a few days off from painting.

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Cadillac Mountain Spring Sunset" 14x20 oil on copper 950$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping included in the price.

 

    I had a great time yesterday painting on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

 

There were plenty of black flies but I sprayed deet all over myself!

 

I had fun talking with people from all over the USA.

 

I answered their questions about Maine during the Winter.

 

They were shocked to hear how early it gets dark in Maine in November.

 

I decided to push myself by painting larger outside!

 

I did tweak the painting when I returned home for about an hour.

 

 

"Eagle's View" 8x10 oil on copper 550$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping included in the price.

 

    I was having so much fun.

 

I decided to paint another painting!

 

I found many 8x10 16 ounce copper plates in my house.

 

This is a good size for plein air.

 

I am enjoying painting on pure copper.

 

I did tweak this plein air painting when I returned home.

 

I do like to make sure the craftsmanship is good.

 

I am pleased at my accomplishments today!

 

 

A very nice lady Julia took this photo of me working.

 

She was great company.

 

 

We were trying to take photos of the sun setting.

 

I thought it was very dark outside for the sunset.

 

 

 

This was earlier in the day.

 

 

Back at home..Lily grabbed Robert's glove from the table!

 

I suppose her Mom Poppy had a ball so she needed something!

 

 

 

Lily was so pleased with the glove!

 

 

 

The dogs are all enjoying 60 degree temperatures!

 

Have a good night!