Artist Renee Lammers

 

   I thought Bokeelia, Florida might be a great place to paint the sunset.

 

The sunsets behind the water.  I guess I was wrong.  

 

The water was such a strange warm color.  

 

 

   This photo was taken one year ago.  You can see here how the water in Bokeelia normally looks.

 

 

   This is how beautifully clear the ocean looked.

 

 

Now it is full of oil and gasoline from boats and cars.  There is a very high bacteria

 

count in the water from decaying plants and animals.  I wonder how long it will take to clear?

 

It is not safe for dogs or humans.

 

 

  I saw an Osprey.  

 

I did not take photos of St James City, Pine Island, or other devastated areas.

 

I did see a man on St James City in his front yard.  He had three tents pitched in the yard.

 

He was standing there looking literally lost.  All his house windows and doors were open.

 

All his possessions were piled high along the street.  He garage, located in the back of his property,

 

was full of mislocated possessions from flood waters.  The garage door was gone.  This was the worst

 

area I have seen yet.  The streets were full of debri so high it was difficult to drive.  People

 

were driving recklessly.  I had to go onto coming traffic to miss a man coming out of a grocery 

 

store.  He did not stop as he entered the road.  Another man, coming from a side street,

 

did not stop as he came to the Main road, so I stopped abruply to avoid him hitting my car sideways.

 

He stopped and yelled at me.  He was obviously too tired from working to be rational.  I allowed

 

him to go in front of me.  I decided to give him grace.  People are very upset.  The hurricane destroyed

 

their home and possessions.  These people are homeless.  

 

 

 

   I thought this was a pretty scene today in Bokeelia.  The water looked clearer.

 

I did not paint.  I headed home.  Bunchee Beach is the best place to paint the sunset.

 

 

I worked on this painting till 3am last night.  I decided today that I will give myself a 

 

12am bedtime.  No one can paint well at 3am.  I was fooling myself!  I get determined.

 

I will tell myself it is 12am.  Go to sleep!  I woke up to look at my painting. I decided it

 

was too linear.  I will work more on the water.  I was too tired to swim because of my late night

 

painting activity.  Ridiculous!  I missed a wonderful swim today and went around feeling 

 

very tired.  

 

 

   Festus was inside of his Christmas cottage trying to take a nap.

 

He had his paw over his face to shield the light!  Miss Kitty looked tired too.

 

I feel guilty.

 

 

   Miss Kitty's Brother came to dinner again tonight. I gave him a can of cat food. He ate

 

all of the food. Then he let me pet him.  He wanted inside again.  Two other cats came.

 

There were three cats outside and my two cats inside!  It was like a cat party.

 

I think I may have found a very good home for Miss Kitty's Brother.  They winter in Florida

 

and Summer in Maine right on the ocean.  They will take really good care of him.  Tomorrow

 

night if her Brother comes to dinner, I will place him inside a backpack for cats, and drive

 

him to her house!  Good night.

 

 

 

 

   A plumber that lives in the park was working on repiping the

 

exterior plumbing.  I was assisting by plugging in a extention cord.

 

I was outside watching when I noticed Miss Kitty frantically 

 

trying to get outside the screen room.  Then I noticed her Brother!

 

I was so glad to see him. He weathered the hurricane outside because

 

his owner evacuated to Miami and left him to fend for himself. He

 

was thin but in very good health.  Right away I placed a big bowl of 

 

Wellness Core food outside for him to eat.  Miss Kitty was so happy to see him.

 

 

   There he is!  He is all grown up now. He lives on the street.  He is very friendly.

 

He wanted to come inside very bad.  Festus and Miss Kitty would not have minded 

 

another friend but two cats are all I can barely afford.

 

 

   The plumber said he feeds this young male cat regularly.  The cat came over to

 

the plumber while he was working and meowed several times.  Festus and Miss Kitty

 

sniffed the Brother for a few minutes.  I suspect they can communicate on a very deep level

 

by sniffing.

 

 

   He ate about half of the bowl.  Then Miss Kitty and Festus polished the rest off.

 

The Brother tried hard to get inside the screen room.  Then he wandered off down the street.

 

He looked very healthy. Maybe we will see him again.  His owner's mobile home was completely

 

destroyed, placed in a dumpster, and now she lives somewhere in an RV.  Her cat was not invited.

 

 

   Festus enjoyed a Christmas cat cottage located in our bay window.  Thank you to whomever

 

sent this surprise!  Festus took ownership right away.  

 

 

Festus loves his Christmas cottage.  

 

 

  Miss Kitty liked the Christmas cottage also!

 

They both were inside together and had a little wrestle.  Then they both came out.

 

 

  I have installed the hardware cloth, a 1/2 inch mesh wire over the bottom of the screen.

 

I have my laundry hanging.  It takes an hour for laundry to completely dry.  Very efficient!

 

I have more hardware cloth to install above and at the end of the room.  

 

 

  The pet screen I had previously installed last year was not strong enough to hold

 

Festus.  Festus enjoys climbing.  He is like a Lion!  The hardware cloth holds his weight.

 

 

Miss Kitty was watching Festus!  

 

 

   I was in the pool from 10:30am till 2:30pm!  That is a total of four hours!

 

I have many pool friends here in Fort Myers, Florida.  We have a great time chatting

 

and exercising.  They are all fine people.   Then I set to work on an ocean painting.

 

The water is going to be a beautiful bright green like the ocean in Sanibel.

 

 

  I am working on the sky and background.  This is a 24x24 on oil primed

 

birch wood.  I will probably finish it tonight or tomorrow!  I really

 

love working on oil primed birch wood.  It is a very archival surface.

 

It is a nice substrate and a respected one.  

 

 

  Good night.

 

 

 

 

"Sanibel Sunrise Seashell Seekers" 24x48 oil painting on oil primed birch wood. 1200$ unframed

and includes shipping.  

 

    I had a great time two years ago staying at the West Wind Inn on Sanibel Island.  I woke up

 

to see this sunrise.  I sat down in the sand and did a plein air sketch.

 

 

Here is that sketch.  It was very tiny.  It is a brave thing to do..to paint a sunrise or sunset.

 

In the sketch the sun was right at the horizon.  The sun was a pink.  In my larger painting

 

the sun was up higher.  The color of the sun at that stage was yellow.  It is so interesting

 

to study what happens as the sun rises or falls.  

 

 

  Here is a detail photo of the larger painting on the left.

 

 

Here is a detail photo of the right hand side of the painting.

 

I spent three days painting this 2 ft by 4 ft painting.  It was fun.

 

I really think I am ready to paint a 24x24 oil primed birch wood panel en plein air!

 

 

   Today I drove the cats two hours away to Brandon, Florida to visit

 

a family.  Deborah passed away last year from cancer.  They want me to paint

 

on her copper urn.  All her Sons, Daughters, Grandchildren, and Husband,

 

were there except for one Daughter.  The cats, Festus and Miss Kitty, were a big

 

hit.  Two twin Grandaughters had Miss Kitty and Festus in their cat stroller.

 

They took their Mom to chaprone.  They walked the cats to a nearby park.

 

Miss Kitty started to snarl and wack Festus inside of the cat stroller.  Festus

 

started hissing.  The girls became frightened.  They ran with the cat stroller back

 

to the house!  My art patron and friend Deborah would have thought this was hilarious!

 

The cats ran into the toy room and hid under the bed.  Cat drama!  

 

 

   I suggested having images of Deborah and Steve on the urn.  They could turn the urn to see

 

a new image daily.  They loved this idea.  I will make a template of the urn in paper and draw

 

three drawings for them to choose from.  It is a large copper urn that will hold both Deborah's 

 

and Steve's ashes someday together.  

 

The above cottage was destroyed during Hurricane Ian.

 

 

I put the cats back into the car, put their cat stroller in the car, put the

 

urn in the car, and drove back home.  It was an amazing meeting with 

 

wonderful people.  Both her Daughter's voices sounded like Deborahs.

 

I miss my friend Deborah so much.  I finally met Christopher, her son.

 

Surprisingly over the many years, I have met all her Grandchildren, and Daughters.

 

It was so nice seeing them again.  They miss their Mom very much.  

 

My paintings were all over the walls inside their house.  I could remember

 

Deborah laughing at the painting title, "Hurricane Pigeons".  I did paint the

 

pigeons during a hurricane at the beach during a plein air event long ago.

 

 

"Hurricane Pigeons" 8x10 oil on copper was hanging by their front door.  

 

She loved this painting so much.  

 

   Good night.

 

   Here is my work area.  I have a Broyhill recliner under that comfortable quilt.

 

I like to sit on the edge of the chair to paint.  Then I can put the recliner up, stretch

 

out, and admire how the painting is going!  I use a large copper panel for my palette.  

 

I have a oil primed birch wood panel on the easel, size 24x48.  I took a piece of black out

 

curtain, doubled the curtain over, and used screws to cover the windows.  I am amazed how much quieter

 

this doubled black out curtain makes the trailer.  It is also very private. 

 

 

 

   Here is my screen room.  Festus is lounging on top of one of the cat strollers in the

 

distance.  The screen room allows me to have the front door open for fresh air.  The

 

cats can come in and out.  The screen room really doubles my living area.  I have the 

 

washing machine in the screen room.  On Saturday nights there is a Spanish band in

 

someone's garage seranading me while I paint. They are very good.

 

 

   I am working on a sunrise scene I saw on Captiva Island two years ago.  I painted the

 

values in grey first.

 

 

   I was working with a limited palette into the wet greys.  Oils.

 

I left Monday morning with the cats.  We drove to Winter Park, Florida to stay with

 

my parents.  I will finish the painting when I return after Thanksgiving.  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

   I have left the paper down so that Festus can rip it up anytime he would like.

 

Almost every night I can hear him ripping up paper!  

 

It is a good hobby for a cat.

 

 

  Miss Kitty hanging out on top of the 4 ft refrigerator!

 

 

   Last year I  painted the front pink and the concrete a papaya red.  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

"Feathered Friends" 6x6 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold. Shipping and

frame included.

 

    I worked on my favorite scene from The Wonder Garden last night.  The LED light I installed

 

works perfectly!  I am so happy!  I loved watching these fluffy feathered Geese and the Flamingos.

 

I was listening to one of my favorite shows, "The Wagon Train" while I painted.  Festus was in my

 

lap wanting attention. I took an hour off from painting to pet him and give his a few kisses. Usually

 

Miss Kitty is next but last night she was more distant.  She had an 'incident'.  

 

    I had the door open so the cats could enjoy the screen room.  They love this!  I am near by and

 

keep an eye on them.  I was changing into my swimsuit in the back of the trailer.  Then I walked

 

back to the door to find Festus with both his front feet on the screen.  He was pumping the screen door.

 

Behind the screen door was Miss Kitty!  How did Miss Kitty get out?  There is a small 10x10 inch space not

 

screened up 8 foot high from the hurricane blowing out the screen. I replaced the lower screen but could not

 

reach the top. I needed a ladder to fix the screen at the top!  I imagine Miss Kitty used her spider woman

 

capabilities, climbed the screen, and hopped out!  When I saw her she was panting.  I opened the door and

 

she ran inside.  She would not let me touch her.  She leaped onto the refrigerator panting. 

 

She was shaking her head and panting.  She must have had a terrible time!  Festus was marching around

 

looking up at Miss Kitty.  Miss Kitty is fine today.  She let me pet her and console her.  She has no interest

 

in being a outdoor cat!  Poor Miss Kitty!  I will put up hardware cloth in the screen room.  This is very sturdy

 

1/2 inch wire.  A rabid raccon could not get through this hardware cloth!  

 

 

  Thinking back at 'the incident'...I think Festus was trying to open the screen door for Miss

 

Kitty to come inside.  Festus is very thoughtful.

 

 

   A few days ago I was giving Festus and Miss Kitty a little bit of sliced turkey meat as a 

 

treat after their dinner.  Festus has not been eating as much as usual.  I am trying to fatten

 

Festus up!  Someone put spicy turkey meat into the bag instead of regular turkey meat.

 

Festus loved the spice.  He was gulping his down.  Miss Kitty carefully tested a few bites.

 

Then the spice hit Miss Kitty's tongue!  She raced around the trailer, hoping on top of anything

 

she could, and then leaping down!  Her eyes were big!  She refrained from eating more spicy 

 

turkey. My mouth was burning too.  Festus wanted more!  Festus misses Robert and the dogs.

 

 

   This photo is from New Year's Eve last year on Sanibel Island.  Someday Sanibel

 

and Captiva will be open for the public to enjoy.  

 

Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   There are two plein air groups here close to me.  Today one of the groups, Fort Myers Beach,

 

met at Bonita Springs The Wonder Garden.  They have many birds and turtles and lizards.

 

I arrived late.  They were doing a critic.  I met everyone, sat down, and admired their work.

 

They arrived at 9am.  I arrived at 11:30am.  I woke up later because of the daylight savings.

 

I had to ship paintings off at the post office. I spent a half an hour at the bank!  Finally I arrived to

 

see the birds.  They were all very talented artists and very nice.  They headed off to lunch. I 

 

admired the birds.  This is Calypso. He was very outgoing and even danced.

 

 

I loved the three Flamingos best. I sat down right next to their pen.

 

A lady said they were 55 years old in age.  There once were 50 Flamingos but now

 

only 3 remain. She said there was once Flamingos in the Everglades.  She gave me 

 

a pink feather!

 

 

I drew the Flamingos.  They moved around a lot.

 

 

They were quiet and graceful.

 

 

 

Two Geese kept the three Flamingos company.  They were gorgeous.

 

 

   This guy was cute. 

 

 

Calypso was eating carrots.  This zoo was very clean.  I heard the workers talking to the 

 

birds and turtles.  Nice friendly place.  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

"Welcome" 5x7 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold. Shipping included in the price.

 

   I painted with a few painters in Punta Gorda, Florida.  I chose the Cigar House, built in 1890.

 

Two families who worked for the El Palmetto Cigar Company lived here. There were no kitchen.

 

The house was moved to a park where many southern homes are located and preserved.  Very interesting

 

place. I added a porch light and a few lights in the windows under the porch.  Seemed more welcoming.

 

Nice group of artists.  The historic park was located at 501 Shreve Street.

 

 

I heard paper wrestling behind my chair.  What could that be?  I looked behind

 

there to see Festus hiding with his eyes closed!  He had stopped moving.  

 

 

   When I started to laugh he opened his eyes.  I use that brown paper

 

to wrap paintings.  Festus is bored.

 

 

  This cottage was once a Post Office.

 

 

  I installed a 15 inch LED light near my easel.  My easel is luminated perfectly now!

 

My Perfect Art Lights did not get delivered because of a glitch.  They refunded my money, 

 

This 15 inch LED light only cost 59$.  Bargain.

 

 

   I took Festus on a cat stroller ride this morning before it became hot.

 

He likes private rides.  When we arrived back at the trailer, Miss Kitty, was sitting in the

 

bay window meowing.  She wanted to go for a ride. I took her on a nice stroll around the park.

 

We saw a white long legged kitten.  We see fewer cats than usual this year.

 

Tomorrow I will be painting with a different local plein air group at The Wonder Gardens

 

in Bonita Springs, Florida.  We'll be painting at 9am!  Good night.

 

 

 

"Southern Silvers" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Frame and shipping included.

 

     This was my first paintings of the sunset at Bunche Beach, in Fort Myers, Florida.

 

There were a lot of clouds creating lovely silvers.  A fisherman was very talkative near me.

 

I took time out to take his photo with his fish while I was painting.  It was nice to see how 

 

happy he was with his Whiting fish.  He offered it to me for my dinner.  I declined due to

 

high bacteria counts in the ocean because of Hurrricane Ian.  He let the fish go back in the

 

ocean.  There were not as many people there as there was last night.  I worked on this painting

 

in my studio for a few hours.  

 

 

"Silvery Southern Sunset" 5x7 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included in the price.

 

    Here is the second painting I did as the sun was set.  There was a very beautiful orange

 

glow at the horizon with a touch of yellows with mostly silvers.  When I am finished painting

 

the sunset it is usually getting dark as I am running to my car.  It is a very safe place to paint.

 

 

   I approached Fort Myers Beach from Bonita Springs.  I wanted to see if there were any

 

beaches open.  This was lining the roads.

 

 

  I saw a few cars parked after Lovers Key area on the right before

 

the bridge.  There were a few people enjoying the beach.  This

 

is the scene I saw as I was driving over the bridge.

 

 

This was a ocean front cottage on Fort Myers Beach.  

 

 

   The turtle mural survived the storm!

 

 

This hotel is probably the most loved by tourists.  Thousands of people are usually gathered

 

on the beach.  Lani Kai.  They did a great job at clearing the yard.

 

 

  Very close to the Fort Myers Bridge is a parking area open.  I parked and took a look

 

at the beach.  A little boy was having fun.

 

 

This is what is left of the Fort Myers Beach pier.  

 

 

   I could have painted the sunset from this beach.  I was not prepared for such a 

 

heavy feeling.  There was so much deaths in this location.  There is a very deep heavy

 

sad feeling here.  I don't know if other people felt this way?  I would not be able to sit

 

and enjoy this place because of the feeling.  I have felt this way where large numbers of 

 

soldiers have lost their lives on battlefields.  It is the same feeling.

 

 

    The sun over the water was glorious.   It was inspiring.  

 

Good night.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   I was disappointed the community pool was closed but I decided to venture off to Bunche Beach,

 

in Fort Myers.  I had heard this is the only beach open!  I arrived to find just a few cars.  Parking

 

was a breeze.  I unloaded my painting equipment.  I painted this scene first.

 

 

"Bunche Beach Cumulus Clouds" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included.

 

 

  I noticed a lot of clothing hanging from branches along the road to Bunche Beach.

 

On the beach there were plenty of damaged trees and debri.  I did not want to step foot in

 

this water.  The hospitals are full of people suffering from flesh eating bacteria, mersa, and

 

lots of other things in this water.  The water is full of oil, gas, decaying animals, people, and

 

a lot of other things that have darkened the water.  There was no odor but someone who came 

 

said the odor was so foul a few days before.  I wonder if the latest hurricane has helped.

 

People were so happy to be here.  Most were from up North.  They were snowbirds.

 

 

This is the view of Sanibel Island bridge in the distance.  The bridge is closed to tourists.

 

I thought that cloud looked like an animal of some kind.

 

 

There was a commerical freezer and other stuff washed up on the beach.  

 

Cars were going over the Fort Myers Beach bridge in the distance.  

 

 

  I painted the sunset.  You can see the Sanibel Island Lighthouse on the far left side.

 

 

"Sunset at Bunchee Beach November 11, 2022" 6x8 oil on copper sold. Thanks!

 

I tweaked my plein air painting in my studio when I got home.  Photos are always darker

 

than it really is in reality.

 

 

   I met about 15 people while I was painting.  They were all so nice.  

 

This is Fort Myers Beach in the distance.

 

 

   The sunset is still enjoyable.  I met some people who lived in second floor condos.

 

Their place did not have any issues.  One man had lost his car.  Another couple had flooding.

 

Someone said their neighbors were living in their porch.  Another said their Daughter's place

 

was flooded so they were all staying with them. We were all gratetful to be there.

 

 

    Have a good night.

 

 

"Moon Rising Over Bass Harbor" 6x6 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold.

Shipping and frame are included in the price.

 

   I was looking through older 2007 SD cards. I found a few photos of our first golden retrievers

 

Daisy and Duke and Robert!  We were at Sand Beach.  They really wanted to go into the water.

 

I remember Robert got his shoes wet but Daisy and Duke were thrilled.

 

 

I remember it being a very nice day.

 

 

   This was Daisy.  I purchased 21 bones for each dog because I had sold 21 paintings.

 

Daisy decided to own them all.  Poor Duke sat there being the victim.

 

 

   Robert handed Duke a bone and saved the day!

 

Daisy ate all those bones except one.  

 

 

We always had to leash Daisy and Duke because they would escape!

 

They had great lives living to be 14 and 14 1/2.  

 

  We survived Hurricane Nicole here in Fort Myers.  I stayed in the tiny mobile home.

 

I was thinking about evacuating after I read the highest winds safe in a mobile home or a camper is

 

60 mph.  65 mph winds can flip a trailer.  I watched the news until 1am.  Then I looked at the cats.

 

They were sacked out.  I decided to go to sleep. At 4:30am we woke to loud winds and rains.

 

I checked the location of the hurricane.  It seemed safe to go to sleep.  We woke up to find the

 

storm all gone.  I celebrated by having lunch at Golden Coral.  I am going to do some painting!

 

Good night!

 

"We Will Be Here Till The Rain Comes" 6x6 oil on copper sold thanks

 

   I loved this laundry scene I saw in Winter Port, Maine.  Robert took me to eat Mexican food.

 

Then we drove around looking at Fall colors.  I spotted laundry hanging.  He turned the car around,

 

we parked, we walked across the Green bridge, and I knocked on the door.  I wanted to ask permission

 

to take photos of the laundry. No one was home. I  took a few photos.  Then we left.  It was such

 

a perfect scene to paint!  

 

 

   Miss Kitty is very relaxed.  She says there is nothing to worry about.  Hurricane Nicole is

 

approaching Florida.  Looks like we will be fine.  Festus is more worried. He has been hanging out

 

in the hallway.  It is windy here in Fort Myers, Florida.  We will continue to watch the news!  We

 

can always go hang out inside of the car.  Good night.

 

"Southern Solitude" 24x24 oil on board. Sold.Thanks

 

   I enjoyed painting with oils on board very much last night.  It is a solid substrate.

 

I painted this painting in 6 hours.  If I were painting the same size with oils on copper it would

 

have taken me 2 weeks...ten hour long hard days...so that is about 140 hours.  Most of the time it

 

takes me 200 hours to paint a large oil on copper.  Why?  Because it takes a lot of time to place the oil

 

paint on copper.  I have tried brayers and larger brushes to deliver the oil paint on copper but there

 

needs to be a careful delivery of oil paint to create a finer painting.  I am looking forward to only

 

creating oils on board larger paintings.  I will still paint smaller oils on copper. I seem to be able to

 

create this size painting in about twice the time it would take me to do a smaller painting on linen or a board.

 

The process is much longer on a small oil on copper painting.  

 

 

"Frosty Pumpkin" 6x6 oil on copper  350$ framed in gold or black with gold. Shipping included.

 

   I painted both paintings last night.  I was up later than usual. The full moon always effects me.

 

I have my greatest creative times during a full moon.  

 

 

Today I went to a printing company and ordered a few Giclee prints of this painting, 

 

"Sanibel Silver Moon".  It took two hours of patience while they navigated their computer

 

and printed off four different attempts to create a Giclee print.  First it was too dark.  Second

 

it was too green.  Third it was squashed.  Fourth time around the print came out perfect.

 

I will only be offering prints on a few paintings throughout the year.  There is a huge

 

print market here in Florida.  I need to work on getting into the print market.  

 

Here are the two sizes of Giclee and prices.  8x10 20$ includes shipping.  11x17 50$ includes shipping.

 

If you would like one of these Giclee prints, just email me at [email protected].  

 

These Giclee prints will last for 100 years.  Pretty impressive.  

 

 

   Robert sent me photos of the dogs playing at Sandy Point Beach in Maine.

 

They were all having a wonderful time.  

 

 

   He sent me this rainbow photo.  

 

 

Here is Festus admiring my Mom's flowers from a few weeks ago during our visit.

 

We may be evacuating again to my parent's house in Winter Park.  We are watching 

 

a tropical storm, Nicole.  

 

 

   Festus woke me up at 2am the other night.  He was fighting with Miss Kitty.  

 

He was having a melt down. I woke up, turned on the light, and saw Festus in a rolling ball with

 

Miss Kitty using his angry cat screech.  I separated Festus from Miss Kitty. Miss Kitty was shaking

 

her head.  Festus had a few hairs missing on his ear so Miss Kitty might have fought back.

 

It was hot inside the mobile home.  I had turned off the air conditioning. I believe this made 

 

Festus uncomfortable.  Festus became irritable because he was hot!  I turned the air conditioner

 

on again.  Festus went back to being a happy cat!  He has always been temperature sensitive.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

"Sanibel Silver Moon" 12x9 Gouache painting 200$ includes shipping.

 

     I remember walking on the soft sand from the beach up to the lighthouse

 

when there was a huge super silver moon.  I decided to try to recreate that scene.

 

I used a lot of photos to make this happen.  Then I just layered and layered paint

 

until I liked it.  

 

   Gouache is a very old medium.  Artists have been using Gouache since the 12th century!

 

Gouache have the same pigments as watercolor.  But there are additional ingredients to make

 

it opaque.  Gum Arabic or Dextrin are the ingredients added.  One of the benefits of 

 

Gouache is that it dries very fast to a mat finish.  Wood, paper, cardboard, are some of

 

the substrates an artist can paint on using Gouache.  

 

 

   I set up two Origami racks for my paintings and frames.  Thank heavens that is done!

 

Now this place looks good.  Artists have a lot of stuff.  I paint in Watercolors, Gouache,

 

Acrylics, and Oils.  Each medium require different brushes and substrates, and easels!

 

I will try to install hardware cloth in the screenroom to cat proof the place.

 

I have a 15 inch circular LED light fixture I hope to install.  This place needs more light.

 

I am not a fan of low yellow light.  

 

 

  All the Gulf coast beaches are closed.  There are beaches in Marco Island and near

 

Tampa open.  All the Atlantic coast beaches are open.  

 

 

   Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

   I was able to put the screen back  and fix the pet screen.  The cats can come out

 

to the screenroom once again.  They have recovered from the long drive.  They like this place.

 

Festus caught two lizards his first night, brought them inside, and dropped them at my feet.

 

I made sure to tell him he was a great cat.  Then I carefully carried the lizard outside and set him free.

 

Festus would not eat the lizard.  I do not know what Miss Kitty was doing in the screenroom while

 

all this was going on.  It may have been a lizard eating buffet!

 

 

Festus had the funniest look on his face.  He might not have liked how the

 

lizard tasted.  He had to carry the lizard inside.  That lizard is safe now.

 

 

  The top of the four foot refrigerator is a great spot for lounging.  

 

Festus has been very sweet to Miss Kitty.  I think he has a warmer feeling towards her.  He

 

may have been jealous before but now he loves her.  He understands she needs lots of 

 

attention and seems to be fine with that.  Festus gets a lot of attention too.

 

We do all miss Robert and the dogs.  It is too bad they can't be here.  

 

 

  Miss Kitty keeps an eye out for her Brother.  We have not seen him.

 

   I went to the pool for a few hours.  I swam 12 laps.  I jogged in place.

 

I enjoyed the Florida sun!  I took the cats for a stroller ride.  I shipped a lot

 

of paintings.  I tried to paint but it was just too dark inside of the mobile home.

 

I decided to order two lights from Perfect Artist Lights.  One can screw into

 

a light socket.  These lights are very versatile.  The other one clips on to the top

 

of the easel with many settings.  I think this should take care of the problem.

 

I am relieved.  It was a 500$ investment but the quality of my paintings will

 

improve.  I can also bring them with me to Maine and use them in that studio.

 

 

   I was thinking of Sanibel Island today. No one except workers or home owners are allowed

 

to cross the bridge.  I did discover Tigertail Beach in Marco Island, one hour South

 

of Fort Myers, is open!  I might go visit Tigertail Beach.  Good night.