Artist Renee Lammers

 

"Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park" 8x10 oil on copper. Sold. Thanks.

 

    I have been busy supervising 20 new windows installed, new foam board insulation

 

installed under the cottage, all the windows were retrimmed inside and out, baseboards and trim restained

 

inside the cottage, all new LED lights installed inside the cottage, various other things fixed!

 

    The neighbors here in this tiny forest community in Ocklawaha are so kind.  We are sheltered

 

in the woods.  They seek each other out daily to help and talk to each other.  It is a real community.

 

I saw a Jack Russell Terrier in my backyard by the lake.  I went down there and escorted him back

 

to his owner.  Meanwhile I had my trash bag carried off by another big blonde dog.  My neighbor

 

saw this happening and rescued the trash bag. He put the bag in his car to take to the dump.  I came back

 

and wondered where my trash bag went!  He told me it was in his car.  All nice things to report here.  

 

I get invited to go out to do this or that with the ladies.  I went to Bingo once.  I was probably playing way

 

to many cards. I decided I am not a Bingo player.  I was a bit frazzled from the experience.  I have been

 

playing online Chess.  Studying about the area online.  I read two books on wood sculpting and have ordered

 

sculpting supplies but have not tried sculpting.  I think a wood sculpting class would inspire me.  Finally I was

 

swimming at the Gym in Belleview.  I was talking about painting with a lady.  She inspired me to go out and

 

paint the next day.  I realized how much I missed painting.  I decided to drive 45 minutes to Marjorie Kinnan

 

Rawling's Historic State Park.  I had the entire park to myself the first three hours.  Here are a few photos.

 

 

   Twenty years ago I visited here to paint. I painted this gate.  I was new to plein air painting back

 

then. 

 

 

   The tall palm by the white cottage has grown about 50% since my last visit.  

 

 

   I see Cardinals whereever I go lately.  

 

 

   The citrus trees had fruit on them.  The White cottage was Marjorie Kinnan Rawling's cottage.

 

I had just seen the movie, "Cross Creek".  She bought this orange grove sight unseen. Her

 

husband would not come with her.  She bravely drove all the way from New York to Florida.

 

She wrote the book, "The Yearling" here.

 

 

   I am never a slave to drawing my subject exactly as it looks.  I believe this photo was taken

 

much closer to the house.  But you can see how I shortened the palm tree on the right.  I moved

 

bushes and made them smaller on the left.  I wanted the windows to show more.  I increased the

 

foliage behind the house.  I made the cottage peak smaller.  I increased the size of the car.  

 

All these things I did on purpose.  I am more interested in creating a painting with a better design

 

and feeling than I am to drawing a correct architectural rendering.  I could if I wanted to.  But I choose

 

to change the scene to accomplish my goals.  

 

    It was a magical day well spent.  I sold the painting online to one of my very loyal and kind art

 

patrons.   In a national park or a state park there are rules about commercial use on their properties.  I always

 

inquire before I start to paint in case someone asks to purchase my work while I am painting.  They always allow

 

me to give out a postcard with my website.  

 

    

 

   On the way to the state park I saw this amazing older church.  There are many beautiful wooden

 

structures here to paint.  Good night.