Artist Renee Lammers

  "Clearing Fog"  3X4 Oil on Copper  
     I was driving in Bass Harbor when I noticed this scene unfold.  I took photos of the fog lifting and the extremely bright sun glaring on the ocean.  So here I took artistic license with my photo to achieve the memory of the scene.  I love to paint water and trees.  This is a strong image for such a small painting.  It will look great in a gold ornate frame!  
     Have a great day!  I am going to Acadia National Park to paint.

  "Ann R Kittery and Pea Pod"  3X4  Oil on Copper 

     I sat in my car in Rockport at sunset because it was 50 degrees.  I can see this painting in the car is going to be a help and a habit.  I enjoy painting boats.  I was hoping to study those boat stands.  I have painted a boat yard before from a photo but ran into trouble trying to paint the boat stands.  So now I know how the stands are shaped.  I learn so much from painting outside.  I have noticed my paintings done outdoors are more colorful, more looser brush strokes, and fresher.  I liked the shape  and colors of this old wooded boat called the Ann R Kittery.  I hope to paint a larger painting of this scene soon. 
     I was just invited to attend the 4th Annual Wekiva Paint Out Invitational in Wekiva State Park in Orlando, Florida on March 1-6.  This will be a great event.  They house all of the Artists at a Camp nearby.  The Artists will paint all day for five days.  At the end of this five days they will have an Art Show. They have contests for the Artist's paintings such as smallest painting, or the most paintings painted, largest painting with prizes too!  I hope to be able to learn some new tricks from all of the excellent Artists attending.  I was also invited to three other Plein Aire Invitationals in Florida.  I did agree to do Wekiva's.  I signed up for the biggest Plein Aire event in America besides Carmel called Plein Aire Easton.  Easton's Plein Aire event is amazing.  They have hosts to look after each Artists for housing and food and car!  The event is in Easton, Maryland.  I met a director of the event while painting on Monhegan Island!  It seems to be a small world when it concerns Plein Aire Artists.  I hope you have a great day!  I am off to the YMCA and then I will paint!

  "Another Maine Day"  6X8 Oil on Copper    Sold.  Thanks.

     This little boat is one of my favorites.  It is just an ordinary skiff located in Bass Harbor at Rich's Wharf.  I am not sure how many times I have painted this particular boat!  The boat is now very familar to me.  It seems as if what inside the skiff is important to me and not so much the reflection.  I have often thought the way we paint a boat has some psychological meaning.  I like to paint these boats tied up to a wharf.  I also like to have as much calm water surrounding the boat as possible.  I sometimes let the piling at the wharf show in the painting.  Most of the time I like to show the boat floating in peaceful waters.  This is a nice peaceful painting!

     It is another gloomy day here in Maine!  Cool too!  Might go out and do some pen and ink with watercolors from the view of my car!  Have a great day!

"Sears Island Oak"  6X8 Oi on Copper  Sold.  Thanks.  Framed in pale gold wood frame  Price includes frame and shipping!

     Sears Island was first called "Wassumkeag" or bright sand beach by Indians.  American Revolution brought squatters to the Island to live.  An American Ship sank in the Harbor and so these squatters fled.  The squatters didn't want to deal with American enemy soldiers.  Job Pendleton first officially settled in 1775.  A man named Peace and six other families settled by 1790.  In 1813 the entire island became a dairy farm owned by the Sears family.  1905 The Bangor and Arrostook Railroad bought the island for a tourist distination but it failed because cars became popular. 
     There is a carriage road trail through the center of the island through several different habitats.  There are rare bird sighting of warblers and northern parula and norther waterthrush.  There is an old apple tree trail which leads to an old ruin granite basement.  The island is 601 acre area.  There are important unusual habitat areas for wildlife.  Sierra Club has worked hard at preserving this area.  In 1978 the Maine Department of Transportation almost built a cargo terminal on Sears.  They built a causeway to the island without necessary permits.  Finally after 30 years of conflict in 2007 a committee was established to resolve conflicts.  By 2009 there are special restrictions for the conservation easement.
    I thought you might like to know some history behind this special place I have been painting.  There is a special feeling about this island.  Maybe it is because no cars travel it's huge highway past the barricades.  Maybe it is the rock carriage trails lined with very old stone walls leading to no real destination.  Maybe it is the possibility of finding old ruins from the first settlers.  You do get the feeling people planted trees and build long extensive stone walls long ago.   Many people love this island and it is a special place.  I would hate to see houses built here!  
     I am headed out to Sears Island this morning.  Finally Maine is sunny after several days of rain or clouds.   I am going to drink lots of hot tea and bring my polartec gloves!  I may bring my fleece hat too!  It is in the 40's.  Pretty cold for painting outside!  My plan is to hike fast and travel light.  Then I am going to paint quickly and small!  
     Yesterday when Robert got off work we went to eat at the Hollywood Slots incredible buffet!  It was Robert's birthday!  We had lots of primerib and mussels!  Here is a photo of Robert, Daisy, and Duke last night!  This is a common scene. 

      "The Rendevous"  8X10 Oil on Copper  


     When I first saw this scene unfold I was staying at the Eider Duck on Monhegan Island.  I was up on the third floor and looked out the window to see this gleaming white sail!  Then I noticed a lady in a row boat rowing out to the Sailboat!  Then I noticed a man on the sailboat waiting for her.  He had the sails up and he was ready to sail.  Later I discovered the lady's name was Zoey.  She was on the Survivor show.  She was filling in as a lobsterwoman for a man who had suffered a heart attack.  Here she was rowing out to her man on the sailboat.  How romantic!  Probably the real story was, he was her brother for all I know.  I would like to imagine he sailed out to Monhegan to visit her!  Sounds better anyway.
     Here is a close up of the sailboat and Zoey rowing. 
Thank you for looking!  Have an excellent day!

                 "The Captain's Chair"  8X10 Oil on Copper  Sold.

The Captain's Chair is behind the Eider Duck house at Fishbeach on Monhegan Island. Local people who live there don't seem to know any story behind this chair. I have seen many paintings of this same chair and each artist calls the chair "The Captain's Chair". I like this chair because someone has tied strings for the back of the chair instead of throwing the chair away. I like the idea of making do! I guess because of my recent economic situation I can really appreciate trying to fix a useful possession to be able to use it still.   The chair has a story to me. How did the back of the chair get broken? So here is Monhegan Island's Old Chair.

Have a Great Day!

   

" Plein Aire at Vinalhaven Island "   8X10 Oil on Copper Includes Frame and Shipping!

     My trip to Vinalhaven Island was exciting on Monday!  I had to wake up at 5:00 am and then drive an hour to Rockland.  I unloaded my painting equipment and waited for the Ferry.  It was about 45 degrees out.  The Ferry ride was only 17$ but they also charged me 10$ more for parking my car.  The Ferry was about 1 1/2 hours.  The sun was rising so the colors were pinks, lavenders, and then golds.  We passed Breakwater Lighthouse.  We also passed Owls Head Lighthouse.  The photos turned out great!  The sun was bursting through the clouds.  I had two other artists with me who were also members of the Plein Aire Painters of Maine.  We all hiked about a block and painted.  I chose a lobster pound.  I loved the water inside the lobster pounds.  They were blowing air up into the water for the lobsters inside a crate.  They do this to keep the lobsters fresh.  I liked all of the action with men in oil skins (orange plastic pants) putting lobsters in crates and lowering them into the water.  This is the photo I took of the scene I was painting.   
 

     "Painting Miss Daisy "  6X8 


     Hello!  Good Day!  Yesterday was really cloudy out.  Most Artists will agree that a cloudy day painting is usually not a top seller compared to a sunny day painting!  So here in Maine we do have a lot of cloudy sunless days!  Luckily I am blessed to have two cute Golden Retrievers here waiting to be painted.  Today I decided to paint another painting of Daisy this time from a photo.  I used my computer screen to enlarge the image to paint from.  I prefer to do this compared to a small photograph.  Plus I don't have to go to Walmart to get anything developed!  Duke my other golden retriever doesn't like to sit for a painting.  The long stares make him nervous.  Even if he is asleep!  Once he heard a noise,( me painting), and he woke up and with the shock of his life saw me starring at him closely as I painted him.  No more!  But Daisy poses for photos and will sit for at least ten minutes. 
     I took my time painting "Painting Miss Daisy".  I didn't have to worry about her walking away.  The computer monitor works just fine to produce an excellent image to paint from.  All of my Oil paintings are on copper panel.  The copper panel is very thick.  A weather vane guy cuts the copper for me.  Then I sand the copper in small circular motion.  I paint on the copper as an artist would a wood panel or canvas.  I use Gamblin's Oil Paints.  I only use Cadium Red Light, Alizarin Permanent, Indian Yellow, Cadium Lemon, Ultramarine Blue, Phalo Turqouise, and Zinc White. (I don't use many of these same colors anymore.  Zinc is very yellowing and brittle.  Alizarin is too dark and fugitive). (Phalo Turquoise is a strange color).  I can mix amazing browns with the Indian Yellow, Aizarin Permanent, and a touch of Phalo Turquoise.  I love how translucent most of these colors are.  The Copper is amazing colors and has great luminous capabilities.  Painting with translucent oils creates a sheerness allowing Copper to shine through.  I leave specks of Copper to shine through.  In the carpet area in the foreground I left areas of Copper free of paint.  You can not see this in the photo unfortunately.  I have found I can use the back of my brush to scratch my name into the oil paint.  My name is then very shining with the Copper reflecting.  When this painting dries, I will coat the painting with Gamblin's Galkyd.  Galkyd is a nonyellowing alkyd medium that further hardens the oil paint and protects the surface.  I will then let this dry.  After a few weeks I will give the painting a coat of Gamblin's Cold Wax.  Cold Wax is a medium made of wax and a touch of Alkyd.  This protects the surface and can be removed in later years to clean the painting.  You can read more about copper on the home page of my website called Why I paint on Copper?  I show some other Artists paintings done on Copper. 
     Even though I used the computer screen to paint "Painting Miss Daisy 2", I did draw the painting out from life.  Daisy was posing for me and so I drew her on my copper.  I took a photo, downloaded my camera on my computer, and then brought up the image to paint from!  By then she was sitting next to me looking at the computer screen. 
     I like how your eye does stay on her face.  I love the carpet.  The carpet was so much fun to do!  Thanks for looking and reading today!  I hope you have a fantastic day!  God Bless!
   

  "Painting Miss Daisy"  6x8 oil on copper private collection.

    Hello!  I hope you are having a great day!  Today's painting is "Painting Miss Daisy".  Last night Daisy was sleeping peacefully on a beautiful red rug.  I quietly started to draw her on my copper.  Then I started to paint her.  I was suprised she was still laying there.  I painted her for about ten minutes and then she got up!  I had finished much of the painting.  I did the rug without her laying there.  So this is the finished sketch.  Yesterday Daisy ate an entire loaf of bread.  My husband Robert likes to eat whole wheat bread in the Morning as many Dutch people do.  He had put the loaf up above the stove thinking this would be a safe place!  I woke up to find plastic bread wrapping scattered all over the sunroom!  Daisy was just wagging her tail.  Duke, my other golden retriever, had the usual sad look on his face.  He had to watch Daisy eat all of the bread without getting even a slice!  So it is fitting that I painted a picture of Miss Daisy yesterday. 
    

 

  This is Daisy and Duke playing this Morning!  They are truly a blessing!  Have a great day!