Artist Renee Lammers

    I woke up this morning and ordered my blue mountain coffee. There is a lady who

sells fresh fruit there.  So I bought two bananas and a papaya.  I gave Candy a banana

and half my papaya.  The fruit is so great and cheap here.  My breakfast cost only a few

dollars.   Then I tried to decide what I wanted to do.  I walked the entire Negril beach

today and back!  They claim Negril beach is 7 miles of beach.  In reality it is about 4 miles.

 So I walked 8 miles today.I took photos along the way.  Here is Booby Island on the left.

 I have heard Gilligan's Island was filmed here.  I have also heard many homeless

drug runners live here now.   

     I have been to Negril, Jamaica many times but have never walked the entire 

beach.  It was very fun to have a challenge for the day.  I could stop and purchase

 water.  A few Jamaicans kept me company by walking next to me and talking.  On the

last few miles back a Jamaican rug weaver walked with me.  He said he really liked 

my straight nose. I thought that was a funny complement.  So specific!  But not crude.

  He was impressed I had walked the entire beach.  He said I must be a very strong lady.

 Of course the conversation went down the tubes.  The Jamaican guys always try to

get a date for later.  There will be none of that!  Ha Ha!  I just walked a little quicker and left him in

the dust or sand!

    There are many hotels and cottages along this beach.  Only a few hotels are very

busy.  Merrills and Couples were very busy.  The hotel, T Water, where I stayed eight

times in Negril was completely left abandoned.  Hurricanes and the elements took over.

   The rug weaving Jamaican pointed out T Water Hotel.  Here are the remains.  An

artist has work for sale.  Many people have moved into what is left to live.  The owners just

left the hotel.  

Oh well.  Maybe someone will buy the property and renovate it! I have fond memories

of many vacations here.

     I am really enjoying these days in Jamaica.  Yesterday I soaked and today I walked.  

Who knows what I will decide to do tomorrow.  I hope I will paint!

   I decided to reward myself for walking.  Here is fresh fried fish and chips.  I think the

fish is red snapper.  The fish was marinated in a curry sauce before battered and fried. It

was fanastic.  I brought back one piece for Candy.  She goes off at night with friends

to reggae parties by taxi or dinner along the beach.  Tonight she has gone to a pasta party

with friends.  I prefer to stay behind saving my cash.  I don't think I could stay up as late

as they do.  This way she can stay out as late as she wants.  

Here is one of the homeless dogs.  He was sleeping in the sun then he rolled over and 

posed like this for a spell.  

     Here is the sunsetting.  It was very pretty.  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!  

"Reggae Party" 8x10 oil on copper sold.  thanks.

  Here is my night painting efforts after the reggae party which lasted only an hour or so, ending at 8pm.  

I enjoy painting at night.  A homeless Jamaican dog was sleeping by my feet while I painted.

I didn't notice the dog as it was dark and he blended into the sand.  I wish I would have

seen him, I would have painted him in.  Another night!

   I called today, "Water Therapy Day".  Tomorrow I will get back to work painting!

   It was the first sunny day since I have been here.  The colors were completely 

different.  Beautiful.

    There are small two bedroom shacks for sale in the mountains five minutes away

from this beach for 4,000$ US.  This house includes electric and water.  But don't worry

about me wanting to move here.  I just like to visit Jamaica.  

Here is Kaya, who lives in Jamaica with her American owner up on the hill overlooking

the ocean.  Kaya has a personal chef who cooks chicken and rice for her.  She was very

healthy unlike the homeless dogs.  I was talking to her owner.  Kaya dug out a small 

crab.  She played a little with this crab to the right of her front foot.  Then she went over

to a homeless dog and tried to get naughty with the dog.  The homeless dog, who didn't like

this allegedly grabbed Kaya and bear hugged her until her owner came to get her.  A crowd of

people lounging on the beach were watching the dog show.  The owner assumed the home

less dog was doing something naughty to his dog and was shocked to hear it was Kaya

who was the guity one.  No harm done.  What a beautiful little dog.  I may paint her.

   I  hear the reggae music playing in the distance.  I may walk

down to the beach to listen for a while.  I am covered with deet

as there is a bad virus from a mosquito one might get.  There are

plenty of Americans and Canadians to talk to.  Have a good night!

Get out and paint!

"Seagrape Shadows" 6x8 oil on copper. sold.  thanks.

    I had just finished my two hour soak in the ocean.  I really admired the glint of the

sun on the waves.  The colors in the painting are really more brilliant than this photo.  

I am using a smaller lap top with a different photoshop program.  Will fix this soon.

   Here is the sun setting!  

    I purchased a few small bananas from this nice lady for three

dollars.  We are quickly discovering how to eat reasonably.  Tomorrow

we will buy perkulated blue moutain coffee for 2$ each.  We are going

to order this first thing in the morning and then go take a shower.  The

coffee takes a half and hour to make.  She brews each cup separately.

Then we are going to have our coffee with three small bananas.  We have

discovered a man with a bike without any peddles or kick stand or chain

has the best beef patties for 100 jamaican which is about a 1.25$ US.  

This could be a lunch or dinner.   We do still have our almonds, apples,

and potato chips.  Breakfast this morning including coffee was 10$.  

    I discovered a beer bottle helps keep my tripod leggs from sinking

into the sand!  This idea was given to me by a nudist.  Quite 

ingenious.  I don't seem to mind painting with the smell of pot

being smoked nearby.  It is a different painting experience here.  I don't

think the pot smoke affects me at all.  I am sure the quantity in the air is too small

to benefit.  Still it is very unusual.  I look up to see a passing nudist,

the smell of pot, and the sound of reggae Christmas music.  

   Here are the showers.  Two are open air on the left.  The brown door leads to a private

shower and bathroom combined.  I used the open air shower the first day.  I don't think

the little door hides much.  So now I am using the private shower.  I just didn't see this one

the first day here!  It is very clean.  I have not had to wait for a shower yet.  Most of their

rooms have a shower.  Our small cabins are the only ones that do not include a private

bath.  

    I went to sleep early last night.  There are frogs that sing until 3am.  I am getting

use to them.  Tomorrow we are having nicer weather.  Still it was warm today.  I liked

all of the clouds.   

   Candy has already received a wedding proposal.  She declined.  She is having a great

time.  There is a retirement and birthday party here tonight.  Several people decided to bring

in a reggae band to celebrate all of their birthdays.  I saw large drums being set up.  I guess 

there will be brass as well as string instruments with a vocalist.  They told everyone we were 

invited as long as we either were nude, danced, or were intoxicated.  I asked if I could paint?

  They liked this!  So I will be included.  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

"Captain's Ziggy's Boat" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

While on the beach today, Candy met another friend, a rastafarian, selling pepper

sauce.  He was very kind.  There can be a purity to the Jamaican I have

not seen before. There was no aggressive behavior to him.  

Maybe it is their lifestyle.   He told us he lived up in the mountains.  He

grows herbs and vegetables.  He was a very happy person.  He even invited us up to his

mountain house to see his garden and cook for us.  We will not be going.  But it was a

heart felt invitation done without any kind of monetary reward.  Candy and I like to be as

safe as possible.  We are not niave.

   The sun set as men on horses road by.  There are many people selling wicker, wood

carvings, bracelets, food.  It is fun people watching.  Our hotel has a few nudists who 

are very kind people.  They don't bother us at all.  Most people are wearing swimsuits.

There are many couples, a few single elderly men, and Candy and I.  They are very

friendly asking where are we from.  There is a family like feeling.  

   Candy and Ron are trying to get me to go to another Reggae party tonight on the beach.

I told them I can't go.  I told Ron I would give him 7 jamaican to watch after my friend which

is the equivalent of 1$ US money.  I can't stay out late and paint all day long.  They are 

trying to change my mind but I am going to sleep!  I am excited about painting all day 

tomorrow.  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

   I am here in Negril, Jamaica!  Candy and I decided to swim right away.  My art equipment 

arrived here safely!  The taxi driver sang Dolly Parton songs the whole hour trip from the 

airport to the hotel.  His favorite song is Dolly's song about the coat of many colors.  We

heard this song four times in a row with the taxi driver singing.  Really memorable!  

     The taxi driver let us go into a grocrey store.  We bought a bunch of paper

towels for my painting, bottle water, ting, great mini bananas, kiwi, apples, and

almonds.  Our hotel has low priced food for breakfast and lunch.  Looks like we are staying

at the right place!  It is very cute, bohemian, clean, with lots of character unlike many

other hotels here.  This place has a 90% return rate.  It is very cheap too.

   Here is our room.  It is a cedar cabin 10 ft by 10 ft.  Two beds that are very comfortable,

 a fan, lights, and screens on the windows.  Locks on a dutch door, which is a half door,

and the rest of the top door.  I have all my painting equipment loaded into the home

depot construction box ready to paint tomorrow.  I am going to sleep early, 8:00pm.

Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

"Moose Ahead" 8x10 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

   Here is an enlarged closeup of the painting.  The moose sign is only a half an inch in size! 

What fun!

    Here is all my luggage packed for Jamaica tomorrow.  I decided to take the Home Depot 

construction worker's box along.

    I love this box with large wheels!  There is a nice long handle on the right hand side.  I can 

pull my art equipment down the beach!  I know those wheels will work just fine on packed

sand.  I am going to put all my copper panels in this box for safety!

 It is waterproof.  Hee Hee!  I am giddy with excitement.

   I took Daisy and Duke to the Alamoosook Lake.  It was 32 degrees with good winds.

It is three oclock and the sun was going down quickly.  When I come back to Maine there

should be snow on the ground!

I am waking up at 4:00 am to go to the airport.  If all 

goes well, I will be in Negril, Jamaica by sunset! Pray my oil paints arrive!   Have a great night!

"Moose Ahead" 8x10 oil on copper.  Almost finished!  Sold!

    I am the proud new owner of these lightweight carry on luggages!  

I have been a little worried about my Home Depot contruction worker

box with wheels passing as luggage.  So today I headed to Marshalls in

search of light weight luggage with wheels!  I found these two carry ons

for 29$ each!  What an incredible deal.  I admired the 24 inch pullmans.

 But I know once you cram everything inside these large pullmans,

the weight will be over a hundred pounds.  They only allow 40 pounds.

 After 40 pounds the airlines do make money on passengers!  I think

I have a greater chance of getting my luggage to Jamaica with all my

oil paints and copper panels loaded inside.  I weighed them...under

40 pounds, so I crammed more copper panels inside them!  Now I

will have 55 copper panels to paint on.  This should surely be enough

copper for 26 days.   The wheels are a additional perk as my other

carryon was just a painting bag.  I will arrive in Jamaica without my

arm being sore from carrying 75 pound carry on!  They don't seem

to weigh carry ons yet.  So I put most of my copper in this bag.  I am

still going to wear several layers of clothing on to the plane.

    Now I am feeling a little more relaxed about this traveling thing.

 Here are a few nice trees to admire.

    I am all set to fly out of Bangor, Maine Monday morning at 6:50 am.

 I will have to be up at 4:00 am to catch my flight.  Robert will be taking

me to the airport.  This will be very exciting!  I will post pictures, videos,

and tell you all about my trip daily!  Have a great night!

"Autumn Grey" 8x10 oil on copper 350$ Framed in gold wood.  Shipped free!

   My friend Candace, from Florida, will be joining me in Jamaica.  I have known

Candace for over twenty years.  She and I traveled to Jamaica 18 years ago.  She

is a retired areospace engineer. She and I seem to both have science brains.  

We have always gotten along very well traveling.  I am really excited about my

friend joining me on this trip.  She doesn't paint at all.  She wants to relax under

a palm tree, swim, and walk the beach.  I made sure to let her know this is a

painting trip for me.  Luckily she understands.    I am thankful for her company.  

I asked her to bring shampoo and toothpaste for the both of us, as I have no room

in my luggage!  I took out 20 Kelloggs Rice Krispies Treats.  There is no room for

these.  I am very disappointed.  Candace was disappointed too.  We will have to 

depend of local Jamaican food!  

"Autumn Day in Stonington" 8x10 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold wood.  shipped.

    Daisy and Duke have been enjoying Thanksgiving.  They shared a ham bone.  I have been

taking them on daily outings.  Tonight Robert and I sharing Thanksgiving dinner

with another artist and her husband.  I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving today!  

    Daisy and Duke enjoyed playing with two spaniels at Sandy Point.  They 

played very nicely.  In Florida I took Daisy and Duke daily to a dog 

park.  It is a real treat to visit with other dogs in Maine.

"Adrift" 6x6 oil on copper.  350$ Framed in medium gold wood.  Shipped free.

   I have drawn out the dory with a felt tip pen by Micron.  I have painted all the shadow

areas a very cool blue, purple.  I do not to paint any warm reflective light in these shadow

areas.  This is important.  Then I paint the sunlit areas of the dory with warm colors.  

I leave some copper coming through the paint.  I only use one large flat brush, an Old

Holland kolinsky sable size 10.   I don't worry if the brushstrokes aren't perfect.   

   I keep all the new layers of the sunlit dory warm and soften edges.   The contrast

warm sunlit and cool shadow creates the feeling of sunlight.  This is the secret to success!

   Next I paint in water making sure there is a difference in color from top right to top

left and also from top to bottom.  I keep all my brushstrokes horizontal.  I leave the

reflection area free of paint.  

    I make sure my dory's reflection is about the same height as the actual dory.  I also

make sure the color of the reflection is a little darker and warmer in the sunlit reflection

area.  I also make sure the shadow reflection area is darker and cool.  Then I paint more

water colors softening my edges.  I work back into the reflection areas slowly moving

into the water area.  I soften the entire water area lightly brushing over with my clean

soft kolinsky sable brush.  I clean and soften again.  I don't want hard edges in my water.

 There aren't any hard edges in water in nature only in photographs.  I have studied water

plein air for years.  The water is also lighter at the bottom of the boat (not in reflection).

 I make sure to pet Duke while I am doing this.  

"Ready For Winter" 5x7 oil on copper.  350$ Framed in medium gold wood.

 Shipped free.

      Autumn is the perfect time of the year in Maine to paint trees.

 The warm forest floor complements the green Spruce tree.  I liked

how the dark Spruce made the birch tree stand out.  These are fun to

paint.  Have a great night!

    Here is the Sconset, Nantucket painting I have been working on.  Last night I had

the painting up on the easel.  I would look at the painting, make minor changes, and

look more.  Finally I was satisfied.  Now I have asked the client what he thinks.  

Maybe he may have small change requests?  I also suggested a few titles and asked

him if he might like to name the painting.  Daisy and Duke deserve a ride now!  Have

a great day!

    I first made a large fire in the woodstove so my hands would be warm!  It is kind of cold and rainy out today with very little light out.  I turned on traditional Christmas music.  Gave Duke and Daisy a treat to hold them for a while.  I sanded down my copper panel.  I guerilla taped it to a small thumb box guerrilla painter easel.  I have my plein air painting of Nantucket on my lap top screen.  Hot tea with two teabags for extra caffeine.  I sketched out my drawing with a micron pen.  If I didn't like it I could wipe it off with paper towel.  

   Every painter approaches oil painting differently.  Since I paint on copper I don't like to have a underwash.  I allow my color of copper to be an "underwash".  I painted with a limited palette (cad red light, quin red, cobalt blue, cad yellow light, and Titanium white).   First I painted in the shadow areas.  Then I painted in warmer colors in the front two buildings on either side.  During my plein air sketch two years ago I painted in these two sunlit area buildings on either side a gray.  I decided in order to capture a more sunlit day, I needed to change this to a more warmer color.  When I paint in all shadow areas first it helps me keep these colors cool...really cool.  

    After six hours Duke came over again looking very sad.  "Is this all we are doing today?  We aren't going exploring anywhere or going on a car ride?"  Sorry Duke.  I did take them outside twice.  They walked down to the water and stared down the seagulls.  

    Next I concentrated in all the sunlit areas of the painting.  I made sure all these colors were lighter and warm colors.  I am going to put the painting in the freezer to keep wet.  Cold temperatures keep an oil from drying out.  I just need to make sure Robert knows there is a painting in the freezer.  Surprise Surprise!  I don't want a bag of frozen peas placed on top of the painting.  Now I will relax.  Tomorrow I will fix architectural lines.  I will work on subtle color changes.  Almost done!  It looks really good so far!  Have a great night!

    Today Duke and Daisy were visited by Monhegan Island artist, Susan Lord Gilbert

and her husband.  She is a wonderful oil and watercolor painter and also does fantastic

porcelain vases!  Here they were given Frosty Paws ice cream treats to give to Duke

and Daisy.  Daisy was loosing her self control barking for her treat!  Duke walked

around showing off his treat until he settled down on the couch.  It was so nice to

visit with them.

Here are a few of her porcelains and a oil painting.  Nice lady with wonderful talent.

 Her husband is very sweet too.  

   Daisy and Duke put on a great show today for their guests.  They ate their ice cream.

 Then they wrestled a bit with each other luckily and not the guests!  They rolled on

their backs.  They showed off their dog toys.  They were very sweet and entertaining.

 Duke collected Daisy's empty ice cream cup and walked around with both of them

in his mouth.  They took me to lunch.  Thanks for the visit!  

    As usual before Daisy and Duke's guests arrive I am running around cleaning.

 I brush both dogs to make them presentable.  I sprinkle deodorant powder on the

dogs.  Daisy and Duke must smell nice!

       It was a very warm day so I decided to take Daisy and Duke to Lake Alamoosook!  

They were so happy to have a warm day.  I love how Golden Retrievers wear their

emotions on their sleeve.  We met a lady with kids playing ball.  They were so happy

to see my dogs bouncing around with happiness.  Nothing like a Golden Retriever

hopping around with joy.  Even the kids were laughing.  

"Another Day in Paradise" 6x6 oil on copper.  sold.  Thanks.

    I purchased  new oil painting colors by Holbein called Manganese Blue, Turquoise

Blue, Horizon Blue, and Cerulean Blue for my Jamaica painting trip coming up

November 26.  The water in Jamaica is an amazing blue green.  I don't think my

Cobalt Blue will come close to the color of Jamaica waters.  I decided to use these

new colors with my parrot.  I love these new colors.  What fun to experiment with

tropical colors on a gray cold Maine day!  It is 37 degrees out without any sun.  The

wood fire is going!  I am listening to traditional Christmas tunes.

    Do you see the black speck in the center of my backyard?  That is a black cat!  This

morning I opened my back door to let Duke and Daisy outside.  Duke was already down

the stairs.  Daisy was standing on the back deck looking at the black cat!  She was getting

ready to run down the stairs after the cat.  I quickly grabbed her by the collar and put her

back inside.  Then I chased down Duke before he knew about the cat.  Duke was inside.  

Then I went to inspect the black cat.  

    My zoom lens on my Kodak camera captured this fuzzy photo.  Need to charge the batteries!  

    I was approaching the black cat to see if he or she was ok.  Maybe the cat was injured?

 The black cat hunkered down trying to hide from me.  Then the cat sprang up into the

air and ran off.  I watched the cat bounce through the woods.  

    Here is Duke laying in his bed by the wood fire.  I decided to take Duke and Daisy to

Lake Alamoosook.  They love this park.  No one else was there.  

   Daisy uses a black bear for a pillow.  

    Daisy and Duke both went for a swim.  

    They explored a creek.  

    We walked a little through the woods until I worried about Coyottes for some reason.  

I used my instincts or intuition.  We turned around and headed back to the car.  

The unexpected black cat this morning had my imagination working overtime.

 I want to keep Daisy and Duke safe.  

    Daisy and Duke are feeling so well for being almost 13 years old!  They ran and swam

all over the park!  The Frosty Paws ice cream treats are continuing to celebrate all the

Cape Canaveral Seashore paintout's sales!   In fact there is no more Frosty Paws at

the local grocrey store.  Must drive to Ellsworth to their Walmart to purchase more!  

The client chose sketch number 1!  

Now I am going to get to work painting!  Have a good night!  

    I decided to take Daisy and Duke to Stonington to explore Sand Beach.  They have

never been to Sand Beach.  They enjoy visiting new places.  They had a great time!

    There were many new smells for them to sniff!  It was 46 degrees today.  

Luckily Golden Retrievers don't seem affected by cold temperatures or cold water.  

    Beautiful day on Sand Beach in Stonington!

    Daisy is really a polar bear!  

     I am working on a new Nantucket painting of Sconset for a commission.  I drew out

several sketches for the client to look at.  I decided to watercolor these sketches.  

    Here is Sketch #1.  I did a plein air study on Sconset in Nantucket with this vary composition.

 I added a flag this time. Here is the plein air study  donated to a artist in resident program.

    I will use my plein air study to complete this new 8x10 painting.  I hope to capture

more of the feeling of sunlight by using better color temperature.  

Here is sketch # 2.  I like the idea of having flags.  I will make sure to darken the grass

so that the white path really stands out as in the plein air sketch.  I didn't want to paint

too darkly with watercolors.  

Here is sketch #3.  Now I will wait till my client lets me know which composition is best.  

These sketches are just for composition.  The new painting will resemble the plein air

painting (except hopefully better) as now I have more experience!  Have a great night!

 Which one would you choose?

     I am home in Maine!  This is our view.  It snowed late last night.  Rain was falling.

The temperatures were fluctuating between 33-36.   The pilot said there would be

50 mph winds as we were landing.  When I stepped out of the airport, the air was

so cold, I could not breathe.  Robert, Daisy, and Duke pulled up to the airport.

 Duke was sitting next to Robert in the van's bucket seat.  Duke was searching for me.

 I could tell Robert was telling Duke I was there.  Finally Duke saw me.  Daisy was in

the back of the van without a view.  When I swung open the van door I was licked hard

on both sides of my face at the same time.  Then I was licked on the forehead by Duke

again.  I sat in Duke's bucket chair.  He sat next to me with his eyes fixed on me.  

I could tell he was very happy.  Robert was smiling too.  Daisy was going through a

bag looking for presents for her.  She found the stuffed animals in no time at all.  I

made the gator stuffed animal bite her a few times.  She loved this.  She wagged her tail.  

Duke admired the gator too.  But when he saw the black bear, I could see he was confused.

 How did the black bear get into the van?  He thought the black bear was at home.  

Robert drove us home.  I petted Duke and Daisy.  We are celebrating the Cape

Canaveral Seashore Paintout success with two pounds of fresh salmon baked

in the oven!  The woodfire is roaring.  I am home!  

     Here is Duke having a Frosty Paws ice cream treat.  Daisy was not able to be

photographed.  She was biting her treat and hiding under the kitchen table while she did this.  

Just when I have thought I have taken the cutest picture of Daisy, I take another

photo of Daisy that might be cuter?  Here is Daisy with her new alligator toy.  She loves it.

Robert tried to look afraid when he saw the gator!  hee hee.  That was fun.  Have a good night!

    Today I was suppose to meet with a lot of painters in

Kraft Azalea gardens in Winter Park to paint a model.

 Don was there letting his class know they would be painting

inside because it was too cold.  I had no idea this was going

to be a Crealde closed class. Oops.  Berto showed up and agreed to

paint with me there.    Another Crealde student showed up

and suggested she would model for us.  So Berto and

I painted the model.  Here is a few photos.  

We gave her some cash and I gave her my sketch.

 It was her first time modeling.  I think she did a great job.  Thanks E!

    Here is E.  She said modeling for a painter was on her

bucket list.  I think she might consider doing more

modeling for painters.

    Here is Berto painting.  

    I am going to lunch with my parents to my favorite restaurant "Little Siagon".  

  Later I am having dinner with a client.  I am having a great time here in Florida.  

Tomorrow I fly back to Maine!  Looking forward to seeing my family!  Have a good night.

    I saw this amazing sunset tonight on a Winter Park chain of lakes.  

 I would have painted this scene if I wasn't so dressed up for dinner with a client.

 I turned around after admiring this sunset and there was a man standing there

quietly in the shadows.  He reminded me of Dexter.  I looked for his needle as

I quickly walked to my car.  I have a very active imagination.  I probably shouldn't

watch any crime shows or news reports.  

     I realized tonight that a plein air painter, with many years of experience, can be

completely overwhelmed and distracted when there is a beautiful landscape infront of her.  

Driving can be difficult when there is a beautiful sunset unfolding.  Having a conversation

outside can be difficult.  I find myself starring and studying the landscape, making mental

notes of values or colors.  

    Have a great night!  

    Daisy and Duke are going to be very happy with these three large dog toys.

 One is a buffalo, gator, and a bear.  We have had seven or more large black bears.  

Duke sleeps with one and Daisy always ends up tearing it up after 6 months or so.

 When Duke sees a new black bear coming out of a bag he gets so excited!

 His black bear has come home at last!  He doesn't know it is a new black bear!   

    Today I drove to Christmas to visit my friend Kathleen.  She and I went to Black

Hammock Drive in Titusville to walk around.  I asked her to take my photo as she is

an excellent photographer.  My Dad has loaned me his car.  I have been trying hard

to keep all oil paint off the vehicle and keep all four tires on!  Sometimes I have

found myself almost four wheel driving through the back woods of Florida.  

Especially yesterday in Gloveland, the Tostahatchee State Preserve, and a back road

by a canal in Titusville.  My friend Kathleen today, kept crying out, "Careful Renee!  

Careful!"  There were many pot holes on the white sandy roads.  Some were very

deep pot holes!  So far so good!  Although I had an incident with the garage door.  

I thought I had the car inside the garage far enough.  Apparently I didn't have the

car in far enough and the garage door wacked the back of the car taking off the

license plate guard from the Toyota dealership.  Oops.  I felt really badly about that.

 I am going to go to the dealer to see if they can give me a new one.  

   Here are two gators enjoying the Florida sun.  I yelled out, "Kathleen! Kathleen!

 Gators!"  She didn't seem to impressed.  Floridians aren't too phased at alligators.  

She told me a story how she came out of her home and saw a gator.  Her dog hadn't

even see the gator he was so quiet.  The gator ran off after hissing at her.  I asked

how large he was, she said, about five feet!

     Next time I need to remember to visit Black Point Drive near sunset!  

Love Florida cedar trees!

This is a two month old donkey next to a friends house.  

    This morning I saw this cattle pasture with a beautiful oak tree.  Loved the blue haze.

Here is a pink spoonbill.

Here is a mosquito lagoon fisherman.  

    These are coots.  The huddle together on the water so they look like an alligator.  

Have a great night!  I hope you enjoyed the Florida photo safari!

 

This is a beautiful place, New Smyrna Dunes.  Dogs are allowed here!  

     I am having a great Florida time!  Have a good night!

    I drove to Gatorland today!  I asked permission to paint a gator!

 I made sure the property manager knew I was not interesting in

any commercial activity.  I just wanted to paint an alligator from life

safely.  There were many gators to choose from.  The gator didn't

move for three hours.  The gators did start to move a lot when it

became hotter.  So early in the morning is the best time to paint

alligators!  It was very exciting.

Here is a snake that rattled.  I saw the snake as I was going to walk on a board

walk at Gatorland.  I don't know what type of a snake it was.  There were signs

everywhere stating  rattlesnakes might be seen.   

        I discovered something quite interesting today.  When I was sitting in front of a gator,

I was painting the cool shadows and warm colors.  I wasn't much interested

in the gator's texture. I was capturing the gator's shape.   In these photographs,

the gator's texture, really stands out.  When people paint alligators from photos

they are obsessed with the texture or design of the skin but not the shape or

(cools and warm colors) of the alligator.  Maybe this is another gift of painting plein air.  

The design of the alligator's skin was not as prevalent in real life.  

     Robert called today.  He was with Daisy and Duke at their favorite lake,

Lake Alamoosook.  They were having a blast swimming! He said the daytime

temperatures were 60 degrees!  Daisy's ear is healed completely from the fish

hook incident.  Both dogs have been enjoying Frosty Paws ice cream treat

celebrating painting sales!  Thank you!