Artist Renee Lammers

"Through The Trees"  5x7 oil on copper   SOLD!   

    The lake is starting to freeze.  I keep Daisy and Duke on a leash when we are walking

here.  They don't mind the icy waters at all.  I just don't like to watch them walk and fall 

through the ice and swim.  So we pause and admire this beautiful scene.

"Wintery Sunrise" 5x7 oil on copper  SOLD!  Thanks!

    I hope you all have a wonderful safe New Year's Eve!  Daisy and Duke will be celebrating

with a Frosty Paws ice cream treat.  Good night!

"Winters Arrival" 5x7 oil on copper.  100$  unframed and shipped.  SOLD!  Thanks Annette!

The 100$ price is only for two days and then the price will increase to 250$ with frame and

shipped.  If you would like this painting you can call me at (207) 479-9553.  Or

you can contact the artist to let me know (top of this page).  

     I often go to Alamoosook Lake near my house in Orland.  This is my favorite birch tree.

I have been eagerly awaiting snow to see how the birch tree looks.  I wasn't disappointed!

I am snowed in today.  So I can either paint from a window or from a computer monitor.  I

could also sit inside my car in my parking lot!  The view from my bathtub upstairs in nice!

     Here is Duke sleeping last night.  He and Daisy were so excited about more snow today!

They were hoping around!  Time to get the wood fire going!  Maybe some hot soup too!  

Have a great day!  Keep warm!  Let's paint!

"First Snow" 4x6 oil on copper.    SOLD! 

    One thing Duke and Daisy love is snow!  Last night it started to snow.  All day long it

has been snowing!  

    Robert walked down to the water's edge (Penobscot East Channel) in our backyard

with Daisy and Duke.  Apparently Daisy was admiring ducks and seagulls.  Duke could

see me on the back porch!

    The island in the distance is Verona Island.  

   Our two beehives are wrapped in paper.  The tall first hive is now empty.   Bees have

a difficult time because of how cold Maine is.   They may have swarmed.

 The other hive, the small one, still has bees.  

    The wood fire is roaring.  Daisy and Duke are taking their early morning nap.  Robert

is working a half day.  I have been organizing my studio getting ready to work on a snow

commission for a couple in New Hampshire.  I may practice on a small snow painting just to

get my mind into snow after being in Jamaica for a month!  Here is a photo of Duke sleeping with

a Santa hat on.  He never knew he had on this hat.  

   Daisy and Duke have worn these Santa hats briefly for a photo since they were four

years old.  Yesterday when they saw the hats it was as if an old toy came back!  They 

ran around in circles even playing tug of war.

     Surprisingly they didn't tear up their Santa hat!  

    Daisy greeted me upstairs this morning.  This means she had to climb the stairs!  

I think she is doing fine.  I don't want to have her on any pain medicines if possible.

Maybe she just missed me.  Maybe the wood fire is keeping her a little warmer.  I am going

to take them for a long slow (10mph) car ride today.  Then we are having a seafood

feast for our Christmas dinner.  I have a large piece of fresh Atlanta salmon, small amount

of large sea scallops, and four fresh oysters.  Merry Christmas from the Lammers! 

    The last few hours in Jamaica were very interesting.  After feeding Marmaduke half of

my ginger curried chicken and rice, watching the sunset, and blogging, I heard incredibly

loud 1980's music playing.  The music was so loud!  I walked down the beach two doors 

down to a place called Chances.  They had created a barracade with wood, material in 

preparation for a big party.  Giant speakers were in place all over the place.  They had built

a high stand where a dj was practicing.   The song, "The Beat Goes On" was playing as

loud as possible.  Luckily this was one of my favorite songs from Kool and the Gang.  The

parties in Jamaica get started at 10:00pm or later and go on until sunrise.

 So I hung out next door at the Parrot Cottages where I saw a American

lady I had met a few nights before while I drank water.  They

were having a food tasting party.  It was a closed party but since I knew Angela, they let me

stay.

      Angela was waiting for her Jamaican boyfriend to come see her.  She had been dating him

for a year, visiting Jamaica three times a year.  He was suppose to come by for lunch.  She kept

calling and texting him with a response from him, "Don't rush me!". It was about 8!  (Many women come to 

Jamaica to find love)  She was thinking of breaking up with him.  I kept thinking to myself how

lucky I was to have Robert.  After sitting there listening to her tale for a few minutes I went

back to my pink board house at Firefly Hotel.  All night long the music played.  There was no

sleeping.  The DJ interrupted the "music" every few seconds with comments.  He also

started songs over, interrupted a song with another song, and did other creative things.  At times

I might recognize a song but it was only briefly.  My roommate was texting all night.  I 

don't know how to text.  Even if I did I don't know a soul who could text all night.  My motto is

to each their own!  Jerk chicken venders were cooking up and down the streets for potential

hungry party goers.  My cabin was getting smokey.  I was a little worried things would

intensify.  There was a strong odor of jerk chicken in the air.  I thought about venturing out

to inspect and sample the chicken.  I thought about the dangers.  I decided to stay put.  At

5am the noise stopped.  The party goers cheered.  Car vehicles started squealing.  Then

silence.

    I relaxed on my bed thinking about my Jamaican trip.  Everyone came to Jamaica

for different reasons.  Some people drank, smoked pot, did mushrooms, became as

stoned as possible.  Some people exercised a lot, running up and down the beach, swimming, 

and practiced yoga.  Some people painted.  Some people ate constantly.  Some people looked

for temporary romance.  Some people texted constantly.  Some people talked constantly.  

The one thing in common was they all seemed happy.  It is difficult to be miserable in Jamaica.

     I would come to Jamaica by myself.  (Negativity and complaining

must be avoided.  Different sleeping patterns can create a difficulty.)

I would bring T shirts with a painting of Jamaica printed on them

     The flight part of the trip home went well.  The copper panels did create two different

security alerts.  I was ushered into two different rooms with my carry ons to have them

inspected.  In Philadelphia, the security manager wanted to see my copper paintings.  I 

showed him one.  He liked that painting.  He asked to see another one.  Then another.  I 

realized I might be late for my Bangor, Maine flight.  I gave him a business card.  He

said if he was in Maine he would visit my gallery.  Luckily my new carry on with wheels

made running to catch my flight easier!  

    Robert picked me up in the cargo van.  Robert was very happy to see me!

Duke and Daisy were happy to see me too.   They were tired from

being at the retirement center where Robert was working.  He had them

stashed in a private room.  The retirement home's director arrived for a inspection.  She

tried to open one door but it was locked.  She skipped Daisy and Duke's door, and opened

another to look inside.  A narrow escape!  A few patents and workers met Daisy and Duke.

    I am going to take Miss Daisy to the vet.  She won't walk up or down any stairs.  Maybe

pain medicines might help her be more comfortable.  She won't eat much of her breakfast.  

She does still eat her dinner of turkey frank hot dogs and raw veggies.

Duke is doing fine.  

   My Jamaican friend Ras Devon Anthony Husmo on the left was dressed up today.  

I had packed up art supplies I could spare.  I had also packed up t shirts, sunglasses, 

shampoos, and soaps, for his daugher and wife.  It was quite a lot of items.  The

little boy to the right is Oneil.  His Mother left him as a baby by a tree next door.  There

are several men how take care of them who operate a watersports operation.  

    My friend insisted in giving me a hug goodbye.  Here he is walking away with the

art supplies and clothing.  I hope I will be able to come back to Jamaica again.  If I do

I will bring him back canvas or linen and acrylic paint.  Maybe he will enjoy painting

with oil paints on copper.  He was very inspired by the oil painting on copper I gave him

today.  He kissed the painting!  

"Jamaican Dream" gift to my Jamaican artist friend.  I looked over the paintings I had left from

my Jamaican trip.  I thought this painting might be most appreciated by Ras.  

   There were high winds and large waves today.  I didn't get to swim.  I ate an omlete,

talked to people staying at the hotel, and watched the waves.  Marmaduke, the homeless

dog was near me all day.  Jamaican kids were playing near me.  They accidentally kicked

a ball to close to me because Marmaduke took off growling and showing his teeth at them.

I have been here so long Marmaduke has adopted me as his boss.  I did pick two ticks

off him today.  Maybe he decided then the feeling was mutual.  I think Daisy and Duke would

like him.  

   I ordered ginger curried chicken and rice.  I had my share.  Then I found Marmaduke

so he could finish the rest.  He was excited!  He knows this dish well.  Yesterday I gave him

half of my jerk chicken.  He was so happy the rest of the day.  He was swimming!  He swam

out to me a few times.  Someone told me to hold on to his front feet.  Then he just landed

in my lap.  I tried to hold him up in the water.  We both floated a moment.  Then he swam

in.  He had a lady dog visiting on the beach.  They ran all over and played.  What a nice

way to end my memory of Marmaduke.  Today he slept all day long without any energy.  His

foot seems to get better and then worse.  Yesterday he was a running dog.  Today he was not

walking much.  He has been a homeless dog for several years primarily staying at Firefly Hotel.

I met a Chemist today who agreed to look after Marmaduke until he left.  He will find

another person before he leaves to go home.  Hopeful Marmaduke will be well cared for.

   Oney dropped by to say hi.  He calls me "Mrs. Lammers".  He has a good memory.

  He only has one leg.  He walks up and down the beaches

all day long hoping to sing a song for tourists.   I decided a good

way to say goodbye was to buy him a beer.  He sat and drank his Red Stripe.  Then he sang

two songs.  Then he hopped up off the chair using his crutch.  He walked away after saying

he hoped I had a good trip.  

    The fruit lady with the basket on her head on the left is Curtis.  She sold me fruit

almost each morning.  She would ask me what I wanted.  Then she would cut it up for me without

even touching it with her hands.  After two weeks I saw Curtis sampling my fruit!  I laughed

so hard.  She laughed too.  I told her thank you for doing this.  A couple of days ago she brought

me a ripe avocado which was difficult to find.  She cut it up and put it in a plastic bag.  One slice

of avocado was missing.  I looked up to see her smiling and giggling.  I told her thank you.

  I gave Curtis a plastic tropical blue floral zipper bag.  I told her I wish I could take her back to

America so I could have fresh fruit cut each morning.  She and I both laughed.  I said good bye.  

   Last memory of Marmaduke sleeping with a full stomach of curried ginger chicken and rice!

   Good bye Jamaica!  I leave in the morning at 7:00 am for the airport.  I hope to see Robert, Duke,

and Daisy by tomorrow night!  

    I spent entirely too much time at the craft market today.  Candy was in search of

nick nacks to bring home to her kids.  It was hot.  There was nothing there of interest except

this scene in the photo.  Finally we left after hours of searching for ankle shell bracelets.  I should

have stayed at the beach.  I am happiest there.  Next we walked down to a mall.  It was nicer.

There I bought five pounds of Blue Mountain Coffee and a domino set.

 But then I had to wait an hour for Candy to deal for

a white gold chain with an Indian man.  I sat outside in the hot sun.  Then

finally I just couldn't wait anymore.  I walked into the jewelry store.  The indian man was

telling her the history of India!  I said I would see her on the beach. I hailed a taxi.   I was out of there and back

on the beach very quick!  It is surprising how fast I can get my swimsuit back on and run down

the path to the ocean!  I soaked in the warm water until the sunset.  I was in the water for hours!

I guess I am not a shopper anymore. I am now a five minute shopper!  I go get what I want

and then I leave.  If someone asks me if I want to go to a mall or craft

market....I need to say no quickly.  

    While soaking in the water I met a nice lady from Virginia.  She was interesting

to talk to.  The people who are drawn to the Firefly Hotel are very adventurous, outgoing,

and facinating people.  Many people come to this hotel alone.  I think this is a

great idea.  There are always people to talk with.  Maria, the mental health nurse, from

Holland came by the Firefly today to say hi.  She soaked in the water and talked too.  She

is staying at Judy's House up in the mountains.  It is only 15$ a day.  

    I saw my Jamaican artist friend, Ras Devon Anthony Husmo walking

by the Firefly hotel.  He walked by a few times.  I was in the water.  I decided

to come out to say hello.  I had been talking to the lady from Virginia about

how good Ras Devon's art work was.  She was looking for paintings but had

not seen what she was looking for and their prices were too high.  I dried

off and said hi to my friend Ras.  He looked tired.  I asked him how the

day was going.  I could tell he was not selling anything.  I gave him 500 J

(about 7$).  I told him to buy a Red Stripe beer.  He was smiling.  He told

me with this much money he could also buy a pound of conch!  He was describing

to me how he would cook the conch.  He was very happy.  I asked my new

Virginia friend if she wanted to see his art work.  She said she did.  So Ras

showed her all his paintings.  She picked out three and soon a deal was made.

Ras was smiling when he was given 120$.  I went back into the water.  I

could see Ras sitting at the bar drinking a Red Stripe.  That made my day.

    I have one more day left here in Negril, Jamaica.  Have a great night!  

    Today Ras Devon Anthony Husmo, a Jamaican artist stopped by Firefly Hotel to visit

with me as I relaxed in the shade of a seagrape tree.  He brought me another present of a 

painting.  This painting was of a women who is perspiring because of menapause.

 He sat down in the sand to chat awhile.  I have enjoyed our conversations about

art and life in Jamaica.   I drew him in pen and ink while he talked.  He wants to use my

sketches of him to paint a self portrait as he says he has difficulty painting himself from a 

mirror.  He says the mirror plays tricks on him.  I know how he feels.  Painting or drawing

yourself while looking in a mirror is the most difficult task.

    Here is my second efforts drawing him.  He was very pleased.  He

sat there and admired the drawing for more than a few minutes.  I started

to ask him questions about his life.  He said he lived in a board house.  A board

house is not as desirable to live in as a cement home.  He said this is because

if you make anyone mad they will tell you, "I am going to burn you out!"  That

means they have plans to burn your house down.  It is considered lower class to

live in a board house.  

    Here is my first drawing of him.   I asked him if he was 

ever married.  He told me he did give a ring and marry a poor

English lady (as compared to a rich one).  He laughed.  He said

after their marriage he sent her back to England to make more 

money so they could be together.  In the mean time her Mom

reported to her daughter Ras was being unfaithful (which was a

lie). Ras's wife in England wrote later she had an affair.  Ras divorced

her because he was not going to be a second.  He said to her, "You

better get serious....I'm not a second class man."

     Then a few years later he met a nice Jamaica girl.  She had a baby girl.  The lady's

parents wanted Ras to give up being a rastafarian.  I asked him why?  He said people in

Jamacia consider a rastafarian to be a pot head or ungodly.  They didn't want a rasta in the

family.  He refused to cut his hair and change his beliefs for her.  She left.  He took care

of the daughter becoming a single parent.  He was mad for many years.  When his daughter

was 8 years old she came to him and said, "I want to know my Mother."  So her purchased

grocreys, took her to the Mom to stay.  He saw she was mental psychosis.  He forgave her.  He decided

to give her love and then she wasn't mentally psychosis anymore.  Now she visits him, cooks, cleans,

gives him a little lovin.  He gives her a envelope of cash to care for her son.  She only stays a few

days each time so he loves his freedom.  He says he is a afraid to remarry for fear of "drop bush".  

I asked him what "drop bush" meant?  He says he is in his 50's.  He may become impotent.  Then

he will have to tell his wife, "I have drop bush.   You can go find someone else or stay here.  We

both laughed when he told me this.  

   Last night I was walking bare foot to the restrooms across from this pink board house.

I heard a creak of the door so I looked over there.  I saw a small black man leaving the

board house, run in between the board house to the left, and hide behind the board house.

I could hear him breathing heavily.  I called out to Lenny who had been staying in this board

house for a month.  No answer.  I went back to my board house and told Candy to lock the

door until I figured out who was sneaking around.  Then I went back over to this board

house.  I called out for Lenny a few times.  I was concerned about his welfare.  The small

black man came out from behind the board house.  He said he was the guard.

 He said he was trying to catch a young

man staying in this board house from trying to bring in a young lady without paying the

extra room fee.  This didn't make much sense to me as he had come out of the board house.

He also was breathing still heavy, nervous, studdering, and the story kept coming out in

different ways.  I told him ok.  This morning I found out Lenny had been upgraded so a 

young man could stay here.  I found the young man, told him to check to see if anything

was missing, and told him the story.  He was shocked someone had been in his room.  He

accidentally had left his room unlocked for several hours.  

I was aked to tell the manager of the hotel by a worker who had overheard.  I told the manager.

Next thing the police came down.  I was asked to come to the office to tell what I had seen

to the police.  I am an honest person so I walked to the office.  Two police were there.  I

told them what I had seen.  The young man had discovered there was money from

his board house missing.  He reported the missing money to the cops, 10,000 J which

is about 125$.  The police want me to come down to the police station at 6:00pm. ( This was

delayed until tomorrow morning.) The young man had left his door

unlocked for over 2 hours while he ate jerk chicken and looked for ice cream with friends.  He

told me the guard had asked where he would be going as he left.  Anyone could have stolen the

money as the door was unlocked for some time.  I don't know what the penalty for theft is

in this country.  I don't want to be involved really but I do want to do the right thing.  I will

 report what I saw.   The young man is filing a report and needs a witness.  UPDATE:  Young man

decided to not file report.  Cops had another emergency.  So I didn't have to go down to the police station

after all!

     I was watching a soccer player doing unusual exercises this morning while I ate

my breakfast of avocado and banana.  Then I soaked in the water for two hours facing

the open ocean.  I could see nothing except water and sky.  It took me 23 days to 

discover this.  I had been facing the shoreline.  After another month I am

sure I would discover many other ways of doing things.  Have a great day!  

Merry Christmas!

    Here are a few more photos Ron took of Celia Baron, a saxophonist and I on the

beaches of Negril, Jamaica.  

    What did I do today in Negril, Jamaica?  Well I had a

Lenny special which is a grilled cheese sandwich with hot dogs.

 Marmiduke ate the hotdogs.  His smashed foot is still doing

poorly.  I did see him put pressure on his foot just for a second.

He keeps another male dog around as a body guard.  I had

two coffees.  Still I had minimal energy.  I sat in a lounge chair

sketching.  I gave  away a watercolor to the Jamacian artist.

He gave me a small painting.  His painting was a beauty.  I sat in the ocean.

I did walk a little.  I am enjoying tropical laziness.  I think I

needed a little R and R.  I have been traveling all over the USA

this year it seems!

    The colors at the golden hour in a tropical Negril, Jamacia are amazing.  I could hardly

believe the colors I was seeing.  What fun!  

    I downloaded all of Ron's photos he took during the photo shoot yesterday.

Here are some of my favorites.  Ron is a great photographer. 

   This Jamcian guitarist walked up to join in.  I couldn't just stand there.  So I danced.

He was singing "Mona Lisa...Mona Lisa..."

    What an experience!  Just when I think I have had the most

exciting day as a painter, it seems like I have a greater experience.

I have no idea what other great opportunities are in store for me.

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season.  Good night! 

    Today the world renowned Saxaphonist, Celia Baron, paid me

a visit at Firefly Hotel.  She had her body guard, professional photographer,

and secretary with her.  Another professional photographer, Ron joined in.

Still one more professional photographer was there.  Celia was playing

professionally at Sea Star Inn in Negril.  Candy and Ron saw her entertaining.

Ron had the idea about Celia and I doing a photo shoot.  She liked the idea.

Thousands of photos were taken over an hour or so time period.  We

decided to use already finished paintings for the shoot so I would

not be actually painting.  She played her saxaphone to me. She is an

amazing saxaphonist!  I was just amazed!  I held my

paint brush.  We both had fun.  Celia and I saw a few of the photos.  

Celia was really amazed.  The photos were great.  She asked if we could take

a few more photos with hats on.  Later I will post more of them.  I only

had two images sent to me by email.  Celia said she would use them for 

promoting.  

    Later we went to Sea Star Inn to watch Celia Baron preform a two hour solo act.

We danced and clapped. She was fantastic.   After she finished we all ate dinner.  Then we piled into the van.  

They went to Roots and I went home.  I wish I could stay out late.  I am just too tired for

some reason.  I have been sleeping fine.  Just not a party animal any more.  What a fun day.

    Here is my friend Candy and I.  I think we still look

good.  It has been 20 years since we were last in Negril, Jamaica.   

We are still rocking it!    Have a great night.

"December in Negril, Jamaica" 8x10 450$ oil on copper.  Framed in medium gold wood.  shipped free.

"Captain Ziggy's Boat" 6x6  oil on copper.  250$ Framed and shipped

     This morning under the porch while having my second coffee

a lady asked me if she could see my paintings.  So I brought out

all 12 pizza boxes stacked high to a table.  Inside each pizza box

where paintings (mostly dry).  I started to lay them on the table.

 She picked them up to see.  She asked me about

the copper.  She loved them all. (Update:  I have not heard from this

lady so these paintings are still available!)  

    I have decided not to take any money

here in Jamaica for the paintings.  My plan is to mark them sold

and get them back into the United States. (Next time I would bring a square.com.

So people could purchase them on the spot!)  But here is my plan:  In Maine I will put

the Gamblin's Galkyd on the dried paintings.  Then I will frame then

and bubble wrap them.  I will email each client asking them to click

on the link.  There they can pay with paypal or by check.  I will ship

them the painting.  While on vacation here in Jamaica people are

not carrying large amounts of cash or credit cards.  People

seem to be happy with this arrangement.  

   He spent about three minutes swimming in circles.

  He exited the water and rolled all over the sand.  

    I saw beautiful white billowy clouds over the ocean this morning.  I should have

abandoned the idea of coffee and painted this.  It was an elegant scene.  After one hour the

clouds moved on.  It was very beautiful.  I knew I would regret not painting this.

    I have made two new friends at Firefly the last two days.  One is a attorney for criminals.  

The other lady is a mental health nurse from Holland.  She has taught me many things

about Holland.  I enjoyed also talking to her today about how it is to be a mental health

nurse in Holland.  Patients are allowed to smoke pot.  She encourages them to not smoke

pot as it can make the voices louder or make them more paranoid.  She can see when this

activity increases and can get them valuim to calm them down so they don't get aggressive.

The attorney has great wit and is fun too.

       Candy and Ron stay out very late each night.  

They are seen on the beach briefly during the day.  I saw them tonight after coming back

from buying jerk chicken across the street with my new friends.  They were going to a drum

concert.  I bet they will also go to a different beach concert tonight until 3am.  I wish I could stay up that

late.  I like to go to sleep early after roasting on the beach all day.

    The last two days there is a new homeless dog at Firefly hotel's beach.  I don't know

where Maraduke has been.  Here is the new homeless dog.  He likes me.  Last night when

I was walking back from dinner next door, this dog followed me to my room.  Firefly's 

guard laughed.  I hadn't seen the dog yet.  He said "White women come back with

a Jamaican guy but you come back with a homeless dog."   He found this very funny.  I 

too could see the humor.  When I came out onto the beach this morning here is the same 

dog sleeping.  He opened his eye.  The Jamacians do respect white women who keep to

themselves.  

    Here is my Jamaican painter friend Ras (which stands for rastafarian) Devon Anthony Husmo.

I met a lady staying at Firefly who wanted to buy a painting of Jamaica.  She wanted to

see my work.  I told her she might prefer to buy a Jamaican artist's work to help support

the arts on the island.  I suggested a painting by Husmo.  When I saw Husmo this morning I 

couldn't find the lady.  So I told him to try to come back later and look for a lady with long 

hair.  He did.  I was in the ocean swimming when I saw him looking on the beach.  He found

her and started to show her is work.  You can see by the photo how he keeps the canvas paintings

rolled up.  He normally carries his paintings inside a woven long case.  He was flipping through

the paintings talking about each one like I do.  She picked out three.  Later Husmo came over and

was smiling from one ear to the next.  He was thanking me for helping him.  She had mentioned

me telling her about how great his work was.  Husmo gave me a small painting to say thanks. I like

to help other artists (who are nice) sell their work.  It is almost as fun to sell their work as it is mine!

Next door they are allowing him to hang his work on the fence so he can sit in the shade and paint.

He was so happy today.  He told me now I can go buy more art supplies!  I can understand

very well how he feels.  I told the lady what a great job she did buying so many paintings.  I told

her how he has a 16 year old daughter.  I explained how he needed art supplies.  She was more pleased.

     Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

"The Almond Tree" 5x7 oil on copper Sold.  Thanks.

   I always admire this Almond tree while I drink my coffee in the morning.

It is a very young tree being pampered by the hotel gardener.  

"Prickely Flowers" 5x7 oil on copper Thanks!

  These are an interesting variety of flowers which have spikes

on stems.  

    Here is Candy and I during a suprise birthday party

put on by Candy for Ron.  They had trouble getting

Ron to his party.  He was apparently tired.  So I asked them if 

they needed me to get him.  Candy said, Yes!  I went to 

Ron's room.  I said, "Ron come quick.  Candy fell down and can't

get up.  I need your help!"  He put on pants, ran out of his room.

I decided I had better run to show him the urgency.  He ran.  I ran

past the porch where the band was playing.  He was greeted by

his friends who clapped and wish him Happy Birthday.  Candy

had two bands instead of one by accident.  Both bands sort of battled

to play.  Food had been catered.  Cake was great.  Dancing was 

fun.  The funniest part of the party to me was watching a tourist Lenny,

who had brought many percussian instruments with him from America, sit

and play with the band.

      Who brings a tamborine to Jamaica with all kinds of other instruments?  Lenny!

He has so many surprises for the rest of us.  Sometimes he acts like a waiter taking drink

orders.  Then he is sitting in with a band playing.  We all like Lenny.

     There is Ron dancing with Candy to his right (Ron in green shirt).  The owners of the hotel are

on the left.  Lenny playing some sort of wood thing banging on the table on the left.  Whatever

instrument he was playing was almost as loud as the drum!  So funny.

   Here are a few friends of Rons. Many of his friends live her in Jamaica.  Lenny the 

percussionist is on the left in white shirt.  They served rum punch.  What a great day.  

I painted so hard I didn't even get a swim in today!  Have a good night.  Hope you enjoyed

my adventure.  

    Last night Candy, Ron, and I took a taxi 500 feet to a place called Roots on the beach.  It

was safer for us to take a taxi than walk the few feet in the dark on the beach.  We were all

excited about attending Yellow Man's reggae concert.  It started about 10pm.  We got out of 

the taxi to a lot of people selling different items outside the establishment.  

  There was a jerk chicken man, ladies selling drinks, merchandise.

We walked down a dark path past many small cabins.  I guess Roots has cabins for rent too.

Some Jamaican ladies were dressed up posing as we walked by.  Finally we reached the

area where the concert was  held.  Blue tarps were strung up to contain the party

goers.  We handed them tickets, 1000 J on the beach which is about 16$ US.  Once we were

allowed into the blue tarp area we saw a circular bar.  We walked by noting many Jamaicans

looking at us.  A man ran with a white plastic table and chairs.  He took our orders for drinks.

I ordered a Red Stripe.  I had 600 J in my pocket.  I didn't bring anything else for safety 

reasons.  I also wore several under garments and a skort.  A skort is a pair of shorts and a skirt.

I wanted to be safe.  If any Jamaican tried anything funny with me he would have to work 

for hours trying to get my clothing off.  My friends thought this was very funny.  I demonstrated

how difficult it was for me to walk with all these undergarments on. 

I had been avoiding going anywhere at night.  But I felt safer with Candy and Ron.

     There were many muscians on stage.  One man dressed all in white was playing the

trumpet.  Apparently he played with a trumpet which looked like someone ran over

it with a car for many years.  Some tourists donated money for him to buy a new trumpet.

He was a very gifted trumpet player.  Different vocalist would sing.  There seemed to be a pattern.

Each singer would start a song, get the crowd to start to enjoy the song, then stop.  It was as if a record

player needle would go to the center of the record.  There would be a pause and then they

would start the whole song over again.  This went on for hours without an entire song

played through.  I couldn't figure this out.  Why would they do this?  Was I the only one

annoyed?  I wanted to enjoy each song and move to another song.  Maybe this was a new

way of preforming.  It reminded me of sitting in on a jam session or a rehearsal.

     Ron and Candy went to dance.  I was sitting there by myself.  I did feel very nervous.

I could tell there were many Jamaican men watching me.  As soon as my friends left,

 one man came running up to me, sat on a wood rail, and started to fire questions

at me.  I didn't want to talk to him. He asked me what I did for a living.

  I told him I was an artist.  He wanted me

to paint a mural for his hotel.    He was very aggressive with

trying to touch me.  He got up, grabbed both my hands, and tried

to get me up out of my chair. Guys were laughing.   I was stronger luckily.  He gave up and walked

away.     Another guy who was a very mellow elderly rastafarian moved in.

 He commented to me that man was aggressive.  Then he too started to ask me questions.

   I told him I wanted to be peaceful.  He understood.  Ron had to change seats so he

was sitting in between us.  He put both arms on the backs of our chairs.  No wonder

there are very few American or  Canadian women there by themselves.

 This happens also in bars in the USA  to be fair.  If

 you are in that kind of enviroment you just have to be prepared.

   I was sitting under the porch when a rastafarian guy with 6 foot dreadlocks walked up.

I was admiring his long locks.  He said smell them.  Without any choice in the matter dread

locks were put into my nose to sniff.  They smelled like flowers.  Everyone else got to smell

the dreadlocks too.  Then he posed me with his dreadlocks draped over my body.  This cost

me money of course later.  I gave him 100 J which is about a 1.20 us.  As he was walking

away I looked at the dreadlocks again.  They didn't look real.  My friend Candy stated the

same thing.  Another friend Ron noticed how there was a white tshirt like wrap around the 

pony tail which may have been an attached long fake dreadlock.  He could very well wake up

tie on his fake dreadlocks and hit the beaches posing for photos.  Everyone has a gimick

to survive.  He gives tourist what they want.  

     I was enjoying rum punch and popcorn hour under the porch when a rastafarian

came up to me.  He handed me a small plastic package.  He said, "Do you know (name)...can

you give this to them?"  I said sure.  I wondered what was in the package.  I gave it

a sniff.  I knew immediately what it was.  Pot!  So I waited for the intended recipent.

Then I had to go knocking on their door.  No answer.  Then I went to my cabin.  A few

hours later I heard my name through the screen window.  It was the person I was suppose

to deliver this to.  She didn't know she had this being delivered.  But she accepted the 

package and left.  Now I think I have done everything.  I know these photos look incriminating.

But honestly everything I have been doing is G rated at usual.  I thought you might

like to see what pot looks like.  

   Twenty years ago Candy and I went to a Yellow Man reggae concert here in Negril,

Jamaica.  This Jamaican has copper colored skin.  I remember we had to wait around

for hours until he showed up to sing.  Here in Jamaica the lead singer arrives very late around

1 am in the morning.  People will be literally sleeping under a tree waiting for them

to arrive.  I remember dancing and having a soup made from sheep head.  I will not be

having more sheep head soup. This soup is a male fertility drink!  Great.  

Tonight the same Yellow Man is singing at Roots.  We

have tickets to go.  I normally have been sleeping at 8:30pm.  But I am psyching myself

up for a late night reggae party.  I am not having dinner as I know I will just fall asleep.  I

am going to drink coffee.  That should work...I hope. I will reggae dance a song for you!  Have a great night! 

   I saw this interesting boat a few days ago during a long walk along the beach.  The

shape of this boat is very unusual.  There are many layers of paint.  

    This morning while I was walking down the beach I was behind the homeless dogs.

I notice a blind Jamaican man was with these dogs.  The blind man was stopping

at hotels to sing christian songs.  The dogs would lay down until he was done.  Most

of the hotel chairs were empty so the blind man was singing to no one except the dogs.

I gave him a dollar as I walked by.  He said in the most sweet voice thank you lady.

    All of the beach dogs follow the blind man.  

   The water here in Jamaica is the most beautiful  I have seen.

    I saw Ras Devon Anthony H, the Jamaican artist, sitting up at the bar

at the restaurant tonight.  I ordered

my ginger curried chicken and rice for dinner to go.  As I was paying for my dinner I decided

to ask Devon if he might drink a Red Stripe.  He said yes!  Good for the pipes!  They only

cost a 1.50$ here.  I told him it is good to keep the artists happy.  He smiled and agreed.  

    Have a great night!   

"Beautiful Jamacian Day" 8x10 oil on copper   Thought I was going to keep it but sold it!  Thanks.

     Coffee; Breakfast of bananas;  Walk down the beach;  Drink Ting (Jamaican grapefruit sugary soft drink); 

Sit in the shade of a seagrape tree on a lounge chair; Paint; Swim;  Hike down the beach

to Chances to order a pizza for lunch;  Share pizza;  Swim; Drink more Ting; Talk with

friends;  Hike down the beach;  Take photos;  Write blog.   My day is progressing in this

order so far.  Here are some photos!

    Here I am painting yesterday.  I am pleased I brought along a long 

skirt.  This covers up my legs so they don't burn.  Sunscreen if of no use here.  I held

my plein air umbrella so I could get a little shade.  

    I met another Jamaican artist this morning named Ramon.  He was working hard so

I didn't interrupt.  I did talk with Ras Devon Anthony again today. He is a local painter

also.  He walks up and down the

beaches selling his canvas acrylic paintings.  We bought him a Red Stripe.  He said he

needed antifreeze for his pipes.  I really enjoyed listening to his ideas about painting.  He said Van Gogh

was all about brushwork.  He said Jackson Pollock was all about crazy energy.  I asked him

what he thought about my work.  He said subtle colors and distance and realism and

impressionism. He said, "An artist is born an artist."  

Yesterday before the sunset.

Amazing colors.

"Jamaican Morning" 5x7 oil on copper.  private collection.

     They almost always have the same agenda.  For the Jamaican guy, there are hopes for a 

date later.  After my first cup of coffee he wanted to take me up into the mountains.  I thought

at first he was a guide for a tour of a waterfall or something.  I said, "No thanks."  I wanted

to paint.  After my second cup of coffee he started to talk about the lottery, getting married once

he won the lottery, have a few kids.  Then he asked me again, if I wanted to go up to his place

in the mountains.  I told him, "No thanks."   He said, "You don't have anything to worry about."

I said to him, "It is you who needs to worry!  I have had two cups of coffee."  I haven't seen a 

Jamaican man laugh so hard.  Then I went to my room to get my painting equipment. I thought

that would be the end of him.  But he was like a mosquito hovering around.  

He followed me over to the water and watched me set up my painting equipment.

  He sang songs about me painting for hours.  He  smoked

very strong pot while I painted.  A few times I could have sworn I felt dizzy.

 It is very difficult to get rid of guys here. It is best not to be rude. 

Finally he gave up on me once I told him the life of an artist is a simple one.  He said,
"I won't not be your friend just because you don't have any money."  I said, "Thanks".  Then he left

me alone.  Finally!

     Each sunset is so different.  I had my heart set on having curried ginger chicken

with rice for dinner.  Once I saw them placing table cloths on the table I was there!

It can take up to an hour for dinner to arrive.  Candy and Ron joined me.  I  don't seem

to be in to staying out late.  Right after dinner I pay my bill and walk to my room.  They

always stay out very late.  Sometimes it is 3:00 am before Candy knocks on the door.  I

can't stay out late and paint.  I wish I could!  

    When my dinner did arrive it was very dark.  I took a photo with flash so that

I might see my dinner later.  It was very good.  I hope to find a recipe when I return

home.  Robert would love this dish.  Daisy and Duke would too!  Have a great night!  Paint!

    After coffee I walked down the beach.  After this I did nothing except swim and read.

Many people asked me if I was going to paint today.  They had not seen me be relaxed.

I told one lady it was going to be an unproductive day.  She replied, "Well, Renee, if it 

is going to be an unproductive day, make it a good one."   Another Jamaican guy said, "If

you aren't dead you can't be a ghost."   Both comments left me deep in thought.  But not

too deep.  Many other people vacationing felt the same way.  We were trying to figure out

how we feel like this.  One thought it was the place.  Jamaica forces people to relax.  

   Here is the dog who stays under beach chairs at our hotel.  Today I gave him half my

my veggie pattie.  He sniffed if, gave me an unappreciative look, and laid back down.  Later

he went back over to it, shook it (sand falls off) and then ate it slowly.  He prefers chicken.

Have a great night!  I hope you are painting!

"Negril Beach Day" 5x7 oil on copper private collection.

"Jamaican Sunset" 6x6 oil on copper sold.  Thank you!

     Here is another painting I did last night at sunset.  I couldn't take a photo because I finished

it in the dark.  

"Jamaican Dream" 6x6 oil on copper.  Gifted to a Jamaican artist friend.

   It was raining briefly this morning.  Here is my effort using a lap top under the porch.

It was a lot cooler today because of the rain and clouds.  I worked hard today.

     My neighbors asked me if I liked pizza a lot because they see me carrying pizza boxes

at all times of the morning, afternoon, and night.  Pizza boxes are left outside my cottage

by hotel guests because they know I use them to store wet paintings.  I told my neighbors

I was storing wet paintings inside the boxes.  The laughed so hard.  They thought I was

very addicted to pizza.  So far I have 12 pizza boxes stacked high inside my cottage.  

     I am very tanned already after 11 days in Jamaica.  I am

eating healthier than at home.  There are plenty of fresh fruits, fish, and

chicken here to eat.  Food is very inexpensive.  I have been enjoying

going for dips in the ocean.  I will try to walk more.  I can't seem

to stay awake after 8:30pm.  Several other people discussed this same 

problem.  The heat of Jamaica puts most people to sleep early.  I don't

seem to have interest in seeking out reggae parties on the beach anymore.

I just want to paint and swim.  Have a good night!  

"Firefly Garden" 8x10 oil on copper.  sold.  thanks.

   Our 8x8 foot cedar hut is taking on a life of it's own with all of our wet swimsuits, towels, 

painting equipment, 14 pizza boxes piled up high full of wet paintings, bottles of ting, and 

luggage.  It is truly amazing how much stuff Candy and I have inside our hut.  The

Jamaicans call this hut a board house.  This is a traditional house many Jamaicans

live inside.  The maid sighs when she sees me.  I keep telling her about her tip.  Yesterday

she told me she was taking off until Saturday.  I hope she doesn't quit because of us. 

She tried to throw away my pizza boxes one day.  Candy saved the pizza boxes.  She

showed the maid the painting inside of the pizza box.  The maid was very surprized.  

    I learned how to play dominos today.  I won a few games.  I hope to teach Robert

this game when I come home.  I think he will like it.

       Captain Ziggy took a lady and I out in his small catamaran.

 This is the same catamaran I have been painting with the

rainbow colored sail.  The sailing trip was only for a half an hour but it was very relaxing.

Captain Ziggy has an interesting dinner and sailing plan.  He has a cook preparing dinner

all day long.  The general public isn't invited.  His workers and friends are invited.

You come to where he has his catamaran and jet skis which is right next door to the 

hotel.  There are about six other Americans there from the hotel who have been invited.  The cook

hands you a plate of fresh fish (tonight was Red Snapper and Kingfish), coleslaw, sauted 

vegetables, and yellow rice.  After you are finished Captain Ziggy hands me a plastic cup

and poura bottled water into it.  We are all sitting on a tree limb that had fallen out of the

big tree from Hurricane Sandy.  There are gas filled beer bottles with wicks used to light the area.  

There is reggae music playing from a stereo.  Each person hands Captain Ziggy money.  The 

amount of money is what the person can contribute.  He can feed many people this way.  After

dinner there is rum offered and smoking.  I didn't stay for the later.  I thanked everyone and 

walked back to my cottage.  It was a very memorable experience.  Very real.

   Here is the cook wearing the white outfit with white sunglasses above her head.  Here

is also just a few workers lined up for a plate.  I think there were at least 10 workers and

8 Americans eating here.  Everything was clean.  The fish came right off a boat hours

earlier.  I liked the fact my contribution also fed many Jamaican workers. 

    Here is the porch at our Firefly Hotel on the beach.  This is where I order my blue

moutain Jamaican coffee each morning.  They do cook breakfast also.  I prefer to wait

until the fruit lady arrives to purchased sliced fruit.  All day long people gather here to 

talk and look at the beach.  Many mornings Candy and I sit at the table with different

people talking for hours.  This hotel is very different in that people do want to get to 

know you.  These people come back the same time so they can see the same people

from the previous year.  

Have a great night!  

    I woke up, had a my blue mountain Jamican coffee.  The fruit lady cut up a papaya 

for me to eat for breakfast.  Then I marched back to my 6x6 cabin to get my painting

equipment.  I walked 10 feet before I decided to paint this scene.  I will finish this

painting tomorrow morning.  It started to rain.  The rest of the day I soaked in the water

and sat under a shady tree.  I am trying to avoid getting more sunburned.  I came to Jamaica

without a tan.  I should have tried to get a base tan before coming here.

 It does make painting difficult.  I wear a swimsuit and a coverup painting while I paint.

  Early morning temperatures are 70.  Perfect for painting.  

"Jamaican Gold" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.  

      Today was a beautiful day!  I woke up at 8:00am, walked to the beach with my

painting equipment, which was only 50 feet.  I decided to paint right away before coffee.

I painted the white catarman.  I met many people who loved the painting.  One lady asked

me if she could buy it.  Magic words!  So I had her write down her information.  I told

her I would mark it sold.  I will frame it once back in America, varnish it, and ship it

to her.  She liked this.  But later once back at home she changed her mind about the purchase.

"Finney's Boat" 8x10 oil on copper.  private collection

    Here I am painting early this morning where my plaid pajamas.  I somehow became

sunburned a few days ago.  So I am hiding from the sun for a few days.  No one

cares here in Jamaica what you are wearing or if you even are wearing any clothes.

"Another Day in Paradise" 6x10 oil on copper.  Private collection.  I love this one.

At 11:00am the sun starts to bake.  So I sat underneath the seagrapes in a lounge chair. 

I admired the scene looking to my left.  I painted this while in the shade sitting down!

     I had a coffee and large papaya all day.  I think papaya is the perfect food for me.  I

have a lot of energy after eating papaya.  Last night I ate a giant papaya too.  It melts

in your mouth.  They even cut the papaya for you.  

   The Jamacian are getting very impressed with my painting ability.  They are kind and

respectful.  Once in a while I need to ask one to move one foot to the left.  They do this without

getting angry.  I gave another small brush to another artist today.  They are very appreciate.  It

is a big deal to them.  

    One of the guests at the hotel had a suggestion about creating a painting for tshirts to sell.  There

are many guests who return here year after year to stay at Firefly hotel.I said she was a genius.  

Then I started to look for angles to paint of the hotel by the beach.  I jokingly said I would

need a model.  I asked her if she wanted to be in the painting.  She agreed.  Then I asked

another man reading to be a model.  He agreed too.  I set up to paint.  It was fun.  She is a

professional from Maine.  She was a good model with a great idea!

     I worked very hard today painting until the sunset.  I feel very happy with today's work.

 I hope you enjoyed reading about the Jamaican adventure today.  I am going to relax in

my 6x6 foot cabin by the sea now.  Have a great night!

     Today I joined five other people staying at our hotel to go snorkling on the reef.  Here are 

There is a nice long fish under the plant.  Another yellow fish swimming into the photo

on the right!  

Hi Robert, Daisy, and Duke!  It is me!  I am under the water snorkling.  Yes I am

wearing a t shirt because I am sunburned.  I miss you guys!

    Next we went to the caves.  We jumped off the boat and swam into the cave.  Once we

were all the way in about 30 feet we could stand up on white soft sand!  The colors were amazing.

    After standing in the cave we swam back out to the boat.  The guys aboard offered

us Red Stripes and Rum Punch or Punch.  They served us jerk chicken and rice with 

sauted cabbage and carrots.  The boat ride home was very rough.  We all screamed

when water hit us.  What a fun day.

     Here is Candy on the left and I on the right inside the cave.  Tomorrow I will get back

to business!  I plan to start to paint early in the morning.  Have a great night!  Thanks

for your comments.  I appreciate them!

   Here is my third painting I completed today on the beaches here in Negril, Jamaica.  It was

very hot!  Here is the scene looking to the right of my hotel.  The island in the distance on the

left is Booby Island.  I painted in Kaya the little brown long haired dog who likes homeless 

dogs.  This was a fun painting.  Many people really liked it.  One Jamaican artist in

particular really wanted it badly.  I had to tell him I thought it might be spoken for.  The

painting will be spoken for I just know it.  

   I painted this one rather quickly thus the discounted price.  It has many more bright colors

than this photo shop program shows unfortunately.  

    I woke up this morning because my foot was tapping to music.  It was still dark out.

 Then I realized there was reggae music gradually as an alarm clock would.  They were

playing reggae music because of a Jamaican 10 K Marathon (runners).  I walked out

to the road to see what a marathon would be like here.  There were many runners.  Candy

was already there cheering on Ron, her new friend.  Many hotel guests were cheering on

the hotel runners.  I went back to sleep for an hour.  Then I venured out again.

    After my second painting a rastafarian came up to admire my painting.  He liked it.

In fact he wanted to trade a painting for my painting.  I told him I couldn't do that.  He said

he really needed a small brush.  I looked in my bag and found one and handed it to him.  He

really was happy.  He played a song for me while he played his keyboard and danced.  I dropped

all my painting gear to pay attention.  I thanked him and he continued his walk.  This happened

all day long.  Many Mainers are here in Negril!  I was suprised.  I have a sticker on the back of

my easel stating, Renee Lammers Bucksport, Maine, Oil Painting on Copper Panel.   Some 

people saw this and told me they were from Maine.  Some had real Maine accents!  I passed

out business cards!  

    Here is part of the hotel I am at.  The path leads to the beach.  There is a little buiding

with a porch for guests.  People who come here do not watch TV.    They find someone sitting 

at the porch, order water or food or beer or a coctail, and talk.  Some people talk all day long.

I can handle maybe an hour and then I need to go walk, swim, paint, or do anything else.

Talking is tiring.  I enjoy talking but I guess only for an hour or so.

     Here are two chair at Couples way down the beach.  They have a large beach with

these chairs and palm shaded things.  A guard patrols this area so no one can sell them

anything.  Where I am staying at all kinds of people come up to see if I want veggie patties,

popcorn, jewelry, wood carvings, clothing, and so many other items.  I find some of their products

very helpful such as the fresh fruit.  Today I didn't have breakfast or lunch.  Then I went

with Ron and Candy by taxi up to a grocrey store.  I stood infront of a large container

of V8 juice.  It cost 7$ US.  I admired a small container of pickels for 12$.  I didn't buy the pickels.

I drank the gallon of V8 juice.  It was very good.  Then we had jerk chicken, with rice, and veggies for 8$. 

So today I only spent about 15$ total.  Some days I have only spent 5$ on food.  

    Here is a view of Couples.  I painted from 7am till 5pm. I am

sunburned!  So tomorrow I will be dressed up like a mummy painting

under a few seagrape trees.  Have a great night!  I hope you are

enjoying my Jamaican painting adventure!