Artist Renee Lammers

"Chilly Winter Evening" 5x7 oil on copper. Sold.

"Warm Colors Of Winter" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

   I worked very hard today painting with my Mom.  She worked on a lady

feeding a peacock.  I decided to work on creating a glow!  

   One of my clients sent a present of a dog ramp for

Daisy and Duke.  It arrived a few days ago in Maine.  Robert took a loaf of

bread outside with both dogs to train.  He wanted them to climb up ramp into the

car.  Duke took the treat.  Then he leaped over the entire ramp into the car.

He likes to show off how athletic he still is after 13 years.  Daisy is always

impressed.  Then it was Daisy's turn.  She ate half the loaf before she finally 

walked half way up the ramp.  Then she had an anxiety attack and laid down

on the ramp.  Robert had to lift her (all 100 pounds) to the ground.  Robert

said when I get home in a few days we will try to train them.  Maybe some

fried bacon might be more successful.  I know they are smart enough. We can

do this!  Thank you for the present! 

Have a great night!

"

    This is a painting done by Mikel Wintermantel.  I thought I would share with you

some of his copper paintings.  I am very impressed with Mikel's work on copper.  Recently

I formed a Facebook group called Copper Paintings.  I invited all the copper painters

I knew to join the group.  I didn't know how many there might be.  Many people wanted

to join the group so they could just see the copper paintings.  Soon people were asking members

of the group how they too could paint on copper.  Websites were shared to allow

others to find copper and learn the process.  It is been very exciting for me to see many

wonderful copper painters sharing their copper paintings.  After sharing a few of their best

copper paintings,  questions were being asked about their techniques.  They were sharing how

they discovered copper as well as how they did this or that.  I asked Mikel Wintermantel

if I could share his story and his work on copper.  

Here is Mikel Wintermantel's first painting on copper.  Alkyd and Oil on copper 4x6 done in 2010.

This is what he wrote today on Facebook.  Mikel is recovering from throat cancer.  He

is in delicate condition after finishing all his chemo and radiation. I pray daily for his full recovery. 

Mikel Wintermantel wrote:

       I became interested in copper after seeing Renee's paintings at the Wekiva Paintout in 2009 when I first met her. She encouraged me to try it. I was so busy with my own indirect painting technique, teaching it and working with the paint companies that sponsored me (which mattered because you can't use that paint on copper)  that I put off even trying copper for several months. Her paintings were so charming that I kept thinking of copper. There was one work Renee's in particular, a painting of her dogs that I really liked. We were going to barter a trade. I realize now how much her dogs mean to Renee and her husband and that painting was going to stay with them. What I would recall with her paintings, months later, was the glint of the copper where she drew into the wet paint with the end of her brush.

     I am an indirect painter, I paint in layers... usually dry, 'safe' layers. That is what I teach in my workshops, layered luminist landscape paintings (until I got sick... hopefully I will resume soon). So I was reluctant to try a substrate where I could only use slow drying oils. When I finally did sit down with some copper I was blown away. The slippery surface forced me to use my skills right from the start. It was like skating on thin ice compared to my pumice and gesso surface, but it was exhilarating! Every stroke showed massive amounts of expression. I could use hog bristles and really amplify the effect, I could wipe back, scrape into it with knives... etc. But what really surprised me was how quickly the alkyd dried on the metal surface. One would think that without a porous surface the oil would just sit there and take at least as long as a gesso panel to dry. So now I even use copper in the field plein air. I can work a completed layer and within and hour is dry enough to work again. In a good session I can get 3, 4 or 5 indirect layers done in a copper panel outdoors. This allows me to have the warm glow of the copper react with luminous skies and light. At the same time I can pile on the paint in some areas with all that expression easily applied with the touch of a brush.

     The copper paintings are so unique looking that they sell right off the walls at a pretty good clip. They don't last long. I have been painting smaller for a few years now. Mostly due to the economy and mostly because many of my collectors in NY don't have a whole lot of wall space left. I am anxious to try some larger copper pieces. Maybe some of us can share how we mount larger works.

    I use fast setting epoxy (Update:  About the epoxy:  Mikel may decide to use another method to secure to mdf or masonite)  and glue an 1/8" to 1/4" thick piece is mdf or masonite to the back of the copper. It is about 1/2" smaller width and length so that when I glue that to a black backer and put it in a floater frame it makes a nice presentation with that slight shadow / pedestal effect. I paint edge to edge but I always sand a little bevel on the edges of most of my copper paintings to reveal that metal glint.

    Here is another great painting on copper by Mikel Wintermantel.  I believe Mikel and all of

the other copper painters will benefit by this copper painting group.  These are painters who have

been working independently inventing ways to work with copper as a substrate.  Now there

are different methods being shared.  It took a few days but then questions started to be asked.

There are many painters starting to share.  It is quite exciting!  If you are interested in joining the 

copper painting group on Facebook just click join on the page.  I will try to share some of these

techniques under "Why Copper?" heading on my website as I learn them.  

   I hope you enjoyed Mikel's work.  Have a great night!  

  I am still visiting my parents in Winter Park, Florida.  I call Robert each night to say hi.

After a few minutes Daisy and Duke start to bark and then howl.  Each time the dogs are

so loud Robert can't talk any more.  Last night Duke was barking loudly too.  They also

put their feet up on Robert's leather recliner.  Duke uses his teeth and bites Robert in 

between howls.  Robert has to stand up and tell them no!  He says they both miss me

very much.  I do spend a lot of time with them during the day.  I am looking forward to

coming back home.  I like our doggy daily rituals.  I wonder if they can hear my voice

on the cell phone?

   Believe it or not it was a little too cool here in Florida to paint outside.  My Mom and I 

went to the mall.  I don't go to the mall normally.  I use to be a frequent customer at the

mall before I became a professional artist.  It has taken me several years to get use to being

a minimalist.  I am happier not having to buy everything in sight anymore.  I am also

very glad I don't have to wear skin tight pants popular with jazzy prints on them.  A sales

lady tried to get me to try a pair on.  No way!  One pair even had little rhinestones on the

cuffs and pockets.  Really!  What would I do with those pants in Maine?  I told her they do

not even sell those style of jeans in Maine!  I had on my vintage red moose sweater.  She

sort of smiled at my idea of style.

    I tried on an all light pink outfit. (Cruise wear)  Light pink cropped pants with

a light pink tank top(with large polyester roses sculptured)  and light pink jean

jacket.  Rhinestones and pearls were accented all over the attire.

 Kind of reminded me of a female Elvis Presley.  When I came out of the dressing

room my Mom was no where to be found.  So I pranced around the ladies clothing wearing 

the new outfit.  One lady saw me and started laughing. The sales clerk was all smiles.

I guess I looked ridiculous. I am too tall for such clothes.

Mom starred and suggested a white tank top instead

of all pink.  I decided my Columbia hiking attire could get me into any place just

fine.  Mom found several nice shirts to purchase. We had fun.  Have a good night!

"Colors of Spring" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thank you!

   I drove over to Meade Gardens again today to finish yesterday's painting.  The sun was

out!  There were no large storm clouds to contend with!  What a peaceful way to spend

a beautiful Spring day.  A lady who owns a gallery somewhere on Park Avenue loved my

painting.  I wish I could figure out how to let galleries sell my work.  I price my paintings

at a wholesale price so that I can sell them year round off my website.  Maine has no

commerical art traffic for 8 or more months a year.  In order to sell my work in galleries,

I would need to increase my prices 50% to make any profit for myself.  I am content to

continue on as I have been doing.  I do get a kick out of selling my work to first time

buyers.  I believe selling this painting for 700$ would be difficult or time consuming.

     Here is the painting after yesterday's painting session.  I guess it was good yesterday.

I just wanted to add more details and sunlight and shadows!  I might do more of

these garden paintings.   

   Today while I painted in Meade Gardens a man walking two dogs, who had been

circling for hours, finally came over to speak to me.  His larger dog urinated on my foot

and part of my painting equipment.  That never happened to me before.  Stranger then the

man talked about being with friends at a Miami outdoor art show.  He boasted to his

friends he could produce paintings and sell them out.  He had never painted before.  A

few days before the outdoor art show his friends asked him how his paintings were going.

He had forgotten.  So he quickly produced a large body of work by pouring painting and

dragging branches through the paint.  I guess underneath this paint he had pasted large

Playboy images blown up.  He claims to have sold everything.  Well good for him.

    Painting plein air in Florida has always been interesting.  Lately a drunk man at

10am told me he collected art.  I perked up and asked him where he purchased his art.

He said he bought his art at a bar in Winter Park.  A little while later he insisted I should

be painting alligators instead of turtles.  He tried to show me 20 or more alligator images on

his cell phone while I painted.  Somehow I was able to persuade him nicely to leave me 

alone.  I was so intensely painting turtles that I don't really remember what I said to him.

  I am going to start to post photos each blog for viewers to paint if they wish.  Many

people don't get out to take photos.  I have had many people email me that they really

appreciated photos I post to paint.  Just crop them or change or add something so they

are unique.  

   Robert reports Daisy and Duke are doing well.  He has been feeding them raw cabbage,

carrots, and other veggies along with their dog food.  He forgot to do this when I came here

to Florida.  Daisy was digging up snow looking for veggies to eat.  She found a head of 

cabbage I threw out 7 months ago.  It still had the wrapping on the cabbage.  There

was mold on the cabbage.  We had forgotten to eat it.  Since it was organic I threw it outside.

Luckily she didn't make her way through the plastic wrapping to the cabbage.  Robert

plays with them, talks to them, and pets them.  I miss them very much.  

"Colors Of Spring" 6x6 oil on copper.  Not finished yet.

   I met an artist at Meade Gardens today to paint plein air.  I like this pot of Geraniums.  The

large clouds prevented much sunlight.  There were bursts of sun for a minute...then no sun for hours.

I tried to get some sunlight.  I will take the painting back to Meade tomorrow if it is sunny.

My Mom says it is finished.  I still think there could be more work to be done!

Here is the scene I was trying to paint today.  Of course I didn't paint in the garden hose!

Here are a few photos for you to paint if you might like.  Change the photo just a little to make

the image your own.  Try cropping or changing colors.  Use your imagination!

"Oaks and Azaleas" 3x5 oil on copper.  Private Collection.  My plein air efforts today!

"Turtle Dance" 2.5 x 3.5 oil on copper  Sold today off my website to a nice artist I have never met!  Thank you!  

   My Mom and I painted at Meade Gardens today.  It was great to paint and relax.  

   David, our painter friend was passing by.  We asked him to take our photos today.

  I could have painted this squirrel plein air.  He

would have posed long enough.  

Here are some Azaleas and squirrels to paint!  Have a good night!  Nice to be painting!

   Here is a really cute Sandhill Crane colt.  We went to Moss Park here in

Florida to see them. 

   They came up to us very close.  Many times we had to drive away or walk away.

   I drove to Alligator Farm in St. Augustine today to take photos of these Egrets.  My Mom

likes to paint birds.  She will enjoy painting baby Egrets!

   How cute they are!  Have a great night!  Just relaxin here in Florida!

   Here is a wonderful Florida landscape painting by German Romanticist painter, 

Hermann Ottomar Herzog.  He came to Florida to visit his Chemist son who lived in 

Gainesville, Florida.  He was a smart man investing in the Pennslyvania Railroad early

so he never had to sell his paintings.  He lived to be 100 years old.  He left over a 1000

paintings from all over the world.  His work was collected by Emperor Alexander of Russia

and Queen Victoria.  

    His painting reflected no specific place but rather a time of day or mood.  

I really like his work.

He lived from 1832 to 1932.  

Some of his paintings look mysterious.  Florida landscape is very difficult to paint

especially along the rivers where it can be very dark.  

Here he used the trunks of palm trees add some lighter values to the landscape.

Great idea to use white clouds to add some lighter values.

  He studied in Germany but immigrated to USA when he was 20 years old.  He

was inspired by the Barbizon painters.  

    Here is a painting by Thomas Moran.  

 Thomas Moran came to Florida as a journalist for a magazine.  He was there to illustrate

Fort George, a sea island unfamilar to tourists.  He was inspired to paint a few Florida 

landscape paintings.  He hoped to sell this painting to congress.  They declined the sale.

Thomas Moran was disappointed.  He left Florida never to return.  

   Very interesting to me how great painters faired in Florida!  Have a great night!  

   Here are a few sketches done at night from photos.  I enjoy drawing while I watch TV.

   Here are a few nice beach scenes you can paint.  Just crop or change a few things to make

the scene your own! 

    Have a great night!  Paint those beaches if you would like!

"Castle Windy Trail's End" 10x10 oil on copper.  Gifted to the owner of the beach cottage loaned to me.

    Then I was also feeling homesick for Robert, Daisy, and Duke in Maine.

 When I was in New Smryna Beach I was also feeling homesick

for my parents in Winter Park!  Oh gee.  I guess I really am a sensitive artist.  

"New Smyrna Dunes Doggy Day!"  8x10 oil on copper.  Gifted to the owner of the beach cottage!  Thanks!

    After hiking back down the Castle Windy Trail I drove over to New Smyrna Dunes park.

Here is where I would take Daisy and Duke to swim all day more than five years ago.

I found myself thinking about how we all enjoyed New Smyrna Dunes Park!  

I had a giant wagon somehow I manuvered with two high energy golden retrievers.  I had to bring

two or three gallons of water, two umbrellas, and towels!  I also brought along Duke's hot

pink sun visor and his black sunglasses.  The sun was too bright for him.  He really wanted

to wear these things.  He is still a cool dog.  But he looked great wearing his hat and sunglasses!

 I had a rubber band contraption to hold on his sunglasses.  He had sensitive eyes.  After the

beach I would take them to Mc Donalds.  They would have a cheeseburger each.  They would

also have a few french fries.  We didn't go to the beach often.  So this was a special day.  One

time I was throwing french fries to them in the back seat.  They were catching the fries in

mid air!  I noticed a man watching and laughing his head off!  I laughed too.  Another time

Duke's cheeseburger fell out of his mouth and down the seat.  What a mess.  I had to stop the

car and pull out the cheeseburger.  He was so happy with me.  I cleaned up all the hamburger

grease and mustard and ketchup later!

    I may paint in a few more dogs later.  What a fun day!  Very nice people at this park.  

   Duke and Daisy are doing well with Robert in Maine.  Robert reports it is really cold

and ugly there so for me to enjoy myself and work hard.   Have a great day!  Let's paint!

   For the last few days I have been visually studying New Smyrna Beach.  I have

been too tired to paint.  I have been traveling to the beach four times a day.  I have

noticed the colors are so light in the morning.  There are lovely pastel colors with 

very few darker shadows.  I love the colors at 4pm.  There are bright colored blues

and purples as the sun prepares to set.  The landscape is so very different from

Wekiva river.  I purchased a pair of tin snips to cut panoramic copper panels.  Then

I decided to look at Edward Seago seacapes to see how he handled the sea.  I was

surprise to see his very large cloudy sky areas within his seacapes.  The limited

grayed palette created a dramatic seacape.  

   You can't go wrong examining how a great master painted a subject.

Here are a few interesting facts about Edward Seago.  He

had a heart problem his entire life.  He died of a brain tumor. His paintings

are timeless.   His work was collected by the royal family in England.

 He gave Queen Elizabeth a painting two times

a year for holidays.  In his will he asked 1/3 of his paintings would be destroyed.

I like Edward Seago's work.  It is much more neutral than my work. 

    He designed paintings so well.  

    I hope you have a wonderful night!  Let's paint the sea!  Soon!

   Daisy and Duke have been enjoying a Frosty Paw doggy ice cream treat each night for 8 nights in a row!  

Robert says he notices how much more energetic they are.  Duke has been racing around in circles at a

baseball field nearby.  He gallops like a horse, Robert reports.  Daisy has now been trained to go to the 

front door after they come home from their walk.  Robert lets her in.  Daisy has difficulty climbing the 

back stairs into the home so the front entrance is best!  Now we are looking for a light weight ramp for 

them to exit the car.  They are doing very well for being 13 years old.  

   Here are a few photos I took today of birds.  

   Here is a brown pelican who was fishing at the beach.  Whenever he caught a fish

another bird landed on his back and tried to get food out of his mouth!  What an 

opportunist!

   The brown pelican has his mouth full so he can't do anything!  

   I feel like a white fancy feast cat in this beach cottage.  The beach cottage on loan to me

for a few days here in New Smyrna Beach is so nice I don't like to leave.  Winds have been high

on the beach and temperatures have been cool!  It is too nice to paint inside the house.  So

I am looking at moon paintings and seascapes.  I am enjoying my retreat!  Thank you.  Have

a great night!

    Today I read a book called, "Gift From The Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.  Anne

wrote this book while staying in a cottage on Captiva Island, Florida in the 1950's.  

She was married and had five children.  She was inspired by the seashells she found and

wrote a book about life.   Here are a few of my favorite lines from her book:

"Be choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea."

"Saints were rarely married women."

"One is free like a hermit crab to change one's shell." 

"We seem so frightened today of being alone that we never let it happen."

"A good relationship has a pattern like a dance and is built on some of the same rules.  The

partners do not need to hold on tightly, because they move confidently in the same pattern

intricate but gay and swift and free like a country dance of Mozarts.  

My favorite chapter is the first one.  I love her idea not to dig for seashells.  It is too impatient and

greedy.   We must instead have faith and patience.  

     I am resting, drinking lots of fluids, soaking in hot water, eating lots of green 

things and fruits!  I have many bruises and layers of bug bites from the plein air event.

Today I read and road quietly down the beach.  I can slowly feel myself coming back to

normal!  Have a great night!  

"First Date" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you.

    I painted turtles again at the Wekiva Island.  I liked how these two turtles looked so

happy being together.  I could see a faint smiling expression on the smaller turtle!  Love

how their little feet and front legs reach out for the sunlight.  Some people refer to their

feet as solar panels.  I could identify with the turtles.  I was enjoying the sunlight and the

warm weather!  

"Noon Time Sun" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold on location!  Love when that happens.  Thank you.

   I drew the turtles out, and drew them again on to the copper.  Two or three raccoons

walked along the shore frightening the turtles.  They jumped into the water.  I continued

to paint them anyway using my turtle painting experience to guide me.  Soon turtles 

started to return to the log.  I found a few in similar positions!  Many people can by to 

watch me paint.  One lady handed me the cash and asked to have it shipped to her!  

That was great!

"In Harmony" 3x5 oil on copper.  My private collection!

   Here is my last plein air efforts for the day.  A three year old alligator crawled up to sun

with his turtle friends.  He is known for using turtles for pillows daily.  I admire the harmony

on the Wekiva river.  

    I sold two paintings at the gala.  

"Beauty Queen" 3x5 oil on copper.  sold.

"Wekiva Day" oil on copper.   sold!  Thank you!

    My parents and friends really enjoyed the Italian food and paintings.  I had a great time.

 What a beautiful place to paint.  Have a great night!

"Mirror, Mirror" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!

    Today I drove to Wekiva Island to paint the turtles on the log again.  I set up to paint.

I drew for a while.  I saw a turtle looking into the water.  At first I thought he was taking a

drink of water.  But soon I realized he was looking at his reflection in the water.  Perfect!  I 

drew him quickly.  I marked the shadows and hightlights.  I drew him on my copper from my 

sketch.  I drew in the other turtles.  Then I started to paint.  But my turtle had disappeared

into the water.  So I just used my sketch to paint him.  I have some experience now painting

turtles.  It turned out great!  It sold a few hours later.

    I had several people come out to see me today!  Here is one of my favorite art clients Mary

with her lovely dog, Bonnie.  I had such a great time with Mary, her friend, and Bonnie.

My friend Judith came out to say hello too.  I love being in Florida!

"Moonlight Sonata" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

   We all were suppose to paint the sunset and moon tonight while all the people from 

Wekiva Island, a tiki type of night club watched.  They had a copper fire pit blazing with a

fire to keep them warm.  Kids were running around.  Here is my moon painting.  I used

a dual mighty light to see by.  There was no moon.  But I painted one in!  I have been studying

how tonalist paint.  I knew to keep it dark with soft edges.  

"Mr. Wonderful" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks!

"Balancing Act" 5x7 oil on copper.  300$ Framed in gold wood.  shipped free.

"Bachelor Number One" 5x7 oil on copper.  Framed in gold wood.  Shipped free.  250$

   Here are my latest turtle painting painted on location at Wekiva Island.  I am really

enjoying my turtle studies.  I have been drawing turtles from photos at night for five or more

hours while I visit with my Mom in the evening.  Then from 9am till dark I paint the 

turtles without using any photos or drawings.  I have memorized how the turtle is 

shaped.  People are complementing my turtles.  They are really enjoying them.

  Today I went on a pontoon boat ride to paint.  There were two other artists on board.  Tom

was an excellent Captain who volunteers driving the artists.  We stayed out for more than

four hours.  The Captain Tom made the trip very enjoyable with his over the top enthusiasm

and cander about our painting ability.  He just loved watching us paint.  There was great

artist comraderie aboard the pontoon boat.  I had fun.  

  Captain Tom was such a great sport to hold an umbrella to keep another artist from getting

too much sun on her fair skin!  We laughed a lot.  He was so impressed with us! 

  Here is Captain Tom.

Have a great night!  

"The Bachelorettes" 5x7 oil on copper.   Sold!  Thanks!   

50% goes to an environmental agency helping to preserve the Wekiva river.

"Sungoddesses" 5x7 oil on copper Sold today!  Thank you!

"True Floridian" 5x7 oil on copper Sold!  Thanks.

    Today I painted at the Wekiva Island on the docks again.

   Here I am with Berto painting turtles a few days ago. Rest in peace Berto.   He was painting

the river.  I drew out these turtles on a small piece of paper.  Then

I redrew the same drawing on to the copper.  I looked up to see the large

turtle in the foreground had swam away.  The other two turtles were still there

so I painted them.  Soon another turtle climbed up to the empty spot.  You can't see any of 

the designs on the turtles.  The highlights from the sky seem to deminish these designs.  All I 

needed to concentrate on were the shapes of the turtle's shell and the head.  The feet of the turtle

are not to difficult to paint.  I softened the vegetation so they would be there but not detract away

from my turtles.  

  Here I am painting the turtles sitting on the left.  Nice spot to paint!

    Turtles are the symbol for good omen, good fortune, order, creation, patience, strength, stability, 

longevity, innocence (because they have few predators), endurance, and protection (they have their

shell to withdraw into).  Their shell is a symbol of heaven.  Their square underside is a symbol of

the earth.  Some believe the turtle united the heavens with the earth.  

   Here is a green heron.  I don't see any green on the heron!

   Here is a vulture sharing the log with a few friends!  

  Have a great night!

"Sungoddesses" 5x7 oil on copper.   sold thank you.

    I never know how a painting will turn out.  I drew out many turtles with pencil on paper.

Then I drew out the drawing on to the copper.  There were a few turtles that moved.  I just

painted one turtle at a time until I was done.  I am so lucky to have perfect vision.  I can 

see across the river well enough to see the turtles sitting on a log.  I had the shade of a palm tree.

I sat comfortably on a bench to paint!  I wanted to be positioned down low so I could see

the turtles at the same eye level.  

"Beauty Queen" 3x5 oil on copper   Sold thanks!

Amazing golden light on a Red-shouldered Hawk.

Here is a beautiful swimming turtle!

Here is a sunning alligator.  He wasn't too big.  

Interesting to see an alligator so close to turtles!  

Wekiva is a beautiful river.  I think it is best as the sun is setting!  Have a great night!

"Symphonic" 10x10 oil on copper Sold later in Maine!  Thanks.

     Here is the painting I completed within 2 1/2 hours at the Timacua Art Foundation.  It was

a very interesting experience.  There were three different musicians creating atmospheric

sounds either with their voice or with recorded noises or made noises.  The lady who created

sounds with her voice probably was the most difficult to paint by.  She howled, cried, whimpered,

screeched, and growled.  I was actually afraid at one point.  Sometimes I had to stop and not

do any painting for a minute and rinse a brush.  

During the preformance I took this photo of the audience.  There were over 40 people

gathered to hear and visual the social experience.  At one point someone flushed a toliet

and one lady laughed.  I kept painting throughtout the whole evening.  I finished my 

painting and signed it just as the last musician finished.  

Here is Matthew preforming.  The painting on the wall was done by a couple during

another social experiment.  

"True Floridian" 5x7 oil on copper Sold!  Thanks.  Here is my plein air

efforts from this morning.  

I am exhausted!  Preforming infront of a live audience is tiring!  I am glad I did this. 

Have a great night!  Tomorrow I will be painting at Wekiva Island.  

"Wekiva Day" 3x5 oil on copper.  Framed in medium gold.  Sold.  Thank you.

    Today I painted this tiny painting of a Wekiva River canoe.  The Wekiva Paintout 2013 is starting

March 3.  Starting March 4 the gallery at Wekiva Island located at the end of Miami Springs Blvd in

Longwood, Florida will be open from 5-9pm.   Here are a few events

scheduled:

   March 5-March 8 the gallery at Wekiva Island

will be open from 11am to 10pm.  It is free to come out and watch the artists painting and to see

their paintings. 

   On March 6 they are having an art auction at 8pm with a preregister time

of 7pm.   If you register to bid you will receive free beer and wine.  There will be a

sunset painting session at 6:00pm on this night before the auction starts.  All the artists

will be painting the sunset.  All finished sunset paintings will be for sale at the easel.  This

is a great opportunity to meet the artists and watch them work en plein air.

     The night of  March 8th, they are having  paint the moon.  All the artists will be  

painting the moon.  All the paintings will be for sale at the easel.  They are also having food trucks

for dining while you watch artist's work.  Last year a few children came out with their parents.  It

was an exciting family time.  

     On March 9,  at the Wekiva Island,  the gallery will be open from 10-4pm to view finished work

produced by each artists.  Artists will be hanging new work each day as it is produced.  There

will be a quick draw from 12-2pm.  Any artist is invited to paint on location for two hours.  All

they need to do is bring their equipment, pay a small fee, and paint!  Prizes are awarded. 

  March 9, Saturday night, at the Wekiva Island, there is the big gala from 7pm-10pm.  Carrabba's

Italian Grill is catering this event.  All the artists will be present with their finished framed artwork

for sale.  The event's price is 25$ per person.  If you would like to come to the preview party,

you can become a patron, from 6-7pm.  Painting sales benefit the artists and Wekiva Wilderness

Trust and Keep Seminole Beautiful.  You can see all the information if you look at Wekiva

Paintout 2013's website.

Come out to Wekiva Island!  I would love to meet you!  

Here are a few peacocks for you to paint!  Just change the image a lot so it is your own.

Crop the image, flip the image, change the drawing!  My Dad took me to a nearby location where

he saw peacocks roosting!  

Have a great night!  Let's Paint!