Artist Renee Lammers

   There was amazing waves at Pemaquid.

   I ran around taking photos early this morning before I had to be at the gallery.

The light was great.  

Beautiful view after the sunset.

   Here is the beach this morning behind the cottage.  

It was amazing.

I am glad to be back home.  

I am framing up a large sold painting to ship out tomorrow morning.

Then Robert and our three golden retrievers are off for two days to Rangley, Maine

for a short vacation.  This should be exciting.

This is Monet, Poppy, and Lily's first vacation in their whole lives.

I hope they enjoy it!  Good night.

"Muscongus Cove" 6x8 oil on copper 450$ framed in gold.  Sold.  Thanks.

  I painted this one while I sat in the gallery.

I decided to have fun with this one!  

The water was not choppy but I decided to have choppy water.

   I sold all kinds of things today for the artists.

Wood sculpture for 650$, a large schooner painting for 900$, a photo printed on canvas for 195$,

and many other items.  It was a good day for the gallery, almost 2000$ of sales.

  I have been under the weather since I found a sick cat inside of an abandoned house.

I am feeling better.  I hope the cat received help.  I did the best I could.  I will start to carry

around a cat carrier in my car.  

Robert reports all three dogs are doing well.  I miss them all.  I will be home again tomorrow night.

Good night.

"Saturday Night in Pemaquid" 5x7 oil on copper 350$ framed in gold or black with gold.  Shipping

included in the price.

   I worked on this painting today while I sat the Saltwater Artists Gallery in Pemaquid.

This is the view of the cottage Saturday night.  It was amazing.  

" Sunday Night In Pemaquid 1"  5x7 oil on copper.  not finished.

  I decided to paint the view at the cottage at sunset.  

The plan was to work fast and don't look back!

I might work on this one more or leave it alone.  It is expressionist!

The  sun went down fast tonight.  It just dropped.  I mixed the colors first this time.

Then I painted.  This worked better.  I like this one.  I will take a better photo tomorrow.

   The sun was down for a few minutes when I painted this one.  There was an amazing

light phalo blue gleam on the water with reds.  Wow.

I will take a better photo tomorrow.

Great exercise to paint a sunset without any worries.  

"Monhegan Quadricentenniel Celebration" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold today.  Thank you.

I am excited for painting sales.  I will need to stock pile winter food money.  No joke.

Maine has a very short painting buying season.

 The season of painting sales for artists living in Maine is:  

When the kids have returned to school until the leaves have fallen.

When the leaves are on the ground people have left Maine for warmer climates.

There are still a few people who continue to live in Maine during the winter.

These people will need all their resources to survive a Maine Winter.

 Artists are very grateful during this time to celebrate any painting sales.  

Thank you!

The cottage I have been gifted for the week has 180 degree views of the waterfront.

I wake up to see lobster men working hard.  Tonight they were still working.

   In between the spruce trees was a beautiful raspberry color with light blue ripples.

I was thinking tonight.  Nature never fails an artist.

Good night.

"Stonington's Church Street View" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold off my FASO website.  So grateful!

"Stonington's Church Street View" 6x8 oil on copper.  sold.  Thank you.

I need to work on creating different titles for my painting.  This was an accident.

It created a bit of confusion for me.  I thought the client purchased the same painting twice.

We have it all straightened out with a few laughs.

   I have been given the use of an oceanfront cottage in Pemaquid!  I can not believe my luck.

I normally stay at campgrounds.  I am so self conscious inside this lovely house.  

I woke up a dozen times to look at view changing!  Amazing.

   I made 8 cups of oatmeal at home to bring with me.  

I don't want to cook a thing in this beautiful kitchen!  

   The cottage has it's own beach!  There is about 200 feet of oceanfront property.

   I spent a few hours admiring everything.  The chairs and couches and books!  

I am very grateful.  I will give her a painting as a gift.

Now I am off to paint somewhere in Pemaquid, Maine.  It is a beautiful sunny day.

Good night.  

"Forever Zinnias" 11x15 ink, watercolor, gouache, woodies.  100$ unframed.  Shipping included.

   I worked on this painting last night.  

I selected a few of Robert's zinnias. 

He was shocked to see them inside the house.

He said, "Those are from my garden!"

I said, "Yes they are.  You grew them for me to paint."

I could see this was fine.  

He grew the zinnias from a seed.  He watered them everyday.

I could see how fond he was of his zinnias.

  Here is a close up of the zinnias.  Notice the pencil drawing extending out to the edges.

  I purchased Daniel Smith fine watercolors thanks to the commission painting.

They look so neat in their new little compartments.  

I started a new zinnia mixed media but ran out of steam.

   Robert's zinnias are the most beautiful specimens!

   Lily loves to take the cap off the empty soda bottle.

Then she likes to chew on the mouth of the bottle.  She knows she shouldn't eat plastic.

She runs around with the bottle as if it is a treasure.

  Poppy decided the gang's favorite kong parrot was going to die.

She pulled out the stuffing and the squeaky.  

   Lily was not pleased.  What did you do?  

Monet carried the parrot into the house.  I will sew it back together!

   I am going to Pemaquid for a week.  Good night.

"Zinnia Patch" 30x40 oil on copper    I don't think it is finished yet.

    I stayed up late last night finishing this painting.

I woke up late.  I came downstairs, looked at the painting, and was pleased.

I was so happy I did it!  It is a big accomplishment to paint large.

So many years of painting small has made me eager to paint big!

It is exciting.  I love painting large.  

   Here are a few close ups of the finished painting.  

This is the lower half of the painting.  Signature in carved into wet oil paint to reveal the copper

on the left lower side on a leaf.

These may be different than the other close ups because I work on the whole painting

until the last hour.

Here is the top left portion of the painting.

   I cleaned up around the house.  These large paintings take time.  Fur balls start to pile

up in the corners of my house!  I put calamine lotion on Monet's stomach.  He

may have a touch of poison ivy on his stomach.  He loved the calamine.  He layed

on his back with his feet up in the air enjoying the coolness of the lotion.  Poor boy.

Lily has a hot spot under her neck.  I put some Vet Best Hot Spot spray.  I trimmed

the hair off her neck.  Poppy has great skin.  

   Here is Poppy posing for a photo on a glacier rock in Stonington.

View from Sand Beach in Stonington, Maine.  Good night.

   Here is the 30x40 oil on copper of zinnias this morning.

I worked on leaves most of the day and night.  I decided to paint the

background at the top.  In reality the background looked black in

the photo.  I decided on a value 8 warm dark green.

First I painted a cool dark green.

Then I added warm dark greens on the top for an interesting look.

I could have painted a flat warm dark green background.

I also could have painted a light blue or light grey background.

There are many choices.  

A white background might have been interesting.

   Here are a few close up photos of this painting.

Leaf values were close together creating a glow.

I hope to create a painting with a refreshing feeling.

I will be checking all the edges after I am finished painting all the leaves and stems.

I have been making sure I have more soft edges while painting.

I just need to make sure all my stems match up.

I will make sure all the flower edges blend in.  I don't want a cut out and pasted look.

   These zinnia leaves are so pretty.  

   Stonington right before sunset.  Good night.

   We decided to take Monet, Poppy, and Lily to Stonington's Sand Beach.

We are suppose to be taking them to Meat Cove in Novia Scotia in a few weeks.

Today we learned we must create a barrier to keep the driver safe.

Monet disabled the van six times on the way to Stonington and four times coming back.

Monet wanted to sit closer to the driver of the van.  He kept hitting the stick shift into neutral.

Robert is going to build a wood barrier.  I think a fish net might work.  

Something needs to be done because Novia Scotia is 12 hours away from us.

We had a great time!

Even Monet's antics made us laugh.

  Stonington's Sand Beach at low tide has wonderful tall glacier rocks the dogs loved.

   They ran up the tall rocks then ran down.

   They swam around in circles.  The water must have been cold.

   I admired these crazy rocks.

   Robert was a little worried the dogs might get hurt on the rocks.  

   The dogs had a blast!  It was good for them.

   I made good progress on my 30x40 oil on copper painting of zinnias.

I worked all morning, afternoon, until 5pm.  

I am about half way finished with this painting.

   Here is a close up on the bottom half of the painting.  I hope to add a few critters later.

Good night.

   I woke up with a sprained back.  I was exhausted.  

I purchased a back massage machine for 40$.  

I used the back massage machine for five minutes. My back recovered!

I took a two or three hour nap.  I felt great.

I have been eating 5 pieces of celery a day in addition to all the other foods.

My poor stomach didn't like the celery.  

Why was I eating 5 stalks of celery a day?  I read it would give me bright white

eyes, improve my vision, improve my lung function, give me all the fiber I require for one day,

help lower cholesterol, and a whole bunch of other healthy things.

I loved my ice cream sandwich diet better.  I was eating 4 or 5 of them a day as well as all

the other food I normally eat.  

My creative output during the ice cream sandwich addition was at an all time high.

Massive celery intake made creative output a all time low.

I am going back to having many ice cream sandwiches a day.

I was much happier.

   I worked on the 30x40 oil on copper zinnia painting later in the day

after fixing all my aliments.  Painting all these zinnia flower leaves

was difficult.  On a grey day the zinnia leaves would be so much easier to paint.

I have all the sunlight and shadow patterns to deal with on a sunny day.

I do love a sunny day painting.  There will be so much yellow in this painting

from the backlit leaves.  Two people asked me what I meant by backlit leaves.

When the sunlight illuminates flowers from behind the plant, there are some leaves

that will be in shadow, but are lit by the sun.  These leaves glow a nice bright yellow or

yellow/green.  I was taught to paint these leaves yellow.  

Leaves in the sunshine seem to reflect the sky, so are cooler, but they are the lightest value.

I also see light pink on these leaves.  Tricky.  

 I see a glowing orange or even darker pink around edges of some leaves.  

Robert is taking a special interest in this painting because they are his zinnias he grew from seeds.

   Here are zinnias on a grey day.  

   Here are zinnias on a sunny day.  Big difference.

Good night.

   A very nice couple invited a few artists out for a boat ride today.

We went to Ram Island.  The owners of the island allow people to stay as long as the flag

is not out.  The flag was out.  This meant the owners were enjoying the island.  There is

an abandoned house on the island with a summer kitchen.  It looked like a wonderful

place to explore on another day when the flag was not out.  How generous of the owners

to allow visitors.  

Above is the view of Camden.

   Here is the cute cottage on Ram Island with the flag.

   Ram Island is a pretty island.  

   This is the view from Warren Island, a state park, of Camden.

We hiked on Warren Island.  

   Three crows were hanging out on top of a dead spruce tree.

   We loved this little island or cove with interesting rocks.

   We saw a few caves.

We also saw many pinkie whales and seals.

   Look at cute Monet in my chair.  He was adorable.

Lily had a piece of cardboard in her mouth.  She was running around growling and wagging her tail.

She had quinacridone red oil paint on her forehead.

Nice to be back home.  Poppy was relaxing.  Thanks for the wonderful day at sea!

Good night.

  For years I have dreamed of a zinnia field to paint in my backyard.

Robert has grown me this field!  I drew the 30x40 oil on copper painting while

sitting at a drawing horse.  This was no easy task!  The wind was blowing all around.

Zinnias were growing and changing positions as I drew them.

I was satisfied with the composition.  I continued on to the painting process.

   I decided to paint zinnias first to make sure the eye traveled the painting.

The viewer's eye will most likely bounce from zinnia to zinnia.

 I wanted to make sure there were enough zinnias.  I am positive a few

more zinnias will grow before this painting is finished.

    At two pm I came inside to continue to paint from a computer image.

It was too hot outside for me!  The light had changed.  Best to have correct

light and nice air conditioning.

When I was drawing the leaves, I decided to create symbols to help me figure

out what was a highlight,  back lit leaves, or shadow.  Two dots

represent the sunny yellow leaves that were back lit.  The shadowed leaves

had diagonal lines.  Darkest darks were painted blue.  The leaf areas left

free of a symbol were the leaves lightest reflecting the sky color.

I did this because tomorrow the leaves will not be in the same place.  

   When I am painting using the drawing horse, I use this julian folding wood easel.

This easel is not large.  It forces me to use a palette knife to remove old paint.

I do love a large palette.  This one works for this drawing horse.  

"Blooms" 20x14 oil on copper 950$ framed in gold or black with gold, shipping included.

This is the zinnia painting completed the other day.

    I framed "Memories" 20x30 in a King of Frames San Marino Gold frame.  

I wrapped it up in brown paper first to protect the frame and painting.  Then I wrapped

the painting in yards of bubble wrap.  I placed the painting cradled with extra cardboard in

a thick cardboard box.  Robert and I carried it to the van.  This morning at the post office,

USPS store, I discovered this painting, frame, and packaging weighed 23 pounds total.

This is lightweight for a custom made wood frame and 20x30 copper painting.

The cost of shipping ground with insurance was 156$.  Many artists asked me the cost of shipping

this size painting.  I do not ship using UPS.  It is the most expensive way to ship. The people at UPS even

told me this!  They use styro peanuts to ship.  I don't think this way of shipping

is an environmentally friendly way of packing.  They will

not use any other packing material.  So forget them.  I like using the post office.

   Look who came to visit us today!  Luke and Ted.

   A tennis ball was accidentally thrown into the weeds outside the fence.

Monet couldn't forget about the ball.  We tried to distract him but he would have nothing of

any other balls.  He wanted that one.  Ted tried to search for the ball.  The weeds were too

tall and thorn like.  We tricked Monet into thinking the ball was found.

Luke will do the same thing.  He won't forget.  Lots of barking until the person somehow

retrieves that ball.  I personally think both Luke and Monet like all the fuss and drama!

   Lily has been enjoying the new balls but that grass is fun to pull out!

   Poppy is very happy her favorite red ball has returned.  No questions were asked.

   For more than an hour each morning I throw the balls for them to fetch.

Here Monet wants me to throw his ball.  They keep me busy.

   This morning Ted gave each dog a small peanut flavored milk bone.

They sure do enjoy their visits.  

Tomorrow I have been invited on a boat ride to an island to paint.

I have invited Peter to come along with us.  There will be three artists

 and one oral surgeon driving the boat.  Sounds like a fun time.  

Good night.

untitled unfinished  20x14 oil on copper.  

   I decided to paint my own field of zinnias Robert grew.

I thought it would be fun to paint a vertical.

It looked like rain.  I took the painting inside.

I finished the painting.  I gave it a real edge.  Will post it tomorrow.

   I am impressed with how many zinnias are growing.  

    A box arrived today for the dogs.  

They were excited!

    Poppy had her nose in the box first.  

Poppy had a funny look on her face.

   Lily picked a ball.  Monet had one.  Poppy sat under the table in her bed.

I put a ball next to her.  She always has this victimized look on her face when there

are new toys.  "I didn't get any toys."  

    When Robert came home, each dog grabbed a new ball, and ran outside to play.

He reported the dogs played harder than ever.

   They took a long nap today.  They were tired from the lake yesterday.

Good night.

   Ted and Luke invited us to their secret swimming lake.

We had a wonderful relaxing time.

   They did fine on the long ride.  Lily turned into a tiger when we arrived.

She thinks scratching the driver will allow her to get out of the van quick.

Monet was a good boy during the ride.  He loves to put his two feet over the 

driver's lap so he can view the scenery.  Poppy is the perfect passenger.

She sits in the passenger seat.  She will glance over with approving nods.

When we stop at our destination the barking and howling begins.  

I feel lucky to exit the van in one piece.

  I taught the dogs where to get blueberries.  Lily used her mouth like a rake.

She didn't care if a few green blueberries or leaves were included with a blueberry.

   Here is Lily.  She found some blueberries.  She had her mouth around them and pulled.

I had a great time watching them.  Lots of laughs.  They were busy.  Monet would rather

be handed blueberries.  

   Poppy loves to retrieve sticks.  Monet doesn't seem allowed to help except be 

a fellow swimming companion.  If Monet put his lips on her stick Poppy growled.

   Monet discovered his bark echoed across the lake.  Pretty soon all the dogs were in

a circle barking.  I could see Poppy knew it was their barks being echoed.

Monet's face was dirty from digging.

   Ted and Luke fished.  They didn't catch a thing.  It was cute watching Luke getting ready

to get a fish.

   Poppy found several huge sticks.  She ran by us.  We had to watch our legs.  Poppy

would knock us down if we were not careful.  Coming through!  Big stick!

   Poppy and I took a photo together.  She had her front feet on a rock I was sitting on.

She is a good friend now.  She thinks I have good enough qualities to be useful.

We all had a very relaxing day.  Just what we all needed.  Good night.

Thank you Ted for the Kong red ball for Poppy and the antique meat grinder for making

hamburgers.  

    I sold zero paintings at the Bucksport Art Show.  

Robert woke up at the crack of dawn to put the show tent up.

I arrived at 7:30am to hang the paintings.

There were people strolling about, asking questions, and that was it.

I had many compliments on my work. 

I worked hard.  I took Robert out to dinner for all his hard work.

At the show I met this cute Pomeranian/Yorkshire Terrier mix.

He was being fostered for the day.  I sure hope he works out in a new forever home.

He was so cute.

   This little puppy, 11 weeks old, had great trick skills.

   The view from my tent was fabulous.

All I can say is:  I showed up and did the best I could.

Good night.

"The Beginning" 20x30 oil on copper.  Finished.  Sold.  Thank you!

   Today was another great day.  I woke up late.  I allowed myself to sleep.  My entire

body was sore from painting.  I guess I really put my whole body into it.  

I played with my dogs in the backyard for an hour.  

I like to wake up before I start to paint.  

I drew a small sketch of the couple.  They were facing the camera.

Then I did an internet search for aerial photos of people fishing on a bridge.

I guess looking at people fishing from the sky gave me inspiration.

I placed the couple in a good location for subject on the bridge.  

It went smoothly.  I made sure the man was much taller than the woman.

I suppose when they look at the painting they will say, "There we are on the bridge."

I bet they will laugh.  

I ate lunch.  Broccoli and macaroni make a good lunch.  I did eat many donuts.  

An artist must have fuel!

Then I painted the sailboats.  I saw photos of sailboats taken from a plane.

This was the same perspective as the bridge photo.

I painted the sky and water and the land.  I knew this area needed to be lighter and more

colorful.  Key West is a beautiful magical place.  

I finished the painting.  I was so thrilled to have tackled the challenge!

I even asked Monet what he thought.  He looked at me and blinked his eyes.

   Poppy tore up Monet bed.  She was talking up a storm this morning.  I decided I needed to

find Poppy another ball!  I searched online at chewy.com.  I found it!  I found a ball just like Poppy

lost.  The ball is made by Planet Dog.  It is a basketball looking ball, large in size, for 20$.

Poppy has good taste in ball toys.  I ordered three balls.  I need three balls for three dogs or there

will be trouble.  They last a long time.  They are safe.  They can not swallow them.  Poppy will be so

happy!  This is how they will celebrate this painting sale.  Thank you.

   Here it is.  Poppy's favorite ball!  

  I took a nap after finishing the painting.  I was wiped out from the excitement.

The lady who commissioned me to do the painting adores it!  This was excellent news.

Next!   I framed up 50 paintings for the Bucksport Outdoor Art Show tomorrow from 10-5pm.

Please come out to see all the paintings!  I will have larger paintings at this show.  Good night.

   It is midnight.  I am finished painting for the day.  Here is the results so far.

The oil painting on copper is 20x30.  There is a glare from the light overhead of the easel.

I took most of the day painting the main bridge.  I didn't realize how difficult it would be

to paint the bridge.  I was just so happy to be doing the commission.  I liked the image.

I was glad for this.  I love how dramatic the bridge came out.  It looks great in real life.

The fishing bridge took all of the evening.  I spent two hours on the palms, rooflines, and bridge

on the left foreground.  

  Here is my favorite passage.

I held my breath while I painted.  

   There are many bridges in this painting.  

Tomorrow I will paint three sailboat into the left background, paint the distant land, sky,

water, and two people 1/16 inch on the bridge.  The people must be recognizable.

I may ask Monet, my golden retriever, if I can borrow one of his whisker hairs.

"Spring At Sandy Point" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold today in my gallery at home.

What a nice surprise!  Thank you.  I have one or two visitors a year in my gallery at home.

"Stonington Lobster Boat" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold.  Not too great of a photo.  Difficult

to photograph dark paintings.  Thank you for your purchases.

I am so excited today about painting sales.  It was a wonderful day.

Luke and Ted came to visit the youngsters, Monet, Lily, and Poppy.

It is so fun to watch how excited the dogs get when they arrive.

They bark, hop, and even whimper.  Luke wags his tail. 

   Poppy still has not found her missing red ball.  She hunted for the ball again.

She scratched at all the dog beds.  Ripped up a floor mat. She dug a giant hole

behind the wood pile up against the house.  She stood there

talking.  I told my next door neighbor about the missing ball.  Everyone

we know is looking for the ball.  The ball Robert bought her did not pass

inspection.  She ripped the ball into pieces.  It was not red and it had tennis

ball texture.  The missing ball is thick red plastic with a hole.  

We should be lucky this is the only crisis.  

I am going to sleep.  Good night.  Thank you.

   I was giving permission to share the process of a commissioned painting.

The project is to paint a 20x30 oil on copper of Key West's 7 mile bridge.

I liked the photo but right away thought it might be improved with a few inches of sky.

I drew the sketch for the client.

It is always best to be paid for the commission before it all begins.

This was taken care of right away.  Thank you for trusting my ability.

This really made me feel good.  It is so nice to be appreciated as an artist.

   I used math to draw a smaller sketch.

 The sketch needed to be the same dimensions of a 20x30.

Adding a few inches of sky helped to make this possible.

I may paint a few low flying clouds on the left.  

I was asked to paint a few boats.  In particular she wanted a Maine dory.

I suggested Maine dories are not often in Key West?  I thought I would find Florida boats.

Sailboats came to mind!

I think sailboats in the distance will break up horizontal lines to the left.

These sailboats will also add depth to the painting.  

I was asked to paint her and her husband fishing on the old bridge.

The photo showed them not fishing, facing the viewer, like a portrait.

I made it clear any couple fishing on the bridge would be about 1/4 to an inch in size.

I may need to take out my microscope. But I will make this happen!

This is a special painting for a special couple celebrating their 13th Anniversary.

I am very excited about this painting.  I have a beautiful King of Framed San Marino

gold frame here ready for the painting!

   I used my Mom's invention of using thread and tape to grid the large 20x30 sanded copper panel.

 I used cobalt blue, cadmium red light, and a touch of Gamblin's Neo Meglip to sketch

the drawing.  I removed the thread.  The great part about using thread is there will be no

lines to appear later as oil paint become more translucent as it dries.  Many paintings in

Museums reveal a grid under the painting.  I don't want this to happen.  The thread is a great

idea.  I used a yard stick, rulers, and even Monet tried to help draw the bridge.

    I decided to work on the most difficult part first.  The bridge!  I am always more energized at

the beginning of a larger painting.  It just makes sense to start on the most difficult part.  Once

the bridge is finished, I will work on the old bridge to the right.  I may paint the couple fishing first.

 I paint larger shapes, then I come back the next day and refine, straighten lines, add more colors.

    I decided to paint some of the reflection of the bridge.  Later I will be painting the water

over some of this reflection.  The water is calm.  There is some reflection coming vertically

through the horizontal water.  Tricky but I will do a good job at the water and reflections.

From all the plein air experience, I know white reflected into water is not grey, it is usually

a warm yellowish orange if it is reflecting a warm highlight.  I need orange in the painting because

there is going to be a lot of blue.  Orange is the compliment of blue.  It is needed to make a 

pretty painting.  I hope to paint yellowish orange reflected sails from the sailboats too.

   Tomorrow will be a fun day!  I hope to have the bridges completed.  I am on a time constraint.

The painting needs to be delivered out of state by August 22.  I will need 5 days to ship it and

5 days for the painting to dry.  This means I have two more days to finish painting this commission.

Good night.

   I took a painter friend Peter all around the quiet side of Mount Desert Island.

I took him to Charlotte Rhoades Garden.  He loved seeing all the flowers.

   The zinnias looked like they were at their end.

  Zinnias last till October in Maine.

 I wonder if Southwest Harbor has been too cold for them?

My zinnias in Bucksport are doing great.

   Tremont Wharf had many great views.  

   This is where Stephen King's movie "Storm of the Century" was filmed.

We attended an art opening after the tour of the island.

I ate many nice giant shrimp, steak tacos, chicken liver pate, and drank many

sparkling lemonades.  In attendance were some of the very best painters in Maine.

Their art work was inspiring.  I admired a woodblock print on wood.  I wondered

how a woodblock print would look on copper.  

It is a good idea to attend art openings.  

Poppy likes to snuggle with Lily during the day.

I thought they looked sweet together.

Poppy still has not found her favorite ball.  It is larger than a tennis ball, red,

made of durable plastic, has a hole for a treat, and bounces great.  

   Lily brought a large diet mountain dew bottle into the house.

The bottle was in the trash.  She thinks she is helping me find things.

She carries it for me down to the fenced backyard.  

The other day she found a bottle for parmesean cheese.

She was carrying the bottle, trying to bark, and cheese was sprinking

out of the bottle.  She was making that cute little growling sound.

When Ted came over today, Lily pulled a green plum off the tree,

and ran around growling.  He asked her what she had in her mouth.

She loved this.  This made her run around and growl more.  I took it out

of her mouth, afraid she might choke on it, and gave her a few rubs on the neck.

Lily is very funny and entertaining.

I drew this dory onto a 14x20 copper panel tonight.  I think I may change the water, delete

the bumpers, and ropes.  I love the shape of the boat and the rope around the boat's edge.

Tonight I accepted a commission for a lady for her husband.  It will be top secret until it is

finished!  Good night.  Thanks Peter for a fun day.  

"Sara Beth" 4x5 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold.  Shipping included

   The Sara Beth is a 108 foot luxury sport fisher super yacht currently docked in Camden Harbor.

The boat was built in 2001 by Henry Burger.    It is challenging shrinking down yachts into

a 4x5 inch space.

"Appledore Schooner in Camden Harbor" 4x5 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

The Appledore is a very beautiful schooner.  I have painted this schooner a few times but not at night.

The island in the distance is Curtis Island.

"Surprise Schooner in Camden Harbor" 4x5 oil on copper.  250$ framed in gold.  Shipping included.

   The colors of the harbor are beautiful at night.  Enchanting!

"View of Curtis Island" 4x5 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold Shipping included.

   Robert brought two dogs toy for the dogs.  Oh they loved them.  They shared very nice.

I am cooking a peach cobbler for the first time.  I think it will turn out.

I have a timer set.  I don't want to burn the cobbler.  Robert is waiting patiently.

Good night.

"Gift of Zinnias" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold at the Waldoboro Art Auction tonight.  Thank you.

   Robert grew a field of zinnia flowers for me to paint.  I selected five zinnas, arranged them

in a mason jar with twine bow, and drove a few hours to Waldoboro.  I painted the zinnias

for the art auction.  The painting took all of the four hours before the 3pm deadline.

I was happy with my little 6x8 painting.  They hung the painting in the barn with the other

work.

   My painter friend Teddi and her husband sat inside my van watching the auction proceed.

It was a very slow start.   I was nervous.  The most nerve wracking thing an

artist must go through is to have their painting auctioned.  The worst case scenerio:  No one

 bids.  The best case scenerio:  The painting sells for the full price or higher.

 I will bring a piano light to illuminate the paintings during

the auction next year.  Paintings must have light to be seen during the auction.

I selected zinnias because they were colorful.  It was a foggy grey day.  I wanted color.

I was very fortunate to sell my painting for a fair price.

The food was incredible.  Lobster rolls and lobster tacos, mexican salad, bean salad, fruit,

blueberry pound cake, cookies, punch, wine!  I enjoyed the food.

A wonderful band entertained us before the auction.

I hope they raised enough money for the Waldoboro Fire Dept, Lions Club, and the Library.

    I drove to Camden Harbor right after the sunset.  

There was a wonderful green light above Curtis Island in the distance under a cloud bank.

   I believe the Sundance and Independence were in the harbor.

Beautiful night in Camden Harbor.  Good night.  

"Mother and Kid" 4x5 oil on copper.  150$ special.  Framed in gold or black with gold.

   It is difficult to paint moving animals.  I had the honor to paint at Rocking Chair Farm

in Gouldsboro, Maine today.  My painter friend Anne Marie joined me.  She did many great

sketches of the goats.  There were many baby goats.  

I chose to paint a Mother and her Kid snuggling together.  They stayed in one place

for a few minutes.  This time was long enough.  The Mother came close to the fence

for me to realize her eyes were an orange not a yellow.  I also could see her markings.

  There were many of these moments when baby goats were doing cute things.

   We arrived after their breakfast when they were napping.  The timing was excellent.

   The baby goats became active after a few hour nap.  These girls were butting heads.

   They were fun to watch.

   The boys modeled for a photo.  What a fun day!  Thank you Rocking Chair Farm for allowing

us to paint!  I can not wait to try their goat milk cheese.  Anne Marie purchased eggs.  I had

their fresh kale and lettuce a few days ago.  Good to purchase and eat local.

Good night.

 (oil painting scraped down with palette knife) 

You might think it is easy to wipe off an oil painting.

There is an art to doing the 'wipe off".  

Do not pour turpentine over the wet oil painting first.

This creates more mess.

1.  Take a palette knife to scrape off all the oil painting you can.

2.  Take a towel or paper towel to wipe off excess oil paint left.

3.  Take another towel or paper towel to wipe it clean.

   This is the finished 20x26 oil on copper I wiped off.

I suppose it was not a complete disaster.  I have painted far worse.

The painting was not something I wanted to keep.

I felt a sense of relief when the painting was gone.

   I went to a farm today.  I arranged a paint out for my friends on Friday.

I think they will enjoy painting baby goats, chickens, geese, ducks, horses, and two cats.

There are flowers and vegetables growing.  

   This lady goat escaped on the farm.  She wanted to see the baby goats.

   I had a big smile on my face.

   They were all beautiful.

   These lady geese were nesting.  They were in a pen because they were nippy.

They made a lot of noise and swayed their necks.

Peter The Great, Intrepid, and Sprinkles, all male goats, were fun!  

They all put their feet on the fence to look me in the eye.  

They wanted attention.  I will paint these guys.

    These two horses were large and beautiful.

   These two hens protected the baby goats.  One hen dropped her wing and limped.

I was only taking photos twenty feet away!  

This little goat was super cute.   This goat was the same size as a hen.

Good night.  

"Summer Flowers 39" 7x5 ink,watercolor,acrylics, and gouache.  30$ comes

unframed, with an envelope, can be framed or given as a card.  Shipping included.

"Summer Flowers 40" 7x5 ink,watercolor, gouache, acrylics.  Sold.  Thank you.

"Summer Flowers 41" 7x5 ink, watercolor, acrylics, gouache.  30$ comes shipped.

"Summer Flowers 42" 7x5 ink, watercolor, acrylics.  30$ shipping included.

"Summer Flowers 43" 7x5 ink, watercolor, acrylics.  30$ includes shipping.

"Summer Flowers 44" 7x5 ink, watercolor, acrylics.  30$ includes shipping

"Summer Flowers 45" 7x5 ink, watercolor, acrylics.  30$ includes shipping.

The first three were done while sitting at Saltwater Artists Gallery.

There was great light inside that gallery.

The next four were completed today.

I have completed many of these 7x5 florals.  

These are the last ones for a while.

I will concentrate on plein air and large studio paintings.

   Here is Lily with her Grandfather Luke.  She loves to watch what he is doing.

She doesn't try to take away Luke's stick.  He will growl at her.

Poppy was in the bushes trying to find her own stick.

Lily took the rock right out of Monet's mouth.  He always lets her have anything she wants.

Then Lily put the rock in a hole.  She dug a larger hole so the rock sank down further.

Monet and Poppy were barking at her.

I think this is a very creative game.  

Sunset over Bucksport.  Good night.