Artist Renee Lammers

 

   Plein air painting is difficult. It helps if you do plein air painting on a 

 

regular basis to succeed. I have not done plein air painting in a few weeks.

 

First of all, all the painting equipment has to be

 

there that is required to operate.   If you paint on a regular basis plein air then

 

normally there is a system that is acquired over time to get the equipment to the

 

location.  Today I did not have a tripod or a chair. I had to sit down on a towel to

 

paint.  I could not paint very well.  I did not like my painting.  I didn't get upset

 

about it at all. If you do painting for a living you and paint a lot of paintings many

 

will come out great, some will be average, and some will be duds.  When you

 

do a dud don't get upset about it.  Don't have any emotion about it.  Just make

 

sure to get all the equipment there!  So that is how today went.  I showed up.

 

I ventured out to a new place, Caspersen Beach.

 

 

Caspersen Beach is in Venice, Florida.  It is very nice.

 

There are dark rocks in the water everywhere so no one is swimming.

 

I suspect it is treacherous in the water because of the rocks.

 

The sand is a grey or silver color.  People were searching for sharks teeth.

 

There are no condos lining the beach.  Palms and boardwalks.

 

 

 

 

I thought it was a beautiful place to paint.  I would prefer to have company.

 

 

I went to the Venice Rookery twice to take photos of the Egrets and Blue Herons nesting.

 

The eggs in the Egret's nest are blue in color.  

 

 

She had a baby in her nest.

 

 

   This Blue Heron also had a chick in the nest.

 

 

Many people were gathered with cameras, binoculars, and chairs to view the birds.

 

 

  I was standing next to a lady talking about cameras when I heard a gator barking or growling.

 

I saw a gator trying to climb up onto the island where the birds were nesting.  I pointed him out.

 

She used her zoom lens to see the gator.  She did not know the noise a gator makes.  She was

 

amazed.  I enjoyed the rookery so much.  

 

 

   This is a favorite photo of Festus.  

 

 

  We fed Doc Adams dinner tonight.  We had not seen him for many days. The cats were

 

all meowing in celebration of his arrival.

 

Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Red Bird" 6x4 oil on copper Sold. Thank you very very much!

 

 

"Orange Rose" 4x6 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold or thin black with gold. Shipping is

also included in the price.

 

 

"Orange Beauties" 4x6 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold or thin black with gold. Shipping included.

 

 

"Grace" 4x6 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold or thin black with gold. Shipping too.

 

   I have been painting a variety of things since I am in Fort Myers, Florida.  Sanibel Island

 

was destroyed during the hurricane.  There is access to the island now but you can not go onto

 

the beach to paint.  I am painting roses from life.  It is challenging.  I miss Maine. I have not found

 

Fort Myers very inspiring to paint yet.  Fort Myers Beach was destroyed also.  I am enjoying the

 

Florida weather!  I sure do miss Robert and the dogs.  

 

 

Sea Turtle from the aquarium in Key Biscayne.

 

 

   We have not seen Doc Adams in five days. I believe I have heard Doc Adams

 

meowing to be let inside a house behind this park. He has a very loud distinctive

 

meow.  A door opened for him.  He must be allowed inside.  We have had several

 

cats come by and meow at our screen door.  My cats spend most of the evening

 

out in the screen room watching these cats.  We are hanging in there.  Thank you

 

for the painting sales.  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

   I was very busy yesterday.  I wanted to see Fort Biggs to see the water on a sunny day.

 

The water was amazing.  I am using a Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra cell phone for these images.

 

These are 200 pixels.  The camera is nothing like I have ever had before. 

 

 

   I was using the zoom here to capture a sailboat miles out by a lighthouse.

 

 

   Interesting fish along the seawall.

 

 

  Next I went to an aquarium to see fish.  

 

 

 

   Here is a manatee with a ball.  

 

I am going to get back to painting.  I am enjoying a little time off.  I needed it!

 

Robert sent me this photo of the dogs.  His Sister, Edith's Birthday is today!

 

Happy Birthday Edith!  She is a super nice lady.  Robert bought a pig ear for each dog

 

and a little carrot cake for himself to celebrate.  Pretty cute.

 

 

 

  The dogs are so patient!  Good night.  Happy Birthday.  

 

The drive from Fort Myers to Miami took me 2 1/2 hours.  It was an easy drive.

 

I arrived at the Coconut Grove Art Show in Miami at 12pm.  Parking cost 30$.

 

Entrance to this show was 30$.  This is a super large show.  

 

 

   This is just a tiny part of a larger painting by John Gunther from Virginia.  He takes

 

two equal size thin sheets of aluminum, prepares the side with a heavy metal primer, paints

 

two different images onto the metal, cuts the aluminum, weaves the two panels together, 

 

uses glue to mount it to a frame securing edges with hand-painted aluminum tape.  

 

I asked permission to take a photo of the work I most admired.  

 

 

  These were glass vases by the artist listed.

 

 

   This was a woven watercolor painting.  I forgot to the get artist name.  

 

 

   I really admired the sharks. They were fun to view.  

 

 

M Holmes was the artist. He used acrylics.  He painted on handmade cradled boards.

 

He had a special clean room for pouring the resin on top of the finished acrylic paintings.

 

That resin surface really added a wonderful shine.  Many artists at this show finished their

 

paintings with a resin.

 

 

   This was an interesting combination:  Balloons with animals and birds.  Watercolors.

 

I did not see cards available.  

 

 

  Jungle scenes.  That looked like a fun series to paint.

 

 

   This was an artist I have followed from Winter Park, Florida for years.  He was

 

first recognized for giant pencil scene of his family.  Now he is painting abstracts.

 

He is from Viet Nam I believe.

 

 

Jeffrey Zachmann produced amazing moving sculptures.

 

 

   The balls were constantly being propelled rolling around creating a buzzing

 

sound.

 

 

This is a tiny portion of a larger abstract painting by David Oleski from PA.  

 

I liked the yellow one.  

 

 

All ages came to the art show. I thought this couple was very stylishly dressed.

 

The man was wearing all red from shirt, pants, to even his tennis shoes.

 

Some ladies wore long dresses.  I just wore shorts and a t shirt.  

 

   I had a frozen strawberry banana blended drink that cost 15$.  I have to say this frozen

 

beverage hit the spot!  Temperature was in the high 80s for a while.  I found my car again

 

with some effort, safely made it home.  I saw hundreds of artist's work.  Some paintings

 

were done in felt!  Some were made with different fabrics glued to create a realistic image.

 

There were a two or three landscape painters.  Most were large abstract paintings.

 

What an experience!  Good night.

 

 

 

 

 

  This is the lovely Doc Adams.  He comes to eat at my place a few times a day.

 

Sometimes Doc just wants a pat.  My cats get excited to see him. Festus gets nervous for him.

 

He knows Doc Adams is hungry.  I have noticed Festus meowing at dinner times now just like

 

Doc Adams.  

 

 

   I set down Doc Adam's bowl of food.  I noticed another cat similar in appearance to

 

Doc Adams was there.  He tried to bully Doc Adams for his dinner.  I picked up the bowl.

 

When I reached down for the bowl the other cat reached out and scratched him hand.  

 

I went inside and put my hand under hot water.  I pour disinfectant on my hand.  Put my

 

hand back under hot water.  Poured more disinfectant on my hand.  Put some Neosporin on

 

the puncture wounds.  I have had my tetanus shot recently.  

 

I picked up Doc Adams, placed him in the screen room, and said he could eat his dinner there!

 

He seemed to love this.  Doc Adams is a very friendly young cat.  I let him back outside after

 

he ate.  

 

 

   The cat who scratched me is on the left.  He had a massive bloody

 

sore on his neck,  I have not seen any aggression from that cat before.

 

He usually hangs two doors down from us.  I hope he will be ok.  It is a dangerous

 

life for a cat who lives on the streets.

 

 

 

 

Maybe I should rename this blog, "As A Cat Meows" just like "As The World Turns."

 

 

   These two cats of mine, Festus and Miss Kitty, are coming with me to Miami Beach for a day or two

 

so I can visit Coconut Grove Art Show.  I would like to see more modern paintings.  It is

 

very important for me to see what art is being created.  I think it will inspire me.

 

I picked up dozens of cans of Wellness Core Chicken and Liver Pate.  Reveal shredded chicken.

 

We are going to have fun.

 

 

  I heard from our friend Ted in Maine. He has been driving an hour each way to come

 

to our house in Bucksport to let our four golden retrievers outside.  He walks them twice

 

around the yard.  He brings them cooked chicken and vegetables for lunch.  Then he cleans their

 

ears with special wipes he bought. He also bought them a big box of 40$ special milk bones

 

because he noticed a little tooth plaque.  He also brushes each dog.  He trimmed burs out of the dog's hair.

 

He pets them.  He spends hours with him everyday while Robert is at work.  What a good friend.

 

The dogs really enjoy having his company.  He loves the dogs.  I appreciate you Ted.  Thank you. You

 

know if Ted ever needed our help, we would do whatever we could.  Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

"Don't Be Koi With Me" 4x6 oil on copper sold. Thanks.

 

 

"Being Koi" 4x6 oil on copper 250$ framed in gold or thin black with gold.  Shipping and frame

are included.

 

 

   Festus loves to sleep in my painting chair.  

 

Miss Kitty is doing better with her diet.  Doc Adams visits us sometimes 3 times a day!

 

Twice I feed him.  I pet him and talk to him.

 

 

 

   I found another heated community pool in Fort Myers that is open 7 days a week.

 

Now I can swim everyday.  

 

Good night.

 

   I love to hike at the Orlando Wetlands in Christmas, Florida.

 

I found a Sand Hill Crane tending to her nest. She has two eggs!

 

 

   Spring was in the air already!

 

 

 

   The Rosette Spoonbills were nesting along the boardwalk.

 

 

   Egrets were on nests with their party feathers.  They were hunkered down

 

because of cooler temperatures.

 

 

   I loved this image. I am going to paint this one bigger soon!

 

I had such a great time visiting with my parents. I am very lucky they are both healthy and happy.

 

I took my Dad to a Rollin College Basketball game.  My Mom and I chopped up many raw

 

vegetable to make several salads.  We laughed at shared stories.  I feel so very lucky.

 

Home in Fort Myers once again.  The cats had a great time too.  Good night.

 

 

 

   Facebook fans of the cats noticed Miss Kitty was fat!  They suggested a diet for Miss Kitty

 

to avoid diabetes.  I have been restricting Miss Kitty's food.  We were doing great!  

 

Miss Kitty saw a cold sliced pork loin on the counter.  We were having cold pork loin

 

sandwiches.  She stole a large piece of pork loin and headed to the bathroom to eat.

 

Festus was left out!  He wanted to try pork loin too. Miss Kitty said she was going to eat it all!

 

 

I gave Festus a can of his favorite shredded chicken cat food.  

 

Miss Kitty also finished a few crunchies from my parent's dog's breakfast!

 

So far Miss Kitty says her diet is going great!  She loves dieting!

 

 

  I visited the koi today because the skies were grey.  

 

 

   Robert told me it was 15 below zero in Maine. I asked him if they let him go home

 

from work because it was too cold.  He laughed and said no they make him work.  

 

Good night.

 

   Here are a few starts to two more 6x4 oil on copper paintings of Ocean Drive

 

in South Beach, Florida.

 

 

   This one is Versace's home on Ocean Drive.  Now it is a hotel.  It has a purple

 

neon light shining on the homes.  It should be a fun painting to complete.

 

 

   These two are great pals.

 

 

  Festus has always appreciated Miss Kitty's tail swaying around.

 

He can not help himself!  He loves to catch her tail.

 

 

   Miss Kitty felt like wrestling!

 

 

   Festus really gets into wrestling!  

 

 

   It is fun watching the cats play.

 

 

   I am at my parent's house in Winter Park, Florida visiting.  We are having a lot of fun

 

telling travel stories.  The cats are entertaining us.  We are eating really well.  I will visit

 

with them for a few more days and then return to Fort Myers.  Good night.