Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Lake House Decor Idea

Lake House Decor Idea! Think about it, if you have a lake house, what's better than having a beautiful vintage style lake map hanging in the great room! I just finished this beautiful 2'x4' vintage style lake map of Lake Bob Sandlin. The colors came out perfect and they work well with the mahogany frame. I'm sure it will look great hanging in the customers lake house.  


I've been doing lake, river and bay maps for approximately six years. Over the years, I have experimented with different elements of map art in order to provide the best and most unique map on the market. Folks will be drawn to the map like a crackling fire on a cold winter night.  I try very hard to make my maps special by adding interest to the maps.


You will find no road names, county, or state lines on my maps. I have found that folks enjoy traveling the roads with their eyes, while trying to get their bearing. I call this the "Leo Lakes gaze." 
You can add a star or symbol with a few words to mark that special place, it maybe the location of the lake house, the spot where you caught that trophy fish or some grand view. This will make a very special gift for the lake lover. I hide a few fish and even a tiny mermaid in the waters of my lakes. Yep, but they're very shy and don't want to be found. Folks just love'm, especially the kids. You might even think they move around overtime.

Did you know that you can always tell if its morning or evening on a Leo Lakes map? Just look at the shadows cast by the wildlife, is the shadow on the east or west? If it's on the west, then it’s morning time. Oh yeah, I have had folks tell me that they change through the day, but don't believe them.
Also, each framed map or map over 16x32, comes with a certificate of authenticity, lake poem, and interesting facts abut the map.


I have hundreds of maps on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes vintage style lake maps, too. I have maps, such as Lake Bob Sandlin Vintage Style map, Lake Logan Martin Vintage Style Map, Center Hill Lake vintage style map, Lake Texoma vintage style map, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay vintage style map, Toledo Bend Lake Vintage style map, Raystown Lake vintage style map. Lake maps will add beauty to your Lake House Decor! Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoMaps.com


Monday, May 16, 2016

Florida Keys Map Collage

My daughter is home from college and is working in the studio. She has been working on taking some of my maps and making a collage. This collage has a few items that come with the map when ordered (Cert, of Authenticity, Poem & Map Facts). She also added a canoe and shells.  

I must say, I wouldn't have thought of doing this. It does make for an interesting photo. So far she has completed about 20 of these, which I will use on the website etc...

My maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. I have over two hundred on my website that can be purchased right from the site, or I can do custom and personalizes lake, river or bay maps, too. I have maps of Lake Winnipesaukee, Table Rock Lake, Greers Ferry, Lake Lanier, Gaston Lake, Choctawhatchee Bay, Toledo Bend, Raystown, and many others. Oh yeah, I hide a tiny mermaid in the waters of all my maps that folks love to search for. Find out more interesting facts about my treasured maps by going to LeoMaps.com

Oh yeah, this is part of my studio! I think I have become a map elf!



Sunday, May 15, 2016

Paddle Yoga

I must tell you about teaching my daughter how to paddle. To get her to go, I told her that we will do "Paddle Yoga" and all the millennials are doing it. 

It's obvious that on the list of things to learn, paddling is pretty much at the bottom. Let's face it, paddling is not an essential task to learn for life. Today, most millennials would rather be indoors in front of a computer screen, rather than on the water with a paddle. 

In the old days, you grew up paddling if you lived near the water. Do you remember learning to paddle? I don't, but I do remember when I was a child being in the boat while my dad paddled. I don't think that there was a very moment that I learned to paddle, I think that by watching, I just knew and started paddling. However, lets face it, paddling is not rocket scienceIt's kind of like a puppy that has never been in water, but when placed over water the puppy instinctively starts to "dog paddle". 

 Our paddling adventure began on Old Hickory Lake. Sarah has been boating many times before, but never has she paddled a boat by herself. With very little direction, as you can see from the photo she took off like a rocket. The only problem, if you look closely you will see it, she has the paddle backwards.

Now it's time for "KAYAK FOOTBALL" Check this out! The fastest way to learn to paddle is playing Kayak Football. Yes, the object is to.....No, I can't keep this fake game up, I'm kidding, there is no such thing as Kayak Football. This football just floated up from somewhere and I thought that it would make a great photo and nice fake story. It's amazing what you see on the water.

Anyway, it looks like Sarah has the hang of padding in smooth water. In the future I will take her to a river for a little more excitement, paddle in some water rapids.  

Going, Going, Gone!

Check-up my vintage style Lake, River and Bay Maps.  We have many popular lake maps such as the Lake Winnipesaukee map, Great Sacandaga Lake map, Lewis Smith Lake map, Pickwick Lake map, Greer's Ferry Lake map, Lake Sidney Lanier map, Lake Sinclair map, Table Rock Lake map, and Lake Wallenpaupack map. These vintage style lake maps are great for the lake house. Also, we paint custom maps and have personalized Lake maps for that special someone. Go to www.Leolakes.com to see if we have your map.


Thursday, May 5, 2016

Vintage style Lake Maps

Click to Enlarge
I have been painting vintage style river, lake, and bay maps for the last six years. I call them treasured maps because most folks have that special body of water that they treasure. Leo Lakes vintage style maps make great gifts for the lake house owner, lake lover, or fisherman. 

I painted this custom lake map of Long Lake located in Wisconsin. Long Lake is located in Washburn County and is 3,300 acres in size. It's name is true to its length, being 19 miles long. The lake was carved out by glaciers millions of years ago. It's a beautiful clear lake with miles of undeveloped shoreline, pristine bays and nice gravel beaches. 

Not only are walleyes common, but large and small mouth bass, crappie, blue gill, and northern pike are too. You will find much wildlife/waterfowl around the lake such as eagles, osprey, cranes, otter, beaver and my favorite, loons. In fact, I added a couple of loons on the map along with fish, canadian Geese, and an osprey. Interesting, I always hide a tiny mermaid to the waters of all my lake map paintings that folks love to search for. 

If you would like to see more and read about my treasured maps go to LeoLakes.comRemember: Life is short, get away from the big screen and get on a big stream.